Ben & Jerry’s Case Study Essay

Team building was not the most effective way to launch an Organizational Development effort, in the case of Ben and Jerry’s. There are two critical issues that must be dealt with before any kind of team building should be attempted. The first issue would be creating more of a consensus between the founders and the Board about the vision of the ideal organization and the goals of the OD effort. The second issue is the interpersonal conflict between Ben and Chico. The consultant may have used Ben and Jerry’s idiosyncratic personalities to his advantage in order to gloss over the lack of agreement on the company vision between the founders and the board. The board members were asked to write down their differing visions on paper and the consultant performed a ritual of burning these to represent transformation and coming together of management and the Board. This is only a metaphor, and did not have the intended effect on either the Board or Ben and Jerry. Both Ben and Jerry still felt a separation in values between themselves and management after the team building retreat. This was demonstrated by the managers wearing â€Å"we are weird† buttons after the team building. Rather than the ritual burning of the ideas, the consultant would have better served the clients with an intergroup conflict resolution process. The division over the vision of Ben and Jerry’s had become dysfunctional and was creating conflict which polarized the two groups. The groups being the free-wheeling, hippy minded founders and the more business minded managers. This problem was affecting the productivity and effectiveness of the organization at large and must be dealt with and resolved before any interventions are carried out and lower levels of the organization. Management must buy-in to the OD effort, and if they feel that the founders are flawed in their business strategy, it will be impossible for management to carry out their wishes for the way they want their business to grow and prosper. The consultant has acknowledged the problem, yet performed no real interventions to try and resolve it. There was also no mention of a consensus on the focus of the OD effort. It seems that the consultant just tried to make everyone happy without any real conflict resolution interventions.   The next issue that should precede any team building exercises would be an intervention for Ben and Chico. The two men have a large presence and influence over the entire organization. They also represent the larger groups which are in conflict over the fundamental philosophy of the organization. The employees consider them to be two titans of power with legendary arguments. The consultant should have focused on a third-party intervention between these two change agents. If these two powerful and influential men could come together and resolve some of their conflict, that would be the next logical step in properly motivating and developing the organization. This is a basic skill that OD practitioners should have, yet the consultant made no effort to address the conflicts between the two. It’s also very likely that the conflict between Ben and Chico could be the root cause of the polarization of the two groups in the entire organization. If that is the case, you would have to address this issue in order for team building to be effective. The teambuilding efforts of the consultant were appropriate and needed, but only after the two more primary issues are dealt with. The effectiveness of this OD intervention was thwarted by the lack of attention to conflicts in ideology.

Difference between poems Essay

Both poems are a response to other people’s idea of the poet’s cultural identities. The poems are written as though the poet is replying to some one directly. ‘Half-Cast’ is about a multi cultural person who is standing up against racism and against people look down upon them because of their ethnicity. John Agard is arguing with the person who is being racist to him by questioning if ‘Half-Cast’ means he is half a man. ‘Still I rise’ is about a woman, Maya Angelou who has had a traumatic personal and cultural history but still she rises above it. She has had to face racial and sexual prejudice, but she still stands strong. In ‘Half-Cast’ John Agard opens the poem with a polite but angry request. This opening is only an angry one because of the following lines. ‘Excuse me; standing on one leg, I am half-cast’ This sarcasm is showing that he is trying to be nice but is annoyed about it. The first line is very polite but immediately after the poet is acquiring the ‘reader’ of suggesting he is half a man by using the words ‘half-caste’. He uses informal language throughout the poem, the language is also written in john Agard’s dialect. It makes you say the words how it sounds. This could be the poet celebrating his culture. ‘Explain yuself, Wha yu mean’ This also makes you as the reader feel the anger, annoyance and sadness through the Agards tone. The structure of the poem is simple but effective by using a three line opening two quite large stanzas then closes with three lines. One poetic technique he uses in each stanza is repetition of his points. ‘Explain yuself, Wha yu mean’ This is repeated also so that Agard could give his reasons for being insulted and emphasises his argument. In each stanza he uses comparisons; ‘When yu say half-caste, Yu mean Tchaikovsky, Sit down at dah piano, an mix a black key Wid a white key, Is a half-caste symphony’. This is questioning it Tchaikovsky’s music should be seen as inferior because he mixed black and white notes. The poem is well structured and the language is perfectly composed. I have keep using this quote as it very strong and uses a lot of poetic techniques. ‘Explain yu self, Wha yu mean’. The comparisons are very good because you can understand and relate to his point as he compares his situation using metaphors. ‘Still I rise’, it is set out in 8 stanzas, and in which 7 out of 8 are all the same lengths except the eighth as it is the last stanza and is the climax of the poem. The language she uses is mostly formal but it very up beat. ‘You may kill me’, but she is not bothered. In some stanzas it seems as she is mocking the person/people who are putting her down; like they are pathetic. ‘Does my sexiness upset you’ the word ‘sexiness’ in this context does not only imply that she is beautiful and believes that she is, but that she feels proud of her culture, which makes her confident. Maya uses many techniques in her writing such as through out the poem she uses rhetorical questions. ‘Did you want to see me broken? ‘ These questions force the reader to think and imagine about there own views on racism and what it would be like to be in her shoes. She also uses personification; ‘You may kill me with your hatefulness’. This is effective because ‘kill me’ is a very strong phrase and keeps creating the image of her arriving back at her town after the sager. Throughout the poem she has used a rhyming pattern of every first and last lines this is successful as it builds a flowing structure to the poem. The poet uses repetition to emphasise her point ‘Out of the hut of history’s shame I rise Up from a†¦. I rise’. This shows that once again she has risen above it. ‘History’s shame’ this is a direct reference to the struggles faced by her ancestors in her cultural history. I think that Maya’s technique clearly puts her point across and the last stanza finishes the poem with a strong phrase of ‘I rise, I rise, I rise, I rise’ presenting that life is hard but what ever it throws at you, you shall rise above it. In each of the poems Maya Angelou and John Agard use repetition which emphasises their subliminal messages in the poem. John Agard gets quite defensive and angry, whereas Maya Angelou although angry and annoyed she stays calms and ‘rises’ above it. I think the message of the two poems is that even when we are faced with prejudice and discrimination we can be the better people by not complying with it. I also believe the most effective techniques used to present their opinions of their cultures and peoples perception of them were repetition, similes and rhetorical questions; this created the tense moments that draw the reader in to go on and finish the poem.

Advantages And Disadvantages Relying On Field Notes English Language Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Relying On Field Notes English Language Essay At the first step of this assessment I have to answer what the advantages and disadvantages are of relying solely on field notes, in comparison with producing a transcription of an audio or video recording. During the second half of the twentieth century, there was a huge growth in the amount of educational research and the emergence of a substantial methodological literature on how best to pursue it. The educational research became quite diverse, not only in the topics examined but also in the methodological and theoretical approaches that are used. â€Å"Perhaps not surprisingly, disagreement is closely associated with such diversity, and there are even differences of opinion over what is and is not research, and what is and is not educational research†(E891 Educational Enquiry, Study Guide, p. 63). Field notes or transcription of an audio or video recording are characteristics of reflective practice and of what is often referred to as action research. Nevertheless, a great deal of educational enquiry is carried out as a separate task from educational practice, even when it is designed to inform practice directly. In this matter, the researchers may not be educational practitioners themselves, although they frequently are (E891 Educational Enquiry, Study Guide, p. 63). Concerning the range of strategies that can be used to pursue educational research it is a wide range of issues such as laboratory and classroom experiments, large-scale surveys of the behaviour, attitude, etc. The results of the research, i.e. the data may be the product of direct observation on the part of the researcher or it may be produced by others, and can take a variety of forms, such as answering questionnaires by ticking in boxes on interview or observational schedules, numbers as recorded in published statistics, text from published or unpublished documents or from field notes written by the researcher during the course of observations or interviews, audio-or video-recordings and transcripts of these(Research Methods in Education, Handbook, p.26). A common way of conceptualizing this diversity is the distinction between quantitative and qualitative approaches and it is necessary, however, to emphasize that it is a very crude distinction and one that is potentially misleading. The most obvious distinction between the two sorts of research is that the former deals with numbers whereas the latter does not or does to a minor degree. Going back to the main point of the question I have to deal with the qualitative research since field notes or audio – video recording are within this category. As interview transcripts are made and field notes of observation compiled the researcher continuously examines the data, by highlighting certain points in the text or making comments in the margins. The important points are identified by the researcher noting contradictions and inconsistencies, comparisons and contrasts with other data and so on. At this point the researcher is not just collecting data, but thinking about it and interacting with it. Much of these first attempts at speculative analysis will probably be discarded, but some ideas will no doubt take shape as data collection and analysis proceed. Much of this early activity may appear chaotic and uncoordinated, but such `chaos’ is a prolific seed-bed for ideas (Research Methods in Education, Handbook, p. 68).

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

Depression - Essay Example Low mood is the primary symptom of depression and often clients in pursuit of getting rid of these negative emotions resort to abusing narcotics that do more harm than good. As it is also observed in patient care units, individuals suffering from depression become so heavily dependent on the narcotic that discontinuation is followed by severe withdrawal symptoms. The individual also resort to increasing the amount of drugs taken, which can lead to the individual dying as a result of an overdose. Drug abuse can also result in the individual partaking in activities that may regretted later that can exacerbate the depression experienced by the individual. (Jaekel et.al. 2009) Drug abuse is equally detrimental as depression and can seriously hamper one’s social and occupational functioning. Therefore, in order to help the individual avoid addictive behavior, the clinician must try to effectively treat the depression and if not, client psycho-education is really helpful in getting them to avoid undesirable behavior. Clinicians must explain to them the detrimental repercussions of drug abuse and their vulnerability to it, so that clients do not indulge in such behavior.

