Friday, November 29, 2019

Animals in Testing essays

Animals in Testing essays Its not a new thing. For many centuries scientists and testers in research have used animals of all kinds. Most of the animals are small ones like rodents - rats, mice, hamsters and gerbils. Some dogs, cats and a variety of goats, monkeys and rabbits have also been used. The animal rights issue is an emotional one - second only, perhaps, to the abortion debate. For decades the value of animal research has been grossly overrated. Although researchers claim that they depend on animal test data to achieve medical advances, we should demand other means of research and there should be laws assuring a minimum level of animal protection because testing on animals is cruel, inhumane, and often unnecessary. The American Medical Association has stated that it believes that research involving animals is essential to maintaining and improving the health of human beings. They point out that all advances in medical science in the 20th century, from antibiotics to organ transplants, has been achieved either directly or indirectly through the use of animals in laboratory experiments. Animal research is being used to find a cure for AIDS, cancer, heart disease, aging and congenital defects. The AMA claims that the result of these experiments has been the elimination or control of many infectious diseases. This has meant a longer, healthier, better life with much less pain and suffering for humans. Animal research is for the most part cruel and inhumane. Animal rights activists have gathered large amounts of information that has resulted in the closing down of many laboratories that violate anti-cruelty statutes. Almost daily we read about scientists and researchers who conduct animal experiments that do not consider pain and suffering. Laboratories are cited for filthy conditions, cages that are barely large enough to house animals and breeding conditions that are cruel. Animal research is often unnecessary. History has ...

