Monday, September 30, 2019

Brief History of Shaheed Udham Singh Essay

Udham Singh, a revolutionary nationalist, was born Sher Singh on 26 December 1899, at Sunam, in the then princely state of Patiala. His father, Tahal Singh, was at that time working as a watchman on a railway crossing in the neighbouring village of Upall. Sher Singh lost his parents before he was seven years and was admitted along with his brother Mukta Singh to the Central Khalsa Orphanage at Amritsar on 24 October 1907. As both brothers were administered the Sikh initiatory rites at the Orphanage, they received new names, Sher Singh becoming Udham Singh and Mukta Singh Sadhu Singh. In 1917, Udham Singh’s brother also died, leaving him alone in the world. Udham Singh left the Orphanage after passing the matriculation examination in 1918. He was present in the Jallianvala Bag on the fateful Baisakhi day, 13 April 1919, when a peaceful assembly of people was fired upon by General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, killing over one thousand people. The event which Udham Singh used to recall with anger and sorrow, turned him to the path of revolution. Soon after, he left India and went to the United States of America. He felt thrilled to learn about the militant activities of the Babar Akalis in the early 1920’s, and returned home. He had secretly brought with him some revolvers and was arrested by the police in Amritsar, and sentenced to four years imprisonment under the Arms Act. On release in 1931, he returned to his native Sunam, but harassed by the local police, he once again returned to Amritsar and opened a shop as a signboard painter, assuming the name of Ram Muhammad Singh Azad. This name, which he was to use later in England, wa s adopted to emphasize the unity of all the religious communities in India in their struggle for political freedom. Udham Singh was deeply influenced by the activities of Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary group. In 1935, when he was on a visit to Kashmlr, he was found carrying Bhagat Singh’s portrait. He invariably referred to him as his guru. He loved to sing political songs, and was very fond of Ram Prasad Bismal, who was the leading poet of the revolutionaries. After staying for some months in Kashmlr, Udham Singh left India. He wandered about the  continent for some time, and reached England by the mid-thirties. He was on the lookout for an opportunity to avenge the Jalliavala Bagh tragedy. The long-waited moment at last came on 13 March 1940. On that day, at 4.30 p.m. in the Caxton Hall, London, where a meeting of the East India Association was being held in conjunction with the Royal Central Asian Society, Udham Singh fired five to six shots from his pistol at Sir Michael O’Dwyer, who was governor of the Punjab when the Amritsar massacre had taken place. O’Dwyer was h it twice and fell to the ground dead and Lord Zetland, the Secretary of State for India, who was presiding over the meeting was injured. Udham Singh was overpowered with a smoking revolver. He in fact made no attempt to escape and continued saying that he had done his duty by his country. On 1 April 1940, Udham Singh was formally charged with the murder of Sir Michael O’Dwyer. On 4 June 1940, he was committed to trial, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, before Justice Atkinson, who sentenced him to death. An appeal was filed on his behalf which was dismissed on 15 July 1940. On 31 July 1940, Udham Singh was hanged in Pentonville Prison in London. Udham Singh was essentially a man of action and save his statement before the judge at his trial, there was no writing from his pen available to historians. Recently, letters written by him to Shiv Singh Jauhal during his days in prison after the shooting of Sir Michael O’Dwyer have been discovered and published. These letters show him as a man of great courage, with a sense of humour. He called himself a guest of His Majesty King George, and he looked upon death as a bride he was going to wed. By remaining cheerful to the last and going joyfully to the gallows, he followed the example of Bhagat Singh who had been his beau ideal. During the trial, Udham Singh had made a request that his ashes be sent back to his country, but this was not allowed. In 1975, however, the Government of India, at the instance of the Punjab Government, finally succeeded in bringing his ashes home. Lakhs of people gathered on the occasion to pay homage to his memory.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Appropriate behaviour Essay

a) Explain why it is important to promote appropriate behaviour and respect for others (ref. 2.2) As learning take place in a social enviroment it will be fundamental to create a good atmosphere helping everyone attending to feel at ease in a space where learners feel safe and comfortable to express their opinion. Each student may have different background, culture, beliefs, experiences and needs, so it is very important to be open minded and to establish ground rules so to avoid any animosity, unrespectful behaviour and any kind of discrimination. Any inequality and discrimitation should be challenged to guarantee fairness, decency and respect beteween students. Creating a safe and relaxed enviroment, learners will be more motivated and focused, able to participate, voice their opinions, ask questions and be actively involved in determining how they will learn, allowing them to use their potential and achieve their goals. b) Ways to promote equality and value diversity (ref. 1.3) Equality is about the learner’s rights to have the same opportunity, access and partecipate in their chosen course/training regardless of age, ability or circumstances understanding that everyone are different but have the same rights. Promoting diversity means value and respect differences between students regardless of age, ability, circumstances. An open discussion at the first meeting within students and teacher allows an opportunity for everyone to contribute and know each other bringing up cultural or behavioural differences which can be expressed and may raise issues not previously considered by some. Each person can write out for themselves which types of appropriate behaviour they believe more important. This will give the chance to evaluate each individual’s preferences and gives an overall view on how to maintain a level of courtesy and respect establishing ground rules adequate for the group. Being a teacher means also to be a role model and my behaviour will reflect on my students. For this reason I will treat my students with respect and dignity, ensuring to be non-judgemental, to give same attention to each learner and that particular groups will not be offended (i.e. faith or religion). When planning lessons or activities I might use pictures in handouts and presentations representing different cultures, gender, age and ability in order to embrace all aspects of equality and diversity. c) The importance of identifying and meeting the needs of learners (ref. 1.4) Identify learners needs is one of the most important aspect of teaching as it will allows to differentate lesson’s plans. Learners needs can vary, they may have specific issues like lack of finance or challanges like English as a second language, knowing this a teacher will be able to provide learners support suggesting them points of referral to get help and advice (i.e. interpreters; Citizen Advice Bureau). Some may have special needs like dyslexia or diabetes, others may need advice before enrolment to know if the qualification will meet their career aspirations. In certain case it can be important to find out those informations in advance avoiding some learners to take a course which is unsuitable for them. For this reason an initial/diagnostic assessment will be carried out before the programme starts ensuring learners are making the right choise towards their expectations, results become a teacher’s tool who’s gainig an overall understanding of learners capability, aim, knowledge and specific requirements enabling the teacher to plan and facilitate individual learning and so meeting individual needs. Other aspects to be considered, for instance, are the classroom facilities and accessibility (i.e. layout of tables and chairs) to guarantee safety and meeting the needs of a learner who’s a wheel chair user. Feedback and informal formative assessments can take place throughout the course to ensure learner needs and learning styles are met and satisfy at all times. d) Ways to maintain a safe and supportive learning enviroment (ref. 2.1) As it is likely that learners will be a diverse group of students (from various backgrounds, with different levels of prior learning and expectations, as well as different learning needs), once ground rules have been established, taking an inclusive approach when teaching will help to ensure that your teaching meets everyone’s need enabling students to learn effectively. An  inclusive approach to learning and teaching that aims to meet every individual student’s learning requirements would benefit all students, as a result learners will feel they belong in the classroom. Using an inclusive approach means the teacher will not exclude anyone directly or indirectly, learners will be treated with fairness and trasparency, called by name and making eye contact whenever possible. All students will be involved in activities which may see them working in pair or groups, promoting socialization, tolerance, equality and valuing diversity. ‘’A suitable learning environment is crucial for effective learning to take place. This involves not only the venue and resources used, but also your attitude and the support you give to your students’’ ( Gravells A. 2012, pg 24). Delivering lessons with passion can help to motivate learners, however making sure the environment is clean and safe, at the right temperature, being considerate and open doors or windows is important as much. The lesson’s quality will tells learners when teachers are professional and serious about their job. If there is a break time it is good practice to inform learners right at the beginning of the lesson when this will take place. Knowing this can help your learners focus on their learning.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Stress and Fatigue in Police Personel and how it affects them Research Paper

Stress and Fatigue in Police Personel and how it affects them - Research Paper Example Research has also revealed that male and female police personnel perceive stress and fatigue differently (Zhao, et al; 2002).According to Keinan & Pines (2007), professional stress always directly impacts work performance of the employees; since police job is a sensitive and significant profession, there should be some strategy to reduce this work stress faced by police personnel. 1.2 Nature of Job Dealing with stress greatly depends upon one’s coping skills, however, Gaines & Jermier, 1983) have identified that job related fatigue is encouraged and elevated due to emotional exhaustion in high stress organizations (Zhao, et al; 2002). Police department in itself is a high stress department where police personnel get exposure to all dark and criminal sides of life. Gaines & Jermier (1983) further point out that the nature of police job and mandate of police in society is a bit contradictory and emotionally critical; which is why special attention is needed in this field to devi se and implement stress reduction strategies. 2. REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE A lot of academic and scholarly literature is available on the topic. Some of the relevant researches are reviewed under the three categories below: 2.1Causes of Stress and Fatigue among Police Personnel and its effects Abdollahi (2002) conducted a detailed review based study to investigate the stressors faced by police force personnel. The results of the study revealed four categories of stressors: Intra personal (Factors related to personality), Occupational, organizational and health related. According to Haines (2003), more police officers face stress due top relationships rather than job, because the tough nature of police job impacts their personal and family life. In another study, White and colleagues (1985) explored the factors that cause stress among police professional and found that these stressors can be broadly distributed into the three categories namely: physical or psychological threat, l ack of support and evaluation systems. Research has also focused on the job burnout in prison department. One study by Keinan & Pines (2007) has revealed that not only there are differences in perceived stress among personnel from various police departments like security, administration and treatment; differences are also found in stress level experience as per seniority position or rank wise. The main stressors identified include: working extra shifts without compensation, low salary packages and excessive work load. Boyce (2006) has explained stressors faced by police personnel in terms of external and internal factors. External factors of stress as per Boyce (2006) include: negative publicity, untimely court appearances, distorted police related press accounts, negative attitude and discouragement from friends and family on choice of profession. 2.2 Gender differences in Police Stress According to Boyce (2006), the female police personnel face an extra stress of proving themselve s since their ‘handling the situation’ skills are more often questioned as compared to those of males. Gachter and colleagues (2009) investigated gender differences in stress among police personnel. They measured stress on two scales, one for physical and other for psychological stress. Their findings were

