Foreigners Changing China, 1850-1980 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Foreigners Changing China, 1850-1980 - Essay Example This particular frame of mind can be considered as the main cause of their resistance in adopting other cultures and their values for millennia. They assumed that they are self sufficient in all forms of society and do not require foreign intrusion. But in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century China has undergone various changes in many parts of their core infrastructures that include politics, language, economics, culture and society. This is believed to be largely under the influence of the foreign countries such as USA and Britain. So what are the basic forms of modifications that have been implemented and what has caused these changes to take place that was resisted before for such a long time? Answer to this question is the main notion of this discussion. Among all the considerable changes that were brought up by the foreign influence, changes in the politics are most important and should be emphasized in detail. Ancient Chinese Society: To understand or clearly apprec iate any change we need to view the original form that was present before that modification was made. As we know from history that China was considered as a kingdom led by the emperors. These emperors and their dynasties were not chosen on their relationship to the people of China but their origin was more religious and mythical (Foster 2010). Any ruler or dynasty corrupted with the evil will be reflected upon by the nature’s anger in the form of earthquake floods or droughts indicating the change were imminent (Kornberg et al 2004). This was in contrast to the west where democracy was laying foundation of a strong government bodies. Despite China’s ruling being based on such religious foundations, it continued for a very long time. Starting from the Hans dynasty in 206 BC it remained intact until Qing dynasty collapsed in 1911 (Zinzius 2004). Arguably there needs to be a solid bond that united this nation on single platform. By looking at a bigger prospective it can b e concluded that the main reason for sustenance of such establishment can be traced back to the strong social values that hold the structure together for centuries. No other nation has ever been close to signify the theme of middle kingdom like Chinese did for centuries. They were proud of their existence in the middle while the rest of the humanity revolves around them and learn from them (Ford 2010). There is no doubt that the social system in these ancient dynasties was more localized on the families and tribe as a distinct entity rather than on a single individual. So there was a strong concept of nuclear family and relationships were given highest regards. From the economic point of view China was a self sufficient civilization. Most of the Chinese emperors were not open for trades with the western world because of the hierarchical system in China. The theme of middle kingdom were so deep rooted that they considered that no one else is worthy of given an equal status to them. A lthough in the nineteenth century there was a great demand of China’s silk, spices and other items among the western consumers. Similarly westerns also wanted to introduce some of their unique items and offered many trade agreements to the emperors during that time but all were put down. As we know that trade creates a great influence on any society but China was virtually immune to it. Therefore, no significant foreign influence was detected in the Chinese empire due to their isolation from the rest of the world. Foreign Penetration and changes in the Politics: The difference between China’

Fashion Industry Essay Example for Free

Fashion Industry Essay This summer it is boho chic. Last summer, it was preppy sailor simplicity. In the late 90s it was the grunge look. Yellow is the new black. Jeans are the new business casual. And on. And on. Yes, I am writing of fashion trends. The latest look, style, and color floods the covers of magazines, the shelves of retailers from Saks to H M, the bodies of celebrities and television characters and, undoubtedly, is able to get enough of us to buy into it (literally and figuratively) to validate the whole cycle. So, while most of us are easily able to grasp this continuously perpetuating cycle of saturating the public with the latest, greatest duds, questions remain: how does a trend start? Who makes this decision? Why does it work? Well, to be perfectly honest, there is no definitive answer to the myth that is a fashion trend. But, while the exact formula is beyond the consumer, we can be sure that it takes the work of several different interdependent fashion industry professions to convince us that espadrilles, suspenders, and terry-cloth suits are worthy of our dollars and donning. Fashion designers gather their inspiration, whether it comes from popular culture, music, politics, a celebrity muse, or something else entirely. Then, they design usually a spring and fall collection. With a slew of inspired, perfectly crafted designs ready to hit the runway, they show their collections. It could possibly be said that the trend begins at the fashion show. Fashion writers, buyers, photographers and celebrities line the runways, waiting to take in, criticize and praise the designers work. Writers go back to their offices and verbally comment on the design they have seen. If a collection is deemed great, the editor may be persuaded to feature the clothing on the cover of the months issue. This is also influenced by fashion publicists professionals who are paid to get the designers duds in front of larger audiences. Thus, we read about the latest fashion trend. Photographers snap photos as the models parade down the runway and sell them to parties interested in the designers work. The photos show up in newspapers, industry magazines, fashion magazines and various other media outlets. Thus, we see the latest fashion trend. Buyers, if impressed, order pieces that their clientele will be willing to pay hundreds or thousands to own. Other designers, those focused on mass production of more affordable versions of the latest trend, gather their inspiration here too. Thus, we can purchase the latest fashion trend. So, as you can see, it is impossible to pinpoint exactly how a fashion becomes a trend. What you can know, with certainty, is that it took many professionals in the fashion industry to get you to the cash register with your bohemian-inspired peasant blouse.

Teens and Sex - Sex and Disease :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Sex and Disease    Since the beginning of the semester we've been working in groups in order to complete a mid term report, based on our picked topic. I'm part of the group Sex in the New Millennium. We as a group focused our attention on three main categories, sexuality, and sexual preferences, Pregnancies and abortions, and finally sexually transmitted diseases.    Sex is the key ingredient that most companies and advertising agencies are using to sell their products. And as a result we the viewers (being what ever age we may be) are the true victims. You turn on the television and the first thing you see is someone or something being sexually exploited. Daytime TV and talk shows are long time abusers of this. As a result more and more people are practicing sex all over the country and the world. And coeincidentliy the ages of these participants are getting younger and younger. STDs are the at a all time high.    What are STDs ? STDs are sexually transmitted diseases, formerly called venereal diseases (VD), which are transmitted by direct sexual contact. Some are considered among the most serious diseases of the world . Any person who is sexually active or is thinking about having sexual activity should be familiar with the symptoms, prevention , and treatment of these diseases. Most forms of STDs may be treated and cured in the early stages, but putting off treatment can be dangerous.    The germs that cause sexually transmitted diseases can survive only for a few seconds in the air, so the diseases are transmitted only by direct body contact. Like most other diseases we do not know where or when sexually transmitted diseases started. To add to the list of STDs there is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which may lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).    In North and South America combined, there are estimates that up to 2 million people are currently infected with the HIV virus. The World Health Organization estimates that 8-10 million adults and 1 million children worldwide are infected with the AIDS virus. By the year 2000, 40 million people may be infected with the virus . More than 90% of these persons will likely reside in the developing countries. Based on 1989 data, AIDS is the number four cause of death in males ages 15-54.

Suicide, America’s Hidden Devastation Essay -- Essays Papers

Suicide, America’s Hidden Devastation Suicide is one of the youth’s ways out of their problems, not only in the United States but the world. What does drive teens to suicidal thoughts and actions? What are the ways communities help prevent teenage suicide? Perhaps there are signs can be pointed out that would indicate a problem. In two surveys in 1996, both reported in the Journal of Adolescent Health, both also asked relatively the same questions of the violent actions that some people may see in life’. Surprisingly, the numbers for many of the questions were the same, such as teens who witnessed a shooting first hand; they both were about 37% (Pastore, Fisher, and Friedman 321-2). Using information such as this, one cannot blame the recent rise in teenage suicide with the violent problems of life, but more along the lines of depression caused by multiple things, for instance body image. According to many researchers, alcohol is many times a solution to a teen’s problem with life and the hardships people face in it. Many people in the United States overlook the major problem of teenage suicide; this is a mistake There are many things which can drive a teen to commit suicide some of them are as simple as making fun of the â€Å"fat† kid in class; others can come from the mental images from witnessing a shooting. There are four major issues which contribute to teen suicide such as depression, family problems, risk factors, and teens reactions to there climate. Depression, unfortunately, is one of the biggest factors of today’s teenage suicide problems and some of the reasons for it are from the student’s own peers, â€Å"being depressed is triggered by loss or rejection (Joan 59).† Depression can be f... ...ter than to do so. I know what it is like to loose something that you love so much so that you don’t think you can go on in life. We as a community must somehow set up a better support technique in order to save teens from this devastating misfortune. We can help, it’s just how much effort one is willing to put forth. Works Cited Allen, Janet. End-of-Life Issues. Westport, Connecticut. Greenwood Press, 2002 Garfinkel, Barry and Northrup, Gorden. Absolute Suicide. New York and London. Haworth Press, 1989 Joan, Polly. Preventing Teenage Suicide. New York. Human Sciences Inc., 1986 Orbach, Israel. Children Who Don’t Want to Live. San Francisco. Jossey-Bass Inc., 1988 Pastore, Fisher, and Friedman. â€Å"Violence and Mental Health Problems among Urban High School Students.† Journal of Adolescent Health. New York. Elsevier Science Inc., 1996