Monday, November 25, 2019

Globe Limited Model of Organizational Behavior

Globe Limited Model of Organizational Behavior Introduction Organizational behavior is the field of study that focuses on application of knowledge to solve organizational problems. It pertains to how individuals and groups behave in the organization. The concept of organizational behavior utilizes the system approach to address various problems afflicting the organization. It interprets the relationships between workers and the organization in order to determine the position of the firm in the market.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Globe Limited Model of Organizational Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The aim of organizational behavior is to create a superior relationship by realizing individual objectives, organizational aims and social objectives. The field encompasses a wide range of topics including human behavior, transformation, leadership and teamwork. Organizational behavior holds that employees should be guided by organization’s philosop hies, values and goals. Organizational principles should drive organizational culture, which consist of formal and informal associations, as well as social environment. Organizational culture determines leadership style, nature of organizational communication and group dynamics. Furthermore, employees view organizational culture as the value of life, which influences their motivation in the organization. The results of good management is high performance, employee satisfaction and individual growth and improvement in the organization. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of organizational behavior in increasing sales at the globe limited. The organization should adopt some models and theories in order to encourage its salespersons to achieve maximum benefits for the organization. The paper looks at some theories that are related to organizational behavior as well as techniques of motivating salespersons. The paper concludes that Globe limited must adopt supportive and collegial mod els of organizational behavior in order to realize its objectives. The organization must keep off from autocratic model, which suggests that employees must be forced to deliver positive results. Even though there is a problem at the company, the management must consider other techniques of motivating workers and adopt autocratic model as the last resort. Importance of Motivation Motivation is critical to management in the organization because it puts human resources into action. Each objective demands that physical, monetary and human resources are organized in order to realize it. Scholars have established that it is only through motivation that human resources can be used maximally. Motivation instills the spirit of willingness and cooperation in employees. Employees might be able but unwilling to use their proficiencies to achieve organizational goals and aims. Motivation would allow Globe limited to make use of both human and capital resources.Advertising Looking for ess ay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, motivation would improve the efficiency of salespersons, which would lead to high performance. Effectiveness of employees does not only rely on their academic qualifications and capabilities (Murphy 43). Motivation helps in filling the gap between capability and willingness. Through motivation, salespersons would improve their productivity, the firm would reduce the costs of operations and finally overall efficiency could be realized at the Globe limited. Nonetheless, motivation leads to realization of organizational goals and objectives because organizational goals are only achieved when there is efficient use of human resources and teamwork. This means that salespersons at the Globe limited should be goal-directed in order to behave in a purposive manner. Therefore, goals can be attained if harmonization and teamwork occurs concurrently, which ca n only happen through motivation. Recent researches show that motivation builds friendly relationships among employees. It naturally follows that motivation is a significant aspect of employee satisfaction. Top managers at the Globe limited should always remember this aspect and try to frame an appealing incentive plan that would benefit sales persons. In this regard, scholars have established some plans that can be used to motivate employees, which include financial and non-monetary inducements, promotion opportunities and sanctions for non-performing salespersons. Policy makers at the Globe limited must adopt these plans in order to motivate salespersons to perform better. Adoption of the above plans would guarantee effective collaboration, which might bring about constancy in the organization hence boosting sales. Unnecessary conflicts and inconsistencies among employees would be eliminated through adoption of the plans. Globe limited could be facing difficulties because some emp loyees are against change. The above plans could allow some employees to accept change and aspire to fulfill the wishes of the employer. Finally, motivation, especially monetary inducement, would allow salespersons to align their interests to those of the organization. The outcome of both financial and no-monetary motivation would be profit maximization because of increased productivity. Motivation encourages stability in the organization because it promotes a good reputation and benevolence. In fact, research confirms that employees’ loyalty is tied to the actions of the management. If employees are involved in decision-making processes, they tend to take active roles in the organization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Globe Limited Model of Organizational Behavior specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Salespersons are tempted to develop extra-skills that they can use to convince customers to accept Globeâ€℠¢s products. Customers are encouraged to buy Globe’s products because of the assurances from salespersons not the company. In this respect, changing employees’ perception is critical to the performance of any organization. Motivated employees are easy to convince and manipulate. From the above analysis, it is noted that motivation is a complex concept that can only be understood by the management. Motivation is related to internal feelings, which makes it hard for any individual to understand its nature. Only managers can comprehend it because they are usually in close contact with employees. Therefore, managers are supposed to frame sound motivation plans that can boost sales at the Globe limited. It is also true that motivation is a continuous process mainly because it is based on limited needs. Increasing Sales Some actions, programs, conditions and incentives can be employed by the management to improve sales at the Globe limited. One of the actions is making use o f what is under control in the organization. The salespersons have the ability to influence buyers to purchase company products. This calls for careful handling of customers, by taking care of their demands. Some customers have no time to meet or talk to the sales team but the salespersons must strategize in order to be awarded some time by customers. In case a customer decides to talk to one of the salespersons, maximum time must be awarded to such a customer. This would give the salesperson a chance to convince the customer to accept company products. It is believed that the more the salesperson spends time with the customer, the more he/she makes sales. Whenever a salesperson handles a customer, he/she must present him/her self in the best way possible. Customers are influenced by the seller’s attitude and impression. In this case, customers must be handled with all the care that they deserve. Their concerns must be addressed fully and salespersons should always have posit ive impressions towards customers. Salespersons must be taken through orientations in order to be able to differentiate between potential and stubborn customers. Some customers may perhaps inquire about products but they do not intend to buy them. Another action would be encouraging salespersons to familiarize themselves with the company’s products, as well as competitor’s goods and services. This would help salespersons to be prepared than their competitors in the market. Through this strategy, sales persons would be ready to answer any question from customers touching on Globe’s limited products. However, this cannot be achieved unless salespersons are made to trust and believe in company products.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Motivation Theories A number of theories have been formulated to explain the conduct of employees in relation to motivation in an organization. Surprisingly, not all theories have the same postulations hence it is the role of managers to apply the best. These theories apply well under different circumstances. It should be remembered that there is no a powerful theory than others. Fredrick Winslow Tailor formulated the first theory at around 1856 to 1917. The scholar observed that workers are motivated by financial incentives. The theory was coined within the context of scientific management. The theory notes that workers are not interested in working because of various reasons. In this regard, they should be monitored closely to ensure that they comply with the company’s rules and regulations. For efficient supervision, managers should group workers into small units. Each unit is assigned a specific task and a deadline for each task is put in place. Tailor suggested that work ers should be paid according to their productivity. The less productive workers are subjected to sanctions such as demotion and salary cuts while hardworking employees are given salary increment and promotion. Each employee would be encouraged to work hard in order to keep away from negative sanctions and try to win the confidence of managers (Cofer and Appley 90). Tailor’s theory is closely related to autocratic theory of administration. At the Globe limited, Dave should apply this theory as the last resort. The model is however successful because Ford utilized it in Europe and realized high results. Globe limited can also use it successfully, especially after other techniques have failed. Dave should in fact embrace Mayo’s theory, which argues that employees are not simply interested in money. Other social needs can easily distract workers from their tasks. Dave must identify that workers are human beings whose performance rely on satisfaction. Economic contentment i s not the only type of happiness that workers pursue. Other things must be considered carefully. Mayo suggests that improving communication would be helpful in boosting sales. There must be clear lines of authority and workers must have a way of airing their views and concerns. Furthermore, Davies must participate actively in sales because it boosts the morale of employees. Mayo supports Tailor’s sentiments that workers should be encouraged to work in groups that is, forming a team with clear objectives. Maslow was not far from Mayo’s ideas when he formulated his theory that is closely related to human relations theory. In fact, his theory is referred to as Neo-human relations school. The theory focuses on psychological needs of workers. According to Maslow, employees aspire to fulfill five human needs. The needs are hierarchically arranged meaning that one is fulfilled after the other. Workers are motivated to fulfill the higher need in the hierarchy after the lower n eed in the hierarchy is fully met. Maslow posits that psychological needs such as hunger and thirst are met first. An employee dying of hunger would work hard to acquire basic salary that would help him/her obtain basic needs such as food. It is therefore the role of managers to identify the needs of each worker and move on to fulfill them. In this respect, not all employees are motivated at the same time. Therefore, managers need to learn the character of each employee in order to design an appropriate incentive. Learning Theory Apart from motivation theories, scholars have also formulated social learning theory to explain the behavior of workers in organizations. The theory postulates that human behavior can be explained in terms of continuous reciprocal interactions among cognitive, behavioral and ecological determinants. The theorists holding this view observe that an individual is not dependent. Therefore, the environment influences his/her behavior. In every organization, an i ndividual has to follow some laid down regulations. This is achieved through learning, which takes time. Unless employees are given time to adjust accordingly, they cannot deliver in their work. The management must therefore realize this and try to help workers to adjust. Dave must learn the experience of each salesperson and award tasks basing on qualifications. Some employees could have attained their experiences in different settings, which are incompatible to the existing environment (Ishmael 76). Dave must investigate this and act immediately in case sales are to increase. Human beings have five capabilities that are used in strengthening skills and knowledge. The first one is symbolizing, which is concerned about processing visual experiences. This helps an employee to sharpen his/her wits in future. Another important technique is forethought that enables workers to plan their actions in advance. Other capabilities include observation, self-regulation and self-reflection. Cof er, Charles and Appley, Mortimer. Motivation: Theory and Research. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons, 1967. Ishmael, Jones. The Human Factor: Inside the CIAs Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture. New York: Encounter Books, 2008. Murphy, Jim. Inner Excellence. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Critically position the authors perspectives in relation to each other Essay