Education Issues and Special Education Needs Essay

Education Issues and Special Education Needs - Essay Example This paper analyzes the major challenge with this funding system which is in the ability of schools to determine the students who require funding based on the assessment of their level of disability. The school may not be able to have competent staff to determine whether the student has a problematic behaviour. This can lead to the exclusion of needy students into the system. In all the funding systems discussed above, the provision of resources necessary for the maintenance of students without statements concerning special education needs should be delegated to schools. However, there are variations in the factors that applied in determining the amount of resources the school should receive. Students with statements concerning special education needs need to be funded on an individual basis to ensure that they fully benefit from education. Full support of children with disability ensures that they are not disadvantaged when in comes to the allocation of resources and in competing with other students to meet the requirements of standard education. This essay makes a conclusion that local authorities should allocate funds to the schools based on the numbers of students entitled to free school meals in the cases whereby they do not have documented statements concerning special education needs. However, they should avail adequate funds to cater for the children with statements concerning special education needs. The funding should be based not on the availability of funds but on the needs of the students with disability. Limiting funds for the sustenance of these children leads to suffering in their attempt to achieve quality education as other members of the society. Students with disability should also be entitled to education grants from the government to fund their education as other members of the public.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Images Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Images - Essay Example Hence, it is vital for firms to have a consistency between their channel image and their brand image (Marconi, 1996). This paper will analyze the importance of maintaining a channel image and a brand image. Firms sometimes seem to forget that customers do not think in terms of channels. Customers, owing to that, have expectations of marketers (Armstrong, 2007). However, sometimes marketers do not see these prospects. The perception of a consumer being in control goes back a number of years and the idea will probably never change. The real hurdle is how firms give them what they anticipate and make sure that they shop with them in the future. In business-to-consumer environment, firms in the past opted to eliminate middlemen. If a firm had a pleasing product and an attractive offer, then it could create a list of consumers and never assign budget to brand marketing (Gregory, 1999). That, however, is no longer the case. These days, every functional area of a company needs to serve as a middleman and offer the help that a customer requires to make a purchasing decision and become a steadfast buyer. Therefore, brand image has a significant influence on a firm’s channel performance. Also, as the article 7 rules of global distribution (2000) emphasizes, a multinational firm needs to have authority over its marketing strategy (Arnold, 2000). This will help the firm in determine the way the distributor perceives the image of their company. This, at the same time, may be damaging and favorable. In addition, a group’s notoriety may also assist in the selection of foreign partners. This is because distributing well-known products is always quite an â€Å"honor† for a partner abroad and the willing marketers are always many. Finally, a firm depends on the â€Å"win-win speculation† and so a distributor is anticipated to respect the firm’s rules before his or her own interests (Arnold, 2000). In relation to L’Oreal, the company takes

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Reflex Arm of Behavior Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Reflex Arm of Behavior - Research Paper Example We should thus not treat cats, or animals in general, badly if they happen to do something to hurt us. Most likely, they were only responding to the environment as they sense it, and they did not mean to cause any harm. Why Study Cat Communication? The most important drive for the study of cat communication, particularly those of domesticated cats (Felis catus) is the prevention of untoward incidents between these pets and their owners. Despite their advanced communicating skills relative to other animals, theirs is still primitive as compared to humans. Thus, they are still incapable of giving explicit signals for the message they want to give out. As will be mentioned later, they have similar behavior for two different emotions. Idiosyncrasies of Cats One of the most characteristic traits of domestic cats is its knack for going for long periods without face-to-face encounters with other cats. They may not tolerate long periods of interaction. A moment of showing affection is fine; although cats may feel agitated once they feel they are confined to such for a long time (animal.discovery.com). ... Thus, domestic cats are capable of moving from being fully man-dependent, through commensalism, to total independent existence just within a few generations. One implication of this change within a few generations is that the ancestral, wild side of domestic cats is still retained, as evidenced by the occasional mouse-hunting inside their owners’ homes. The retention of their wild side is also influenced by the fact that most of the time, the home-made foods given to them by their owners are not enough to provide for the nutrition they need as obligate carnivores, such as arachidonic acid, niacin and taurine. They need to retain their hunting abilities to provide for the other nutrients that the food man provides lack (Bradshaw et al., 1999). What is interesting about cats, the owned ones especially, is that they are not really particular with the breed of their mates. Except for the purely domesticated, totally human-dependent Persian and Siamese cats, populations of domestic cats are free to interbreed with one another. However, the isolation of these pure breeds may have been artificially induced. In cases in which a Persian or Siamese cats mate with other cats, the pure breed genes that have penetrated the general pet population do not stay for long, because the phenotype of the interbred progeny, particularly their shortened jaws and long coats, is not ideal for a free-ranging lifestyle (Bradshaw et al., 1999). Fear and Aggression Despite being seemingly different, fear and aggression illicit a similar response of showing superiority over the object of fear or aggression. That is why both behaviors are the ones most difficult to

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Palm INC case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Palm INC - Case Study Example the company, the market of the company, the industry structure of the company, the innovation of the company, the technology of the company, and the marketing strategies of the company so as to be able to further understand how the company was able to make innovations with very little cash flow. Palm, Inc. is headquartered in California, Sunnyvale. It was founded in January 1992 by Jeff Hawkins who was the former vice president of a company called Grid Systems Corporation. He was responsible for the famous pen computers that the company designed. The first product that was developed by Palm, Inc. was sponsored by Tandy Corporation and was called the Zoomer. The handheld device was marketed under the names of Tandy Z-PDA and Casio Z-7000. The products did not do so well commercially. An acquisition was made in 1995 by U.S Robotics Corp. By the year 1998, the founders of Palm, Inc. were not happy and left the company (Zheng and Lionel 229). Palm, Inc. is a company that is known mostly for the handheld devices that it produces and therefore the technology used must be up to par. The company uses computer technology that is referred to as Palm platform. The Palm platform has its own operating system that runs the application software of palm and also runs the application software of a developer who happens to be the third party. There is software that exists that enables the user to use their handwriting using what is called a pen-based interface to write. The software is referred to as the Palm’s handwriting recognition Graffiti ® (Powers 37). Synchronizing of information is something that has made everyone’s life today much easier. Software called HotSync ® has the ability to link hand computing devices with computers or databases and synchronizing the data that one wishes to synchronize. These devices also have memory storage capacity that comes in the form of Random Access Memory software which is computer based memory storage. Software exists that enables

Monday, September 23, 2019

Introduction to mi'kmaq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Introduction to mi'kmaq - Essay Example The Mi’kmaq was semi nomadic. The animals that were mostly hunted by Mi’kmaq were moose, rabbit, porcupine, and deer among animals. They preferred hunting moose since it was used as clothing. The skin was dried and was worn as clothing garment, the community used the meat as their daily food, and bones were used to make tools like forks and other household tools. The weapons that were used for hunting by Mi’kmaq was bow and arrow, hunting was the major activity of the community and was taught to young men up to their adulthood. Porcupines that were hunted by the men were important to the women since the quills were used as decorative beadwork and this was done by women. Mi’kmaq used to fish while others would go to the forest to hunt to make a supplement of their food. The community ate all kinds of fish such as lobster, shellfish, and salmon among others. When there was plenty to store they used to store in the ground for later consumption. In 1600s, Europe was ruled by ruthless noblemen who believed in terror attacks to their fellow citizens, the societies believed on establishment of class of people and the classes were allocated status since they were regarded as the king of the communities, the minority district or tribe had to give respect to the high class of people. The establishment of class system led to introduction of poor people, rich people debtor’s prisons and even insane group of people. The civilians were oppressed by a group of high class people and insecurity was the order of the day since people killed one another without fear. The community was based on Christianity doctrine but the people had no respect to their creator but greed and other evil things were the one given respect. Mi’kmaq leaders were known as great people since they had the ability to speak to the society and be able to convince them and influence

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Creon Antigone by Sophocles Essay Example for Free