Author's tone and purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Author's tone and purpose - Essay Example Not even a short one. If that what you are looking for, you don’t want me†. The author other purpose was to show how the short story has been dominated far too long by the novel. The other author meticulously shows this by adeptly using metaphors. Millhauser describes this predominance by metaphorically writing, â€Å"The novel buys up the land, cuts down the trees, puts up the condos.† One of the tones the author of the article has used is tough tone. This tone is captured when Millhauser describes the novel as â€Å"exhaustive by nature, it can hardly contain itself.† Furthermore, Millhauser still captures a tough tone, no doubt, when he writes strongly about the novel â€Å"after all, what difference does it make? It’s nothing but talk.† The other tone the author capture in his work is optimisms. Millhauser demonstrates his sense of optimism by writing optimistically about the short story. Millhauser describes the short story as â€Å"modest in its pretensions, shyly proud of its petite

Product launch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Product launch - Essay Example Research on the market of this product had been underway for years and it was proven that the people of Canada were more than willing to install this radiant heating process in their homes so this will be a huge success due to the availability of a ready market. Twenty slides and video presentations were made to inform the prospective customers on how to use and install and maintain this system. The product manager also ensured of teamwork within the different departments of the company providing this service. This has contributed to the great success of this product in the market. With several trials of this product in the market, it was evaluated and the best model developed. The competition from competitors is low as the Can-A-Floor has been embraced by the people due to the massive campaigns and advertisement. The prices are also customer friendly making it affordable to almost if not all citizens. Highly trained sales and support people have been deployed into the market for customer assistance. The installation personnel is also highly skilled ensuring that customer satisfaction is achieved. It is a high time that people kicked cold floors out of their lives by using

Creative Method of Reflexivity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Creative Method of Reflexivity - Essay Example Since I feel the term â€Å"great leader† has been taken from a myth, which the parents and junior schoolteachers love to tell little kids. And even the different theories penned down by scholars about leadership can only be viewed as their fantasies and aspirations about how a leader should be. Disclaimer: All of my above criticism applies if I limit my scope to the political and societal big wheels of the current world only. I may be a cynic but I do whole-heartedly respect the leaders of once upon a time. The god sends that saved and made nations. Therefore, to the keep the derision out of my journal, I’d rather focus on my journey on the leadership trail as I relate my days to the class lectures and discussions I participate. Dated: September 9, 2011 Entry 2 – My Leader After attending each lecture on leadership, I get home with a new picture of leadership in my mind. From the books I’ve read I’ve learnt that to lead one shall be determined, foc used, reliable, decisive, enthusiastic, and courageous and the list goes on. And above all a true leader must possess the charm to draw attention, to create followers and to instigate a movement. Just thinking about the ingredients of perfect leadership creates an image in my mind. A man (no offense meant to females here, since I know leadership exists in the bearings of a human irrespective of sex, class, race, age or nationality) who looks physically fit, standing impeccably dressed facing an expectant crowd with honest, experienced, intelligent eyes, bearing a smile full of promise and unswerving confidence. This is my leader. If we try to fit a face into the picture my mind conjured up, Mr. Barack Obama may be the most likely candidate. Although I’m not in accord with his political motives and certain decisions he makes as a politician, I have high regard for his commitment to his people and country. A black presiding over a nation of whites certainly puts to proof the gr eatness of this man. Fear of social acceptance, I believe, is a fear not so easy to surmount. I wonder if Mr. Obama ever saw that as an obstacle. An average person would surely be traumatized at even the prospect of standing up to be elected as a prospective leader and anticipate acceptance from the very people whose ancestors had been compulsive racists. But Mr. Obama is not an ordinary man. He never was. Dated: September 17, 2011 Entry 3 – Perceptions My last entry dated September 9 helped me sketch out the leader I aspired to have to help me bring about the changes I want in the world around me. When I reread that entry two days ago I got fascinated about the leader figures that inhabit the minds of people around me. I sent messages to my friends and family via cell phone asking who a leader is or placed the question when I met them in class or at home. The one-liner statements they gave are not their comprehensive descriptions of a leader surely, but they presented me wit h interesting angles to â€Å"Aspired Leaders†. Relative 1: â€Å"One who can influence the decisions made by others.† This image on the right definitely goes with the description presented by my relative. There is no greater influence than influence at the point of a gun. Ironically, the

Critically discuss how THREE selected environmental tools or methods Essay

Critically discuss how THREE selected environmental tools or methods could be applied to minimise the environmental impacts of - Essay Example Wind farms with many of such structures occupy a lot of space on the landscape. Onshore wind farms are always about three kilometres away from the shoreline. The turbines in these farms are located in hilly areas since wind blows heavily on hilly areas. Wind turbines cause landscape and visual effects depending on their number at a particular area, their height, size and colour. The effects may also depend on their site tracks, buildings, their grid connection, and â€Å"transmission lines† (Murgante et al., 2011). According to Ottmar et al (2011), wind turbines have a number of impacts on the environment. These include visual impacts, noise impacts, effects on land use, and effects on the birds that live around the wind farms. In addition, there are electronic interferences and constraints on the natural reserve areas. During the construction of a wind turbine, there are some pollutants that released into the atmosphere. The wind turbines are seen to be very noisy and they ar e also unsightly, thereby interfering with the natural beauty of â€Å"the landscape.† Sustainable Development Commission (2009) disagrees that wind farms are noisy and explains that the levels of noise from wind farm is equal to the background in rural places at night. Despite their negative impacts on the environment, onshore wind farms play a crucial part in achieving renewable energy targets. However, the many advantages that come with the farms can only be realised if proper planning is done. The contemporary wind farms are mostly large and not only help in environmental conservation, but also bring a lot of benefits to the communities that live around the farms. Among the advantages of using onshore wind farms is that wind is available free of charge and appropriate technology is available to harvest energy from wind as noted by Sustainable Development Commission (2009). Moreover, although the initial costs of installing wind turbines are high, maintenance cost are rela tively low after installation. It can also be used to generate power in rural areas where there is no power connection. Given the varying impacts to the humans, landscape aesthetics and the surrounding environment that implementation of such project poses; it is critical that environmental managers employ tools to manage this impacts. Thompson (2002) lists various tools and methods that can be used for environmental management and environmental performance improvement. To manage the impacts of the 40 turbine onshore wind farm project; EIA, LCA and GIS as the most appropriate environmental management tools. EIA has been selected because it helps to predict the impacts of a project and propose mitigation measures while GIS allows environmental managers make decision based on spatial relationship of features. LCA allows decision makers to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the life cycle of the project thereby facilitating decision making. Environmental Impact Management EIA is a tool used in decision-making whose main purpose is to not only identify and evaluate the likely environmental impacts of a given project (Glasson et al., 2005). EIA is

Poverty Relief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Poverty Relief - Essay Example A weakness of both approaches is their sensitivity to the choice of (necessarily somewhat) arbitrary poverty lines and of peculiar value judgements regarding the social welfare objectives of the government—for instance, that the government cares equally for all the poor, regardless of how far from the poverty line they may be. For instance, the analysis of targeting errors focuses typically on sharp 0/1 indicators, and arguably tends to differentiate too drastically between the poor and the non poor, in particular between those in similar circumstances but who just happen to lie on opposite sides of some poverty line.The working tax benefit is available to anybody aged 25 or over who works sixteen hours a week or more. There is a basic element and a range of additional elements for single parents and couples, for people who work for thirty hours a week or more, and for people with a severe disability; there is also an element to contribute towards the costs of child care. A pe rson earning below a threshold level of income receives the full benefit. For earnings above that, benefit is withdrawn at a rate of 37 pence per pound of earnings. Benefit is normally awarded on an annual basis; thus an increase in earnings, unless large, will not lead to a reduction in benefit until a person is reassessed. Other difficulties in the assessment of program changes come from their differential effects on average deadweight losses. Such differential effects can occur when the programs are funded from different revenue sources.: differences in the cost of public funds that arise from differences in those revenue sources must then be taken into account (Slemrod and Yitzhaki, 1996)2. Differences in the effects on average deadweight losses can also arise from the differential behavioural changes that different program reforms can generate among program beneficiaries. These differential behavioural changes can in general also affect the direct disaggregated welfare impact o f program reforms. None of these categories can readily be dealt with by private insurance; and none except the first can be helped by raising national-insurance benefits or by extending their coverage. Much poverty is associated with children and/or high housing costs, neither of which is an insurable risk. Two conclusions emerge: private insurance is not possible in most of these cases; nor is extending national insurance a complete answer. The state could, of course, do nothing, and let people face the risk of starvation, but, even ignoring equity arguments, this has a range of efficiency costs, including social unrest/ crime among those facing starvation; the death by starvation of dependants including children (the future labour force);