Critically position the authors perspectives in relation to each other - Essay Example He explains that it is only due to overlap and multiplicity of the various elements of a city that it appears to be a complex entity in the eyes of the observer (Alexander, 1965). Jacob’s view about cities is more or less similar to that of Alexander. Jacob’s argues that a city comprises of several entities which even though they may be very different from each other, they in one way or another have a supplementary role to play with respect to each other. She believes that efficient city planning and design on the basis of conserving and strengthening this mutual support between social and economic components of the city is the sure way to come up with successful cities (Jacobs, 1961). According to lynch, a city is a composition of both mobile and stationary elements both of which are equally significant in relation to each other. The complexity of a city occurs over time as a result of human modifications for personal reasons. He identifies a good city as one which paints a harmonious picture in the mind of the observer through ease of recognition of its constituent elements (Lynch 1960). Corbusier on the other hand breaks down the complexity of a city into being made up of mass and surface. Mass reflects the various forms that can be seen while the surface is what envelopes the mass and gives it its individuality. A good city is depicted through a proper plan that gives the city order (Corbusier, 1931). Alexander identifies that the different social systems within a city serve different social groups from different spatial areas. The effect brought about by this social organization is that within a single neighborhood, there are several social centers to serve the different social units (Alexander, 1965). Lynch on the other hand identifies that there seems to a significant agreement in the perception of the environment among people of the same social group and this affects the design of a city to give an environment that is favorable for the different

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Stakeholders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stakeholders - Essay Example This turbulence is caused by the existence and emergence of different groups of people in the business arena all of whom have interest in the business. The business is therefore endowed with the responsibility of serving the interest of the so called, â€Å"stakeholders† in equal measure. This will ensure that they are all satisfied to enable the business operate profitably (Savage 1991). In dealing with the stakeholders strategic management skills come in handy to ensure the corporate objectives are also met. This report has the obligation of finding the appropriate stakeholder approach and the decisions to be made with regards to the stakeholders for the realization of the organization’s goals. Contents Executive summary I. Introduction II. Preble six step process III. Selection and discussion of two important stakeholders IV. Freeman’s Model Approach V. Conclusion References I. Introduction To catch up with the unstable environment facing many U.S. industries and businesses, business executives are required to efficiently and effectively manage all their stakeholders. Stakeholders is a wide term which is used to refer to those individuals, groups, and other organizations who have an interest in the actions of an organization and who have the ability to influence such actions either to the benefit or detriment of the organization (Post, Preston & Sachs 2002). This integrative approach assumes that an effective organization strategy requires consensus from a plurality of key stakeholders about what it should be doing and how these things should be done for the success of the organization. The case also demonstrates that executives should use an overarching strategy to change relationships with stakeholders from less favorable categories such as non-supportive that may be dangerous to the business; to more favorable ones like the mixed blessing who the business really need (Ravindra, Moray & Tom 2003). II. Preble 6-step Stakeholder Manageme nt Process Model Step 1: Stakeholder Identification Stakeholders can broadly be categorized as either primary or secondary stakeholders. Primary stakeholders are those whose continuing participation is required if an organisation is to survive and prosper (Savage 1991). They include the Shareholders, Investors, employees, customers and suppliers. Secondary stakeholders on the other hand are those who influence or affect, or are affected by, the corporation, but are not engaged in direct transactions with it and are not essential for its survival. They include the media, students and academics, unions, socially responsible investor, special interest groups (experts from social and environmental areas relevant to Nestle) and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), activist groups, environmental organisations, human rights group. We also have Public stakeholders who provide the firm with infrastructure and legal frameworks in which to operate: Governments, community and recipients of co rporate giving and so forth (Preble 2005). Step 2: general nature of stakeholder claims and power implications We start with ownership where; Shareholders have a financial equity stake in the firm, which gives them voting power, economic power in that they can sell their stake and political power which could be exercised at the company’s annual meeting as in the case of a dissident shareholder (Post, Preston &

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Bauhaus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Bauhaus - Research Paper Example Most of these were political in nature, and this is the difference between the German art of this period, and the one that was being advocated by Walter Gropius. Therefore, the principle of Bauhaus was not political, and this was able to appeal to a large group of people, which in turn led to the embrace of these principles of Bauhaus. Furthermore, the influence of Bauhaus is depicted on the works of William Morris. William Morris denoted that there is no need of creating a boundary between function and form, and art should always carter for the needs of the society. This was a major principle and teachings of art that was advocated by the Bauhaus. Another important achievement of Bauhaus is modernism. Modernism was a cultural movement tracing its origins from the late 1880s. For instance, before the set up of the institution, the principles of functionality, mass production, and the merger of arts, and crafts had began in Germany. These are some of the ideals of Bauhaus. In the year 1907, Deutscher Werkbund, a German national designer’s organization had been formed under the leadership of Herman Muthesius to harness and collect the potentials of mass production with the single aim of maintaining Germans economy in its competitiveness with the English economy. Over the first few years the organization came to be known as the authoritative body on design in within Germany and was emulated by many other countries . The Bauhaus was founded when most of the German designers had moved.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Political Culture of Texas