Creon Antigone by Sophocles Essay In Antigone, written by Sophocles, Creon dominates the play with his powerful yet arrogant personality. Even though Antigone is the name of this play, Creon, the ruling king of Thebes with a no turning back attitude, proves to be the main character. Creon rules over everyone but that does not stop the intelligent Antigone from protecting her brothers dead body. She gets caught in this illegal act by the very dynamic character of Creon. There are endless personality traits to describe Creon, but certain traits that pop out are his strength/power and his stubbornness. Who is the man here, she or I if this crime goes unpunished?(Scene 2, lines 82,83). This quote is a simple example of how stubborn a king with that much pride can act toward his own family. We then learn that no matter how wrong he is in his decisions, he still sticks with what he believes to be the right punishment to Antigone. The other proving quote in Scene 3 (line 26) is when Creon states, Do you want me to show myself before the people? Or to break my sworn word? No, and I will not. Creon slowly starts to realize the right thing to do in his situation but something inside of him prevents him from saving Antigone. It could quite possibly be him knowing his own strength and power compared to everyone else. His strength plays a key role in the problems that occurred. Antigone sees right through this personality trait of his. Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.(Prologue, line 35) Also,in Scene 1 line 118 Creon says,Theres nothing in this world that is more demoralizing than money. Creon really means it when he says this. He thinks that everything in the world has a price. His strength can be translated as a waste cause he doesnt use his powers for the better of the city of Thebes. His power completely forces him to believe that no one is above him. That is where the conflict began for Antigone and Polyneices. There was not much motivation for his actions besides his pride, which is apparently the cause of all their troubles. If Creon would have realized early on that the right thing to do is more important then power and pride, Antigone would not have of been dead. In Scene 2, (line 75,76) Choragus is right on when he says, Like father, like daughter both headstrong, deaf to  reason. Creon believes that his word over all should be the final say. But when Antigone, a female at that, defies him, he flips out and sentences her to rot in a prison cell. In his mind, he was rational with the choices he made. When it comes down to it, Creon was just trying to represent the position of the king. Unfortunately, his greed overcame his responsibility of the throne. His power against everyone else in Thebes proved to be significant when he sentenced Antigone. After the events that happened, he was still so stubborn to turn back. At the very end of this play, Creon finally realized his wrong doings and he said, I was the fool, not you. And you died for me.(Scene 5, line 92) Both his stubbornness and his power broke down and we saw the real Creon. Characters like this in Greek literature are important because the form the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. Without the Creons in plays, there would not be any tragedy or any thing to resolve at the end.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Toyota Company Limited Essay Example for Free

Toyota Company Limited Essay BACKGROUND When we talk about company, we are talking of the world’s seventh largest corporation. On the car manufacture Industry, the company is the third ranked. Toyota is a Japan based motor company that manufacturers cars, vans, Lorries and tractors selling them to a wide variety of global markets. It is also a renowned manufacturer of tracks and motor car accessories. Toyota Company started in 1937 with the headquarters currently based in Japan. The very first car that the company manufactured was the Toyota AA in the early 1930s. Later, new brands emerged like the Luxuries, Lexus. These gave rise to more Luxurious brands like the Tundra, Camry, Scion and Prius. Currently, the company manufactures and sells millions of vehicles each year. In 2008 for instance, it plans to manufacturer more than ten million vehicles. The company has set up marketing bases in the UK and parts of Asia to help in the marketing of its vehicles. To-date, the company boasts of profits of up to $ 12 billion (made in 2006) accompanied with increased sales. To further boast its market share, the company has acquired stakes in other automobile companies like ISUZU Motors (6%) and in Fuji industries (8%). The company’s shares are traded publicly on the New York stock exchange. Products and Services offered Toyota produces the following Toyota type of cars: Hilax Surf, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Caldina and Auris. Other brands include Vitz and Lexus. Toyota also offers financial services such as giving credit in form of Loans to small and medium enterprises. The company offers these financial services to over twenty five countries across the globe. The Toyota subsidiaries operating these financial services are wholly owned by the parent Toyota Company. Started in Australia, the services are now offered Europe, USA and Asia. Besides, automobiles, the company also make robots and has even entered the textile industry. The company is best known in making computerized loans and sewing machines. Corporation culture and Management The company has development out of certain believes which the members of staff and top corporate directors hold. To them, management decisions are based on long-term developments rather than school-term objectives. There is a culture of consensus in decision-making as opposed to chest thumping and neglect. There is also the culture of people avoiding fixing of problems, instead of getting quality of work is advocated for. There is always the desire of using only high technology in the manufacturer of vehicles that would satisfy customers. The company doesn’t believe in wastages. By-products of processes are used as raw materials of other processes. Work is planned in such a way that there are no over-production unnecessary motions of medicines. Waiting costs are also kept at a minimum through thoroughly calculated machine operations. The company deals with its clients with the highest level of accountability. Every brand of vehicle truly represents what its descriptions are. The profit margins and mark-ups (of cost) are calculated without customer exploitation. Mission statement â€Å"To have a profitable growth through the provision of the best services to customers and support is the dealers. The company aims at becoming the best companies across the globe. Organizational structure Toyota has a flat organizational structure with the managing Director who doubles as the Chairman being at the top. Down the hierarchy is the General Manager and various managers who report to the General Manager. These are: Financial Manager, Marketing Manager, Commercial Manager, After-Sales Manager and the Administration Manager. The Commercial manager controls the retail sales, marketing, Fleet sales, Long-term rental, and daily rental. Under the financial manager are the internal control , accounting and the financial analysis departments. The After sales manager governs the Buying and Purchase shops, customer care and accessories. Departments under the admistrative manager are the human resources, financing, Information Technology, Purchasing and Quality control management. All these work towards realizing the overall goals of Toyota. Decision-making strategies In Toyota, everybody is brought into board as far as   decision making is concerned. However, the junior staff do not make decisions rather are given the chance to express their suggestions in a written platform. It is on the basis of these suggestions that policy is formulated by top management. SWOT analysis is greatly employed before decisions can be made on pertinent issues. SWOT means Strengths, Weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The management evaluates what their strengths are before a decision to embark on a new brand is reached and before making any new acquisitions among other several decisions. Other new opportunities are also rated against the company’s strengths. The company uses the knowledge of its weaknesses to seek for means of reducing them against the threats imposed by the environment The pros and cons of every aspect is also looked at before decisions are made. The direction the decision would take would then depend on the number of   merits and demerits if a given path is undertaken. In complex areas, the company applies scientific processes like linear programming and other stochastic models to make decisions. Motivational Strategies Top management get their goals executed through the employees. It is therefore important to ensure that employees are motivated for them to effectively carry out their daily chores. The management of Toyota has however ensured that its workforce is highly motivated to avoid problems associated with demotivation such as go-slows, sit-downs and strikes. One of the things that Toyota has done is to empower employees. Toyota comprises of very many departments each of which is occupied by persons qualified in that field. Every department has been left to make control its own activities whereby people are left to make their own decisions. There is little or no interference from the top management who feel that such an arrangement makes the employees to feel a sense of ownership of the company. To foster empowerment of employees, suggestion boxes are evenly distributed within the company premises. They use these boxes to air their grievances without fear or intimidation. This doesn’t end here because the management meets regularly with the employees to deliberate on the findings of their suggestions. Benefits Employees of Toyota get some rebates/discounts on the market price of the vehicles. This special concession has been in existent for quite some time. Workers also obtain gifts for better performance be it in the sales and marketing department or the assembly department. The gifts range from cash to even free motorcars. In this way they are motivated to perform even better in the season that would follow. The Toyota company’s employees also have a savings plan/ scheme to which they make annual savings. This gives them financial security even after their terms of services expire. They do not fall short of a healthy insurance Scheme that gives them a surety of compensation incase one gets ill or is injured while serving the company.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Theories of Organizational Behaviour