ABC, Inc. Case Study Essay Example for Free

ABC, Inc. Case Study Essay Introduction Hiring 15 new employees in early April as part of his first recruitment effort, Carl Robins is the new campus recruiter for ABC, Inc. Hired to work for Monica Carrolls, Operations Supervisor, these new potential employees require training on company policy, being oriented to the organization, and screened for drugs. Carl himself is behind on their training, has not completed all the required processing, in addition to the fact that some of the employees haven’t even completed applications, nor have submitted transcripts. Orientation needs to be arranged somewhere other than the original location, due to double booking conflicts. The training material also needs to be reviewed and confirmed for the employees prior to the seminar. Mr. Robins is quickly falling behind, so he needs to formulate a plan of action, and implement it concisely. See more: Satirical essay about drugs Background Having successful hired 15 new people in early April, Carl had plenty of time to prior to June 15th in which to organize everything, but procrastinated until it became a scramble to handle everything at once. While he is in fact fairly new to his own job, having only been with ABC for six months now, he should still be able to handle this workload, and produce the desired results. This inexperience can explain some of the improper planning, and his lack of knowledge about how long it actually takes to complete his task, but does not excuse it. However, after evaluating his choices and finding a solution, I believe Carl will find the July deadline attainable, albeit with a bit more of an effort put in. Key Problems There are a few basic, key problems, the root of them all being improper planning and lack of experience. The problem of improper planning itself is easily solved, while the lack of experience is simply something that comes with time and practice. Building up from the lack of proper planning, we can  see what issues stemmed from this, such as: Needing a location for orientation Drug screening completion Unfiled or incomplete paperwork Lack of required training materials Attempting to handle every task alone Taking an in depth look at the various issues can help us find solutions, so I’ll go over each problem individually. Needing a Location for Orientation: After reviewing, an immediate scheduling conflict between the orientation for the new trainees and technology services arises. The scheduling log shows the training room booked for the whole month of June for computer training seminars. June is the month in which the orientation is scheduled to occur, and so the training room is unavailable. Drug Screening Completion: A drug screening is required for all the new hires, and thus they need to be sent to the clinic for such a drug screen test. As of Memorial Day, such has not happened for any of the 15 trainees, less than 20 days prior to the scheduled orientation date. This is something Carl is required to do, having been in contact with Monica to confirm such things would get done as part of his work, so he should not have been surprised that it was not yet completed. Unfiled o r Incomplete Paperwork: Also while reviewing his trainee file, it is found that not all the trainees have not completed their applications, nor have all the trainees gotten transcripts on file, another task Carl could and should have handled promptly. While it may seem obvious that these things are required, a lack of communication could have caused such a simple issue. Lack of Required Training Materials: Once reviewed, the training material is obviously lacking and in need of replacement in some form. Another task where it was procrastinated until becoming a larger-than-necessary issue. This is a separate issue from the others because it is something that doesn’t require another party to be handled (i.e. confirming appointments with the clinic requires contacting the clinic, a second party that could have separate issues). Attempting to Handle Every Task Alone: This doesn’t become an issue until the issues stated above have come about. Given the timeline, all the tasks could have been handled by a single person and more man power would have been  unnecessary. However, even something as simple as checking the orientation manuals becomes a stressful task when suddenly heaped with work that appeared to be put off. Alternatives Having reviewed these key areas and confirming them as coalescing from one core problem, the lack of proper planning, it is possible to come up with solutions to each problem as it stands currently. A quick solution to all these problems is to call Monica and inform her that the trainees won’t be ready by July 15th, and attempt to push the deadline back in order to complete all the required tasks without rushing. I find this one inadvisable, however, because it causes a setback for Monica herself, and it proceeds to cause further setbacks down the line, causing a ripple effect of delayed projects. These are called concurrent delays, or delays that cause further delays (Singh Associates, 2014). In order to find a solution that doesn’t cause concurrent delays, Carl should make and maintain a priority list, in which he lists all the above problems and completes them in an order of greatest importance to least importance. Below are individual solutions to each problem, which can be used to complete tasks on the priority list. New Location for Orientation: One of the easier tasks to handle, it has a few possible solutions. Carl could contact a nearby hotel and see about possibly using a conference room or use a nearby office (Allfreepaper.com, 2011). Looking for another available space in the building is by far the best solution here, but not necessarily possible if the training room is the only room meant to accommodate 15 or more people. A second step to that solution is to split trainee orientation up into two or more days, allowing them to rotate in for orientation. Schedule Drug Screenings: Handling this is one of the slightly more complicated aspects, because it includes not one, but two other parties, for each trainee individually. The first thing Carl can do is contact a local clinic, either one approved by ABC, Inc., or the National Drug Screening Administration to get a recommended company to come in and take over the process, if ABC, Inc. doesn’t have a drug program he can draw from. Set up a block of dates, three or four days in which to schedule his trainees, and then contact each trainee and schedule a day for them to go in within that block of days. File and Complete Paperwork: This is a task able to be completed in a single day,  and can in fact be handled on the same day he calls to schedule the appointments for drug screening. After contacting the trainee individually, Carl can set up their appoint as stated above, and then discuss their paperwork status with them, either the application completion, whether or not it is in fact completed, and get transcripts on file as needed. While not everything may be completed immediately, the process can be started (i.e. ordering transcripts can be completed, but may take additional days to be received and put on file). Obtain Orientation Manuals: This is quickly solved one of two ways. The first thing Carl needs to do is look up the manual in his SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and determine if the manuals themselves can be reprinted or if they need to be ordered. Then his solution is simple from there; he either orders new manuals if they need to be ordered, or prints off new copies. Either way, Carl should go a step beyond and order or print at least twenty manuals instead of 15, to prepare for accidents and get a step ahead for his next round of trainees. Request Help: One of the absolute best things Carl can do in this situation is admit that he messed up and now needs help. As a new employee himself, it isn’t unusual to need help, and it will help take some burden off his own shoulders, freeing his mind to tackle the tasks at hand. Getting help will insure he gets the job done. Proposed Solutions I advise assigning Carl a temporary partner, one senior to him in the company, who can offer advice and guidance, as well as help with tasks, without taking over the job completely. This will insure that the job gets done, and will also allow Carl to gain the experience needed to complete future jobs without help. As a team, they should then split the orientation into two days and use one of the smaller rooms in the building. Carl should be the one to make most of the phone calls, including getting in touch with each individual trainee to complete paperwork and schedule days for the drug screening. Obtaining new training manuals should be done by whichever means is available, either printing new ones or ordering them. As I advised above, order more than needed to compensate for accidents and the next round of trainees. Recommendations Most of these problems stem from a lack of knowledge and experience, for  which Carl is hardly to blame, and which he will gain with time and practice. He should, however, have planned ahead appropriately, and not put off the work until it became a rush to complete everything. If the solutions I stated above are implemented, Carl should be able to complete his tasks on time, and concurrent delays will be avoided. References Case Study Analysis of ABC, Inc. COMM 215 Essentials of College English. (2005, February 12). In WriteWork.com. Retrieved 16:07, September 25, 2014, from http://www.writework.com/essay/case-study-analysis-abc-inc-comm-215-essentials-college AN unorganized Campus Recruiter (2011, January 18) In AllFreePapers.com. Retrieved 15:37, September 26, 2014, from http://www.allfreepapers.com/print/Unorganized-Campus-Recruiter/753.html Singh Associates. (2014). Lexology. Retrieved from http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fcea453a-de87-4aa9-9f4c-b140695c597d