Political Culture of Texas Ghiassi-Tari Texas Government The political culture of Texas is both individualistic and traditionalistic. The individualistic culture is rooted in the states frontier experience and includes economic and social conservatism, strong support of personal politics, distrust of political parties, and minimization of political parties importance. The traditionalistic culture grew out of the Old South, where a one-party system developed, policies were designed to preserve the social order, and the poor and minorities were often disenfranchised (not allowed to vote). Today, these two cultures can still be found in the values, attitudes, traditions, habits, and general behavior patterns of Texans and in the governmental policies of the Lone Star State. With more than 267,000 square miles of territory, Texas ranks second in size to Alaska among the 50 states. Cattle, cotton, timber, and hydrocarbons have at different times dominated the Texas economy and influenced the states politics. Today, Texas is a highly industrialized state in which high-tech products are of increasing importance. Texas has a population of over 25 million. More than 80 percent of all Texans live in the states most highly urbanized counties. The three largest groups are Anglos, Latinos (mostly Mexican Americans), and African Americans. Latinos are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the Lone Star State. Texas has a small but growing population of Asian Americans, and fewer than 170,000 Native Americans. Although the states energy industry has decreased in importance, Texas has become a leading manufacturer of computers and other high-tech products. Agriculture continues to be important in the states economy, though it employs relatively few Texans. Service businesses provide many low-paying jobs. Challenges that face Texas includes the need to more effectively address immigration protect the environment, develop educational programs to meet the demands of an industrial society, and formulate policies for combating poverty and social problems. Local governments are part of the federal system and thus are affected by decisions made by governments above them (state and national) and other local governments. Under Texas law and its constitution, local governments are largely limited to what is required or permitted by the state. Although local governments provide the most direct contact between residents and their government, voter apathy at this level of government remains a problem. Local government is important to most Texans day-to-day lives. Election rules and the way local governments are organized make a major difference in who is elected and who benefits from government. Texas has two legal classifications of municipalities: general-law cities and home-rule cities. Large municipalities have home-rule charters that spell out the structures and powers of individual cities. Four principal forms of municipal government operate in Texas: strong mayor-council, weak mayor-council, council-manager, and commission. Elections for cities and special districts are nonpartisan, and most are organized as at-large or single-member districts. Increased use of single-member districts; greater pluralism; and the growing number, organization, and political activity of minority Texans are all changing the face of local government. Said another way, both formal rules and socioeconomic change shape the way government works, including who wins and who loses. City governments focus primarily on delivering basic services-police and fire protection, streets, water, sewer and sanitation, and perhaps parks and recreation. They also regulate important aspects of our lives, such as construction and food service sanitation. The two major sources of revenue for cities are property taxes and the sales tax. For counties, it is the property tax. Both cities and counties are making more use of fees and debt. Local governments have a difficult time because they face increasing demands for services from their residents and from the state and national government but have limited revenue sources. County governments have fragmented organizational structures and powers restricted by the Texas Constitution. Counties provide an array of services, conduct elections, and enforce state laws. Actual county activities vary greatly between metropolitan and rural counties. Various county officials are policymakers, but the major policymaker is the commissioner’s court, comprised of the county judge and four elected commissioners. The many special-district governments are separate legal entities providing services that include public schools, community colleges, and mass transit systems. Although they are important for the multitude of services they provide, the smaller and more obscure districts are more subject to fraud and manipulation. Dealing with metropolitan wide problems is a difficult task. To do so, Texas relies heavily on councils of government to increase cooperation and on annexation, a controversial process. The output of the Texas system of justice has improved in some ways in recent years. Whereas Texas courts used to be inhospitable to claims that peoples civil rights and liberties had been violated, they are now more open to such claims. As incidents in Jasper and Tulia illustrate, Texas still contains hardcore racism, but the state judicial system is working to mitigate its effects. Although there is an argument about whether citizens have a right to keep and bear arms, upon inspection this issue turns out to be a dispute over ordinary public policy, and thus a problem for the legislature, rather than over a civil liberty that must be defended by the courts. The Texas courts have courageously taken on the rest of the political establishment, including especially the legislature, in ordering a more equitable distribution of school revenues. They have not completely succeeded in introducing educational, equality into Texas public schools, but they have forced the legislature to make the educational system at least somewhat more equitable. Arguments are ongoing over some questions of rights and liberties. Although the national and state courts participate in social struggles over abortion, prayer in the schools, and personal expression, these issues provoke so much disagreement that they cannot be settled judicially. In two areas, however the rights of criminals in Texas prisons and school segregation, the federal courts have been very active over the past three decades in forcing the reform of the system. In recent years, many businesses became convinced that the outcome of Texas’s tort laws was damaging the states economy. They complained that the courts were too tolerant of frivolous suits that sometimes cost businesses so much money that they were forced to close down. In 1995 and 2003, the legislature, at the urging of Governors Bush and Perry, rewrote many of the tort laws so as to take discretion away from the civil judiciary. It is now much more difficult to file, and to win, a civil lawsuit in Texas. This change made consumer representatives unhappy, but as long as the Republican Party controls most state offices, the changes are unlikely to be undone. Economic conditions, the political climate, and power plays are all part of the government generating revenues for state government and determining how that income will be spent. Both taxing and spending are usually incremental, with major changes rarely occurring. However, the states boom-and-bust economy over the past t wenty-five years meant more tax and tee increases than usual and less budget growth. In comparing Texas with other states, we find that the combined state and local tax burden is relatively low, with Texas ranked in the bottom tilth of all states. These rankings are based only on taxes, not total revenues. We also note the significant absence of any personal or corporate income tax, although business has been asked to pay a larger share of the tax burden through the corporation franchise tax. The fundamental difference in the Texas revenue system from that of many other states is the disproportionate burden borne by the poorest citizens. This regressive system raises serious questions about how democratic the tax system is in the state. Democracies are also responsive to the citizenry. The states spending may not meet the needs of all its citizens, particularly when one considers that it ranks in the bottom quarter of all states in its per capita spending for higher education and highways and only slightly better for welfare and public schools. Texas policymakers have dealt with all the issues described in this chapter to some extent, but problems remain on the public policy agenda: The Texas economy regularly cycles through the highs of booms and the lows of busts. The revenue implications of these cycles were discussed in the previous chapter. This chapter has indicated that such shifts result in varying periods of attention on business development. The legacy of the traditionalistic individualistic political culture is a tendency to try to fulfill the wishes of the business community even if state services go unfunded. The transformation of the welfare system into workfare is a national priority with which Texans can agree. However, the change in philosophy and the reduction in federal social spending are both boon and bane to Texas. Texas will have greater flexibility in making decisions on what programs to offer its neediest citizens. It will not enjoy having to spend more state money to pay for those programs. In addition, the state probably will continue to have one of the highest proportions of poor people in the country for the foreseeable future.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Whos Responsible for the Death of Eva Smith? :: An Inspector Calls J.B. Priestly Essays