Different strategies Essay

Using guidelines on viewing, interpreting, and evaluating visual imagery, examine a visual image for its meaning. Develop a written analysis and evaluation of the image. The image viewed is that of a building plan of the library. The image contains lines and boxes and labels of the different sections of the building. The image is presented as a whole and viewing it as separate sections would likely destroy the meaning of the image. The image also communicates to the viewer the whole structure of the building and one viewing it can identify his/her spatial location in the building. The image is able to tell the viewer that the building is large, has several entrances and exits, it also tells one the nearest comfort room, librarian’s desk and where a specific book, journal or material is located. Generally, the image is simple and straightforward and is able to communicate to the viewer important information about the library. Explore how different texts require different reading strategies. Select a novel chapter, a textbook chapter, a magazine article and a web page, and engage each text and take appropriate notes. Then, reflect on how the different texts call for similar and different strategies. Taking notes when reading a chapter from a novel is difficult to do, it’s that we have been trained to read a novel as a complete story, and the notes I had were incomplete and did not really tell me what the story is about, it was just a set of conversations I found interesting. Reading a textbook chapter is different because it contains a lot of information and the text is arranged to focus on one topic, hence my notes were many and upon reading it, it was actually a summary of the textbook chapter. A magazine article calls for light reading, and unless one is really looking for specific information, nothing is there for me to take notes. Most of the information in magazine articles is commonsense and opinionated and one is moved to argue against the article or agree with it. Reading a web page is similar to the magazine article, however, one notices that the message is incomplete or there are more articles related to it that taking notes is impossible but one web page leads to another. Reread one of your recent essays. How does the writing show that you thoroughly understood your subject, met the needs of your audience, and achieved your writing purpose? I believe that my essay was able to communicate that I had a good understanding of my topic because the thesis statement was focused and enabled the reader to identify the direction of the essay. Moreover, the essay provided a brief but information-rich discussion of the topic and its background. Then it proceeded to present my arguments and it was backed by existing information from reliable sources. I also was able to provide an alternative argument so that the reader would be given the opportunity to agree or disagree with my arguments. I then finished it with a short summary and conclusion and an invitation to the reader to engage in the same. Review the wording of a recent writing assignment. What are the key words, restrictions, and options? What does the description tell you about the purpose, audience, form, and assessment of the writing? What strategies from this chapter would you use to get started? A recent writing assignment I completed was the personal essay about the most influential person in my life. The key words for the assignment were influential person, inspiration and learning. Since it was a personal essay the only restrictions was that names should not be used, although one could identify the relationship of the person to the writer. The option given was that in the event that one could not identify a person, then it could be a personal experience. The writing assignment implied that it was going to be a personal essay that the use of first person is allowed and that it was casual and emotional and the purpose is to share with readers a very personal part of my life. I would be able to use the brainstorming exercise, as well as the dialogue writing and how to convey emotions in what we write.

Jk Lki Hjk Hkjg H Nknm, Essay Example

Jk Lki Hjk Hkjg H Nknm, Essay Example Jk Lki Hjk Hkjg H Nknm, Paper Jk Lki Hjk Hkjg H Nknm, Paper John De Cleene English Harris Due: December 2, 2010 Horror and Tension Within The Tell Tale Heart Edgar Allen Poe is most famous for his remarkable gothic fiction stories. In fact, some would almost consider him to be the father of them. One of his most recognized pieces is The Tell Tale Heart. This particular tale tells the story of a man who in the end turns out to be insane when he hears the beating of a dead man’s heart. The narrator kills an old man who did nothing wrong. The only thing that made the narrator kill the old man was the old man’s â€Å"vulture eye. If it weren’t for the literary devices used by Poe the tale would not be what it has become. He creates an atmosphere of horror and tension by focusing greatly on the different elements of stories and using them in the specific ways to toy with the reader’s mind. Poe’s descriptions, style of language, and other elements used in The Tell Tale Heart help to create the atmosphere of horro r and tension that make this tale so bone-chilling. One thing that truly makes a story what it is would be the story’s setting. The Tell Tale Heart is set in a mansion, it seems, by the descriptions that Poe uses, â€Å"And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  When one thinks of chambers it is usually linked back to mansions. Mansions are thought of as enormous and spacious places that seem to continue on forever. A mansion with only two people in it, the narrator and old man, would feel very empty and bare. While reading the tale one would also feel very empty and bare because that is the kind of sense the setting gives them. Another way Poe uses the setting to create his atmosphere is while the narrator is spying on the old man through the door, â€Å"His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The words he uses generate a feeling of claustrophobia. â€Å"Thick darkness† and â€Å"shutters were closed fastened† both make the reader feel cramped and agitated, as if there is nowhere to escape. There is a feeling that it is too late to turn back and you are trapped with no way out. Even in such a spacious mansion, you are trapped for good. Another element that Poe uses to create such a horrific atmosphere is the point of view from which the tale is told. Throughout the tale we only get one person’s point of view because it is told in a first-person narrative. This allows the reader to get inside the narrator’s mind and truly understand what he is thinking. In the beginning the unnamed man introduces himself. He tries to convince the reader that he is sane, â€Å"TRUE! -nervous -very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? † Though over time as we get to know the man better he starts to show signs of being insane, â€Å"I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old mans heart. † It is not possible for the narrator to hear the old man’s heart because he had just killed him. He killed the old man, cut him up, and buried him under the floorboards. It is impossible for the heart to still be beating, and any man who would believe so is insane. The narrator hallucinates the sound of the beating heart. Listening to a man who has proven to be insane makes the reader unsure of what is going to happen next. Anything can happen with the man and you do not know exactly what is going to next. It keeps you on the edge of your seat because at any moment he could lash out and go crazy. If the tale was told by the policeman, for example, the reader could not come to the conclusion that the narrator is insane and the reader could not get into the narrators mind. Another thing that the first-person point of view does is that is can drag the reader into the tale. Throughout the tale the narrator keeps referring to the reader as â€Å"you†, â€Å"TRUE! -nervous -very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? † By addressing the reader as â€Å"you† it drags the reader into the tale. They aren’t just reading the tale anymore; they are now a part of it. They get sucked in and now feel what the narrator feels. They now experience what the narrator experiences. Style and language in The Tell Tale Heart is another story element that Poe uses to create his atmosphere of horror and tension. His use of metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, punctuation and dictation help make the story so spine-chilling and blood-curdling. Without theses story elements Poe’s tale would not be what it has come to be. Metaphors are used to help people understand something by comparing it to something else that is more understandable, â€Å"He had the eye of a vulture -a pale blue eye, with a film over it. This metaphor shows how the narrator saw the eye. He didn’t just see it as any other eye; he saw it as more. He thought of it as a piercing eye from a vulture. In the tale the narrator tells the reader that the reason he wants to kill the old man is because of the old man’s eye. This metaphor helps the reader understand tr uly how much the narrator didn’t like the old man’s eye. The reader starts to understand the narrator more and more and can now begin to truly understand the narrator’s insanity. In addition to metaphors there are similes. Similes are similar to metaphors because they are also used to compare and contrast objects or ideas. They are formed when words are put together that almost create an image in your mind. Poe’s use of similes also helps contribute to his atmosphere of horror and tension, â€Å"black as pitch. † This simile gives the reader an idea of exactly how dark it is. It is impossible to see, no light at all. Since this simile is used the reader now has a true understanding of what the narrator sees and they now almost feel as if they are in the story themselves. Personification is another story element that Poe uses in his tale. Personification is used to bring objects or anything abstract to life and give it human-like qualities, â€Å"Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim. † With this use of personification is Poe’s tale death is now brought to life and has now become part of the story. Since death now has human-like qualities it can do things that contribute to the tales in ways that it could not before. The personification of death makes death a reality to the reader, which creates a feeling of horror. Another story element along with personification is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of certain syllables or sounds in a group of words one after the other, â€Å"It is the beating of his hideous heart! † In Poe’s tale the use of this alliteration gives the reader a sense of anxiety because the narrator is starting to become very nervous. This is the very last line in the tale and it leaves the reader with a feeling of uneasiness. That is because the narrator is starting to become very edgy and skittish. Poe also uses specific punctuation to make the narrator seem very tense and jittery, â€Å"Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! -no, no! They heard! -they suspected! they knew! -they were making a mockery of my horror! † Here Poe uses a hyphen to create a sense of anxiety by making the narrator talk in a skittish way. The narrator is starting to become uneasy and the reader can tell he is starting to go crazy. It is uncertain what is going to happen next. Lastly, the specific dictation Poe uses is another s tory element that contributes to his atmosphere of horror and tension. Repetition is common in The Tell Tale Heart, †It grew louder -louder -louder! † Here the narrator repeats himself while describing a constant sound that he hears that will not disappear. His repetition creates a feeling of agony for the reader because the narrator is becoming very nervous and jittery. The narrator is starting to go crazy at this point and what is about to happen next is uncertain. The atmosphere of a story makes a story what it is. Different atmospheres can make two stories completely different. To create his atmosphere of horror and tension Poe created a very suspenseful ambience, â€Å"And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so cautiously -cautiously (for the hinges creaked) † At this moment the reader is on the edge of their seat, not wanting to move a muscle. Throughout the whole time while the narrator is trying to open the door the reader is still, as still as the narrator, â€Å"Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watchs minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. † The reader is sucked into the story and cannot move, fearing that the old man might wake up. The reader acts as the narrator does, barely moving their hands. Poe’s atmosphere in The Tell Tale Heart is thought to be bone-chilling, and that it definitely is. Edgar Allen Poe’s tale, The Tell Tale Heart, is one of the most famous gothic fiction short stories ever written. His use of different literary devices create an atmosphere of horror and tension, and without them the tale would not be what it has become. In the beginning of the tale the narrator tries to convince the reader that he is perfectly sane. Though throughout the story the reader is proven otherwise. He starts to become insane and go crazy. All throughout the story the reader is on the edge of their seat, unsure of what is going to happen next. Edgar Allen Poe’s gothic fiction tale undoubtedly has an atmosphere of great horror and tension.