Theories of Organizational Behaviour Introduction Organization is an influential association or society processing towards the identified target expecting positive outcomes through the specific mission and vision. Each organization is consisting of two main systems, named as technical and social. Technical System regards the way supplies and services proceed and Social system is the employees are organized, trained and consulted. Balance between the technical and the social systems determine the final outcome. Accomplished, flexible and dedicated people are obligatory to facilitate the organization to achieve improved performance. Commonplace industry climate is amplified with the fast modifications and violent competition. It is well-known truth; happy workers who work in the peaceful and supportive environment play the vital role behind any success business story in the todays point of view. Especially in todays context, Organization is seldom succeeded, exclusive of the physically powerful study of organizational behavior because employee job satisfaction is adding extra weighed averaged force to drive the company towards its correct direction reducing the friction occurred due to hostile competition and the complicated employee movements. 1.2 Importance/significance of the organization behavior Recruitment interviews hardly determine the employees attitudes over the assign work as well as the behavior within the working environment. Therefore, Organization Behavior is the most significant measuring tool which helps the Managers to evaluate employee capacities and interactions within their departments. Smooth handling of social system is vital to maintain the quality production. It is not that easy to preserve the peaceful social environment without identifying the attitude and behavior of the people who work for the organization. Todays organizations are frequently tolerated with variable demands, experiencing surprising mutations, and unrest changes in each moment. In this situations, Smart and quick management changes will help and leadership will be more effective to face Screening organization as stopped up system is no longer valid, it is necessity to treat it as a live organized system sharing the resources and the metabolites each other. Organization Behavior assists to keep the institution alive through the globalization. Since organization is a social system, relationships are crucial to the organization for their popularity. Improving quality and productivity solely depends on the positive relationships of the organizations. 1.3 Although, Organization Behavior associates several components this article is restricted for only following four areas. Literature Revive According to the definition, Organization behavior is a study and application of awareness concerning how individuals and groups act in organization. Mainly, Organization behavior can be separated in to two main processes for easy understands. Formal Organization Behavior Each and every employee undergoes with certain law and order towards carried out their duties. Controlling professional movement by applied regulations and condition is known as formal organizational behavior. Example arrival and departure times, leave criterias, uniform requirements etc. Formal organizational behavior helps to keep the organization in correct track but it does enough to produce effective and quality service generating significance. Informal Organization Behavior Informal Organization Behavior that have to do with interactions or relationships among employees in the organization forming a group to give their selves of belongingness and oneness. Informal Organization Behavior is critical and essential for the success. Although workers who work under one roof aiming one direction, they came from different environmental strata. In this situation, organization environment must be employee friendly to motivate all as one team. Organization Behavior is practical behavioral science; it is built upon the contribution from a number of behavioral disciplines such as such as Psychology, Sociology, Social Psychology, Anthropology, etc. Common role of the above mentioned sciences is to build better relationships by achieving human objectives, organizational objectives, and social objectives. 4.1 Leadership All the organizations are driven with a desire to achieve a set of goals. Any organization without a goal will not survive in the present context or simply may not be considered as an organization. Once the goals are set or agreed upon its very important to motivate, supervise, innovate new ideas and make necessary changes in the organization to accomplish them. There are several changes take place in every moment and one may have to adapt different approaches to keep the goals alive. A strong leadership is one of the most significant factors that help to become successful. Good leader should be able to get the maximum service from everybody while providing them a self satisfaction. He should be a person that others could rely upon. Unexpected situations may arise suddenly in any place. Natural disasters, economical hardships, and illnesses are some to be mentioned as some examples. The leadership should take corrective measures instantly to face such changes. The leadership provided by the work foreman during the last years disaster in coal mine in Chile was a good example for such an unexpected situation. His goal was to look after the day to day activities of the mine. But when they faced a situation that had to struggle for life he quickly led everybody to achieve that. He provided them with necessary organizational structure for long survival with whatever the foods available at that moment. He kept everybodys moral and they ended up in success at the end as the group that survived in such a depth in ground for the longest period 4.2 Group behaviour Positive organizational behaviour is essential for an organization to achieve their goals. Understanding the individual and group behaviour is key part of it. The groups attitudes, communication systems, different personalities, abilities (skills), virtues and leadership qualities affect the working capacity of the organization. The managerial structure and the leaders of the organization should identify all these aspects in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their workers. The strengths need praises and improvements. Weaknesses should be address promptly with positive approach. Recently most of the government and private sector organizations have started to train new batches of workers together for sometime. This will improve the inter relationships of group members and when they start to work it eases the communication barriers. They tend to work as a group rather than trying their individual skills. The army and other security forces apply the same principals while training small groups for specific targets. They have shown utmost success in this process during the war situations. Sri Lanka is one of the countries with lot of disputes among professionals in health sector. This has become an unpleasant experience to the general public. One of the proposed solutions to overcome this is to train the entire health professional in a single institute as a single group at the beginning. They do things together; learn together for some time developing special bonds among them. Then the various groups will divert in to different training process depending on their requirements and they will have different exit points. Still they will have the opportunity to get together when ever there are common learning and teaching goals. This will minimize the disputes and fighting among them in future while practicing their professions. 4.3 Training and Development The technology, approach, culture and requirements of people change gradually. Even though the changes may not be readily visible they take place in slow pace. The early pick up of these changes and making necessary changes would upgrade the organizations to a leader in the society. Constant training of the workers on the newer developments in the field of technology, especially things like equipments and information technology will keep the organization updated. The one who achieve this goal will ultimately become the winner. The world is facing an uphill task in managing the fossil fuels. The available fossil fuel level is going down and the demand is sky rocketing daily. Various countries are taking different approaches to control the situation. India, China and Korea came forward with small fuel efficient vehicles and now they have become the market leaders ahead of European and Japanese auto makers. The changes are coming in the field of education too. The curricular in universities and schools are changing gradually. The teaching methods are reaching in to different era. More teaching is done with the help of information technology. The face to face teacher student sessions are being replaced with other activities. The students are able to obtain degree and post graduate qualifications online. 4.4 Change of management Change management is an accepted concept in organizations. It will bring forward several changes into an organization to achieve future targets. The mission, vision, leadership, technology, attitude, planning and personal changes have to take place in order to face the current and future challengers. Especially organizations targeting the market need to keep a vigilant eye on the trends. Accurate prediction of their market share and how to improve from the present situation depend on the success of the changes that were adapted. It is very important to monitor the changes applied as to see whether they are reaching towards the set goal. It will be wasting of money and resources if a proper monitoring process is not there to do so. Recent research in to the most demanding jobs in the world revealed that the seven out of ten of the most demanding jobs were not listed as jobs a decade ago. No one had predicted that such a demand will arise for unknown jobs in ten years time. This shows the available scope for the management change to take place in society.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

My Mom Committed Suicide Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

My Mom Committed Suicide For the longest time it never occurred to me that I actually did have a mother. The facts I had just weren't enough, I needed more evidence. t is the same thing every year. I find myself guilted into another mother-daughter banquet by my grandmother. As soon as I enter the room she senses my presence and immediately starts parading me around. She drags me from table to table trying to show me off as if I am some door prize she has just won. The dialogue is more or less the same. "Y'all, I would like you meet my granddaughter Julie." Under my breath I correct her, "My name isn't Julie," while still keeping that fake smile on my face that I mastered years ago. She politely restates her introduction: "This is my granddaughter Jobi, Julie's daughter, my middle child. Julie passed away a few years ago." It is at this moment that all noise drowns out and the only words I hear are those spoken through body language and facial expressions: "Oh you poor thing, how tragic." It is also at this moment I feel like running towards the glow of the nearest EXIT sign to escape all the looks of sympathy that make me feel as though my mother died right before I arrived rather than fourteen years ago. I cannot even pretend to know the bond and relationship that these women are celebrating and feel I need to excuse myself for intruding on their special moment. I do appreciate the concern, but the apologies just aren't necessary. I was so young when she passed away that I really don't remember her. This made it hard to relate to my Dad and my brother who were in fact deeply affected by this awful event, and when they talk about her it makes me feel extremely odd. They talk about their memories and the way she was and I ha... ...ords how odd it was to watch me interact with my own mother, a person I don't even know. It is a fact that that moment actually took place, but it is still so unreal to me because I just can't remember. I can't remember anything. And I resent myself for that. They say everyone has a destiny and that your life is planned before it even starts, but I would like to know what it was about me that made me destined for this. I do find peace in the belief that everything happens for a reason and God won't give you more than you can handle at one time. I also take comfort in the belief of a "Heaven" where one day I may get answers to all of my questions and then some. Until that day I will just have to continue day dreaming and dealing with my emotions because no matter how angry I get or how loud I scream, I know that there is no one to answer me. At least not now, anyway.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

What to do about Music Videos? :: Essays Papers

What to do about Music Videos? What did he say? Have you stopped recently and really listened and watched the music of today? Music has been used in various forms since early human history. According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, â€Å"Music is the organized movement of sounds through a continuum of time. Music plays a role in all societies and its exists in a large number of styles, each characteristic of a geographical region or a historical era.† Music has a been and is presently used in different cultures for different reasons. Music can be associated with religious establishments, dancing, theater, concerts, recording devices, and through out televisions. Overall, it has always been a form of expressing oneself. Specifically, music is as unique as each person here, but should artists express themselves in ways that poorly influence our young people? In 1981, our televisions began to introduce visual expression into our homes through music videos. It was the first advertised-supported televisions network and it was call MTV. In 1985, VH1 was launched as a second network playing a popular music format as opposed to the rock format shown on MTV. For the first time, viewers could â€Å"see† their favorite songs performed and expressed without going to a concert. This allowed our young people to see a world not as readily available before. Music videos in and of itself is not something that can be considered the absolute cause, but rather the catalysis that for some young people gives them the ideas and impressions to look or act in a certain way. Today young people are anxiously looking older and determined to grow up faster than ever before. They have strong desires to emulate some of these performers. In a recent Newsweek magazine, an article was featured about Brittany Spears. She was cited for changing her image in recent concerts and videos to appear much more seductive. As a 17 year old performer, her outfits consist about skin-tight, sexy attire worn during provocative dance sequences. Through the artists use of videos, young people have been encouraged to â€Å"walk the walk†. As a parent of young children, I am very concerned of the influence music and its artists might have on them. Hopefully, as adults we will try to continue to monitor this situation. A rap singer, Todd Smith, also known as LL Cool J is a father of four living in Westchester County, New York.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Financial Literacy Essay