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Research

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Research A) Effects of Ozone on the Lower Atmosphere The lower atmosphere (Troposphere) includes 75% by mass of the atmosphere (concentrated). Natural sources of Ozone in the troposphere includes lightning. Approximately 10% of all atmospheric ozone is present in the troposphere. If ozone levels reach 20ppm, they are very poisonous to humans, animals and plants. It oxidises organic tissue which disrupts the normal biochemical reactions in the body, irritates the eyes and causes breathing difficulties. It can be detrimental to plants and agriculture, as it oxidises much more readily then oxygen, killing/spoiling the agriculture and destroying it. Sources of ozone in the troposphere include diffusion from the stratosphere, internal combustion engines, petrochemical smog, naturally from lightning and photochemically when nitrogen dioxide in polluted air is decomposed by sunlight. NO2(g) NO(g) + O(g) O2(g) + O(g) O3(g) Positive effects of ozone include that it can kill bacteria and viruses in water and thus is useful in purifying water supplies. B) Effects of Ozone in the Stratosphere Contrastingly to ozone in the troposphere, Ozone in the stratosphere is essential to life on earth, as it absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation which can be harmful to living cells on earth as they can damage living tissues and cause skin cancers. Ozone in the stratosphere is commonly referenced to as â€Å"the ozone shield† as it protects living organisms on earth from UV rays. Ozone Reactions in the Stratosphere and their Beneficial Effects on Living Organisms Formation of Ozone in the Stratosphere O2(g) O(g) + O(g) O(g) + O2(g) → O3(g) Stratospheric oxygen absorbs UV light to form free oxygen radicals The oxygen radicals are highly reactive and combine with oxygen molecules to form an energized ozone molecule. Decomposition of Ozone in the Stratosphere O3(g) O2(g) + O(g) Due to the absorption of UV radiation, the Ozone layer acts as a radiation shield by absorbing medium and high energy UV rays. This protects living organisms as UV radiation can have very harmful effects on them including: Can cause sunburn on skin which can lead to skin cancer caused by a mutation in DNA Can form cataracts on eyes It can kill cells due to DNA readily reacting with UV rays It can impair photosynthesis in plants Many more†¦ Thus without the ozone shield in the stratosphere, life in the biosphere would be dramatically impaired and destroyed by harmful UV rays. A) Functional Groups and General Structure of Compounds Classified as CFC’s CFC’s – Chlorofluorocarbons are haloalkanes in which the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine or chlorine atoms. Haloalkanes are the products when alkanes react with halogens (members of group 7 of the periodic table). CFC’s generally contain â€Å"chloro† and â€Å"flouro† functional groups and no hydrogen atoms. The general structure of compounds classified as CFCs are haloalkanes whose hydrogens have been replaced by chlorine or fluorine atoms. E.g. B) Main Uses of CFC’s CFC’s were used as refrigerants and as propellants in aerosol spray cans. They have a variety of uses as demonstrated below. However due to the harmful effects of CFC to the environment and the ozone shield, CFCs are not used for these uses anymore. C) Reactions between CFC’s and Ozone that Result in the Destruction of Ozone in the Stratosphere. Effects of Small Concentrations of CFC’s that can Damage Large amounts of Ozone Reactions between CFCs and Ozone Synthetic CFCs are responsible for the destruction of the ozone shield, natural CFCs such as CH3Cl and HCl rarely reach the stratosphere as they readily oxidise in the troposphere. However, synthetic CFCs slowly diffuse from the troposphere into the stratosphere, where they undergo photodissociation (due to UV rays) to produce chlorine and bromine radicals that attack and destroy ozone molecules. e.g. CFC-11 Trichloroflouromethane (CFCl3) (Lifetime of 70 years) 1. In the stratosphere, the CFC comes into contact with short wavelength UV CFCl3(g) + UV → CFCl2 ·(g) + Cl ·(g) 2. The chlorine free radical then reacts with the ozone molecule Cl + O3 → ClO + O2 3. The ClO molecule reacts with free oxygen atoms which exist naturally from UV breakdown of O2 ClO + O → O2 + Cl This Cl Is then regenerated and able to attack more Ozone (Step 2) thus further demonstrating the harmful effects of even one CFC This reaction causes destruction of ozone in the stratosphere, due to the (previously used) synthetic CFCs for refrigeration, dry cleaning etc. Small Amounts of CFCs can still do harm: Evidence has shown that even small amounts of CFCs can damage large amounts of ozone. Firstly, CFCs generally have a long lifespan, ranging from approximately 57 (CFC-11) years to 333 years (CFC-12), and due to the fact that each Chlorine radical can be responsible for the breakdown of tens of thousands of ozone molecules, and due to their lifespan once released, even a small amount, will be around for many decades to come. In addition, most CFCs will almost definitely make their way up to the stratosphere as they cannot be destroyed at low altitudes as they are unreactive and they are insoluble in water and therefore cannot be washed out of the atmosphere by rain. Alternative Compounds for CFCs. A) Ozone Monitoring Instruments Ozone Concentrations in the Stratosphere Source: Earth System Research Laboratory, 2012, Viewed 07.06.14, http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/dv/spo_oz/spototal.html A) Analysis of Trends There are a variety of trends that can be interpreted from the above diagram. Based on the data above, before the 1980’s, the total ozone concentration was VERY high, at approximately 194 DU (Dobson Units), however there was a very rapid decrease in this concentration from 1980 – 1999, whereby in this 19 year period sees a 56% decrease in the amount of total ozone, a remarkably concerning figure. On a year round basis globally, total ozone concentration have caused a 3-8% decrease in the amount of ozone, this increased in the years between 1995-200, where there was a low of total ozone concentration. However, in more recent years, 2010 to 2014 there has been a general increase in total ozone concentration, which can be inferred from the replacement of CFCs finally starting to impact (slightly) on the total concentration of ozone, this increase based on the data is 31%. The general pattern is that the total column ozone decreases during spring time, it can be inferred that the overall concentration of ozone decreases during this time of the year. This is because in an Antarctic winter, there is no U.V light to convert the chlorine molecule Cl2 into a Cl radical, which then destroy ozone molecules, and thus the concentration of ozone is higher in winter. In spring, the U.V light converts the Cl2 into Cl which then destroys ozone in a chain reaction, thus decreasing the total ozone concentration There are various peaks in the graph, in the years of 1988, 2003, 2011 and 2013, which may be due to limitation so of the instruments used. B) Montreal Protocol Effectiveness The Montreal protocol occurred in 1987, which the main aim was to control the production of ozone depleting substances (CFCs) worldwide. A number of amendments have been adopted to further ride ozone depleting substances. The protocol is applied in 193 countries. The main aims of the original agreement is as follow: Halt the use of Halons by late 1994 By the early 21st century, phase out the use of HCFCs Stop manufacture of CFCs by 1996 Allow for leeway with less developed countries but still get them to rid the use of these substances The Montreal Protocol (and amendments) has been effective as by 2006, the consumption of ozone depleting substances has been reduced globally by 96%. However, due to the long lives of the previously used ozone depleting substances, the total concentration will take hundreds of years to be completely down. However, the total concentration in the troposphere has generally been declining since the mid-1990s. Bibliography Thickett, G 2006, Chemistry 2 HSC course, John Wiley and Sons, Queensland, Australia. Role of Ozone, 2013, viewed 05.06.14, http://www.easychem.com.au/monitoring-and-management/the-atmosphere/roles-of-ozone Allen, J, 2001, Ultraviolet Radiation – How it Affects life on Earth, viewed 05.06.14, http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/UVB/ Environmental Protection Agency, 2010, The Process of Ozone Depletion, Viewed 07.06.14, http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/process.html Clean Air Strategic Alliance, 2013, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Halons, Viewed 07.06.13, http://dwb.unl.edu/teacher/nsf/c09/c09links/www.casahome.org/chlorofl.htm Welch, C 2014, The Ozone Hole, Viewed 07.06.14, http://www.theozonehole.com/cfc.htm Cracknell, A 2012, Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Ozone, Viewed 07.06.14, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=YZzGFPnaEv0Cpg=PA94lpg=PA94dq=nimbus+4+satellite+ozonesource=blots=k3Ixvnqeupsig=Z_jW0D4jdcvG8hpjbb7d4QeUzBMhl=ensa=Xei=DpCSU-qHMsLtkQWJsIHQDQved=0CF8Q6AEwCg#v=onepageq=nimbus%204%20satellite%20ozonef=false ESA, 2013, Eathnet Online, Viewed 07.06.14, https://earth.esa.int/handbooks/gomos/CNTR1-2-2.htm The Canadian Ozone and Ultraviolet Measurement Program, 2010, Viewed 07.06.14 http://es-ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/e/ozone/ozonecanada.htm Earth System Research Laboratory, 2012, Viewed 07.06.14, http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/dv/spo_oz/spototal.html EPA, 2013, Ozone Layer Protection Glossary, Viewed 14.06.14, http://www.epa.gov/ozone/defns.html Bureau of Meteorology 2013, Ozone Frequently Asked Questions, Viewed 14.06.14, http://www.bom.gov.au/uv/faq.shtml Smith, R 2008, Conquering Chemistry Fourth Edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies, NSW, Australia 1 | Page

King Lear’s Sins Pale in Comparison to those Committed Against Him Essa

King Lear’s Sins Pale in Comparison to those Committed Against Him King Lear commits several acts that are nearly unforgivable. Not only does he exile a trusted, loyal servant, he also banishes his own daughter. Cordelia, unable and unwilling to submit herself to the ridiculous game of her father, is sent off to France with his curses. His subsequent action - the division of the land between his two ungrateful daughters - is the final act, the final sin, and one that plunges the land into turmoil. However, his actions do not excuse the responses they bring from his kin and kinsmen. The sins against him - the actions of his two daughters and the evilness of Edmund - are far greater than those he committed himself. While he may have started the series of events that eventually consumed the land in turmoil, it were those three who propagated the chaos. King Lear is definitely much more sinned against than sinning. That King Lear sinned, there can be no doubt. Nevertheless, a sin does not exclude the possibility that there was a sufficient cause (in his mind) for the action. Examine, for instance, King Lear's decision to exile his own daughter, Cordelia. The King is of an advanced age. Though he will not, can not, admit it, senility is advancing upon him, clouding his brain and influencing his judgement. Combined with his pride, age, and subconscious fear of encroaching mortality, Lear has a great desire for flattery, and more importantly, to have the love of his children reaffirmed before him. After the two first daughters inflate his ego, Cordelia is left in the unenviable position of trying to surpass them. She too will not, can not, bring herself to do so. Thi... ...don him in his madness. Edmund, the main force of 'evil' in the play, not only comes near to destroying the country the Lear has worked so hard to maintain, he also gives the order for the death of the King and his youngest daughter. This, of course, leads directly to Lear's own self-induced death. Therefore, while king Lear's sins were horrible, and cannot be fully excused by his madness or his redemption, they still pale in comparison to those committed against him. While he wallowed in pettiness, they succumbed to greed, evil, and murder. Works Cited Kermode, Frank. "King Lear." The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G.B.Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1974. 1249-54. Muir, Kenneth, ed. King Lear. London: Methuen & Co, 1972 Partee, Morriss Henry. "Edgar and the Ending of King Lear." Studia Neophilologica 63 (1991): 175-180.

