Workplace Bullying And Its Impact On The Nursing Profession

Workplace bullying is a growing problem in the American workplace and the Nursing Profession no exception. Addressing workplace bullying and its impact on the nursing profession is paramount to upholding patient safety and decreasing nursing attrition rates. Defining the problem is the first step in addressing it. In the past, workplace bullying was referred to as â€Å"Nurses eating their young.† There are many names for the various levels of workplace bullying like horizontal and lateral violence, hostility, mobbing, and verbal abuse. Bullying actions can take place overtly or covertly. Nurse-to-Nurse bullying is known to occur during interaction communications and manifests by withholding information, intimidation, threats, verbalizing harsh innuendo and criticism, and undermining personal values and beliefs (Rocker, 2008). Power disparities are also a source of bullying. For example, using charge position for controlling staff assignments, reporting coworkers for perceived lack of productivity, placing others under pressure to achieve impossible deadlines, and withholding knowledge for policies and procedures (Rocker, 2008). Outright actions of yelling at coworkers and refusing to mentor new staff with their practice are also considered bullying behavior. The prevalence of workplace bullying within the nursing profession remains unclear because there have been relatively few complete studies conducted about the subject. For example, one systematic review of theShow MoreRelatedBullying in Nursing838 Words   |  3 PagesIn a profession where caring is the epicenter of the job, it is disconcerting to see a high occurrence of bullying in the nursing environment. Lateral bullying and lateral violence are terms used to describe bullying, uncivil behavior, disrespect, social devaluing, peer control and verbal, physical and emotional abuse occurring between nurses and or colleagues (Ceravolo et al., 2012). Abusive behaviors from a superior are considered vertical or hierarchal violence and are commonly seen when the superiorRead MoreBullying At The Nursing Profession845 Words   |  4 Pages Bullying in the Nursing Profession Carli Jessop Flathead Valley Community College Bullying is a term that many associate with children and while this has been recognized as a serious issue in schools across the country, such conduct unfortunately does not stop there. It has been said that nurses eat their young and while this may sound particularly extreme, bullying as well as lateral and vertical violence in the nursing profession has been an ongoing and increasingly prevalent issueRead MoreLateral Violence in the Workplace1270 Words   |  6 PagesLateral violence in the workplace Lona A Smeltzer Southern New Hampshire University Lateral violence in the workplace Abstract This paper explores five published articles as they relate to the concept of Lateral violence (LV) within the nursing profession and how it directly affects the work environment. The concept of LV is also known as abusive behavior, horizontal violence, bullying, aggression, horizontal hostility, verbal abuse or â€Å"nurses eating their young†. There are fourRead MoreNursing Bullying Essay1248 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: IMPACT OF NURSE TO NURSE BULLYING The Impact of Nurse to Nurse Bullying in the Workplace The Impact of Nurse to Nurse Bullying in the Workplace Have you ever been a target of an individual’s cruelty and hatred? It does not necessarily have to be physical, but more like being verbally degraded or publicly humiliated. The effectsRead MoreDoctor Of Nursing Practice Roles1434 Words   |  6 PagesDoctor of Nursing Practice Roles against Workplace Violence in the Nursing Profession Introduction Workplace violence in nursing has become a serious problem that affects the nursing profession in many aspects (Murray, 2009). According to Skehan (2015), there were few studies or documentation about the perception or management of nurse leaders against workplace violence in nursing. Therefore, doctor of nursing practice (DNP) prepared nurses should become the experts in identifying, analyzing, andRead MoreWorkplace Bullying And Effective And Ineffective Management Strategies1683 Words   |  7 Pagesreported that they have been affected by workplace bullying, whether they were the target or the witness (2). The nursing profession is no exception to this startling statistic. Both the American Nurses Association (ANA) and The Joint Commission (TJC) have addressed the need for a positive work environment that is â€Å"free of abusive behavior, such as bullying, hostility, abuse of authority, and reprisal for identifying abuse in the workplace† (8). Bullying in nursing is th ought to begin during undergraduateRead MoreCivility And Lateral Violence Within Nursing1068 Words   |  5 PagesViolence in Nursing Civility in the work place, or the lack thereof, has been identified as a growing problem within many professions in today’s society. Often referred to as lateral violence, this occurrence is no exception in the nursing profession. It is also known as ‘horizontal violence’ or ‘workplace bullying (Coursey, Rodriguez, Dieckmann, Austin, 2013). In this evidenced-based paper, information will be provided in an effort to identify causes of lateral violence in the workplace and how toRead MoreLateral Workplace Violence : Effective, Destructive, Or Harassment Behavior1344 Words   |  6 Pages Lateral workplace violence is described as aggressive, destructive, or harassment behavior in the workplace between nurses or other members of the interprofessional team (Yoder-Wise, 2015). This type of behavior can occur within every aspect of life including professional, social, and personal life. The behavior can include gossiping, withholding information, or ostracism extending outside of the workplace and can occur in person or in cyberspace (American Nursing Association, 2011). LateralRead MoreThe Effects Of Lateral Violence On The Workplace1159 Words   |  5 Pagesmany professions in today’s society. Often referred to as lateral violence, this occurrence is no exception in the nursing profession. It is also known as ‘horizontal violence’ or ‘workplace bullying (Coursey, Rodriguez, Dieckmann, Austin, 2013). In this evidenced-based paper, information will be provided in an effort to identify causes of lateral violence in the workplace and how to encourage civility. Lateral violence is defined as acts that occur between colleagues wherein, bullying is recognizedRead MoreEssay on Bullying Within the Nursing Profession in Australia2313 Words   |  10 PagesWorkplace bullying is increasingly being recognised as a serious problem in society. Reports from the general media and professional press suggest that there is increasing evidence that the scale of bullying, harassment and violence amongst health care staff is widespread (UNISON, 2003). Chaboyer, Najman, and Dunn (2001) explain that although nursing in Australia is now considered a profession, the use of horizontal violence, bullying and aggression in nursing interactions has been identified as