India is among the world’s most efficient financial markets in terms of technology, regulation and systems. It also has one of the highest savings rate in the world – our gross household savings rate, which averaged 19% of gross domestic product (GDP) between 1996-97 and 1999-2000, increased to about 23% in 2003-04 and has been growing ever since. While savings are more in India, where the savings are invested is a cause for concern. Investments by households have been more into either bank fixed deposits, risk-free government-backed securities and low-yielding instruments, or in non-financial assets. A majority of our households do not use modern financial markets. As per an RBI report, only 1. 4% of household savings was invested in equity, mutual funds and debentures in 2003-04. Though this went up to about 4% in 2005-06, it is still very small. Unless the common person becomes a wiser investor and is protected from wrong doings, wealth creation for the investor and the economy will remain a distant dream. We need to convert a country of savers into a nation of investors. Which one should you use? Such questions and choices appear tough to even urban population not to talk of those in rural areas, where most of India’s population is. When it comes to financial solutions, investors tend to use thumb rules or seek advice from friends and relatives, which are often poor approximations compared to those that follow from a systematic process. If they get bad advice, their outcomes will be poor, and they will start to lose faith in the financial sector. A big improvement of financial knowledge of households is necessary so that they participate continuously in financial markets. Financial literacy plays a significant role in the efficient allocation of household savings and the ability of individuals to meet their financial goals. It also means the ability to seek sound financial advice. Financial literacy has assumed greater importance in recent years as financial markets have become increasingly complex and the common man finds it very difficult to make informed decisions. Financial literacy is considered an important adjunct for promoting financial inclusion and ultimately financial stability. Both developed and developing countries, therefore, are focusing on programmes for financial literacy/education. In India, the need for financial literacy is even greater considering the low levels of literacy and the large section of the population, which still remains out of the formal financial set-up. To understand financial planning, a person should be financially literate to understand the importance of preparing household budgets, cash-flow management and asset allocation to meet financial goals. Everyone saves money for future needs but the approach is to save surplus money without preparing household budgets, without prioritizing personal financial goals, without properly allocating investments in different asset classes and without understanding the real rate of return (after adjusting for inflation). Financial literacy has become an immensely popular component of financial reform across the world. As a response to the recent financial crisis, the United States government set up the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy in January 2008, charged with promoting programs that improve financial education at all levels of the economy and helping increase access to financial services. In the developing world, the Indonesian government declared 2008 â€Å"the year of financial education,† with a stated goal of improving access to and use of financial services by increasing financial literacy. Similarly, in India, the Reserve Bank of India launched an initiative in 2007 to establish Financial Literacy and Credit Counseling Centers throughout the country which would offer free financial education and counseling to urban and rural populations. The World Bank also hasn’t been missing out on the trend – it recently approved a $15 million Trust Fund on Financial Literacy. But what do we know about financial literacy? Does it work, and if so, through what mechanisms? Despite the money being ploughed into financial literacy programs, we know very little to address these important questions. While it is true that there is a large and growing body of survey evidence from both developed and developing countries that demonstrate a strong association between financial literacy and household well-being, we are still in the process of learning whether this relationship is causal. While survey analysis can control for all observable variables in the survey questionnaires such as income, gender, age, education, etc. , there may be some unobserved variables, such as ability, that may be driving the positive correlation between financial literacy and use of financial services. In addition, people who choose to participate in surveys or literacy seminars may be quite different in terms of their interests in financial matters, for instance, than those who do not participate. The positive correlations may therefore be driven by endogenous selection. Further, survey evidence cannot distinguish the direction of causality: greater financial literacy may lead to greater use of financial services, or just as likely, individuals who use more financial services may score better on financial literacy assessments based on their experience in financial markets. Experimental studies on financial literacy, similar to medical drug trials, allow for overcoming the problems of selection and endogeneity that are associated with survey analysis. There are only a handful of completed studies on financial literacy, though more are in the pipeline. In the developed world, research evidence that financial education can affect decision-making comes from a randomized evaluation conducted at a major university in the United States. Duflo and Saez (2003) implemented an â€Å"encouragement design,† in which they randomly offered some administrative employees a small financial incentive ($20) to attend a session which provided information on retirement products. Those receiving the incentive were significantly more likely to attend the training session, and this had a small, but significant impact on their savings decisions, as more individuals in the treatment group enrolled in tax-deferred retirement accounts. In a paper I coauthored with Shawn Cole and Thomas Sampson, we provide the first study in this direction in the developing world, through a randomized evaluation of a financial literacy training program in Indonesia. Participants in this study consisted of unbanked households, half of whom received an invitation for a free financial literacy seminar 2-3 hours in length. Although take up of the training is high, we find no effect of the program on the likelihood of opening a bank account in the general population. We do, however, find that the training has a significant impact on unschooled and financially illiterate households, increasing the likelihood of opening a bank account by 12% and 5%, respectively. These results suggest that financial literacy training programs should be carefully targeted at these subgroups of individuals. Additionally, a more comprehensive financial literacy program that is delivered over several weekly sessions, rather than a single session of a few hours, may be required to change financial behavior among households in the general population. The need for a more detailed and extensive financial education program is also reflected in research by Cole, Gine et. al (2009) on rainfall insurance for low-income farmers in Andhra Pradesh, India. Specifically, they randomize the provision of an education module about converting the measurement of rainfall in millimeters to soil moisture. Since farmers typically decide when to sow using soil moisture whereas insurance payouts are calculated using millimeters, the education module should improve farmers’ understanding of the insurance policy. However, results indicate that the education module had no significant effect on insurance participation, possibly because the intervention was quite minimal. The education component only involved using a ruler to demonstrate a length of 10mm and 100mm, and subsequently showing a chart of how 100mm of rain translates into average soil moisture for a particular soil type. Moreover, the information was presented quite briefly, taking no more than 2 to 3 minutes. Thus, a modest amount of financial education appears to be insufficient in inducing households to participate in financial markets, and a more thorough financial literacy program may be necessary to do so. There are even fewer ongoing studies attempting to look at other aspects of financial literacy behavior. Exceptions include Cole, Shapiro and Zia, who are conducting a randomized evaluation of a video-based financial literacy training program in India, which includes modules on loans, savings, budgeting and insurance. Elsewhere, Hastings and Mitchell are conducting an experiment among Chilean households, to determine whether or not financial literacy has an effect on an individual’s ability to make optimal financial decisions; and Karlan, McMillan and Kutsoati are carrying out a randomized control trial in Ghana where rural bank customers receive six 15-minute financial literacy lessons. The jury is still out on whether financial literacy is a useful and cost-effective tool for promoting financial access. The studies mentioned here and many more that are in development should enhance our understanding of what works, how it works, and for whom it works. Indians have better financial literacy levels than most others globally and rank second out of 10 leading nations in having a basic financial literacy level, a survey said. â€Å"Indians turn out to be the second out of 10 leading nations in the world to have a basic financial literacy level (55 per cent), just behind the Japanese, an ING Consumer Resourcefulness Survey, said. A majority of Indian consumers have not only shown better skills in managing their household financial budget but are also confident of facing any financial impediments in future as compared to citizens of nine other countries, the survey said. The survey was carried out amongst 5,000 consumers across ten major nations, including India, the USA, Mexico, The Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Spain, Korea and Japan. The survey shows that a whopping 84 per cent of Indians prefer buying life insurance products as compared to 54 per cent globally. A similar percentage of Indians believe in maintaining a household budget with a focus on savings. School for Investor Education & Financial Literacy (SIEFL) Financial Literacy Programmes through schools: NISM intends to introduce financial education in schools through the Pocket Money program. Currently the program covers more than 4300 children from 32 schools across North, South and East India. The program is in the process of being introduced in the schools in the Western region. The Spread of Financial Literacy It is better to start early with the process of financial education as discipline in money matters is an important characteristic of an individual. Children should be taught the benefits of saving and introducing the age old concepts of having a piggy bank can be a welcome start. Schools need to inculcate these habits in students and gradually introduce them to the basics of personal finance. A beginning has already been made by introducing subjects on basic finance in the school curriculum at certain centers. Reserve Bank of India is promoting this early education of children by adopting a friendly and entertaining way through the medium of comics. They are also encouraging the young to participate in contests, the winners of which are awarded scholarships. It is the vulnerable sections of society like women, senior citizens, the rural and urban poor who need to be adequately educated and equipped. The Financial Literacy programme of RBI is tackling all these issues through different means. Their website is a store house of knowledge provided there is an urge to learn. The individual has to be proactive and be eager to grasp the necessary knowledge to safeguard himself and thereby his money. RBI is making extra efforts to be as transparent as possible in the larger interest of the common citizen by reaching out to them through their out reach programmes. These pro-grammes which were held during the 75th year of RBI in 2010 in far corners of the country were primarily to educate the masses about the activi-ties of RBI and how to utilize the available banking services for their betterment. Most banks also have their financial literacy departments and credit counseling centers where personal problems are addressed. How much of these centers are successes is deba-table because a very small percentage of people know about these facilities and even if they know there is an inherent hesitation to seek their help. The websites of banks and financial institutions also have all the details about their products and services. In case of doubts it is advisable to refer to these portals to avoid making any wrong or improper decision. The concern is that incomplete or half baked knowledge is not used to take decisions which are repented later. BCSBI or Banking Codes and Standards Board of India have been set up by RBI as an apex body to improve the working of banks and introduce systemic changes wherever necessary for better treatment of customers. While their primary focus remains on customer service they are also participating in disseminating information on different aspects of banking. For an effective literacy campaign it is important that information asymmetry between service provider and customer is reduced. In this connection banks have unilaterally undertaken to comply with a Code of Commitment to Customers detailing the nature of services provided by banks, the normal time taken for rendering these services and the various obligations of banks who have signed these codes. Only when there is awareness can the customers use the code to their benefit. It is for the individual to take advantage of the provisions provided there is willingness to learn. BCSBI also publishes a quarterly newsletter which is both informative and educative. The importance of promoting financial literacy and the enormity of the task is being gradually understood. This has made many organizations enter this field to make their presence felt. Innovative ways have been adopted to keep the literacy efforts simple and user friendly for maximum benefit. Websites, print media and audio visual communications relating to financial education are easily accessible for the average individual to improve his under-standing of the financial market, its products and services. National dailies, banks, financial institutions,  private organizations are individually contributing through easy to understand pamphlets, comic strips, newsletters etc. to reach the consumer covering fundamental issues. Seminars, conferences, interactive sessions are often arranged to address issues of common concern and dissemination of information. Spreading of information and awareness is critical for an emerging economy like India. If the vast population of deprived people is brought into the mainstream it would be of immense benefit both as a social necessity as well as an economic push. The call for financial inclusion in the country has therefore become an immediate priority and is engaging the attention of policy makers for effective execution. It would reap dividends only when the targeted people are financial literate. Only then would they be able to make the most appropriate choice of the products and services which would improve their position. The vast majority of our people are extremely vulnerable as they depend upon informal sources of finance for meet-in their needs. Only by empowering them with the adequate knowledge can we hope to improve their lot and that of the economy as a whole. The penetration of banking and insurance services is extremely poor in India and if the coverage is extended by simultaneous spreading of financial literacy it would be a huge progress for overall growth. The formal channels of money transmission has to be introduced for all round benefit as for far too long the poor, gullible people have suffered at the hands of the money lender and his brethren. The international body Organization for Economic Development OECD is putting its weight behind RBI in promoting financial literacy in India. There is no running away from this hard fact for which the financial service providers are also being trained to encourage the dissemi-nation of information in as comprehensive a way as possible. However it is the individual as the consumer who needs to grasp and absorb the knowledge for his betterment and safety. Money creation through the legitimate way is hard and painstaking but can be lost in no time if there is improper financial planning. Financial awareness is a critical component in the process of protecting and enlarging the corpus of funds that an individual may have. | | | | | | | The survey shows 84 per cent Indians prefer buying life insurance products compared to 54 per cent globally and a similar percentage of Indians believe in maintaining a household budget with focus on savings. Indians are averse to borrowing money. They borrow money only in case they have to buy a house (50 per cent) or a car (43 per cent). Compared to 33 per cent globally, 87 per cent of Indian households have an emergency fund. The survey was conducted by New York Stock Exchange-listed, ING Groep, and research consultancy firm, Epiphany, amongst 5000 consumers across ten nations, including India, United States, Mexico, Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Spain, Korea and Japan. It was to gain a better understanding of how consumers’ financial literacy level influences their attitudes and behaviours and identify the potential similarities and differences across countries, age and gender.