Internal Assessment ( IA ) Lab Report Guide Essays - Knowledge

Internal Assessment ( IA ) Lab Report Guide Essays - Knowledge Internal Assessment ( IA ) Lab Report Guide IB Biology - Mr. McGee Your internal assessment (IA) lab report is a professional document based on your accumulation of knowledge and abilities to act and function as a scientist. I know it is time consuming, but you are the scientist and we are excited to see your results! Have fun as you partake in the joy of being an independent scientist. You will produce a single typed document (typically 6-12 pages long) that will be assessed by myself as well as a random "external moderator," usually from a foreign country, during the summer months. Our scores will be compared and averaged for your final score. You will also receive a lab grade for the project my class. Remember, the IA lab reports constitutes 20% of your final IB score (80% is from papers 1, 2 3 which will be taken in May) and constitutes a large part of your overall Q3 grade in this classroom. The lab report is graded by merits of the five aspects and will be worth a total of 48 points. Personal Engagement Show evidence of your commitment and dedication to solving your research question. +2 Points (8%) Exploration Provide a well-designed lab complete with background research and focus on controls. +6 Points (25%) Analysis Processing data in a table(s) and graph(s) as well as use of appropriate statistics to support a conclusion. +6 Points (25%) Evaluation Concluding and discussing your data based on your research question and its implications to the world. +6 Points (25%) Communication The focus of your lab to the research question and your ability to clearly convey data, ideas and thoughts to readers. +4 Points (17%) Total +24 Points (100%) *Everything will be doubled, making 48 points total. Requirements of the IA Lab Report: Write your lab report in third person format. No "I" or "me." Must be typed in 12 point font in a legible, professional font (no comic-sans !). Graphs should be made on Microsoft Excel, but are permitted to be hand-drawn on paper if necessary. However, you must use sharpened pencils and be very careful to make it clear. A free alternative to Microsoft Excel is Openoffice.org . It's nearly identical and free to download. All factual information must be cited and properly sourced on a separate works cited page. Lab report needs to be organized in the proper format as found on page 2 of this guide . If human volunteer subjects are used, the lab must have their signed consent sheets submitted. The final lab report must be printed and submitted to me by the de adline (this cannot be emailed , sorry ). Responsibilities: Make sure you develop a lab that is within your abilities and time to complete. Every year some hot shot tries to go above and beyond in what they see as the "ultimate lab", only to find that the deadline approaches and they ran out of test subjects, don't have enough trials, ran out of money, etc. Just keep it simple and you can succeed. It is your responsibility to appreciate the meaning of academic honesty , especially authenticity and intellectual property. You are also responsible for initiating your research question on your own and developing a method to test it. Seeking help when in doubt, d emonstra ting independence of thought, initiative in the design and implantation of your investigation are important for you to demonstrate as a scientist and as a student. The IA is your responsibility and it is your work. Plagiarism and copying other's work is not permissible. You must clearly distinguish between your own words and thoughts and those of others by the use of quotation marks (or another method, like indentation) followed by an appropriate citation that denotes an entry in the bibliography. It is preferred that you use MLA format (although biologists tend to use CSE or CMS format). Key Due Dates: January 19 th (Tuesday) Research Question Due (emailed, printed or written) February 3 rd (Wednesday) Draft (Lab Design ) Due (must bring printed copy) February 26 th (Friday) Draft (Complete Lab Report) Due (must bring printed copy) March 1 st (Tuesday) Final IA Lab Report Due (must bring printed copy) Types of Investigations: After you have covered a number of biology syllabus

Kenyas Maternal Shelters

Kenyas Maternal Shelters The video highlights the life of Shagaa, a woman living in North Eastern Kenya. She is one of the women accommodated in a maternal shelter in the region. These shelters have been set up so that women who have previously experienced problems in relation to childbirth can be accommodated near a clinic.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Kenyas Maternal Shelters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is meant to reduce the risk of their complications escalating as they travel to a facility. The video follows Shagaa as she is taken to a hospital, which is barely 300 meters from the shelter. She undergoes a successful Caesarian section delivery, giving birth to a bouncing baby girl. However, she develops some complications that require her to receive a blood transfusion. After a few days, she is almost fully healed and can even breastfeed the baby (Sittoni, 2013). The narrator talks about how maternal deaths and infant mortal ity have been challenges in many parts of the world. The video also shows a clip of Shagaa’s husband, who has been living with her at the shelter, which he describes as a home away from home. In the facility, which is sponsored partly by UNICEF and the Kenyan government, women are accommodated to protect them from the consequences associated with child delivery. Her husband also talks about her previous births, which were very complicated and nearly resulted in her death.  The article also examines some other success stories, such as that of Hawa Ali, who stayed at the facility for three months before she delivered a baby girl. The fact that she had had five miscarriages proved that the shelter is indeed helpful. Dakan Billow, a disabled mother and previously unable to deliver successfully at home, also had a successful delivery, after staying in the shelter for three months (Sittoni, 2013). However, this is just one example of such many initiatives aimed at encouraging wom en to deliver at health facilities rather than at home. Some of these initiatives extend past the prenatal and birth by providing support for mothers after delivery through immunization as well as increasing exclusive breastfeeding that is promoting the health of a significant number of mothers (Sittoni, 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is achieved by collaborative actions among the government of Kenya and NGOs. The actions have helped to promote access to clean drinking water and provide protective care from various health conditions, such as diarrhea and malaria, which are some of the main threats to maternal health in the region. Overall, the issues in the video highlight how maternal health shelters positively impact global health survival rates.  From an analytical perspective, this facility embodies the combined effort from the global community to help to resolve the challenges of maternal death and infant mortality. These are some of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (Ronsmans Graham, 2006). This initiative can also act as an unofficial pilot study for governments and organizations that may want to execute the same solution to maternal health complications. In the video, one of the women interviewed suggested that the Ministry of Health in Kenya should contribute to the program by supplementing the funds provided by UNICEF and other NGOs. This is an effective model that can be applied by many nations, which encounter the same problem as a result of exposure to similar geopolitical conditions. In conclusion, this discussion poses the following question: Is enough being done to promote maternal health that would culminate in improved rates of child survival? References Sittoni, P. (2013). In Kenya, maternal shelters are part of a broad package of care designed to reduce child mortality. Web. Ronsmans, C., Graham, W . J. (2006). Maternal mortality: who, when, where, and why. The Lancet, 368(9542), 1189-1200.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Kenyas Maternal Shelters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

The production and the sales of cigarettes should be made illegal Research Paper

The production and the sales of cigarettes should be made illegal - Research Paper Example It is harmful is many different ways. There is nothing positive and healthy about smoking cigarettes. A lot of people around the world are now strongly addicted to smoking and considering the side-effects and long term impacts of cigarette smoking, many people want to quit their habit. Everybody has learned from the very early stage of their life that smoking is injurious to health but not everyone knows the gravity of its effects. People who smoke are not even well-aware of the damage they are causing to their health. According to Casey Holley, â€Å"Smoking cigarettes affects almost every aspect of a smoker's life. Every internal organ is affected by smoking. Many of the effects of smoking are at least partially reversible if the smoker quits smoking†. According to a report published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has been estimated that 443,000 each year are caused due to the side effects of smoking. According to the report, â€Å"Smoking causes an estim ated 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of all lung cancer deaths in women.† As a result, it should be understood by the smokers that how much loss they are causing to their health. Still we cannot impose a ban on the production and sales of cigarettes because the choice of smoking is solely an individual’s choice for his own health. ... On the other hand, comparing the adverse effects of smoking with alcohol addiction, it can be analyzed that alcohol has been found with more grave and intense side-effects. It not only affects the health but it also causes threat to the lives of many innocent people around. A cigarette smoker may cause harm to its environment, his own health and also, he may effects the health of the other person but at the same time, while smoking in an open environment may restrict him from causing damage to the other person’s health. But alcohol can directly affect the lives of many people. For example, individuals who drink and drive are risking the lives of other people than those who smoke and drive. Alcohol consumers have an unstable family life than those who are intensely addicted to smoking. Similarly, no cigarette smoker can sexually abuse or harass and even, kill a person under the influence of cigarette; however, many cases have been observed where the person has killed, raped or physically abused a person under the influence of alcohol. According to Chris Hawkey (2009), thousands of people die annually due to alcohol-related diseases as compared to cigarettes. Alcohol not only destroys an individual’s health but it also dismantles his self-esteem and dignity. If restricting or banning advertising of cigarettes can be banned then a same rule should be applied on the advertising of alcohol. In some parts of the world including France, a strict ban has been imposed on alcohol advertising. However, in other parts of the world, advertising of cigarettes is considered as an impending threat which can influence the young teenagers and other people to smoke but no one, considers the compelling ads of