My American culture, but not my religion Free Essays

Holding the values and beliefs of a religion other than Christianity often makes one wonder if they have broken the norms of American society. A norm, as defined by Miller (2002), is â€Å"a generally agreed upon standard of how people should behave, usually unwritten and learned unconsciously.†   While many Americans practice Christian beliefs, one of the benefits of living in a free nation happens when all religious denominations can practice their faith in peace, regardless of the majority preference. We will write a custom essay sample on My American culture, but not my religion or any similar topic only for you Order Now The list of Christian denominations includes Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist, Presbyterian and many others. Being an individual who reads of, and practices, many religions both old and new in the world I do not follow Christian beliefs. I would rather define myself as a mystic or perhaps even shaman since I have inclinations towards honoring the earth, nature and spirits; this is also a common practice among Native Americans. Salvation, or offering oneself up for saving by another being such as Jesus predominantly occurs in Christianity. However, I am at odds with this idea in my own spiritual practice. My beliefs stand in contrast because in my mind each person has the capability to save themselves, if they would only realize that inner strength. Of course, going to a Sunday service and honoring holidays such as Christmas and Easter are practices that I do not partake in either. However, I do honor the Solstices, which fall surprisingly close to many of the Christian holidays. Being a mystic in a predominantly Christian world can make for a lonely but very peaceful existence if you allow it. While others scurry around buying gifts during the Christmas rush, I tend to my natural wares, making blankets, canned goods and handcrafted candles along with other natural gifts for those in my family who are Christian. It saddens me at winter time to hear everyone complaining about how much the Christmas gifts they have to buy will cost them; and how they need to spend a great deal of care budgeting for their gift expenses. Everyone feels so pressured and rushed to get to the stores to find the perfect gift. While the rest of the world worries away their time, I relax on the sofa watching television and knitting another new blanket. At this point, when I am at odds with not only Christians but a capitalist nation (the dominant culture) that values material goods, I wonder if I am particularly selfish for not wanting to deal with the stress and headaches of grumpy customers standing in line at the stores. Luckily though, I am American by birth so although my religion may differ from the majority, I still blend in rather effortlessly with society. Other groups, such as new immigrants to this country struggle with many obstacles as they adapt to their new home. They must learn a new language, find employment and maybe need to attain some education to help them gain the financial means to support their families. This can present huge difficulties to immigrants since Americans predominantly speak English and the business world can show prejudice towards people who do not have adequate training in American based education systems. New immigrants must also learn the laws of our nation and the subliminal norms that we hold. One popular norm, for example, being that little boys wear blue and girls wear pink. Being part of the dominant culture I do not have to worry about figuring out such subliminal norms, I learned them as I grew up in this society. Nor do I have to worry about building socioeconomic status and attaining education and training in American schools to find and adequate job. I have already had that training, and luckily a stable financial background for building my own monetary status. Also, one of the blessings of being in the dominant culture allows me to understand how to behave in public gatherings. I know that I am not supposed to talk in class, or speak out loud during funerals. As an American I should not often show emotion either, crying in public is somewhat taboo. We tell our children to suck it up, or act like a big boy or girl when they have the urge to cry. These few examples show the norms that we learn growing up as American that other groups have to face and adapt to when living in the nation. Getting back to the issue of religion, standing outside of the cultural norm in terms of popular faiths has its benefits. When voting, I do not have to depend upon a candidate’s religious background or goals to help me decide which person I think would make a better leader. As I have mentioned before I also do not have to spend a great deal of money on gifts for various Christian celebrations either. When crisis strikes, such as the priest scandal ongoing in the Catholic Church, I do not have to worry that my children have been hurt by people we call on to save our souls or connect us to the Divine. One thing I do enjoy is that I can give to charity of my own choosing and am not obligated to give part of my funds to any one church. Overall, standing outside of the cultural norms of Christianity in the American culture has benefits, some of which have been mentioned in this essay. Being an American born citizen also gives me great advantages to help me blend into the society despite my varying religious beliefs. Other individuals such as immigrants have to struggle with things like learning a new language, discovering subliminal social norms, and attaining adequate education in the American school system that mainstream society does not have to worry about. I believe that I am very lucky to have the ability to stand both inside and outside of popular culture, because it gives me a well rounded perspective as to how both sides, the â€Å"included† and the â€Å"excluded† can feel. References Dubois, N. (Ed.). (2002). A Sociocognitive Approach to Social Norms. New York: Routledge. Miller, B. D. (2004). Cultural Anthropology (2nd Ed.). Boston: Allyn Bacon. Pettit, P. (2002). Rules, Reasons, and Norms: Selected Essays. Oxford: Clarendon Press. How to cite My American culture, but not my religion, Essay examples