Monday, September 16, 2019

“Give me a stand point and I will move the earth” Archimedes Essay

Feminists are of the opinion that women in this world have been neglected by history and men through out the ages and liberating them would be synonymous with giving them a stand point to move the world. Klues looks to the pioneers of female research in antiquity whose glimpsing women history through a record from which the female sex has been excised for millennial by patriarchal bias, must have been like constructing a house out of the space between the slats of a fence. Further Klues considers that assiduous and objective scholarship produced an unassailable picture of the role of women in classical Athens, a picture now almost universally accepted, in which domination of male over female is there seen as complete and crushing. Only one wave of classical scholarship, obviously by anthropology, looks to male-female relationship as a significant determinant in Athenian society, as in any other: an ingredient of total culture no less fundamental than its economy or its religion or its political structure. More authors have argued that women did not have a place in history. However, Hasel making reference to Pauline Schmitt –Pantel makes a note worthy reminder of Greek philosophers works such as Aristotle and Plato that made relation to different sexes. A similar reference is made about the Greek cosmologies meaning that women have always had such a place. Hasel has therefore put forth a vivid conclusion. â€Å"The image of the Topos then might not hold much because it is based on seclusion of women in antiquity which may not be the case. † The portraits of Lipia as discussed in Bartman had an effect in creating a stronger imperial Rome. Though there are undertones of their use in propaganda and other political machinations and maneuvers, Bartman note that they were sculpted in the spirit of compromise which he refers as ‘give and take’ between the sculptor and the sponsor. Scott say that there was a moment not all that ago, when feminists thought gender to be an invincible barrier against biology. The sex/ gender distinction would analytically separate the physical body from the social body; it would then no longer be conceivable that anatomy was destiny. Though women might be viewed as ‘non- actors’ thus acting in the realms of those who built and wielded political power to which they were subject to had a private life which of course influences public life. In the words of Scott, those absent from official account none the less partook in the making of history; those who are silent speak eloquently about meaning of power. This reawakening Scott notes has brought about congruence in thought between political historians and writers penning ‘her story’. It has also brought about to the way changes occurred in law, politics and symbolic presentations. A further implication Scott explains is that there are social explanations rather than biological and characterological to the different behavior of men and women and their unequal positions. The feminists are thus challenged in this argument for neglecting female agency by diminishing the historical importance of personal life encapsulated in its three elements- family, sexuality and sociability. Thus irrespective of what feminists think women have always had the stand point and have moved the world as much. Reference Bartman ‘Portraits Of Livia Joan W. Scott, (1988) Gender and the Politics of History (New York 1988) 15-50. Joan W. Scott, `Millenial Fantasies`. The Future of Gender in the 21st Century`, in: Claudia Honegger – Caroline Arni (eds. ), Gender. Die Tucken einer Kategorie (Zurich 2001) 19-37 Wagner Hasel (1989)Women’s life in oriental seclusion? On history and and use of Topos. Pauline Schmitt –Pantel (1992) â€Å"Greek thought on the position of women resolved†. Pg 79.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

My Parents Were Right

Narrative Writing : My Parents were right â€Å"Honey ,don’t do this ! Honey , don’t do that ! † Everyday,In my life I have to suffered with all that word . Its so annoying . I am a naughty son . I love hang out with my friends than spending time at home . Sometimes my parents not allowed me just because I must study and score a great result. But, I never listen of what they said . I do feel like they are disturbing my life . Everything I do was wrong from their eyes . Nothing is good . When they scold me ,they say that they are advicing me . However, I can’t accept their ways although they say the rights . Mom, next week is my birthday . Can you make some delicious cake for me with a grand birthday party for me? â€Å", ask me . She just nodded and smile . â€Å"But dear, you must promise me to get a great result in your study ,okay ? † She asked me back with a simple question but hard for me to answer . I just nodd half-heartedness . Then, I got my father at the living room . He was relaxing while read a few of newspapers . â€Å"Dad , can I borrow your motorcycle? I want to go to my friend’s house for invinting them to my party . † â€Å" It’s alright but remember don’t be so late . Your final exam is around the corner . â€Å"Alright,Dad . Don’t worry â€Å",said me while rushing to get the key . My mind is only thinking about the enjoyness of the party will be.. On my birthday party ,I was so enjoyed with my friends . I have got many presents and birthday wishes from them . I think I am the happiest person at that time. I can see everyone are enjoying themselves so as my parents . My mouth incessantly say ‘thank you’. Well it is a blessing nurture from my parents, I admit it . â€Å"Andy , look at this . This is present from us .. ,†said Dad . A huge box of present ,I really don’t know what is inside . I look at my mom and dad ,smiling . â€Å"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad . † After we gathering prayer Maghrib, Dad starting the conversation . I have smell something fishy . â€Å"Andy, If you are thinking that we are shackling you ,it is not like so. We love you so much . Tomorrow, I will send you to another person that I believe more . Talaqqi and take a lot of experiences from him . Knowledge if not sought, you are nothing . Remember what I said . † â€Å"But ,Dad .. I’ve got many friends here ,I really like to stay here better than there . Are you want to separate me from my own life ? † I sobbed . Separate from my own life same like turn off my life . â€Å"Andy ,soon life will be getting more harder than now. Sometimes we must sacrifice now and we will get easier life soon .Believe me . †He calms me although I still not agreeing with him . Mom gently nodded with her gently smile . After five years, I am working as an engineer of chemical at well-known companies and in addition work as professional motivator. Today, I am good in all sort of thing . I have learned beside happiness and difficulty accompanied by blessing . Now , I understand what my parents wants me to being . I knew my parents were right .