Contributions of Steve Jobs in the Business Field Research Paper

Contributions of Steve Jobs in the Business Field - Research Paper Example As a result, he has influenced many companies and business people as well as young entrepreneurs all over the world. He had a winning personal character that enabled him to achieve whatever he wanted. In addition, he was able to lead and manage his company with competency, which allowed him to be among the most successful Chief Executive Officers. Moreover, Jobs had a way of winning the confidence of customers and offer them satisfaction. He did this by being very innovative and ensuring his company produced new products regularly. This paper will discuss the contributions of Steve Jobs in the business field. It will discuss in detail his management style, innovative mind as well as his character. Introduction On February 24, 1955, two young graduate students gave birth to Steve Jobs in San Francisco. These two unmarried graduate students were an American and a Syrian. Jobs biological parents felt that they were not ready to take responsibility of taking care of the boy. They therefore resolved to put him for adoption. A couple in California, Paul and Clara Jobs adopted Steve and he considered them as his real and only parents (Gillam, 15). Life in California was not very easy and Steve grew in harsh conditions of lack and hustling. When he was through with his high school education, his parents struggled to raise his school fees. Jobs spent most of his time helping his father in his garage, where he developed affection for machines. Most people considered Steve jobs as a most important figure both in the computer and entertainment sectors. Jobs’ history in business made him to be a triumphant capitalist, highlighting the significance of design while understanding the crucial responsibility of novelty in making information and entertainment products more available in to the public. This means that Steve jobs contributed or played a major role in the business sector (Gershon, 366). In the late 1970s, both the electronic and the automobile industries in the United States were getting stiff competition from foreign companies. It was normal for the Americans to expect their businesses to flourish and prosper. Therefore, word spread all over the country regarding the college dropouts who fashioned the personal computer in a garage and established a fun, new company. Exaggerations of the story went on until Jobs grew in to a hero and became a computer whiz kid. This shows how Steve Jobs contributed to computer education hence making most people in the world to become computer literate (Aaseng, 118). Personal characters that made Jobs become a successful entrepreneur Many people deem that the character of Jobs was very contradicting. This is because on the positive side they see Jobs as a motivating and visionary person, who would not settle until he fulfills his dreams and visions. On the other hand, there are those who see him as a hard, aggressive and stern person, who rebukes his employees and overwork them. However, even though Jobs had a contradicting personality, this very personality triggered his outstanding success and made him a strong entrepreneur (Griffin, 430). While the CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs developed a strong character in sales and marketing that helped in successfully marketing the products of Apple. In addition, the visionary aspect of Jobs helped the world to develop a new understanding of the use of computers. In the past, it is evident that there was a common assert ion that the only people to use computers were professionals especially in data centers. As a result of this imitative, Jobs was able to sell make the public aware that computers have multiple uses. This regard, he influenced the business community by encouraging many prospective entrepreneurs to

Ethical decision making in the workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical decision making in the workplace - Essay Example Restaurants and hotels are frequently accused of many environmental, and health and safety problems including obesity and diabetes. For example, McDonald’s has been accused a number of times in blogs, articles, social media websites, and research studies for having encouraged people to consume high-calorie foods. â€Å"[Globalization] has brought McDonald’s franchises to Mumbai†¦It has thus super-charged the â€Å"nutrition transition,† a term for the obesity-inducing shift from traditional to Western diets that accompanies modernization and wealth† (Harvard University, 2012). The digital media has provided the consumers with an insight into the work procedures and practices in the famous restaurants which raise many concerns among the consumers. For example, the video What are Chicken Nuggets Made of? uploaded on Youtube by TheYoungTurks (2010) is a very depressing video for the nuggets-lovers as it tells how the waste of chicken is combined, process ed, and treated into the mixture that the famous restaurants describe as Chicken meat. Ethical decision making in the hotel and hospitality industry requires commitment of the top management since the decision making authority rests with the top management. Ecological and environmental issues in the hotel and hospitality industry include but are not limited to the management of organic and inorganic waste produced in the restaurants, and improving the nutritional value of foods so as to make them safer and healthier for the customers. Ethical decision making requires restaurants to be very honest about what they are feeding their customers with. â€Å"Its important that parents know that the standards of food are good† (Balls cited in BBC News, 2010). Top management plays the fundamental role in making such information available to the customers since they are the decision-making authority rests with them. Delivering the customers comfort and good experience is

Flexible working patterns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Flexible working patterns - Essay Example One of the most popularly advocated structural technique for increasing an employee’s motivational potential is Job Enrichment. While there are several options to enrich the job being done by an employee, a common method is to allow the worker to assume some of the tasks executed by his or her supervisor. Enrichment requires that workers do increased planning and controlling of their work, usually with less supervision and more self-evaluation. From the stand point of increasing the internal motivation from doing a job, it has been proposed that job enrichment offers great potential (Cunningham & Eberle, 1990). However, job enrichment is successful only when it increases responsibility while increasing the employee’s freedom and independence. The methodology for the research collected in this paper is library and online research which gives interesting insights into what experts suggest is the correct way for enriching jobs with flexible working schedules. The research done on the topic sought out both positive and negative opinions on the subject to come to a conclusion about the benefits or disadvantages of having flexible working hours. In cases where personal biases were likely to affect the presentation of the research material, evidence was used to show the source of the material used for creating this document. The overall literature on the topic suggests that job enrichment through the use of flexible working patterns is a positive move for most employment situations. This is done by organizing tasks so as to allow individuals to do a complete activity and provides feedback to allow individuals to correct their performance with time (Alster, 1989). One of the measures involved in providing job enrichment increasing the employee’s freedom and by way of permitting flexible working patterns. The reported results have been mixed because in some situations, job enrichment has increased productivity; in

Planning Commission Meeting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Planning Commission Meeting - Assignment Example The issues at hand included pollution due to poor disposal of wastes, carbon gas emissions due to transportation and use of fossil fuel. Protection of water catchment areas from industrial pollution was also a major concern which prompted the constitution of the commission. The agenda for the meeting was set by Rebecca Devooght as the chairperson of the commission. It appears the issue on environmental sustainability through reducing pollution has been a concern and a point of discussion for the last 10 years or so since it emanated from the late 90’s, though major escalating factors arose in 2007 leading to the formation the commission to look into the green-house gas process (Birch and Wachter, 60). Planning Commission members: The planning commission on environmental sustainability was composed of women and men in a manner to put into consideration gender balance. It had four males and four females. The males were Fred Bauries, Paul Cervenak, Bill Hartwig and Stephen Wooden while the females were Rebecca Devooght, Emily Fleury- vice Chair, Lynsey Clayton and Julie Jones-Fisk During the meeting every member contributed where others raised the contentious questions while the others provided the responses. Suggestions provided were discussed with the opinion of the members well incorporated and therefore it was an all inclusive participation for all the members of the commission. This implies that the findings of the commission are a genuine representation of the views of all members representing the different groups. During the meeting, various aspects of planning were considered in reviewing the possibility of coming up with a practical plan for sustainable environment in the city. Questions came up on the comparison of how the recycling facilities were being applied in other citities. This included practicability and efficiency of using such recycling facilities. The modalities and methods of making the recycling system more practical and applicable w ere explored and finally, it was concluded that it was better to use cans in collecting garbage and the cans should be colored differently to give the users an easy time in identifying which type of garbage should go in each can. This would make the cans easy to use and would provide room for easy recycling of the garbage as the materials will be sorted according to classes and the ability to be recycled or not. The aspect of cost of such a system also came up as to whether it was possible to develop other means which were more efficient in terms of providing energy but at lower cost. The other challenge the commission encountered was in trying to establish who was responsible for what kind of planning among the various interest groups. It was difficult to establish this because the recycling of materials such as furniture and garbage was done at different times of the year by different groups (Birch and Wachter, 152). Even if a recycling center was established, it was difficult to engage a constant and efficient recycling staff who could do this regularly without being underutilized. The students could be disposing their furniture or garbage at a particular time while businessmen and women would tend to dispose garbage on a regular basis. This is an activism commission which is trying to put checks on the city council of management. The issue of environmental sustainability is an issue that

Flexible working patterns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Flexible working patterns - Essay Example One of the most popularly advocated structural technique for increasing an employee’s motivational potential is Job Enrichment. While there are several options to enrich the job being done by an employee, a common method is to allow the worker to assume some of the tasks executed by his or her supervisor. Enrichment requires that workers do increased planning and controlling of their work, usually with less supervision and more self-evaluation. From the stand point of increasing the internal motivation from doing a job, it has been proposed that job enrichment offers great potential (Cunningham & Eberle, 1990). However, job enrichment is successful only when it increases responsibility while increasing the employee’s freedom and independence. The methodology for the research collected in this paper is library and online research which gives interesting insights into what experts suggest is the correct way for enriching jobs with flexible working schedules. The research done on the topic sought out both positive and negative opinions on the subject to come to a conclusion about the benefits or disadvantages of having flexible working hours. In cases where personal biases were likely to affect the presentation of the research material, evidence was used to show the source of the material used for creating this document. The overall literature on the topic suggests that job enrichment through the use of flexible working patterns is a positive move for most employment situations. This is done by organizing tasks so as to allow individuals to do a complete activity and provides feedback to allow individuals to correct their performance with time (Alster, 1989). One of the measures involved in providing job enrichment increasing the employee’s freedom and by way of permitting flexible working patterns. The reported results have been mixed because in some situations, job enrichment has increased productivity; in