On The Relative Intelligence Of Women A Review Of Twos Essay Example For Students

On The Relative Intelligence Of Women: A Review Of Twos Essay During times in which there is increased social concern over the relative equality of men and women in various areas of study, there is a common desire to determine whether there is an appreciable difference in intelligence in relation to gender. Two essays which document various aspects of the relative intelligence of men and women are ?Women and the Mismeasure of Thought? by Judith Genova, and ?The Variability Hypothesis? by Stephanie Shields. Genova seeks to criticize measuring the difference in intelligence between men and women. Genova was unsuccessful with this article in that the questions she raised were not satisfactorily answered, and there was an overall lack of citation. ?The Variability Hypothesis? is an essay detailing the history and arguments against the purported greater variance in male intelligence. Though the argument of Shields paper is to some extent banal, her criticism of the variability hypothesis is extensive and satisfactory. The introduction of Genovas essay is a criticism of historically accepted measurements of intelligence. In the past using brain size as a measure of intelligence was not altogether unacceptable. When this practice was discredited by the obvious lack of intellectual superiority of whales and elephants, a new physical measure of intelligence was sought. Other body dimensions were given brief consideration as measures of intelligence until the example of Negroes, Australians, and Eskimos denied that theory. Genova argues that prejudice over which groups are socially allowed to be intelligent leads to bad science in determining measures of intelligence. I agree that the highly stereotypical practice of craniometry has no relevance to modern studies of male and female intelligence, though Genova fails to adequately prove the existence of such stereotypes in modern science. Genova cites the example of hemispheric specialization studies as an area of science affected by this same kind of social prejudice. Though traditionally men are seen as analytical (left-brained) while women hold a more holistic mindset (right-brain), studies have indicated that the exact opposite is true. Genova passes off the results of these studies as due to social influences where she has no right. According to Genova, this disparity in traditional views and modern studies can only be explained by intense prejudice on the part of the writers of such studies. On the assumption that this is true, Genova then seeks to hypothesize about such the computer as a trivial tool threatening to belittle the classically analytical intelligence of men, and explains that the newfound holistic intelligence of men is an attempt to avoid that belittlement. Genova explains the newfound analytical characteristic of women as an ?attack? based on ?keeping them out of the world of science and triviali zing their achievements in any field as routine and studied? (Genova 103). I would argue, however, that the modern stereotype of female intelligence would still place them as the more creative and holistic of the two sexes. Genovas comment on computers has no relevance whatsoever to male intelligence. If computers were a threat to male intelligence and a complement to female intelligence, it would make sense that men would be resistant toward the proliferation of computers, yet this is not at all the case. Conversely, computer science is a field dominated by men. Only 7.8% of computer science and computer engineering faculties are women, and a miserable 2.7% of tenured professors are female (Frenkel 38). Genova invalidates her own argument by professing that modern stereotypes about the role of women have led to views of decreased female intelligence. She is applying a stereotype of her own by implying without evidence that modern studies advocating a difference in male and female i ntellects are conducted and analyzed by men with overpowering prejudices. Genovas next argument addresses the comparison of brain lateralization to general intelligence. The outcomes of La Machine Infernale EssayJudith Genovas article ?Women and the Mismeasure of Thought? is one that I dont feel has proved any substantial points. A torrent of big ideas combined with a lack of substantial amounts of agreeing references makes it hard to accept Genovas ideas. Shields essay ?The Variability Hypothesis,? however, is successful in that it takes on a more specific subject and provides more extensive and applicable sources to her thesis. BibliographyFrenkel 1990Frenkel, Karen A. Women and Computing. Communications of the ACM, November 1990, 3446. One of two articles comprising CACMs cover storyon women and computing. Has a good bibliography. http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/ellens/Gender/pap/pap.htmlSocial Issues