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Home Depot Case Study Analysis Essay

According to the case study, Home Depot Incorporated: The Specialty Retailer of Building Materials, Home Depot, Inc has been incorporated since 1978. The company functions in the home improvement retail industry, which includes multiple markets as do-it-yourself, professional, and renovation home improvement. At the end of 2000, the company had 1,190 brick and mortar retail stores, mainly located in the United States, but slightly less than 100 retail outlets were distributed between Canada and South America. The retail sales of Home Depot are various, and include building materials, home improvement and renovation, lawn and garden, as well as household appliances, supplies, and tools. Other retail sales at Home Depot include cabinetry, tiles and flooring, lighting fixtures. In services, Home Depot offers installation, design assistance, and even instruction/installation assistance. The case study, Home Depot Incorporated: The Specialty Retailer of Building Materials, further shows how Home Depot segments its products into Fix It, Build It, Grow it, Decorate It, and Install it. These segments are based on the three consumer markets, the do it yourself, buy it yourself, and professional customers. This allows Home Depot to seek competitive advantage in specialized retail outlets by defining the characteristics of consumers by their purchase type and buyer characteristics. Home Depot Incorporated: The Specialty Retailer of Building Materials shows that Home Depot’s long-term debt reached $1. 55 US billion in 2002, and total liabilities were at $6. 37 US billion. Home Depot had $177 US million in cash and short term investments as of January, 2001. Their inventory value was at $6. 56 US billion, and the cost of goods sold was $31. 46 US billion, leaving Home Depot with inventory turnover every 76 days. This means that Home Depot incurred more inventory costs in warehousing and distribution, than retail sales supported. Issues in Strategic Management The case study, Home Depot Incorporated: The Specialty Retailer of Building Materials explains that Home Depot’s management issues have several dimensions. First, the increase in retail stores and implementation of specialty stores in response to customer segmentation led to the speculation that Home Depot was having an ‘identity crisis. ’ The diffusion of the core home improvement domain was extreme and initially occurred over a short time line, thus operating expenses climbed. This was combined with a slowing of the do it yourself industry and markets, as well as competition from Lowe’s. In response to this, the CEO at the time, Robert Nardelli, shifted away from the exponential growth strategy and towards reducing warehousing of low-purchase items and boosting in-store item differentiation and sales. Nardelli’s strategy chain was, according to the case study, envisioned as gaining ground in installation and services growth before the competition cornered these markets. The company’s focus then changed from one of brick and mortar growth to one of service industry growth. Thus, Nardelli moved from the traditions of the home improvement industry and towards innovation. In growth strategy, the senior vice president of Home Depot’s management team felt that increasing operational efficiency and maintaining the strength of brick and mortar growth was more important than implementing new service dimensions. The basis of this argument was that traditional growth strategy had a huge success rate since the company’s inception, and multiple trade areas in the Northwest and Southwest United States were largely ignored by major competitors, specifically Lowe’s. The case study, Home Depot Incorporated: The Specialty Retailer of Building Materials, examines that the second management strategy was also in contention, where the executive vice president believed that instead of focusing on the service strategy, or the retail market strategy, Home Depot should maintain its segmentation of consumers into specialty stores, which would allow Home Depot to gain competitive corners of the market that it had not yet explored. In this strategy, Home Depot would be able to market towards the appeal of specialized services. In closing the management strategy analysis, the case study emphasizes the decision of Nardelli as being difficult, as both strategies presented held risk and benefits. Nardelli’s decision making process, therefore, had to be one that focused on the growth initiative of Home Depot, as overcoming competitors, establishing the domains, and segmenting (or not segmenting) the retail outlets. Based on this, the pertinent issues facing management processes at Home Depot are directly related to the growth initiative, growth strategy, and implementation of the growth strategy. Analysis and Evaluation of Issues The concern of Home Depot is to develop a management strategy that enhances growth. There are two main conclusions, as presented in the above case study. First, Home Depot can rely on its traditional method of retail brick and mortar store development with a focus on the under-marketed North-western and South-western United States. Secondly, Home Depot can focus on the development of specialty stores which are geared towards the segmented consumer markets. Key Concepts Lippert, Schwieger, and Schweiger (p 13 2005) examine that options to help a company achieve strategic growth are highly relative to the ability of the company to take action and rely on financial viability. Thus, a strategic growth initiative has the objective to be consistent with corporate growth and profit objectives through the development of key individuals in the organization (Lippert, Schwieger and Schweiger 3005). The focus of the growth strategy should be in the ability of Home Depot to maximize efforts with respect to investment opportunities, gather valuable and real-time data on existing market opportunities and strive for industry-changing innovations on an ongoing basis (Lippert, Schwieger and Schweiger 2005). The concern of either strategy presented to Home Depot is relative to that of all corporate entities. The basic concern is to maximize growth while reducing the risk of the strategy (O’Leary p 37 2005). The underlying strategy of corporate growth initiatives is largely based on innovation, and the engine for innovation is the creation of an efficient connection between technologists, funding, and scale is its abilities (O’Leary p 37 2005). The growth strategies should therefore include diversity in innovation, rather than relying on the older ideals. Based on these key concepts, Home Depot’s optional growth strategies will be evaluated through a SWOT analysis, with a focus on the financial viability and strategic innovation presented. Strengths Home Depot has a strong market position as one of the largest home improvement retail stores in the United States. The sales volume allows Home Depot to maintain strength in domestic and foreign markets. The strong market position inidicates that the traditional growth initiatives have facilitated consumer support. Furthermore, Home Depot has a diversified and balanced brand mixture. The company stocks major branded appliances and a wide range of its own store-branded products. While there has been some worry regarding financial viability, Home Depot has remained the top domestic retailer in the home improvement market, and has a wide range of resources it can use for supporting corporate growth and new market entry. Weaknesses The weaknesses in Home Depot can be identified as a lack of customer service and support, the store has little initiative towards customer service that is easily visible to customers other than the retail store ‘customer service’ line. This shows that Home Depot has lagged behind its competition in providing high customer service quality, and raises a concern for the ability of Home Depot to maintain specialty service stores. The other identifiable weakness of Home Depot is the multiple brick and mortar extensions, which created a diffusion from the central home improvement retail business, and is exemplified by the management decision to ‘cut back’ on building new retail outlets. For the retail store, this creates a loss of square footage, which is vital to maintaining supplier relationships and meeting consumer demands. Opportunities Home Depot’s opportunities lie in the acquisition of new businesses. The company has the financial stability to acquire multiple businesses to further its growth strategy. This could include the service industries and specialized markets. As an opportunity, acquisitions have the ability to save costs over implementing ‘new’ growth strategies. Threats Home Depot’s business is highly competitive. Home Depot must compete against multiple market segments: other home improvement stores, electricity and construction stores, plumbing and lighting stores; cabinet-makers and lumber yards. In the retail segments such as paint, appliances, and tools, Home Depot also competes with discount stores, local, regional and national hardware stores, mail order firms, warehouse clubs and independent building supply stores.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Amway to gain its popularity and competitive in Singapore

Amway to gain its popularity and competitive in Singapore The main of this report is to come out with new strategies and recommendations to help Amway to gain its popularity and competitive in Singapore, as Amway Corporation is not so well known Recommendation on Amway Corporation with new or improve matters as its brands, by using survey to show on the feedback of what customers wants, which Amway to earn more profit in the long run. Finding from the survey shows a large percent of health products were from GNC, despite GNCs’ dominant in the health products in Singapore, higher percent of Singaporeans are still aware of Amway’s brand than GNC. Most of the respondents felt that Amway’s quality compared to other brands is much better. Due to as Amway’s research scientists and product development teams using the most advanced scientific formulas and technologies available to enhance the product’s quality, which shows how important Amway focus on its quality In overall Amway in Singapore did have its second place in the heath market compare to NTUC Unity and Watson. Lots of younger generations start to focus on healthcare items, food and many more, with the demand of healthcare products Amway will still have its chance to overtake GNC in future. Introduction 1.1 Purpose Come out with new strategies and recommendations to help Amway to be as competitive as the two new competitors GNC and NTUC Healthcare Unity in the health care market. Recommendation on Amway Corporation with new or improve matters as its brands. 1.2 Background New strategies and recommendations are needed to help Amway Corporation to gain its popularity in Singapore, as Amway Corporation is not so well known as compare to NTUC which has a history seen 1961. New ideas on improving advertisements or products packaging are required to help Amway to maintain or gain its competitive edge over their rivals. 1.3 Methodology Conduct surveys on the products and companies and interviews on customers. Online forums will be used t o gather customer’s feedback. Newspapers, online research on competitors’ organisation profile. 1.4 Scope of report Survey will include information such as the customer’s income, age, race, sex and occupation. Information such as what are the needs customer desire for, which company’s healthy lifestyle related products do they prefer, sources of information customer consider when purchasing Amway’s product will be obtained as well. Interviews and online forums review information that customers are satisfied, unsatisfied or both on Amway’s products and companies. (Appendix A) In addition, we will be researching on Amway’s competitor’s organisation profile as well as their marketing strategies using online information and newspapers. About Amway Amway Corporation was started in 1959 by Rich DeVos and his business partner Jay Van Andel. Devoted to its innovation and research, Amway Corporation has produced more than eight hundred patents granted and more than six hundred patents pending. It has been recognized for its excellence in manufacturing, concern in environment and commitment to safety and health over the last fifty years. Amway’s products Amway Corporation consists of different brands for its various categories products which are Nutrilite, Artistry, Legacy of Clean, Glister Oral care, Queen/ iCook, eSpring Water Purifier and Atmosphere Air Purifier. Nutrilite which is on vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, Artistry on beauty care products, Legacy of Clean on bath and body, Glister on Oral care products, Queen/ iCook on cookware products, eSpring on water purifier products, Atmosphere on Air Purifier products.