Sunset Boulevard by(Billy Wilder, 1950) and Northwest by( Alfred Essay

Sunset Boulevard by(Billy Wilder, 1950) and Northwest by( Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) - Essay Example The 1920s were known as the Jazz Age and Americans prospered due to the zooming of stock markets and the flourishing of the arts. At the turn of the decade, the Great Depression set in, precipitated by the biggest crash in Wall Street history. The country went into a period of great introspection. As politicians and economists were grappling with finding solutions to pull through the economic depression, similar efforts are being made to improve the standards of the film industry. The Hays Code, introduced in 1934 was one such outcome. Although the United States Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 came ahead of Hays Code, it was not taken seriously by filmmakers, making it necessary for government authorities to introduce and implement a more comprehensive set of guidelines (Friedrich, 1997). The agency given the responsibility of enforcing the code is commonly referred to as the Breen Office (after administrator Joseph Breen). In this context, it is interesting to see how the content of popular movies such as Sunset Boulevard (1951) and North by Northwest (1959) were possibly influenced by the code. Both the movies were produced years after the introduction of the code. Hence by the time the movies were conceived and written, the story writer, screenplay writer and the director would have inherently known what is acceptable and what is unacceptable with respect to the Hays Code. There is also documented evidence that the first scripts of the two movie submitted to the Breen Office were not approved immediately. The production team had to modify a few dialogues and change certain aspects of the film that were deemed to violate the code (Harris, 2008). To take the case of Sunset Boulevard, the story depicts an unusual relationship between a fading Hollywood writer and a former Hollywood leading lady. As the fortunes of both the former stars are fading away, they happen to develop an opportunistic

The Link Between Greek And Western Civilization Essay Example for Free

The Link Between Greek And Western Civilization Essay The Greek civilization is recognized to have been one of the foremost contributors to Western Civilization. The culture, politics, science, and educational systems of the ancient Greeks are said to have impacted the development of early Western Civilization and are thus the foundations upon which our present society is based. Many different historians, experts, and writers have tried to provide a comprehensive understanding of ancient Greek and its impact on modern society. Bruce Thornton is one of these experts and he shows in his book that the Greeks did, in fact, contribute a great deal to our civilization. When we talk about the Greek civilization, the conversation invariably goes into a discussion of their achievements. Greek philosophers were known for their use of reason and logic. The speech forms of rhetoric and dialogue were developed and perfected by the Greeks in large agoras or public spaces where they were wont to hold numerous public discussions about intellectual matters. The political system of democracy developed in ancient Greece and is considered by many to be their most important contribution to modern society. The literature of the time continues to regale modern audiences. The Greek epics The Odyssey and The Iliad are still capable of inspiring modern works. The writings of Plato are still the favored topics of discussion by scholars. The impact of Greek science on Western civilization is equally great. In the field of medicine, for example, one will not be considered a doctor without first taking the Hippocratic Oath. Greek art has influenced present society by being the forerunners of aesthetics. Even architectural works like the Parthenon have had a great impact on the way Western Civilization continues today. By simply looking at the works of the ancient Greeks and comparing present-day Western society, it is clear that the Greeks were able to contribute to all aspects of Western life today. But Bruce Thornton asserts that there is a deeper and more primal contribution by the Greeks. The entirety of what other writers and scholars have talked about as the contributions of Greek civilization to Western Civilization can be summed up as a contribution of critical consciousness. What the Greeks truly gave Western civilization was the ability to analyze, to think critically about the self and everything outside of the self. It is perhaps the case that all the greatest accomplishments of the Greeks were born out of this practiced ability to be critical. Democracy, rhetoric, even logic all come from a critical consciousness. The Greeks, above everything else they did, gave Western civilization a model and the ways by which one could develop a critical consciousness. This contribution is larger than the more concrete, more talked about works of the Greeks. Because the Greek civilization shared the legacy of critical consciousness with the Western civilization, the latter has been able to think on its own. Because of critical consciousness, we have been able to give birth to equal rights, free speech, public education. The Greeks did not espouse the same ideas regarding the three concepts but because we have critical minds of our own, because we have immersed ourselves in the legacy of the Greeks, we are able to decide on our own what would be best for our society. We are not reliant on the processes, philosophies, and hierarchies practiced by a previous civilization. Because the Greeks gave us critical consciousness, we are able to take what they had and make it into something much better, much more appropriate for our civilization, for the times we live in now.