Merchant Of Venice Shylock Stu :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

This character sketch will be on Shylock, describing his physical and personality traits. Shylock is an older, Jewish money lender who has one daughter named Jessica. Shylock is introduced into the novel when Antonio’s friend, Gratiano needs money in order to impress a girl. Antonio at the time does not have any money and sends Gratiano to Shylock to borrow money from him. Shylock does not like Antonio because of past experiences where Antonio made fun of him publically. This leads to an interesting bond that Antonio must agree to in order for Gratiano to get money. Shylock has many different character traits such as vengeful and his greed which will be displayed in this character sketch.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His vengefulness is shown mainly towards two people in this play. Antonio being the greater of the two. He seeks revenge on Antonio because of how Antonio has treated Shylock in the past. One example of his vengefulness is when he said this to himself on page 15 “If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed the fat the ancient grudge I bear him.'; Not only does this prove that Shylock dislikes Antonio, it also proves that he holds grudges that aren’t usually solved without revenge. The other person that Shylock wants revenge from is his daughter Jessica. When Jessica and Lorenzo fall in love they decide they are going to elope. They do this the night that Shylock goes out for dinner when he goes Jessica steals some of his money and his dead wife’s ring. This made Shylock furious and he said, “ She is damned for it.';(page 44) Shylock seems to go after anyone that crosses his path, it is for good reason though being a Jew in Venician so ciety. In a way you may feel sorry for him until you realize how greedy this man is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shylock has a strong   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shylock isn’t exactly a character that wins your respect throughout the book. He does this with his obsession with money and his hatred for Antonio one of the more liked characters in the book. In the end of the play Shylock does not get his bond and Antonio gets away free. Merchant Of Venice Shylock Stu :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays This character sketch will be on Shylock, describing his physical and personality traits. Shylock is an older, Jewish money lender who has one daughter named Jessica. Shylock is introduced into the novel when Antonio’s friend, Gratiano needs money in order to impress a girl. Antonio at the time does not have any money and sends Gratiano to Shylock to borrow money from him. Shylock does not like Antonio because of past experiences where Antonio made fun of him publically. This leads to an interesting bond that Antonio must agree to in order for Gratiano to get money. Shylock has many different character traits such as vengeful and his greed which will be displayed in this character sketch.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His vengefulness is shown mainly towards two people in this play. Antonio being the greater of the two. He seeks revenge on Antonio because of how Antonio has treated Shylock in the past. One example of his vengefulness is when he said this to himself on page 15 “If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed the fat the ancient grudge I bear him.'; Not only does this prove that Shylock dislikes Antonio, it also proves that he holds grudges that aren’t usually solved without revenge. The other person that Shylock wants revenge from is his daughter Jessica. When Jessica and Lorenzo fall in love they decide they are going to elope. They do this the night that Shylock goes out for dinner when he goes Jessica steals some of his money and his dead wife’s ring. This made Shylock furious and he said, “ She is damned for it.';(page 44) Shylock seems to go after anyone that crosses his path, it is for good reason though being a Jew in Venician so ciety. In a way you may feel sorry for him until you realize how greedy this man is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shylock has a strong   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shylock isn’t exactly a character that wins your respect throughout the book. He does this with his obsession with money and his hatred for Antonio one of the more liked characters in the book. In the end of the play Shylock does not get his bond and Antonio gets away free.

The Killer Angels and the Battle of Gettysburg Essay examples -- Essay

When an author writes a book he has a message that he is trying to get across to the reader. This message is called a theme. In The Killer Angels Shaara’s theme was freedom for the slaves. The Northerners truly believed that the slaves deserved to be free, and their desire to set slaves free was the cause of the Civil War. Just before the Battle of Gettysburg, Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine gave a speech to a group of mutineers. He told them that the war in which they were fighting was unlike any war in history. The war in which they were fighting was not for money, property or power. It was a war to set other men free. After the battle began, Sergeant Tom Chamberlain asked a group of prisoners why they were fighting. They gave no answer, but asked him the same question. Sergeant Chamberlain answered, â€Å"To free the slaves, of course.† The South, however, was against freeing the slaves. The entire Civil War, whether the people were for or against the idea, was about freedom. The Killer Angels was informative, very fascinating and I liked it. I liked the book because I learned many things from it. I’d never thought much about the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg until I read The Killer Angels. From this book I learned many things. I learned that the Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War. Prior to Gettysburg, the South had won most major battles. At Gettysburg, however, the North gained it’s...

The Story of an Hour Analysis

On â€Å"The Story of an Hour† â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† a short story by Kate Chopin, details the events of the short hour when Mrs. Mallard finds out her husband has died, only to see him walking through the door. Chopin makes it clear through the structure of the story that the irony of these events is no coincidence; there is conflict when people are oppressed and their soul has no joy or freedom. It is clear in the exposition that Mrs. Mallard is afflicted with heart trouble, implying she is weak, both physically and emotionally. Her sister Josephine and her husband’s friend, Richard, know how fragile she is so, â€Å"great care was taken† to break the news of Mr. Mallard’s death. Following the news of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard, â€Å"wept at once†¦in her sister’s arms,† showing her dependence on others. As the immediate feeling of grief spent itself, she went up to her room to be alone with her thoughts. Although she is at first weak, someone who is completely emotionally unstable would not be so willing to go be alone in her room to grief. There is obviously some want to be self dependent and free. The story’s rising action builds through a series of scenery descriptions. After Mrs. Mallard has gone up to her room, she faces an open window. The blue sky â€Å"showing here and there† and â€Å"countless sparrows† twittering outside were mentioned, symbolizing happiness and peace. Mrs. Mallard is then described by the narrator as a woman with â€Å"a dull stare in her eyes,† as she fixed her gaze on the blue sky, as if finally realizing that they were there. The details of the rising actions transition into the climax, where Mrs. Mallard feels an emotion â€Å"approaching to possess her. † After the realization that â€Å"there would be no one to live for† for the rest of her life Mrs. Mallard continues to whisper under her breath, â€Å"Free! Body and soul free! † This moment is filled with joy; however a turn of events could be predicted to come soon as she prayed â€Å"that life might be long. † At the falling action of the story, Mrs. Mallard leaves the room with the open window with a â€Å"feverish triumph in her eyes. † She is unquestionably a confident and new woman as she walks down the stairs with her sister. The story concludes with the denouement in which Brently Mallard enters the front door, unharmed. The shock of his homecoming is extremely evident through Josephine’s â€Å"piercing cry† and Richard quickly trying to block him from the view of his wife. Mrs. Mallard apparently has a heart attack and dies â€Å"of the joy that kills. † By the time Mrs. Mallard realizes that because her husband has died she will now be able to experience the joy of freedom, â€Å"the face of this possession† has unexpectedly walked in through the door. Although most would expect the weak Mrs. Mallard to die when hearing the news of her husband’s death, it is seeing him alive and realizing that she will continue to be his possession that causes her heart and her soul to die.

Prelude to Philosophy: What is Philosophy? Essay

List 4 reasons students often presuppose a low view of philosophy. 1. The image that one has to be super intelligent to do philosophy. 2. As a discipline, most students study it late in their academic development. 3. Most people don’t think it’s practical. 4. Most students don’t know what philosophy is or how it can benefit them. Know Socrates’ quote: What is the unexamined life? What did he mean when he said it wasn’t worth living? The quote: â€Å"The unexamined life is not worth living.† Socrates didn’t mean that people have no value, or should be executed if they lived unexamined lives. Humans are unique in the animal kingdom; we have the ability to reason and reflect about everything. What he meant was: To live the unexamined life is to live less than a fully human life; not living life the way we were created to live. Know the etymology of the word â€Å"philosophy.† The combination of two Greek terms: phileo and sopos. Phileo means â€Å"love†, sophos means â€Å"wisdom†. Know the working definition of â€Å"philosophy† and explain each of its elements. Philosophy is the critical examination of our foundational beliefs concerning the nature of reality, knowledge, and truth, and our moral and social values. List and explain each of the 6 characteristics under the description of philosophy. 1. The relationship between philosophy and facts: philosophers are generally more interested in what lies behind the facts, their meaning, significance and veracity, than in the facts themselves. 2. The importance of method in philosophical investigation: why someone believes something more so than what they believe. 3. clarification: clear thinking is imperative in finding truth. Two enemies to clear thinking is ambiguity and vagueness. 4. Philosophy examines and evaluates everything; nothing is  taken for granted: Every belief and idea is open to critical examination. Clarification and justification are required before accepting any belief to be true. 5. Philosophy is usually concerned with foundational issues that have been perennial throughout the history of humankind. 6. Philosophy often appeals to systems of principles or guidelines regarded to be true: either reject new claim to be true or adjust system to adapt to the new claim. Philosophers build systems of beliefs and philosophical examination doesn’t begin from a neutral position. Contrast and compare philosophy with religion, science, and art. How are they different and how are they similar? 1. Philosophy and Religion: (compared) Both search for the ultimate – that which has the ultimate meaning and value, the one thing that unifies everything and from which everything finds it’s meaning and origin. (contrasted) Religion usually appeals to some authoritative revelation to discover the truths about the ultimate; philosophy uses rational inquiry in attempting to understand the ultimate. A spiritual aspect normally isn’t found in philosophy. 2. Philosophy and Science: (compared) Both try to understand reality in a methodical fashion. They both use observation and appeal to evidence to support their conclusions. They both derive criteria, hypotheses, and theories that they apply to specific situations to discover the truth about reality. (contrasted) Science generally examines that part of reality associated with the senses, the physical world, philosophies field extends outside of physical reality to what lies beyond. Also, science deals with first-order questions about reality, philosophy deals with second-order questions about disciplines like science. 3. Philosophy and Art: (compared) artists often use their medium to express philosophical ideas, they both also often deal with similar topics, and artists capture what some modern philosophers promote. (contrasted) Art usually only coveys a particular philosophical view, whereas philosophy seeks the rational justification of a view. Philosophy argues for a view, art expresses it. Art is concerned mostly with structure, philosophy is concerned mostly with content. Explain the value of experiential knowledge in distinction to propositional knowledge. Experiential knowledge enhances our understanding beyond what  propositional knowledge can convey. Philosophy: Examining life; love of wisdom. Unexamine Life: Going through daily/routine activities/life, without thinking about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it; going through the motions of life without making the effort to reflect and think about what life is about. Normative Claim: Makes a claim about some actions persons ought to do. Socrates’ â€Å"unexamined life† claim was a normative claim. Wisdom: Wisdom has less to do with how much one knows and more to do with how one uses the knowledge they have. Wisdom is knowledge applied; using the knowledge one has in a way that benefits life. Critical Examination: To analyze. Clarification: To determine what something means. Justification: Addresses the questions: Is this true, and are there good reasons to believe it’s true? Evaluation: Determines the significance or value of the idea. Presuppositions: Beliefs people usually don’t think about or try to prove. They are assumptions people hold about themselves and the world, without knowing which they would not be able to arrive at any other knowledge. Foundational Beliefs: Central and fundamental beliefs, the core of all other beliefs. First-Order Discipline: A field that directly studies reality. Second-Order Discipline: A field that studies the methods and presuppositions of first-order disciplines. It’s not interested in the conclusion but the  means used to arrive at the conclusion and the presuppositions held while attempting to answer the question. Ambiguous: When there is more than one possible meaning. Vague: When the meaning is not clear. Worldview: A comprehensive system of beliefs that functions, first as an explanation and interpretation of the world and, second as an application of that system to the way people live and the values they hold. Scientism: The notion that scientific knowledge is the only kind of knowledge there is. Propositional Knowledge: Consists of beliefs that can be formulated and conveyed in propositions. Experiential Knowledge: Knowledge gained through experiencing something. Rational Animal: Humans.