Possible Solution to Descartes' Mind-Body Problem Essay

Possible Solution to Descartes' Mind-Body Problem - Essay Example The question that remains to be asked is – if ever the mind and the body can have an interaction, then how is it possible? Descartes answer to this question is – â€Å"I was unable to give any explanation† (Descartes 1969:162). Furthermore, he contended that that this rather hypothetical interaction between the mind and the body is merely an â€Å"arbitrary† one and something that cannot be proven by science. Nevertheless, contrary to what Descartes had thought, modern science proves that the interaction between the mind and the body is not arbitrary and is supported by evidence on the effects of medications on the mind and the body as well as the James-Lange theory of emotion. The interaction between the mind and the body is not arbitrary, as Descartes has claimed. TheFreeDictionary.com defines the word â€Å"arbitrary† as something â€Å"determined by chance, whim or impulse† or â€Å"subject to individual judgment or preference.† Th e interaction between the mind and the body, however, is not defined by chance or individual judgment but by definite cause and effect. ... In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an overdose of painkillers known as opioids would normally cause drowsiness {â€Å"Prescription Medications† 2011). An overdose of amphetamines such as Adderall may also have emotional and mental effects as well as paranoia and anxiety (â€Å"Prescription Medications† 2011). These effects prove that the physical and physiological effects of drugs have corresponding effects on the mind. The same thing is true with non-prescription drugs. Cocaine, for one, causes severe anxiety, panic, paranoid delusions, delirium, sleeplessness, hallucinations and even acute psychosis if taken in large doses (â€Å"Overdose† 2011). In a similar way, heroin can cause delirium, while metamphetamine can cause both delirium and psychosis, and marijuana can cause psychosis, hallucinations, delusions and an inability to recognize one’s identity (â€Å"Overdose† 2011). These simply prove that the mind is subject to certain changes in the physical and physiological make-up of the body – just alter the body’s physiology and you alter the mind as well. Furthermore, since scientific experiments have established this information about these effects of drugs on the health, then one is apt to conclude that the interaction between the mind and the body is causal and not merely arbitrary. Another proof of the causal interaction between the mind and the body is the James-Lange theory of emotion. If we reduced the James-Lange theory to simple layman’s terms it would sound like, â€Å"We do not run because we feel afraid, we feel afraid because we run† (Gray 1987:53). This means that whatever is experienced by the body is eventually reacted to by the mind. According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, fear or any

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Ecological footprint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecological footprint - Essay Example 2. Very briefly, what were the results of the two different tests and what did you find surprising or noteworthy? In the first test that I took, with me answering it honestly, I actually found out that when everyone on the planet lived like me, it needs 3.9 earths to support humanity’s lifestyle; in addition, I need 17.3 global acres for me to be able to support my lifestyle (myfootprint.org, 2011). However, when I took the test the second time, wherein I assumed that I was the richest man on earth having a very extravagant lifestyle, I actually found out that when everybody else on earth lived like I do, it actually needs 12.4 earths to support humanity’s lifestyle, and I actually need 55.4 global acres in order for me to support my personal lifestyle (myfootprint.org, 2011). What I found in the tests that I took is the fact that as one’s lifestyle becomes more extravagant, wherein one consumes more meat and more commercial food than others, or when one owns a l arger home and has lots of cars or even a private plane, it takes much of the world’s resources to support that lifestyle. ... d natural foods, recycling my trash more often, living in a green, sustainable shelter, using less non-renewable sources and going more for renewable energy, and most of all, having a simpler lifestyle. In this case, I must be able to be more aware of my environment, and that I must be able to consume only what I need. By having a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle, I can significantly reduce my ecological footprint. 4. If everyone lived like you, how many earths would we need to sustain this population and what does that mean? (Why can't we continue consuming resources at the current rate? What would happen if nothing was done?) As I have indicated, if everyone lived like me, it would actually take 3.9 earths to sustain this population (myfootprint.org, 2011); it actually means that the current word’s population actually needs 3x the earth’s current resources. Personally, I think that we cannot continue consuming the earth’s resources at the current rate bec ause time will come when the earth cannot support humanity’s needs anymore. If nothing is done about this matter, the earth’s resources would be depleted fast, and humanity may suffer from famines and natural disasters, or even extinction. 5. What would you suggest, if anything, that should be done to reduce the footprint of everyone else? Given such kind of scenario, I personally think that there must be a renewed awareness campaign regarding the importance of having a sustainable lifestyle, in order for the rest of the world to appreciate and understand why it is important to change our lifestyles. I think that it is important for everyone else to know that the earth has only limited resources and that it can only support so much, and by spreading awareness, I think people will follow and change

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

GBN Scenarios Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GBN Scenarios - Essay Example Following a five-year intensive research at Sample Laboratories, scientists have come up with a polymer that could act as a replacement for newsprint paper as the new medium for printing. It is fully recyclable, eliminating the need for the education sector to adopt the use of costly information technology as a medium for printing, teaching and learning. The polymer has been tried in several schools and printing presses and has been found to have similar qualities with paper for the retention of ink. However, this is not what makes the new polymer unique; it is its ability to be reused once the user has had enough of the printed material. According to Sample Laboratories, the ink printed on the polymer can be extracted after a period of up to 30 years, diluted in specified ratios, and reused. Therefore, unlike information technology that requires the education sector to readjust to a new form of teaching and learning, researchers have come up with a new material for doing things the old way, but now more sustainably than ever. Several stakeholders in the education sector have already recommended the discovery; however, they have warned institutions against using the polymer in its exclusivity. Since it is in the early stages of adoption, they recommend its simultaneous use with paper and digital based materials. It is likely that institutions may adopt the new technology even before the governments authorize its use in the education sector, especially since regulators have declared it safe for use. Sample Laboratories have encouraged the use of the paper substitute by giving enticing offers to their customers; including discounts for institutions that buy the new paper in bulk. In addition, the firm is giving ink freely to anyone who purchases their invention, which is accompanied by a 10-year warranty. Sample Laboratories are also offering the polymer cleaning solvent for

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

WilaSeldons Leadership at Tides Centre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

WilaSeldons Leadership at Tides Centre - Essay Example One of the critical aspects of organizational excellence involves effective leadership in an organization. This assumes critical significance considering the fact that leadership provides the long term vision to the organization and also helps formulate a roadmap to success (Yukl, 2007, p.445). In real life there is considerable number of examples of the manner in which effective leadership has been able to generate competitive edge. This includes the likes of individuals like Steve Jobs (founder of Apple), William and Sergy Page (Google), NR Narayana Murthy (Infosys) who have shown how an effective leadership can help bring about a growth momentum for any organization (Maak & Pless, 2006, p.5-8). The aspect of leadership has been a subject matter of great academic research in various areas. There have been many leadership theories including behavioral theories, contingency theories trait as well as power and influence theories that define and classify various kinds of leaders with t heir style of leadership in an organization (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009, p.348). The case analysis of Tides center reveals a democratic style of leadership of Wila Seldon at Tides center. A democratic leadership style involves a leader making decisions on the basis of consultations with other team members. These types of leaders seek inputs from various quarters of the organization before making a crucial decision. In other words a democratic leader takes into account the views and sentiments of the entire organization while undertaking a major decision in the organization. A democratic leader tries to ensure encourage the entire organization in the decision making process (Daft & Lane, 2007, p.44). The analysis of the leadership qualities of Wila Seldon reveals a significant correlation with the traits of the democratic leader mentioned above. In the case it was quite evident that in all her stints as a leader, where she always tried to involve the entire organization with regards to crucial decision making for the organization. The case study shows that while assuming charge at Tides center Wila Seldon instead of making decisions like an autocratic leader chose to take the employees views into account. The initiation of teams like M team, strategic management team also shows that the CEO tried to ensure that decision making and learning has a bottom up approach. This is quite contra from the perspective of an autocratic or a Laissez faire type of leaders who normally take up decisions without consulting others and do not take an active role in the decision making and leave it to the responsibility of others (Wood, 2011, p.255). Wila Seldon also displays democratic leadership straits even in cases like the introduction of the 360 degree appraisal system for measuring employee performance at the organization as well as to the decision of referring projects as customers. Unlike an autocratic leader who imposes his/her decisions on their subordinates, Wila Seldon acted as a true democratic leader when she even took views of the employees who were opposing the decision. The CEO did not act in a haste and imposed decisions but tried to indulge into a democratic decision making process. This has helped in employees getting greater responsibilities and also to the fact that employees started to think out of the box solutions. This type of leadership skill was extremely important for an organization like Tide that was in the midst of a severe crisis in business whose revamp required comprehensive and extra efforts apart from an inner drive to propel the organization towards growth. The democratic lead