The Business Transformations Organizational Context Information Technology Essay

The Business Transformations Organizational Context Information Technology Essay Business Transformation, in an organizational context, is a process of profound and radical change, focussing an organization on a new direction and taking it to a new level of effectiveness. Transformation implies a basic change of character and little or no resemblance to the past configuration or structure (www.businessdictionary.com, 2010a). IT enabled business transformation is the use of technology in order to fundamentally alter the way business is carried out within an industry and organizations implementing these changes can competitive advantages (Rau, 2006). Information Systems enabling business transformation has evolved greatly over time. The early 70s saw data being centralized and systems linked to a very few business functions and the operations of the bulky main frames. The 80s saw the installation of PCs and LANs and departments set up computer systems, using end-user computing with word processors and spreadsheets making departments less dependent on the IT department. The main focus was central control and corporate learning. The 90s Wide Area Networks became corporate standards with senior management looking for system and data integration. Main focus was central and corporate learning. The millennium brought with it Wide Area Network expansion through the internet to include global enterprises and business partners supply chain and distribution. Senior management look for data sharing while the main focus is on attaining efficiencies and speed in inventory, manufacturing and distribution. (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, n.d ). The roles and responsibilities of the CIO are ever evolving. Ross and Fenny (1999) highlight the varied roles of the CIO during three eras; mainframe era (1960s 1980s), distributed era (late 1970s onwards) and the web-based era (mostly mid 1990s onwards). The mainframe era CIO was is most cases a Data Processing/Information Systems manager. The key tasks demanded were to deploy new systems to time and budget, and ensuring systems reliability during operations. The distributed era saw the CIO hit turbulent times. CIOs had to learn and master multiple roles in order to survive and prosper. The four main roles of the CIO were Organizational Designer, Technology Advisor, Technology Architect and Informed Buyer. During the web based era, the evolving CIO focuses on business change through new business models, management processes etc. The CIO also argues for greater measure of central coordination and also work with executive colleagues to improve leverage so as to fulfil the need for st rategically aligning operations to IT in a bid to attain higher levels of efficiency and competitive advantage. Lanka Bell is the second largest fixed line telecommunications operator in Sri Lanka with over 1.2 million CDMA and fixed wired lines. It is also the ISP with the largest international backbone in Sri Lanka. Lanka Bell was established in 1997 and was later acquired by Milford Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) in 2005. Under new management, Lanka Bell was the first Operator to introduce CDMA into the Sri Lankan market and is presently has the largest CDMA customer base of more than 1.2 million subscribers. In 2008, Lanka Bell invested US $27 million to link Sri Lanka to the Falcon section of the FLAG fibre optic undersea cable, which is owned by Indias Reliance Communications and has more than 87 points of presence (POPs) worldwide. Lanka Bell is the Sri Lankan operator with the largest international backbone capacity. Further, the Lanka Bell team more than quadrupled from about 350 employees in 2005 to about 1500 today. Lanka Bell curren tly has 65 branch offices, and also strategic ties to Abans, Softlogic, Arpico Shopping Malls and multiple banks in easing the obtaining of services and the settlement of bills. In mid 2008, Lanka Bell was the first Sri Lankan operator to commercially launch WiMAX operations. WiMAX is currently being deployed island wide in the provision of data and voice solutions. The WiMAX network enables the coupling of voice and data solutions including Broadband, Leased Lines and VPNs. It also provides for a centralized monitoring and fault locating. WiMAX is one of the most recent technologies to hit the telecom industry in the provision of high speed data, voice and streaming media. Lanka Bell is just 13 years old and as Sri Lanka is a developing country, it cannot be assumed that Sri Lanka has the infrastructure and know-how currently available in more developed nations. In place of a CIO, Lanka Bell has an individual with the designation of General Manager IT. Presently Lanka Bell is upgrading IT/IS infrastructure and data and voice networks to support future expansion and create efficiency. The IT/IS division has presently taken over the IT/IS operations of 16 companies coming under the parent DCSL group and manages all technology related issues. This provides for improved efficiency and significant cost savings on man power and other resources. Further, Lanka Bell is testing the use of HP Blade Servers in collaboration with DMS Electronics (Private) Limited. The Blade systems are state of the art new server systems which support for advanced data processing, storage and redundancy option through SAN (Storage Area Network). These Blade systems consume less po wer, less space and support virtualization, which will enable multiple servers to be installed and managed on one system, which is the technology of tomorrow. The positive outcomes of this could be newer, faster and reliable systems supporting centralized storage and management and thus lowering the overall hardware costs, power costs, maintenance cost and labour costs etc. Tests are also being carried out on mobile CDMA. This technology has already established infrastructure and the company may have a considerable income if the system could be implemented. The organization also conducts tests on the WiMAX network with multiple vendors, testing inter vendor compatibility and the overcoming of identified issues etc. These experiments are being conducted to enable reduction of costs of operation and to also provide a wider range of products and services to customers at more competitive rates. The role played by IS/IT in the telecom industry worldwide is immense. Cansfield (2008) states à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦value in telecoms is created by the IT systems that create the services that run on the network and are purchased by customers. Cansfield (2008) further states à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the performance of the IT systems should be placed under as much scrutiny as the balance sheet. As mentioned in the above paragraphs, it can be seen that IS/IT enabled business transformation is a continuous process and as change occurs, so does the role of the CIO have to evolve. It can be understood from the overview of Lanka Bell that as the company enforces changes to business strategy, it needs the IS/IT strategy to evolve too. For these changes to occur smoothly, the CIO should be able to evolve to match the situational requirements. Literature mostly covers the two areas of IS/IT enabled business transformation and the evolving role of CIOs as separate areas of study; neither providing sufficient comparisons nor emphasizing the relationship existent. Based on initial studies, congruency between the evolving role of the CIO and IS/IT enabled business transformation can be noted. This research is conducted so as to identify how the evolution of IS/IT enabled business transformation influences the change in the roles of CIOs and also to formulate guidelines and recommendations to Lanka Bell. These guidelines and recommendations are intended to assist the top level management match the changes in business environment with the level of IS/IT enabled business transformations and provide a clearer view for the CIO to conduct operations. 6.0 Literature Review: IT enabled business transformation has many definitions by different academia. Rau (2006) defines IT enabled business transformation as the use of technology in order to fundamentally alter the way business is carried out within an industry and organizations implementing these changes can competitive advantages. Oestreich (2009) says of IT enabled business transformation that it is the integration of all activities and functions along business processes into a single process agile value chain. Similarly, Markus and Benjamin (1997) also view the transformation as a business process that crosses several functional lines. In studying the above definitions, it can be summarized that Rau (2006) views IT enabled transformation as the use of technology in attaining competitive advantages, while Oestreich (2009) views it as the integration of processes. Markus and Benjamin (1997) view is integration across functions. Based on the above, a definition can be formed where IT enabled transformat ion is the use of technology to attain competitive advantages by integrating processes across functional lines. Ever since the commercialization of computers in the late 1950s, IT has been an enabler to business transformation. Ross and Fenny (1999) differentiate the levels of IS utilization during three eras. The mainframe era commenced with the automation of clerical tasks and overtime developed transaction processing capabilities. It was during this stage that Electronic Data Processing was initiated in the accounting function. In good time, firms began automating other functions until mainframe computing affected the organizational activities or most large organization. The distributed era commenced with the development of business applications for mini computers and personal computers and typically targeting needs of knowledge workers. This initially resulted in islands of computing within organizations. IT was increasingly perceived as a tool for cross-functional integration and collaboration. It was at this stage that certain companies took IT as a competitive weapon and strove to innov ate along the supply and distribution chains. Further changes evident were globalization and business process re-engineering. Towards the end of the era, ERP systems emerged and they seamlessly integrated all required transaction processing within a distributed network. Organizations invested huge sums in ERP development. The web-based era brought with it the development of the internet, extranet an intranet based applications for business. Organizations began to realize they could offer low cost value-added services via the web. Intranet applications linking the organization provide for data sharing and business process standardization. Knowledge management is a key development of the web-based era. Extranet applications have also developed to link an organization with multiple partners in supply, distribution, manufacturing etc. Rouse (2005) states in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a whole new segment of interactive computing emerged. In the late 1960s, Digital Equipment Corporat ion (DEC) minicomputers dominated the interactive computing market while in the mid 1980s, Apple came out with the Macintosh, which became the industry standard in the sense of its features and benefits. He further states that most of todays attention has been dominated by the internet. The process of transformation in itself is of complex nature and many academics have suggested models. Venkatraman (1994) provides a framework based on two dimensions: the potential IT benefit range and degree of organizational transformation, and states the benefits from deployment of IT are marginal if superimposed on existing organizational conditions. In cases where investments in IT functionality are complimented by organizational changes in characteristics, benefits accrue. A diagram of the model is given below: Source: Venkatraman (1994) Ventakraman (1994) further describes the distinctive characteristics of each stage: Localized Exploitation covers the leveraging of IT functionality to redesign focused, high-value areas of business operation. Internal Integration covers the leveraging of IT capability to create a seamless organization process reflecting both technical interconnectivity and organizational interdependence. Business Process Redesign addresses redesigning the key processes to derive organizational capabilities for competing in the future as opposed to simply rectifying current weaknesses; use IT capability as an enabler for future organizational capability. Business Network Redesign is articulating the strategic logic to leverage related participants in the business network to provide products and services in the marketplace; exploiting IT functionality for learning from the extended network as well as for coordination and control. Business Scope Redefinition is the redefining of the corporate scope that is enabled and facilitated by IT functionality. Venkatraman (1994) conclusively states that, successful companies will be differentiated by their ability to visualize the logic of the new business world and leverage IT to create an appropriate organizational arrangement internal and external to support business logic. The transformation trajectory is a moving target, shaped by fundamental changes in the competitive business world. Managements challenge is to continually adapt the organization and technological capabilities to be in dynamic alignment with the chosen business vision. Rouse (2006) in his book provides a broad systems-oriented view of transformation and a theoretical view on the forces that prompt transformation and the nature of how it is pursued. He also addresses the issue of transformational leadership and organizational and cultural change. Towards the end, he provides a collection of transformational case studies. Perumal and Pandey (2008) define the process of transformation as, a drastic change in the way of running a business. This change may span across processes, people, technology, policies, vision or any other business component, and has a direction for meeting a specific business goal. They provide a table containing the stages of the transformation process and further state that any business transformation impacts in one or more of the following ways; workforce culture becomes manageable, processes become efficient, automation of manual activities, business rules are altered, strategy gains direction. The following is an illustration of the various transformational process stages: In analysing the above paragraphs, it can be noted that Ventakraman (1994) defines the stages or levels of transformation based on two variables; the range of potential benefits and the degree of organizational transformation. An organization can map itself into one of the five stages, given it matches the required criteria. Perumal and Pandey (2008) state transformation spans across processes, people, technology, policies, vision or any other business component, and has a direction for meeting a specific business goal and provide seven stages for transformation. Each stage has sub-steps and if conducted in the correct manner, each element of business gets favourably transformed during the process. The Booz Allen Hamilton (2010) transformation life cycle defines five stages for transformation. It also defines the key enablers to successful transformation which are people, process, technology and physical infrastructure. The model also illustrates the process areas of capability devel opment, ownership building and program stewardship, each are related collectively performed sub processes to achieve a set of predefined goals. In analysing the above paragraphs, Feldhues (2006) presents the Gottschalk set of CIO Leadership Roles. These nine roles described can be applied to a CIO and also to the role expected of a CIO. Furthermore, Edwards et al. (2009) presents five types of present day CIOs and describes them against six criteria he has defined. Also, Kaufeld et al. (2000) provide Charis extended IT Leadership Growth model in emphasizing the role of IS/IT management. This model divides the IS/IT leadership into a four stage process where, when the leadership evolves, the characteristics of the previous stages are included in the new stage, thus improving and increasing competencies and abilities. Lanka Bell was incorporated in 1997 and since inception has been a key player in the telecom and Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry in Sri Lanka. Lanka Bell commenced with around 300 members of staff and very limited technology and systems. Most of the processes at inception had a lot of manual processing involved as they were only partially automated. As operations progressed, the influence of IS/IT upon operations increased. IS/IT was always a part of the business as the telecommunication industry is very dependent on IS/IT systems (Cansfield, 2008). The hierarchy of IT leadership at Lanka Bell also evolved over time with new designations being created and others removed. Currently, the role of the CIO at Lanka Bell is played by the General Manager IT. In 2005, as Lanka Bell saw a new management takeover, the strategic importance of IS/IT and the need for good leadership was recognized. Research can be classified as primary and secondary research. Primary research refers to the researcher collecting his/her own data rather than depending solely on published literature while secondary research refers to the researcher seeking out literature from a number of sources including journals, books conference proceedings etc with a view to show he/she is well read in the area (Biggam, 2008). Further to the above, research methods in general can be classified as action research, experimental research, case study approach, computing research are some examples. The Lecture notes (2010) mention Kock (1997) describes action research as research where the researchers aim is to directly improve the organization studied while also generating scientific knowledge, while Oates (2006) describes experimental research as a strategy investigating cause and effect relationships and seeking to prove or disprove the relationship between a factor and an observed outcome. It also mentions of Yins (2003) description of the case study approach as an empirical study investigating in real life context, even when boundaries are not clearly evident. Computing research is mentioned as being composed of eight major approaches (Galliers, 1992). Dr. Bandu Ranasinghe