A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch Essay

Iris Murdoch constructs the novel, considered widely to have ushered in the Sexual Revolution of the 60s and 70s in England, with a first person male character, Martin Lynch-Gibbon. Martin is an upper class wine merchant, and it is with him that the novel begins, as we are given a picture of him lying in bed with his younger lover, Georgie, a student at Oxford, in the bliss of a vigorous, sexually driven relationship alongside a stable and convenient marriage. However, it is soon after this, when upon returning home, that his pampered wife Antonia tells him that she has been in love with his psychoanalyst and a family friend, Palmer Anderson. They wish to continue their cordial relationship with Martin, though Antonia has decided to seek divorce and marry Palmer. Martin falls back on his relationship with Georgie Hands, though we are given a sense at this point in the story, that the vigor is no more to be found, and it is reminiscent of something like Florentino’s womanizing in an attempt to rationalize the meaning of the loss he has suffered in Marquez’ ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’. It is Fermina’s rejection that drives him into a situation of bankruptcy, and it is here too that Martin tries to keep the different pieces together, though with a sense of loss that had made his relationship with Georgie complete. This missing part is his sense of security, his marriage of convenience, and a wife that he is otherwise indifferent to, Antonia. It is also the sense of having lost her to his friend, when he had taken for granted that fact that his ‘maleness’ in his liaison with Georgie had made him something of an artifact, a severed head to be held onto by the anthropologist; A man who would not lose his wife’s attentions. As a wine merchant, he chooses whiskey as a preference, and as a Marquezian lover, misinterprets his own charm. What is to be understood is that Antonia can only be truly free when she has broken out of the construct in which she finds herself pampered, materially lack of want, but missing a sort of impulsive romanticizing that will give her otherwise mundane life an aesthetic appeal. She needs to be tested for her love, and this can only happen when another male is involved, preferable someone close to and trusted by Martin himself. Thus, the betrayal is complete. Martin refuses to acknowledge the ethical impunity involved in his affairs with college girls, and the in his brazen pursuit and courting of Honor Klien. His decision to break into her house tells us again that his impulses will bring him no romantic merit, but only add to the tragicomic reality of a middle age well off man looking for sensual adventure but in a society that is already so riddled with misplaced and mismatched relationships, that each encounter will reveal a murkier reality to him. His breaking into Honor’s house finds her in bed with her half brother. This can only mean chaos for him. In his infatuation, childlike advances steadily give him a sense of failure, and slowly, acceptance. Martin is shown in a hedonistic light, and so are the other characters at different times in the novel. The pursuit of pleasure is seen as worthwhile in itself, though whether it conforms to conventions, or places them in opposition to a strangely rebellious modernity, is where Murdoch toys with the idea of a new sexual order to replace what England had come to be known for throughout the 17th to 19th centuries. At different times, the characters try to assert that they are independent agents, and by virtue of being so, they must naturally seek pleasure as their objective. Freud’s theories of motivation in human nature is a slight variant of this belief, and slowly we com to be acquainted with Freudian ideas, as relationships are confused, partners become parents and love finds expression in incest. Martin’s tragicomedy is reflected in several instances. For example when he moves out of their comfortable London home, move into a flat, and then moves back to their old residence. It seems as though his attempt to deal with the changes around him find expression in behaviour that he cannot himself explain. It was later that the pain came, a pain unutterably obscure and confused like that induced by some deprivation in childhood. (Oedipus complex) The familiar world of ways and objects within which I had lived for so long received me no more; and our lovely house had put on suddenly the air of a superior antique shop. The things in it no longer cohered together. It was odd that the pain worked first and most immediately through things, as if they had at once become the sad symbols of a loss which in its entirety I could not yet face. (p. 33) Here we get a glimpse of how childhood maturity plays a role in his relationships even as a 41 yr old adult with a fine business prospect. The deprivation that Martin claims to have a sense of, qualifies as Freud’s notion of the subjection of id, the subconscious, by the ego, conditioning. Martin’s frantic relocation, his breaking into Honor Klien’s home, are all an instance of hysteria, as is his self absorption when he is shown lying in bed with Georgie at the beginning of the novel. Such characterization has given critics the impression that Murdoch has adapted this book for the stage. The plot is simple and it is presented straightforwardly. Ethical questions come up in different discourses, but there is the impression at the end of the book that all the characters are flawed, through together, round and flat, in a given space. We as readers, watch them run around in different directions, emotionally, and sometimes come up against each other. To say that â€Å"the proper value is whatever gives you pleasure† is to say that â€Å"the proper value is whatever you happen to value†. Indeed, people begin to value different things at different times in the novel, and each change in heart raises moral questions. The symbol of the severed head, something that greatly fascinates Honor Klien, as a Lecturer of Anthropology, is something that Martin finds himself becoming. A severed head such as primitive tribes and old alchemists used to use anointing it with oil and putting a morsel of gold upon its tongue to make it utter prophecies. † He feels his adornment is something artificial that has been used to beautify a disgusting and decayed object. Toward the end of this novel two of the main characters (Honor Klein & Martin Lynch-Gibbon) are speaking after Martin discovers a secret about Honor, and she says to him â€Å"because of what I am and because of what you saw I am a terrible object of fascination for you. I am a severed head such as primitive tribes and old alchemists used to use, anointing it with oil and putting a morsel of gold upon its tongue to make it utter prophecies. And who knows but that long acquaintance with a severed head might not lead to strange knowledge. For such knowledge one would have paid enough. But that is remote from love and remote from ordinary life. As real people we do not exist for each other. † (182) The severed head can also be seen as a symbol of the Castration anxiety. It would be the father who would do the severing, against the son’s anxiety to dominate, especially in illicit sexual relations with the mother. In this context, the castration anxiety transmutes into a sort of mangled turnaround situation, when in the randomness of sexual anxiety, complexes are reversed and uncoordinated. Murdoch draws a close sketch of the other, the victim of the castration, though in this sense it is not so much the protagonists attempt at keeping the terms of association in equilibrium, the careful examination of loss and damage control. The male has been castrated, now he must survive in a world where he had thought that his emotionally charged liaisons with younger women would give him magnanimity over his nuptial vows. This is the irony which has been reversed on him, he is the fallen woman, the Lady who has stepped beyond the boundaries, and who must now experience perdition, a cleansing. Honor Klien is also an agency in the plot of the novel. It is her who discloses that liaisons between Georgie, Martin, his brother Alexander, Antonia and Palmer. Her affecting an introduction between Georgie and Alexander is the final destabilizing factor in Martin’s life, when he is sure that he has lost Antonia and Honor is beyond his grasp, the his final relationship with Georgie is put to threat. Honor seems like the feminist crusader, in her battle to bring sexual freedom to the women around her, an attitude that can find easy significance by her position as Georgie’s teacher at Oxford. Antonia easily fits as her aide; when Honor goes on to tell her and Palmer about Martin’s relations with Georgie that he has tried so hard to keep hidden even after he has symbolically broken away from his London high society moorings. Thus, she must act as the agent who forces upon him the task of reflection, thus reinterpreting his own history and that of the women around him. As Tagore said of each of his female characters, particularly of his protagonists, that they must go through the test of fire to be able to prove their existence in a society that demands absolute obedience from thinking women. Murdoch, as a female writer coming up in the coffee table age when sexuality was beginning to be openly discussed in the London circles, seems to offer a similar retribution of her male first person characters, to which she has attributed the female gaze. The gaze is an important cultural symbol that is seen in Tennyson’s poem, ‘The Lady of Shallot’. The lady can see the masculine space only through a glass mirror, while the man sees the lady, only later and in her death, and passes a flippant remark on her glassy countenance. She, in fact, has become the mirror herself. Martin similarly is an embodiment of the emotional turmoil that his class witnessed as a whole, and the failure of on man would go on to symbolize the failure of his entire class. Thus, while a crusader works on both ends of the sexuality debate, one is the pragmatic woman of the 20th century, while the other is the new man confused by changing roles and mores. Murdoch uses other recognizable symbols as well. The weather often corresponds with the moods of her characters. The dense fog over London is symbolic of his trance like inability to not bring his life back on his own terms. His acceptance towards the end of the novel has something of a Stephen Blackpool in him; through there is no fatalism to his relationships and the nature of his life. He must struggle, though only with himself, to bring about an external transformation. A severed head is sometimes seen as a satire, or a farcical novel, where people and customs are shown in an ironic stance to give us alternating points of view. It is because of this that it is so hard to pass a judgment on any of the characters in the novel. It occupies the grey mass between what we know and whet we are afraid to find out.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Budgets