Stay Specific in Your Statement of Interest for Graduate School

When writing your Statement of Interest for Graduate School, remember to stay specific. This statement, which is similar to the Personal Statement, is the opportunity for the candidate to offer a detailed look at his or her motivation, dedication, inspiration, and passion for the field. The university requests a statement of interest for graduate school in an effort to learn more about the candidate than is revealed in the application packet, which includes test scores, grades, letters of recommendation, and a resume or curriculum vitae (CV.)The application packet contains numbers and statistics, revealing the candidate’s data and indicators of potential success in the program. What the packet does not include is the information which should be included in the statement of interest for graduate school. This information â€Å"shows† the admissions committee, rather than â€Å"tells† them, the type of student the candidate will be. This is accomplished through stor ies about experiences that have influenced the candidate in their choice of graduate programs and eventual career.Work to Make Your Personal Statement Technically Perfect and Emotionally CompellingA charming anecdote or a painfully personal story can allow the admissions committee to get to know the candidate on a level not available through statistical analysis. Composing a statement of interest for graduate school should be done carefully and with a great deal of thought. Word count is usually limited, especially considering the large number of these statements read by the committee members, so a concise and solid statement of interest for graduate school is appealing as well as informative.Think carefully about your academic background and incidents, positive to be highlighted or negative to be diminished by a brief explanation, which could be included in the statement. Are there exceptional personal circumstances which the admissions committee would benefit from knowing about yo u? Is there a deeply moving story you would like to share about your inspiration to study medicine? Or is there a humorous anecdote about a law internship which could be shared to reveal your lighthearted personality, which is underpinned by a rock solid sense of justice. Consider the best way to personalize your statement of interest for graduate school. Maximize the opportunity to let the admissions committee get to know you and the reasons why you hope to attend their university’s program. Use strong words and clear ideas to portray your passion for the graduate school. Be specific!

Timeline of the Algerian War of Independence

Timeline of the Algerian War of Independence Here is a timeline of the Algerian War of Independence. It dates from the time of French colonization to the end of the Battle of Algiers. The Wars Origins in French Colonization of Algeria 1830 Algiers is occupied by France. 1839 Abd el-Kader declares war on the French after their meddling in the administration of his territory. 1847 Abd el-Kader surrenders. France finally subjugates Algeria. 1848 Algeria is recognized as an integral part of France. The colony is opened to European settlers. 1871 Colonization of Algeria increases in response to the loss of the Alsace-Lorraine region to the German Empire. 1936 Blum-Viollette reform is blocked by French Settlers. March 1937 The Parti du Peuple Algerien (PPA, Algerian Peoples Party) is formed by the veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. 1938 Ferhat Abbas forms the Union Populaire Algrienne (UPA, Algerian Popular Union). 1940 World War IIFall of France. 8 November 1942 Allied landings in Algeria and Morocco. May 1945 World War II Victory in Europe.Independence demonstrations in Stif turn violent. French authorities respond with severe reprisals leading to thousands of Muslim deaths. October 1946 The Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Liberts Dmocratiques (MTLD, Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties) replaces the PPA, with Messali Hadj as president. 1947 The Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization) is formed as a paramilitary arm of the MTLD. 20 September 1947 A new constitution for Algeria is established. All Algerian citizens are offered French citizenship (of equal status to those of France). However, when an Algerian National Assembly is convened it is skewed to settlers compared to indigenous Algerians two politically equal 60-member colleges are created, one representing the 1.5 million European settlers, the other for 9 million Algerian Muslims. 1949 Attack on the central post office of Oran by the Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization). 1952 Several leaders of the Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization) are arrested by French Authorities. Ahmed Ben Bella, however, manages to escape to Cairo. 1954 The Comit Rvolutionaire dUnit et dAction (CRUA, Revolutionary Committee for Unity and Action) is set up by several former members of the Organization Spciale (OS, Special Organization). They intend to lead the revolt against French rule. A conference in Switzerland by CRUA officials sets out the future administration of Algeria after the defeat of the French six administrative districts (Wilaya) under the command of a military chief are established. June 1954 New French government under the Parti Radical (Radical Party) and with Pierre Mends-France as chairman of the Council of Ministers, an acknowledged opponent of French colonialism, withdraws troops from Vietnam following the fall of Dien Bien Phu. This is seen by Algerians as a positive step towards recognition of independence movements in French-occupied territories.