Is Diversity The Solution to Affirmative Action? Essay -- Equality Rac

IS DIVERSITY THE SOLUTION TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Equal employment practices, in many organizations, have been established through affirmative action programs. These programs were created by government mandate to create a fair and non-discriminatory working environment in organizations. The need for affirmative action was recognized as early as the 1940’s, as a concept, based on the racial diversity of our country. The goal was the redistribution of opportunities on the basis of race. Now as we approach the 21st century, affirmative action seems to be a dying issue, legally and otherwise. The fact still remains that we have a racially and culturally diverse population, here in the United States, and something has to take the place of affirmative action. Diversity seems to be the new concept of most public and private organizations, Many Human Resources specialist seem to believe that where there is diversity there is no need for affirmative action. In this report I will look at what affirmative action has done for us, and whe re diversity can take us. President Johnson formally created affirmative action in 1965; it initially targeted employers that held federal contracts. The originating document for affirmative action was Executive Order 11246, which mandated a race-neutral means of equal opportunity and created a level playing field for previously excluded people. Employees should be treated equally without regard for their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. With the passage of time, affirmative action received a broader definition and became the platform for women’s groups, civil rights’ groups and other minorities. The umbrella term, ‘affirmative action’, refers to a variety of highly regulated efforts used ... ... B., & Packer, A. E. (1987). Workforce 2000: Work and workers for the twenty-first century. Indianapolis: Hudson Institute and Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office. Source: Carson Public Library Kessler, L. L. (1990). Managing Diversity In An Equal Opportunity Workplace. National Foundation for the Study of Employment Policy, Washington D. C. Source: CSUDH Library Loden, M. & Rosener, J. B. (1991). Workforce America! Managing Employee Diverstiy as a Vital Resource. Business One Irwin, Homewood, ILL. Source: CSUDH Library Riccucci, N. M. (Spring, 1997). Cultural Diversity Programs to Prepare for Work Force 2000: What’s Gone Wrong? Public Personnel Management, 26(1). Source: CSUDH Library Sunderland, T. (1996). "Diversity in the Workplace." <http://cctr.umkc.edu/wicc/wdpaper.ht Source: CSUDH Internet 4 November 98

Gideon Vs. Wainwright Essay -- essays research papers

United States Supreme Court cases are argued and decided on Constitutional grounds. All arguments and decisions are based on interpretations of the original Constitution and, more often, on Constitutional amendments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  GIDEON v. WAINWRIGHT   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In June 1961, Clarence Gideon was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in Bay Harbor. He was tried in a Florida Circuit Court in August 1961. Gideon stated in Court that he was unable to afford a lawyer and asked the Judge to appoint one for him. The Judge said he was sorry but he could not do that, because the laws of Florida called for appointment of counsel only when a defendant was charged with a capital offense [where the death penalty might be imposed]. When the Florida courts denied his claim, he went to the Supreme Court. In his prison he submitted a petition, handwritten in pencil, arguing that Florida had ignored a rule laid down by the Supreme Court: â€Å" that all citizens tried for a felony crime should have aid of counsel.† Oral arguments were heard on January 15,1962 and the decision was announced on March 18, 1963.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, Gideon was wrong. The rule applied by the Supreme Court at that time was in fact exactly the opposite. The Constitution, it had held, did not guarantee free counsel to all felony defendants that are unable to retain their own. Since1942, when Betts v. Brady was decided by a divided Court, the problem of defend...

Life in the Trenches Essay

Today, we were once again heavily bombarding the German lines. It was a routine thing nowadays. Some of the more experienced soldiers didn’t even notice the heavy German response bombardments that were every second posing a threat to their lives. As we heard a shell landing, we heard attentively just to make sure it wasn’t coming direct on us and then, the colossal roar burst from the ground. Life here was getting rather monotonous, always the same routine, four days on the frontline then four days behind lines and then the same thing the following week or so. It wasn’t what the papers said up in England, they were written to hide the truth of the massacring that occurred at the battle of the Sommes for one example. Hundreds and thousands of corps lay motionless on the ground. General Haig believed that with heavy bombardments we could break through their lines. He was mistaken. Men were crushed by the machine-gun fire as if dry leaves and they lay there, untouched, rotting away in the muddy earth which emitted an incredibly pungent smell. The mud made it almost impossible to live in these trenches. The water was right up to my knees and there was nothing I could do about it. A lot of my comrades managed to get trench foot which was a disease which made your feet rot due to the fact that they remained submerged for hours if not days. Life was incredibly tough in the trenches, nothing like I had imagined it to be. I thought I’d come back as a war hero but from the English articles we read, it seemed to me as if none of our letters had been dispatched or if they had been intercepted in some way, to not allow our families know the real truth. They are made to believe that all is well and that the heroes that saved the French are close to victory. This was not true. Although General Haig did believe he made some progress today, it was nowhere near what we had hopes. The Germans knew about the attack and had built very effective means to defend themselves. They had built dig outs that were up to 12 metres deep underground. This was to protect from any sort of shell attack that the English and the French had. They also had very effective barbed wire that the English didn’t completely manage to destroy before the 200,000 men were sent over the top on a suicide mission. The weather was also very unpredictable some days it would be boiling hot and we would die of thirst waiting for something remotely interesting to happen and other times, we would fear for our lives when we could hear a shell whistling like a train in a tunnel, at which point, we would sink our head right into the mud and not rise until we heard a relatively near explosion. The dig-outs were a good initiative seeing as it has always been a fact that the best way to absorb shell shock is with earth. We heard that some of the accommodations for officers were rather nice in the dig-outs. They were full complete with a bed, a pump, and sometimes even some different food that they manage to bring along with them and place it in the cupboards. Everyday, there was fear of the new methods that the Germans had developed of attacking us. There was late news that gas attack was in use. Now it was regulation that we had to carry a mask with us at all times otherwise we could be gassed with new inventions such as the mustard gas which apparently burned right through your skin and you suffered a horrible and painful death. We were all worried about this new gas. We didn’t know what it actually smelt like. Apparently, it had a pungent smell hence the name, mustard gas but most of my fellow soldiers feel that they would fall into panic if a gas attack was to take place One of the very few things which I feel is very positive about the whole trench warfare is the comradeship. I had made some pals that would risk their lives if it would mean saving mine. I had never experienced such a feeling until I came to the trenches. It was truly unique. Knowing that you would have to live with these people twenty four hours a day, seven days a week was a way of knowing that somebody would always be there for you. You would seriously bond with someone and would do anything to accomplish the promise you made them. This was particularly moving when one of your closest comrades dies in action and you feel you should have died with him or for him. The danger in the trenches was as dangerous on the front line as to get there. We would be exposed to heavy artillery fire in these measly little trenches that compared to the front line looked as if they were built for dwarves. When our men died, we buried them behind the trenches. It was a petty funeral, no service no nothing, just whoever wanted to attend to dig up a ditch and place his friends in there to rest in piece. It was up to you if you wanted to help seeing as there was always the chance of a stray bullet or a sniper hitting you as you were working. Most were left to rot. After a while, the trenches, with the wet weather deteriorated. There was no more a 4†³ thick bullet-proof parapet to save your life; the walls of the trench had collapsed to make the trench into a mud bath with water which was to reach your knees. During the wet weather it was truly disgusting. Overall life in the trenches is pretty gross and unhygienic although, some officers did get treated rather well and the food that the English were given which was usually bully beef and jam was of a much higher quality than any other front line army. Diseases spread and people suffer of lack of sleep without forgetting the fact that everyone was homesick and wishing to see their families so basically, apart from making good friends and fighting for your country, the trenches must have been a rather appalling experience.

President Jackson on the Twenty Dollar Bill

Jackson on the Twenty Dollar Bill Taylor Alton, 7th 11/13/11 I do not believe that President Jackson should be on the twenty dollar bill. He was not a man of good; all he cared about was pleasing himself and making other people believe he was doing good; manipulating them. Andrew Jackson was only concerned with keeping the union together. If he could get people to see that he could keep the states one nation then he would gain fame. I find this very ironic, he hated paper money and actually preferred coins, and people want him to be on the twenty dollar bill.The last reason I don’t want him on the twenty dollar bill is because of the way he treated the slaves and slavery in itself. Why should we put a man on money that does not deserve it? Andrew Jackson was a one man show unless it came to putting on a fake smile to â€Å"win† over his followers support. If something that he saw posed as a threat to his ideas then it was no good. Take cooperation’s or businesses for example, Andrew Jackson and most of his Democratic followers feared the growing economic and political power exercised by some corporations.Their ability to amass wealth, through banking and manufacturing operations, and to influence and even coerce individual citizens, posed a threat to the Jeffersonian ideals that Jackson held dear. So once again, those companies threatened his power and he did not like that. Andrew Jackson believed that the Second Bank of the United States was unconstitutional and that it posed a serious threat to the American economy and its democratic political institutions. Though its charter was not set to expire until 1836, BUS (Bank of the U. S. ) president Nicholas Biddle requested and received a congressional re-charter in 1832.Jackson decided to veto the bill. Jackson escalated this so-called â€Å"Bank War† in 1833 when he removed federal government funds that were on deposit with the BUS and distributed them to loyal state banks. Thatâ€⠄¢s not right of him to do that, in my opinion it doesn’t matter if he’s president or not. It posed as a threat to him and he feared for his own power. Jackson did not even like paper money anyways. He preferred to use coins instead, so putting him on money he wouldn’t even approve of us using is idiotic. Andrew Jackson was a man of action not of philosophy people say.He once was a slave owner before his presidency years. He took up the matter of slavery in only a political aspect. America was supposed to be a land of the free, and yet we have slaves. On July 5, 1852 people gathered in New York to here a speech about Independence Day by an African American former slave Fredrick Douglas. He blamed Andrew Jackson for the spread of slavery in America. He saw him as a hypocritical politician and a hypocritical American. Jackson transformed millions of acres of land that Indians lived on (Indian removal act) in the south into cotton plantations.This probably would ha ve happened without Jackson but he was the heart of this whole idea in making plantations for slaves to work on. Now if he was the man he says he is why would he want more land for African Americans to work on? Maybe Jackson has done some things that have had a positive effect on our nation today but for me I can’t get past all the wrong he’s done as well. He is a man of power and fame and he wants nothing to do with anything that he feels threatens or harms his ideas that he instills in people. He does not deserve the right to be on the twenty dollar bill.