Before beginning to comment on the usefulness of corporate budget, it is important to know what is the meaning and purpose of budget for a corporation. A budget is basically a financial planning tool which the organization uses to plan its expenses from the revenue. A budget is a comprehensive summary of the planned expenses and revenues of an organization which is used throughout the year.The main purpose of making a corporate budget is to forecast the revenues and expenditures so that particular strategies and events can be undertaken to achieve similar financial performance (Kemp & Dunbar 2003). The budgeting also enables the organization to compare the actual financial performance of the business against the forecast.Corporate budget is the annual budget compiled by the organization and is different from the start-up budget. It is a budget which is compiled by the finance department of an organization after every department contributes its expected revenues and expenses.This way a final corporate budget is drafted through the considerable effort of various people and technology in the organization and this serves as a financial plan for the new financial year (Shim & Siegel, 2008). The actual financial performance of the company in numbers is compared to the forecasted numbers and if this matches reasonably then this means that budgeting is of good use for the business.But if the actual numbers diverge considerably from the expected numbers then this means that budgeting is not useful for the company and business is not going in the intended direction. Budgeting is basically a tool organizations use for planning and controlling their organization’s financial performance.Previously, this task was mostly centralized but with changing times it has become a company-wide effort with all the managers and employees contributing to the final budget.The traditional method was the bottom-up approach in which the every department provides its expected revenues and request expenses which are then accommodated into the corporate budget but this approach is now being integrated with the top-down approach to budgeting where the top management defines the strategic objectives and then the budget is prepared by departments.What usually happens is that budgeting and forecasting starts with the previous year’s numbers which are incorporated into the new budget.But business are adopting strategic business planning where budget planning is based on the annual company’s objectives and then the budget is planned accordingly to achieve the desired goals for example, the objective is to increase the sales by 10% then more revenues and expenses are forecasted to achieve the increased sales objective (Society for HRM, 2005).This essay will first start by providing some advantages and disadvantages of budgeting done in organization. Then the statements provided are discussed in the light of these advantages and disadvantages. In the final se ction, an organization’s budgeting procedure is critically analyzed and reviewed.Before analyzing the statements regarding budgeting, the following paragraph provides some knowledge on the advantages and disadvantages of corporate budgeting.The first and foremost advantage of budgeting is that is that it forms a link between the management and resources by compelling the former to think about the future of the organization so that plans are set out for each department to achieve the targets.Secondly, budgeting is a source of communication from the top management to the department heads and managers about what is expected from them thus, promoting coordination between the two. Budget also serves as a yardstick with which actual financial performance is compared and measured.When there is a variance then it promoted remedial action. It is a way of identifying resources and requirements and providing guidelines to the departments so that they proceed in the right direction. Mana gers are able to focus on the specific plans as outlined by the budget so that they can be achieved within the estimated time and resources.When employees are given a chance to participate in the budget proposals then they become motivated and more productive. Proper budgetary planning can also ensure that resources are allocated productively, competitively and profitably resulting in cost reductions (Putra, 2008).There are also various drawbacks and problems attached to budgeting within organizations. The first problem to budgeting is that it pressurizes the managers to achieve the targets forcing them to do gaming in order to take advantage of the rewards or due to the fear that the funds will be reduced.Those managers can take the rewards that set for them easy goals but those managers can be penalized who set for them difficult but ambitious goals. Quality and customer service might deteriorate when the organization is striving to meet the budgetary targets and not the quality t argets.There are also bad labor relations due to budget pressures and conflicts arise between departments due to disputes over resource allocation and blames are thrown over each other when targets are not achieved. Due to budgeting managers sometimes overestimate the costs as well so that if there is any over expenditure then they are not blamed (Hope & Fraser, 2003).  Recently organizations have turned against budgeting. This is because the forecast are very different from the actual results obtained at the end of the year because a business is subject to a lot of internal and external changes throughout the year.With things changing so rapidly in the environment, nobody can closely predict what will be the position of the business after one whole year. At the end of the year it seems that planning and drafting the budget was a useless task and waste of time serving no purpose (Jensen 2001).Top management is often not able to take right decisions when there seems an environmenta l opportunity due to planned budget constraints. They want to carry on the business according to the planned budget and therefore, overlook the opportunities available at some time in the year.Few corporations have stopped this activity at all thinking that planning budget is a waste of precious organizational resources and time which can be spent elsewhere productively.Non-profit or governmental organizations usually do not use budgets for their planning since such organizations do not work earning revenues and therefore, no planning is required (Whiting 2000). However, few non-profit organizations do plan their expenses so that they can arrange for the required amount of funds through charity or grants.But there are some profit organizations as well who have realized with the passage of time that budgeting especially traditional form of budgeting is a waste of time and resources distorting decision making in fast changing environment (Merchant 1981).Examples include Rhodia, a Fren ch global specialty chemicals company which dispensed budgeting entirely in 1999, Borealis, a Danish petrochemicals company which abandoned budgeting in 1995 and Volvo, the Automaker which also abandoned budgeting considering it as time consuming and waste of resources.Budgeting is not common in smaller organization because they don’t know how to use budgets to plan their financial performance and goals (Rachlin 1999).The article titled ‘Why budgeting kills your company?’ explains in a very concrete manner how budgeting actually consumes organization’s financial and human resources which could have been employed elsewhere productively (Gary 2003). It says that the average billion dollar company spends around 25000 person-days per year in drafting the budget whereas this could have been utilized in increasing the shareholder return.Many organizations have begun to question the usefulness of traditional form of budgeting and are finding alternative ways for properly aligning the spending with strategy along with reduced time and resources (Bogsnes 2008). Today business of the entire world are facing tough times with the world economy in recession therefore, it is imprudent to justify increased costs for businesses due to budget planning (Schaumann 2007).While planning the budget the top management is mostly seen in cutting expenses even if it is damaging the high-performing units while only sustains the underperforming ones. The resources are not allocated towards the high performing and deserving projects due to budget planning. Some experts believe that budgeting should be dispensed all together and decisions regarding it should be placed with the employees who are in direct touch with the customers.The entire budgeting process takes a considerable length of time where first each department produces sales and capital needed forecast, then meetings are held to discuss the budget requests and for making the final decisions, budget book s are produced after months of meeting and this all together can take around six months and 20% of the management’s time (Gary 2003).Budgeting has become an expensive, time-taking and frustrating task for organizations because it is more like a fixed performance or implicit contract (Neely, Bourne & Adams 2003).And the thing that worsens budgeting even further is that financial incentives like career prospects and bonuses are attached to such contracts if the goals are achieved.Because of these financial incentives, managers and heads of department are pressurized to achieve the desired targets often resulting in distortion, misrepresentation and gaming on part of the most honest employees.Managers become schemers since they put a proposal of 50% more than the required budget because they know that they’ll be argued down by the senior management to the desired level (Belkaoui 1994). Moreover, managers also start spending too much if their spending does not match the fo recasted expenses due to the fear that if there is anything left over then their next year funding will be reduced.

Opinionated Response to Peer Comment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Opinionated Response to Peer Comment - Essay Example In response, the government implemented many tax rate reductions to appease the people’s rising disgruntlement (Friedberg, 2011). Using Keynesian economic principles, tax cuts will generate more purchasing power. With lesser taxes, the people will have more money to buy good and services. With more tax cuts, the people’s demand for products and services increases. Consequently, with more demand, the stores and other suppliers can sell more goods. With more goods sold, the government can collect more taxes. Basically, the overall effect on the government’s tax collections seems the same (Mankiw, 2008). With more sales, the companies pay more taxes to the government. With more demand for products and services, the factories hire more workers to produce the highly salable products and deliver more services. With more employees, the government can collect more salary-based taxes. As proof, During the George W. Bush Presidency, the president was beset with an economic depression. To rehabilitate and improve the economic depression, President George W. Bush spearheaded permanent tax cuts. As expected, the President Bush Tax cuts increased the public’s purchasing power, rejuvenating the ailing economy (Mankiw, 2008). Getting the substance of the above discussion, the 1940s and later years’ tax cuts met the people’s increasing requests to reduce the high tax rates. The study indicates the importance of implementing the people’s demand for lower tax rates. The study proves that the 1940s and later years’ tax cuts benefit many parties, especially the United States government. Without a doubt, the comment stating the benefits have become popular in the United States during the 1940s when the United States Congress passed tax breaks for some business entities is

Measure of your own physical fitness Assignment

Measure of your own physical fitness - Assignment Example Risk factors questionnaire first will involve collection of information involving risk factors. This may be by giving questionnaires to individuals who have been proven clinically to be normal and those suffering from dementia. This questionnaire is administered to a number of about six thousand individuals. The questionnaire is set as follows: Students stress scale investigates the relationship between anxiety, leisure satisfaction, time management and academic stress. A stress scale for a student will be as follows; considering that people who have 100 percent and higher have a lofty health risk, while those scoring 60 percent to 100 percent have a half chance of health changes which are serious. Those below 60 percent have health changes which are less serious. Stress levels are measured by considering the health status of the student; hence the scale will show the incident that leads to stress and then the health status which dictates the stress level (Landow 38) The stress scale includes various factors that have a direct impact on the health status of students. Taking the test helps to make the stress levels go down to avoid getting stress related illnesses such as blood pressure, and blood sugar related complications. The scale is constructed for a specific period and at these instances the total percentages are taken to evaluate the total stress levels, and hence finding the health risks the student may go through. The scale is vital for students who have to combine schooling, family and social matters (Landow 128). The social readjustment rating scale is a sort of questionnaire that identifies major life events which are stressful. The rating scale involves awarding an event which is stressful a unit which represents life changes. It depends on how traumatic the event was felt by the students who are the participants in this case. The student can then come up with a total value by adding the unit awarded for every event for a period of 12