Who's Responsible for the Death of Eva Smith? 'An Inspector Calls' is a play written by J.B. Priestly. Although the play was set in 1912, it was actually written in 1947. It was written after the events that were mentioned in the play, like the First World War and the sinking of the 'Titanic'. It is thought that J. B. Priestly's experience in World War One inspired him to write a story about how cruelly humans treat each other. In the 1910's there was a lot of cruelty and discrimination because of the different classes. The upper classes were cruel to the lower class because they were poorer and worked for the upper classes. Priestly wrote the play to make people aware of the social differences and how nasty people treat each other. If the upper classes were less pompous and treated the lower classes the same as everybody else, the country's wealth would be more evenly spread so there wouldn't be as much discrimination. 'An Inspector Calls' is a play which forces the audience to realise that every judgement made, every action taken, has an effect on another person. Priestly was well known for his involvement in human rights issues. He became known as 'The voice of the common people' The play 'An Inspector Calls' was written to show an audience about human cruelty. The inspector was there to show the family how nasty they are and he is trying to make them think about what they have done to make Eva kill herself. The inspector may have represented J.B. Priestly and he used the family to show the audience how he feels about the cruelty that goes on. The Inspector could have been a spirit, the name sounds like ghoul - Goole. He could have been representing the ghost of Eva Smith and he was trying to show the family how much they made Eva suffer. This can be shown by what the inspector said: "A pretty, lively sort of girl who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony-hating life-" and "She was here alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate. She needed not only money but advice, sympathy, friendliness." The inspector may have represented the voice of conscience. Priestly based the inspector on his views of every day society. The inspector was annoyed with the upper classes because of the way they treated the lower classes. That might be the way Priestly thought and he was trying to get his points of view noticed by putting them into a play where many people would take notice. Priestly was also trying to say that society as a whole is responsible for tragedies, no one person