Public Relation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Public Relation - Assignment Example public relations can be done through compiling of distributed messages and their placement in the media by simply counting how many featured stories, news releases, letters, and photos are produced in a given duration of time. Another way of measuring the efforts of public relations is the measurement of changes in opinions, attitude and behavior, which can be considered as measurement of the effectiveness of public relations but requires interpretation as it can always be subjective. The efforts of public relations can also be measured through tracking of social content such as news sites, wikis, blogs and social networking sites, so as to determine the sentiments and volume of online conversations about a certain topic or brand. Advertising is not that much different from public relations but only with one major difference, advertising is paid media while public relations earned media. This means that ‘an individual or a company can choose to pay for advertisement or you can choose to market your product in the newspapers, websites or magazines and wait for the product to promote itself’ (Tymorek, 2010). With public relations, there is more credibility of the product due to verification by a third party while advertisement the credibility of a product is

Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Bibliography - Essay Example Moreover, the article emphasizes the legal right of people to carry guns in a democratic country like the United States, and so this becomes the basis of further investigation as to how far should the legality of one’s right be acknowledged vis-à  -vis safety and security. A Florida gun-rights group in the name of Florida Carry decided to file a lawsuit against the University of Florida because the latter has allegedly and unjustly instituted a total gun ban in its campus. Furthermore, according to the gun-rights group, the university has blatantly violated the citizens’ right to carry weapons as it prohibited not only the carrying of weapons but also the storing of weapons in cars within the campus. For this gun-rights group, the right of people to store guns is really a matter of personal privacy. However, there is no stated response from the University of Florida so far. This paper will benefit greatly from the use of this article as a good counterargument against total gun ban laws, while emphasizing the right of people to privacy. This will, however, be counteracted by the idea that safety and security must be the greater priority in an ethical dilemma such as gun-related violence.HemeTop of Form HemeHemHemenway, David & Matthew Miller. "Firearm Availability and Homicide Rates across 26 High-Income Countries."  The Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care  49 (2000): 985-988. Print. The article says that wherever guns are more available in the world, there are definitely more homicides. This is the data of 26 countries culled from databases such as those of the World Bank, public surveys and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while using the Cook Index statistical tool. Among these countries, the United States is the highest for both the gun count and the homicide count. This work therefore provides the paper with one of

Personal Ethics Statement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Ethics Statement - Assignment Example The paper "Personal Ethics Statement" examines Personal Ethics Statement. I believe that all patients must be treated with the highest standards of health care, and that they are entitled to the highest quality of medical services. I believe that all health care professionals must not, in any case, do harm to a patient, or do things that may be against their best interest. I believe that all health care professionals must respect the privacy of their patients, and that they must always be able to maintain confidentiality on all information regarding their patients. I believe that prevention is better than cure, and that all medical professionals must be able to focus on preventive medicine. I believe that all health care professionals must be able to contribute to the development of knowledge regarding their profession, and use it for the overall development of medicine and the provision of health care. One of the main references that I used in my personal ethics statement is The Mod ern Version of the Hippocratic Oath, as written by Louis Lasagna. As known by any health professionals, the Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest medical documents in history, and is also one of the major ethical guides that are used by medical professionals (especially physicians) up to the present Personally, I still view the Hippocratic Oath as an important ethical guide for all medical professionals because it outlines one of the main purposes of medicine: to treat patients according to their best interests.

Vision statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Vision statement - Essay Example I will advance my knowledge and skills in human resource management and use that information in offering solution involving employees in the company I will be working with (Alexander, 2007). I will build rapport with other employees and my senior in the company in order to ensure smooth running of the activities not only in my department, but in all other departments. I will devote all my energy towards my work by working six days a week to maximize my contribution to the company and at the same time make more money. I believe in work commitment and I will dedicate my time to work and spare some of my resources to help others who may need my assistance in one or another (Norton, 2013). In conclusion, I will use all resources available for me in order to get an opportunity to as senior human resource personnel in a competent organization where I will be able to earn money and take care of my family and

Human Growth and development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Human Growth and development - Essay Example Psychiatric evaluation of the parents of the infant should also be undertaken. History of behavioral problems such as delinquent behaviors, criminal cases, and substance abuse should also be checked in the family history since it had been determined that problematic behaviors are partly genetic. Determination of possible learning disabilities is also important to be able to be prepared for the time when the child needs to start education. There are other aspects that should be considered in adopting an infant such legal and social aspects. But the health and developmental factors related to the infant itself should be the primary consideration. In adoption of an infant, the adopting parents should have the proper attitude and preparedness. They should consider all the factors related to the health and capacity of the child. If they decide to overlook perceptible problems related to the health and behavior, based on family history, the future parents should be ready for possible conse quences since adoption is a lifetime decision.

What will the world be like in 100 years Personal prediction Essay

What will the world be like in 100 years Personal prediction - Essay Example As this approach toward further modernization proceeds, people could not help raise more demands to advance technology or the state-of-the-art means of generating material desires in enormous quantities. In which case, it becomes easier to visualize that in 100 years, human beings would have attained to the level of mutated intelligence or one that is typically associated to the myths of aliens or supernatural entities, having been accustomed to running things and lives with pure engines. If as early as the current generation, people have been exposed to seeing how a 3-D work, it is quite possible that even a decade from now they would be made to feel or touch a 3-D creation which makes possible the first step or initial stage of teleportation, very much like the scenarios in the films such as G.I. Joe and James Bond. This undoubtedly is much sought-after knowing how majority have gotten engrossed to the idea of convenience of being in various places all at once, to save incredible a mount of time and energy required of wearisome travel.

A modern online university Vision E University Essay Example for Free

A modern online university Vision E University Essay Vision E University is a modern online university established in 2017. The name was inspired by visualizing the future of University Education, where there is higher use of technology which eases the education for all students from all around the world. This idea is based on the approach of the technology is leaning towards online services, like online shopping, online banking, etc. therefore Vision E University wanted to provide quality online education. Vision E University provides bachelors and master’s degree for all majors in the business sector, engineering sector, IT sector, Law sector, and Arts sector. Where the university provides an environment that all students can register online through the university website, the students can also attend their classes online, added to that examine and provide the reports online. These aspects ease the transportation for the students; therefore students from all around the world can gain their university degree online. 1. What makes vision E-university unique? †¢ What makes Vision E-University unique is that it is very flexible; there is no limit to the number of students the University can hold therefore everyone in the world can get a chance to gain their university degree. The University is also very flexible with the timings for the students, as they can register and enter the university at any month, every semester will be three months long. Added to that they can make their schedule based on the timings that suits them as students might be from different countries with different timings, plus they can include as many subjects as they can with a maximum of 8 subjects and a minimum of 1 per course, this will help the students with their funding as they might not be able to afford all subjects at once, and there are no limited years for a student to graduate. This is because Vision E-University aims to provide a chance for quality education for all of the students from all ages and positions, including undergraduates, house wifeâ⠂¬â„¢s, employees and etc. †¢ As some people might be embarrassed to study in a campus with young students, and might not be able to attend all of the classes on the campus because of other duties. Vision E university provides the solution, as these students will attend online, and they will be where they feel comfortable, and they can take the online courses at the time that suits them. 2. Features and characteristics o The three-month course will include online books, and a website was the online courses videos will be uploaded to the student directly based on the subjects they chose. Added to that a schedule will be included containing all deadlines for the projects homework and tests. The University will provide every student with a memory of 1 terabyte in the Google-powered cloud called One Drive, as they can save their work and research in it, without getting and they can access their data on any device. All the assignments and homework’s and tests will be submitted online. o There will be doctors and professors from all around the world to correct and answer the students online. The University’s website will include a smart search engine that is connected to all of the courses in the university, where students can ask any question that is included in the books or lectures and the search engine will provide them with all of the data they need. As well as a social link where the students from many cultures can share their experiences and help each other with questions and connect together. o The mission of Vision E University is to create excellent learning and online research environment, through delivering flexible and effective education for international students. And the vision of the university is to be the leading Online University of providing the best online system and education.