Sustainable Drainage Systems and Piles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainable Drainage Systems and Piles - Essay Example Firstly it would be Infiltration trenches and the second will be Detention Basins. Infiltration trenches This is a system in which a trench is made and filled with artificial layers of granular material/aggregates which are clean and dry and then this is used in combination with geotextile. These granular materials have voids which are used to trap water and retain it for some time. Where as geotextile material prevents from clogging and durability. The Granular material should be 50 mm clear stones. Then the materials are layered in the manner shown below. There are some conditions for its construction. Almost of the trench is underground and hence its maintenance will be expensive. The trenches are constructed at least 1.5m above the maximum groundwater level and it should be at least 5 m away from the foundations or buildings lines. It is used in areas where the silt/clay content is not more than 40 %.It is made in areas with type A and Type B soils. It should not be constructed n ear septic tanks or water supply line and the areas near it should have good house keeping, if it is not done it will result into choking of the voids that retains waters. Then to improve the life and decrease the maintenance of the trenches it should be provided with Leaf screens, Vegetated filter strips or grass swales and similar devices such as grit separators, goss separator etc. Then these trenches are designed with an impervious drainage area to treatment facility area ratio of between 5:1 and 20:1. Therefore its is clear that the land take is very less and this option will be suitable where areas is less such as commercial areas. Where as the maintenance of the trenches are done by cleaning out leaves, debris and accumulated sediment caught in pretreatment devices, inlets and outlets annually or as needed. If this is not done on regular basis then the trenches will choke and then a complete overhaul needs to be done which is costly. Normally the trenches’ material is replaced in 5 years. Although the cost of construction is low but the maintenance cost is high and needs to be repeated. Then in this type of system when the water passes through the layers of the trenches the solid particles are filtered and the geotextile improves the process. Eventually the quality of the water is improved but the water does not provide microbiological purification. Concluding the merit of the system are that they require less space, the improve water quality, have less construction cost, reduce the runoff during rainy season and reduce the erosion that might occur by heavy rainfall and its runoff. Where as the demerits are that the maintenance of the system is high and repetitive, the system doesnot purify biologically. It cannot be made in areas where underground services are present. These systems are not used in high slope areas. It is ineffective in areas where soil is contaminated and polluted. It looks the worst when the system is choked as the water stays and do not drain. Detention Basins As the name indicates this system impound water in an excavated area or basin. Primarily this is used in areas where there is heavy rainfall and frequent flooding. These basins are used in reducing peak storm water discharges, controlling floods and preventing downstream channel scouring. There are two type of detention basins dry detention basin (storage is for specified short time) and the other is extended detention basin (used for retention for

Skin cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Skin cancer - Essay Example This assignment will focus on signs, causes, types, stages, prevention, and treatment of skin cancer. Sun exposure is the major cause of skin cancer (Nouri 22). It begins in the skins top layer that has been exposed to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation found in sunlight as well as in the lights used in tanning beds. There are other factors that can contribute to the disease including exposure to toxic substances or experiencing conditions that weakens the immune system. There are various signs of skin cancer ranging from pale color and unnecessary growth of skin. Skin cancer has two main types, keratinocyte cancers  and melanomas. Keratinocyte skin cancers  are further divided into basal and squamous cell skin cancers. Basal skin cancer is by far the most common cancer of the skin. Both of them are often found in the skin areas that are exposed to the sun. Such as head, neck, and arms.Although they are very common but they are treatable. Furthermore, melanoma skin cancer is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. This form of skin cancer develops when unrepaired DNA damages the skin cells. An estimated 76,100 new cases of invasive melanoma have been diagnosed in the US in 2014(American cancer society). Moreover, there are other skin cancer types that are not quite critical. For example, Markel cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma, Lymphoma of the skin, etc. Success of the treatment of skin cancer depends on how early it is diagnosed. The stages of skin cancer is one of the most important factors in evaluating treatment options and through it can be identified how far the disease have spread.Mostly the staging of skin cancer depends on the type of it. There are four stages of skin cancer. During stage one, the cancer is 2cm across or less and has 1 or no high risk features. During stage two, the cancer is more than 2cm across, or has 2 or more  high risk features. During stage 3 it has grown into the bones in the face, such as the jaw bone or the

Project Management Master Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Management Master - Assignment Example That is why Project Management is told to be the best method of implementing change. The defining and planning stage - means to plan the project in more detail by writing and publishing a full definition of the project and determining a project plan. The production of a Project Plan, or Schedule, is a key part of the development of any project. The schedule Formal methods of project management offer a framework to manage this process and provides a series of procedures to manage the project through its life cycle. According to the Lasa Computanews Guide to Project Management, the key elements are: Many project management systems are proprietary. Project management consultants sell them as a package of services that will include training sessions and consultancy alongside documentation that will include templates and guidance notes. These packages don't come cheap - they cost hundreds or thousands of pounds. But this approach may be a cost effective solution for larger organizations that want to set up a structure to manage a number of projects. Practically, they are paying to set up a framework that includes: training for staff, consultancy and support to manage projects within the organization. However, in RCIAS Good Practice Bulletin No3 there are noted some of the common issues identified within the Research Councils or the wider public and private sectors: Procurement Strategy, Guidelines, Supply of management information, Training, Contract Signing Powers, Use of consultants. The Procurement Strategy issue is determined by the fact that few councils have a formal and authorized procurement strategy.

Corporate Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate Governance - Essay Example Such an argument is made with specific reference to the role that companies play in the social and economic lives of the society at large. The governance of corporations is also debatable at governmental level as per the political powers they may exercise and the world wide reach of the business in the globalized economy. Governments are taking keen interest in the governance matter of the companies not only to secure the national economy and shareholders rights but also to protect the global share of the country in the international markets. On the other hand, the finance providers including the individuals, banks, financial institutions and governments (in their role as investor) seek guarantee that their resources are being utilized in an efficient manner and create sufficient profits for them. This guarantee or assurance leads to the necessity of good corporate governance in place. In other words we can say that good corporate governance leads to increased shareholder trust and a ttracts potential investors due to the assurance that their resources will be secured (Macey 2008). Corporate governance can be defined in a number of ways. ... The main idea is the governance of corporations with an aim to increase stakeholder trust and confidence in the company’s operations, strategies, outputs and practices. Such a system of running businesses lead to the compliance with legal, constructive and social obligations which further enhances the credibility of the corporation in terms of gaining trust and assurance of the stakeholders (Monks & Minow 2004; Ali & Gregoriou 2006). Economic Reasons The corporations are governed by the directors through the managers and lower level staff, however, shareholders holds the directors accountable for the matters concerning the businesses. Corporate governance should be a matter of shareholders as their investments are at stake with the business’s reputation, operations and governance. Shareholders need an assurance of the security of their shareholdings. The returns that the business generates are eventually distributed among the shareholders. The governance of a corporatio n, hence, is of immense importance to the shareholders in terms of the economic benefits it may bring. Alternatively, any inappropriate action or decision taken by the directors held them accountable to the shareholders. Friedman (1962) suggests that the shareholder theory claims that corporation decisions should be made to enhance the value of shares to increase returns for the shareholders. Further, the agency relationship that exists between shareholders and directors may form the basis of good corporate governance practices, whereby, directors act as agents to the shareholders. In other words, the corporate governance codes and practices, as per the

Cuba Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cuba - Essay Example Cubans has produced many excellent boxers, including world champion Joel Casamayor. Music is treasured by the Cuban people who enjoy jazz, mambo and bolero genres. The family institution is highly value in Cuba, a place where family values and obligation comes first. When the son finds a suitable partner and gets marry it is not uncommon for the wife to move in and live with the husbands parents until a home is found for them. There is shortage of housing in Cuba. On a yearly basis the country only produces and builds half of the required demand for housing in the state (CultureGrams, 2007). The socialism reality of Cuba has made its residents a bit hesitant to fully cultivate religion. The Catholic Church has invested a lot of effort trying to open the minds of the people toward their cult which has worked towards a certain extend. Other types of religion practiced in Cuba include Spiritualism, Brujerà ­a and Santerà ­a. Santeria is a fusion of Roman Catholicism and a West African religion of an African (CountryWatch, 2007). Cuba is very well educated nation primary schooling is mandatory and majority of people complete secondary school. Th e literacy rate of Cuba is 97% and the country enjoys a higher educational system of 50 university institutions around the island (CultureGrams, 2007). Despite the poverty and restriction on liberties the Cuban people are very similar to Latin cultures as free as being free spirited work people who enjoy classical Salsa music and nightlife and â€Å"festivals† are part of the social life of Cuban adults. The Cubans eat a lot at home and the most important meal of the day is dinner a time for the family to reflect on their day and communicate with each other. Typical meal includes rice and beans, â€Å"viandas† and the prefer meat because of its lower price and local production is chicken. The favorite and most consumed tropical fruits eaten by the Cuban people are: mangos, avocados, oranges, lemons, pineapples and