Monday, November 11, 2019

Occupy Wall Street Movement

Krystal Graham â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† Business Ethics Professor: Steven Curry â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† The â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† movement has become a big deal since it began in the fall of 2011. This movement was inspired by international protests, with thousands arriving in New York City answering the call, soon spreading to well over 500 cities. I would like to discuss more of the details of the movement, the moral and economic implications, as well as the different ethics theories to see which theory best applies to the movement.The Arab Springs protest on February 11, 2011 was the most notable inspiration of the Occupy Wall Street movement. According to the website occupy together, the occupy movement is an international movement driven by individuals. They are organized in over 100 cities in the United States, and they aim to fight back against the system that has allowed the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. All of us have many differe nt backgrounds and political beliefs but feel that, since we can no longer trust our elected officials to represent anyone other than their wealthiest donors, we need real people to create real change from the bottom up†¦ We no longer want the wealthiest to hold all the power, to write the rules governing an unbalanced and inequitable global economy, and thus foreclosing on our future. The movement works to achieve their goals by resist, In the spirit and tradition of civil disobedience #occupy takes to the streets to protest corporate greed, abuse of power, and growing economic disparity; Restructure, #occupy empowers individuals to lead others into action by gathering in the commons as engaged citizens to demonstrate a culture based on community and mutual aid. We will be the change we are seeking in the world; and finally, Remix work to make fundamental changes in the system.Now that we know a little more about the movement itself, let us look at some of the moral and econom ic implications of this movement. In the Constitution, the Fourteenth Amendment requires that the government provide â€Å"equal protection of the laws† to all citizens. The moral implications of the Occupy Wall Street movement reach far beyond the passing sensation it has created. The movement seems to be acquiring immunity from the laws the rest of us are expected to obey by calling themselves representatives of the 99 percent against the 1 percent.If 99 percent of the people in the country were like the Occupy mobs we would have anarchy, not a country. Democracy means majority rule, not mob rule, and if Occupy or any other mob movement actually represents the majority, they would have enough votes to legally achieve what they are trying to accomplish by illegal means. In problems of collective action, individuals who work solely for their own selfish interests can bring about tragic consequences for society as a whole. The only way for collective action problems to be solv ed is to create coordinated collaborations that unite social and individual interests.The â€Å"collective† element is paramount because even one â€Å"defector† (someone who acts selfishly, like those who stand accused of criminal acts at Occupy Wall Street camps) has the power to run everything by leading others to defect as well. I found an example of the Occupy movement being about the law on the national review website. â€Å"When trespassers blocking other people at the University of California-Davis refused to disperse and locked their arms with one another to prevent the police from being able to physically remove them, police finally resorted to pepper spray to break up this human logjam.The result? The police have been strongly criticized for enforcing the law. Apparently pepper spray is unpleasant, and people who break the law are not supposed to have unpleasant things done to them. Which is to say, we need to take the â€Å"enforcement† out of †Å"law enforcement. † The police are the last line of defense against barbarism, but they are equipped only to handle that minority who are not stopped by the first line of defense, moral principles. If everyone takes the path of least resistance, then the moral infrastructure will corrode and crumble.The moral infrastructure is one of the intangibles without which the tangibles don’t work. Like the physical infrastructure, its neglect in the short run invites disaster in the long run. Examples of real, measurable Occupy inspired change in the political sphere are hard to come by, though a band of millionaires did storm Capital Hill on Wednesday November 16, according to an article by the Associated Press to urge Congress to tax them more, claiming they are not paying their â€Å"fair share. The financial crisis caused a deep recession in our economy, and there are many individuals who are struggling to make ends meet and to get a job and to live their lives given the e conomic difficulties. I think there is an understandable frustration with the difficult economic circumstances that many families are experiencing now and a desire for change. There is one cost associated with Occupy Wall Street that is readily available, and that is the cost incurred by police as they patrolled the movement, originally in a watchdog status, and eventually as they cleared protestors from parks throughout the country.According to the Associated Press, as of November 24, taxpayers had paid at least $13 million in police overtime and municipal services. This includes $7 million in New York and $2. 4 million in Oakland, which faces a budget gap of $58 million this year. Utilitarianism is the moral doctrine that we should always act to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions. The interests of the community are simply the sum of the interest of its members. An action promotes the interests of an individual when it adds t o the individual’s pleasure or diminishes the person’s pain.There are six points that need to be considered about utilitarianism. First, when deciding which action will produce the greatest happiness, we must consider unhappiness or pain as well happiness. Second, actions affect people to different degrees. Third, because utilitarians evaluate actions according to their consequences and because actions produce different results in different circumstances, almost anything might in principle, be morally right in some particular situation. Fourth, utilitarians wish to maximize happiness not simply immediately but in the long run as well.Fifth, utilitarians acknowledge that we often do not know with certainty what the future consequences of our actions will be. Finally, when choosing among possible actions, utilitarianism does not require us to disregard our own pleasure, nor should we give it added weight. Immanuel Kant sought moral principles that do not rest on continge ncies and that define actions as inherently right or wrong apart from any particular circumstances. He believed that moral rules can, in principle, be known as a result of reason lone and are not based on observation. Kantian theory uses the categorical imperative which says that we can will the maxim of our action to become a universal law. By maxim, Kant meant the subjective principle of an action, the principle that people in effect formulate in determining their conduct. Another way of looking at the categorical imperative is universal acceptability. Each person, through his or her own acts of will, legislates the moral law. Because reason is the same for all rational beings, we all give ourselves the same moral law.In other words, when you answer the question â€Å"What should I do? † you must consider what all rational beings should do. You can embrace something as a moral law only if all other rational beings can also embrace it. It must have universal acceptability. I n addition to the principle of universal acceptability, Kant explicitly offered another, very famous way of formulating the core idea of his categorical imperative. According to this formulation, as rational creatures we should always treat other rational creatures as ends in themselves and never as only means to our ends.Virtue ethics is identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contrast to the approach which emphasizes duties or rules or that which emphasizes the consequences of actions. Out of the theories, utilitarian, Kantian, and virtue ethics, I believe the Occupy Wall Street movement tries to follow the utilitarian theory. The movement is attempting to end the relationship built on money and donations between our elected officials and corporate interests.They want a system that operates in the interest of the people and to empower people to be a part of the process. They say they represent the 99 percent, and trying to make a change to have eq ual distribution of wealth for the country, which is what they feel is the best interest of the country as a whole. The income inequality and unequal wealth distribution in the United States is something that has been building over time and is not really any one person or companies fault. Many of the wealthy have earned the money by working hard to get to where they are now.There are many issues involved in the wealth distribution in our country, including that many of the poor have gotten poorer due to the lack of jobs as well as the fact that many of the mortgage companies allowed people to get into more debt by handing out home loans to people who wanted to purchase homes way out of their price ranges. This is also the fault of the people who got themselves into those positions. I am not sure if there is an equitable outcome from this movement, but I am sure this movement will continue, and if not, there will be another movement similar to this one.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The History of Erie Canal

The History of Erie Canal During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the new nation known as the United States of America began to develop plans to improve transportation into the interior and beyond the great physical barrier of the Appalachian Mountains. A major goal was to link Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes with the Atlantic Coast through a canal. The Erie Canal, completed on October 25, 1825 improved transportation and helped populate the interior of the U.S. The Route Many surveys and proposals were developed to build a canal but it was ultimately a survey performed in 1816 that established the route of the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal would connect to the port of New York City by beginning at the Hudson river near Troy, New York. The Hudson River flows into New York Bay and past the west side of Manhattan in New York City. From Troy, the canal would flow to Rome (New York) and then through Syracuse and Rochester to Buffalo, located on the northeast coast of Lake Erie. Funding Once the route and plans for the Erie Canal were established, it was time to obtain funds. The United States Congress easily approved a bill to provide funding for what was then known as the Great Western Canal, but President James Monroe found the idea unconstitutional and vetoed it. Therefore, the New York State legislature took the matter into its own hands and approved state funding for the canal in 1816, with tolls to pay back the state treasury for upon completion. New York City Mayor DeWitt Clinton was a major proponent of a canal and supported efforts for its construction. In 1817 he fortuitously become governor of the state and was able to thus oversee aspects of the canal construction, which later became known as Clintons Ditch by some. Construction Begins On July 4, 1817, construction of the Erie Canal began in Rome, New York. The first segment of the canal would proceed east from Rome to the Hudson River. Many canal contractors were simply wealthy farmers along the canal route, contracted to construct their own tiny portion of the canal. Thousands of British, German, and Irish immigrants provided the muscle for the Erie Canal, which had to be dug with shovels and horse power - without the use of todays heavy earth moving equipment. The 80 cents to one dollar a day that laborers were paid was often three times the amount laborers could earn in their home countries. The Erie Canal Is Completed On October 25, 1825, the entire length of the Erie Canal was complete. The canal consisted of 85 locks to manage a 500 foot (150 meter) rise in elevation from the Hudson River to Buffalo. The canal was 363 miles (584 kilometers) long, 40 feet (12 m) wide, and 4 feet deep (1.2 m). Overhead aqueducts were used to allow streams to cross the canal. Reduced Shipping Costs The Erie Canal cost $7 million dollars to build but reduced shipping costs significantly. Before the canal, the cost to ship one ton of goods from Buffalo to New York City cost $100. After the canal, the same ton could be shipped for a mere $10. The ease of trade prompted migration and the development of farms throughout the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest. Farm fresh produce could be shipped to the growing metropolitan areas of the East and consumer goods could be shipped west. Before 1825, more than 85% of the population of New York State lived in rural villages of less than 3,000 people. With the opening of the Erie Canal, the urban to rural ratio began to change dramatically. Goods and people were transported quickly along the canal - freight sped along the canal at about 55 miles per 24 hour period, but express passenger service moved through at 100 miles per 24 hour period, so a trip from New York City to Buffalo via the Erie Canal would only have taken about four days. Expansion In 1862, the Erie Canal was widened to 70 feet and deepened to 7 feet (2.1 m). Once the tolls on the canal had paid for its construction in 1882, they were eliminated. After the opening of the Erie Canal, additional canals were constructed to connect the Erie Canal to Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, and the Finger Lakes. The Erie Canal and its neighbors became known as the New York State Canal System. Now, the canals are primarily used for pleasure boating - bike paths, trails, and recreational marinas line the canal today. The development of the railroad in the 19th century and the automobile in the 20th century sealed the fate of the Erie Canal.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The History Behind Sociology

The History Behind Sociology Although sociology has its roots in the works of philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Confucius, it is a relatively new academic discipline. It emerged in the early 19th century in response to the challenges of modernity. Increasing mobility and technological advances resulted in the increasing exposure of people to cultures and societies different from their own. The impact of this exposure was varied, but for some people, it included the breakdown of traditional norms and customs and warranted a revised understanding of how the world works. Sociologists responded to these changes by trying to understand what holds social groups together and also to explore possible solutions to the breakdown of social solidarity. Thinkers of the Enlightenment period in the 18th century also helped set the stage for the sociologists who would follow. This period was the first time in history that thinkers tried to provide general explanations of the social world. They were able to detach themselves, at least in principle, from expounding some existing ideology and to attempt to lay down general principles that explained social life. The Birth of Sociology as a Discipline The term sociology was coined by French philosopher Auguste Comte in 1838, who for this reason is known as the â€Å"Father of Sociology.† Comte felt that science could be used to study the social world. Just as there are testable facts regarding gravity and other natural laws, Comte thought that scientific analyses could also discover the laws governing our social lives. It was in this context that Comte introduced the concept of positivism to sociology - a way to understand the social world based on scientific facts. He believed that, with this new understanding, people could build a better future. He envisioned a process of social change in which sociologists played crucial roles in guiding society. Other events of that time period also influenced the development of sociology. The 19th and 20th centuries were times of many social upheavals and changes in the social order that interested the early sociologists. The political revolutions sweeping Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries led to a focus on social change and the establishment of social order that still concerns sociologists today. Many early sociologists were also concerned with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism and socialism. Additionally, the growth of cities and religious transformations were causing many changes in people’s lives. Other classical theorists of sociology from the late 19th and early 20th centuries include Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim,  Max Weber, W.E.B. DuBois, and Harriet Martineau. As pioneers in sociology, most of the early sociological thinkers were trained in other academic disciplines, including history, philosophy, and economics. The diversity of their training is reflected in the topics they researched, including religion, education, economics, inequality, psychology, ethics, philosophy, and theology. These pioneers of sociology all had a vision of using sociology to call attention to social concerns and bring about social change. In Europe, for example, Karl Marx teamed with wealthy industrialist Friedrich Engels to address class inequality. Writing during the Industrial Revolution, when many factory owners were lavishly wealthy and many factory workers despairingly poor, they attacked the rampant inequalities of the day and focused on the role of capitalist economic structures in perpetuating these inequalities. In Germany, Max Weber was active in politics while in France, Emile Durkheim advocated for educational reform. In Britain, Harriet Martineau advocated for the rights of girls and women, and in the U.S., W.E.B. DuBois focused on the problem of racism. The Modern History of Sociology The growth of sociology as an academic discipline in the United States coincided with the establishment and upgrading of many universities that were including a new focus on graduate departments and curricula on â€Å"modern subjects.† In 1876, Yale University’s William Graham Sumner taught the first course identified as â€Å"sociology† in the United States. The University of Chicago established the first graduate department of sociology in the United States in 1892 and by 1910, most colleges and universities were offering sociology courses. Thirty years later, most of these schools had established sociology departments. Sociology was first taught in high schools in 1911. Sociology was also growing in Germany and France during this period. However, in Europe, the discipline suffered great setbacks as a result of World Wars I and II. Many sociologists were killed or fled Germany and France between 1933 and the end of World War II. After World War II, sociologists returned to Germany influenced by their studies in America. The result was that American sociologists became the world leaders in theory and research for many years. Sociology has grown into a diverse and dynamic discipline, experiencing a proliferation of specialty areas. The American Sociological Association (ASA) was formed in 1905 with 115 members. By the end of 2004, it had grown to almost 14,000 members and more than 40 â€Å"sections† covering specific areas of interest. Many other countries also have large national sociology organizations. The International Sociological Association (ISA) boasted more than 3,300 members in 2004 from 91 different countries. The ISA sponsored research committees covering more than 50 different areas of interest, covering topics as diverse as children, aging, families, law, emotions, sexuality, religion, mental health, peace and war, and work. Sources About ASA. American Sociological Association, 2019. Statutes of the International Sociological Association. International Sociological Association.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Movie Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Movie Review - Essay Example The actions of both Kevin O’Donnel and Sean Miller amply convey this fact. â€Å" Our society in the West has, quite literally, an investment in perpetuating the myth of an evil force... Without it, movies and writing would be less interesting because evil villains represent in some powerful manner the way many people perceive the world†(R. F. Baumeister, W.H. Freeman & Co, 1996). People often think of evil as what is outside of them, and even if an evil action is chosen, there is a justification since there is something good in the expected outcome. This is the outlook of the terrorists. The discussion shows how people can be properly be made aware of the dangers of terrorism and how realistic the two movies are in conveying the facts regarding terrorism. In the movie Patriot Games, we see the fear of terrorism casting its spell throughout the life of Jack Ryan and his family. He and his family are on a visit England. He has worked as an intelligence agent in the U.S. A. his helps him to be vigilant. He is also making use of his London vacation for his research, as he is writing a book. He has met his wife Cathy an ophthalmological surgeon and daughter Sally and they are discussing where to go for dinner that evening. At that time there is an explosion behind them. He gets his family under cover and sees three men attacking a Rolls Roys. Taking advantage of his perfect position to interfere, he charges in and kills one man and has wounded another. The men are from the Ulster Liberation Army (ULA), an ultra-violent off shoot of the violent Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army (PIRA). Now he becomes a local hero in England, as the occupants of the car he saved are the members of the Royal Family. But the head of the ULA Kevin O’Donnell is quite upset. Sean Miller, who had planned the operation, who is now caught, is also furious at Jack’s interference. The PIRA is also not happy with Kevin O’Donnell for attacking the Royal

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Benchmarking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Benchmarking - Essay Example The objective of this report is to highlight the methods that could give an exact idea of the performance of the companies and how well they use their resources. This report doesn’t consider just one perspective for the judgment of the company. Its discussion is on the basis of both the financial and non-financial factors of the company. Besides these market perception and working environment with the potential of and for the workforce have been discussed.in order to gain the complete perspective of the companies. In this report the two companies selected for the benchmarking or comparison are not only the leading companies in their industry but also on of the biggest companies overall in the global ranking. The report gives the detailed comparison of Apple and Microsoft complete analysis have been made in order to get a conclusion regarding the performance of both companies in comparison to each other. ... Apple and Microsoft have global presence and compete on international market. They both are technology based companies however they have diverse range of products and compete on different level for every market and product that they offer. Both companies almost compete in every sector of the industry as the nature, aspects and operations of their business are quite similar thus the competition is quite cut throat and is mostly regarding capturing the market share not only in the American market but on the global scale. Thus there financial data can be compared as both companies have same target market, business operations and market environment thus any difference can be associated to the non-financial factors of the company. Company Details Both the companies are technology based and compete almost in all of their product and market segments. They maintain their own stores, authorized dealers and online stores. The principle executive offices or the registered headquarters of both A pple and Microsoft along with their registered exchange, ticker symbol and logo are as follow: APPLE INC. 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, California, USA Registered on â€Å"The NASDAQ stock market LLC† Ticker Symbol AAPL MICRODOFT CORPORATION One Microsoft Way Redmond, Washington, USA Registered on â€Å"The NASDAQ stock market LLC† Ticker symbol MSFT (Investing.money.msn.com, 2013) Company Background and Profile Apple Inc. Apple is a California corporation that was established in 1977 and today along with its subsidiaries design, manufactures and markets mobile communication devices, media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players and long