Advanced Mouse Processing in Delphi Applications

Advanced Mouse Processing in Delphi Applications You might already know how to handle some basic mouse events like MouseUp/MouseDown and MouseMove. However, there are times when you want your mouse to do what you tell it. Basic API stuff Many of us write programs that are designed to work only with the mouse. If we are writing programs that require mouse presence and/or are dependent on the mouse we have to be sure that various things are set up the right way. Is Mouse Present? The quickest way to see if the mouse is present: Animated Mouse Cursor Heres how to use animated cursors (or even how to use a BMP as a CUR): Positioning the Mouse The SetCursorPos API function moves the cursor to the specified screen coordinates. Since this function does not get a windows handle as a parameter, x/y have to be screen coordinates. Your component does use relative coordinates, e.g. relative to a TForm. You have to use the ClientToScreen function to calculate the proper screen coordinates. Simulations On most occasions we want the mouse to move to a certain position on the screen. We know that some components do not respond to a cursor change until the user moves the mouse, we have to provide some small move-from-code technique. And what about simulation mouse clicks without calling the OnClick event handler? The following example will simulate mouse click event on Button2 after the click to Button1. We have to use mouse_event() API call. The mouse_event function synthesizes mouse motion and button clicks. Mouse coordinates given are in Mickeys, where there are 65535 Mickeys to a screens width. Restrict The Mouse Movement Using the Windows API function ClipCursor, it is possible to restrict the movement of the mouse to a specific rectangular region on the screen: Mouse Enter, Mouse Leave? Detecting entering and exiting of the mouse pointer over a component is often coming up when writing your own component. All descendants of TComponent send a CM_MOUSEENTER and CM_MOUSELEAVE message when the mouse enters and leaves the bounds of the component. You will need to write a message handler for the respective messages if we wish to respond to them.

Allowing Mobile Devices In The Office Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Allowing Mobile Devices In The Office - Essay Example Purpose The purpose of the report is to establish whether veteran affairs will allow or reject introduction of mobile device by offices. Summary has to be made on the different devices that can be allowed and their use in the organization. Scope The scope of introduction of mobile phones should extend to only those devices that are used in organizations. The devices mostly looked at are the mobile phones, laptops and tablets. The devices use should affect the working conditions of the workers. The devices covered are discussed below. Mobile phone Almost every worker in the office environment owns a mobile phone. Critiques argue allowing workers use their mobile phone in the office premises will lower productivity. These devices give voice and data communication ability. Their portability reason can allow easier location of workers. Businesses which allow workers to use their mobile phones have policy on which place to use devices. This reduces the possibility of workers making noise to others when talking on their mobile phones. The veteran affairs should set up locations where people can use their mobile phones in the offices. This will cut stress on worker and increasing on productivity (Anindya, 2007). Laptop and Notebooks These devices are almost replacing the desktop computers in the offices. Workers like them because of their high processing speed and flexibility. Modern laptops are blue tooth and Wi-Fi enabled. This enables them to connect to the institutions network. Use of personal laptops in the workplace should be controlled but not eliminated. The veteran affairs can set up policies on access limitation using these devices. People who would like to use these devices have to join the domain of the institution. This will enable them save every work carried... This paper approves that there is a greater assumption that after introduction of mobile devices in different offices workers will follow principles that will be laid down by the veteran authority. The introduction of mobile devices in the organization will require change of infrastructure to accommodate them. It is assumed organizations will have financial capability to buy this technology. In reality most organizations work with a constrained budget which would not allow them make any provision for such changes. Managers are the most influential people in organization. Manager’s refusal to take up the new technology will lead to juniors rejecting introduction of the new technology. The assumption is that they will accept the technology without any resistance. Workers comfort ability plays a major role in their production. Providing workers with the most recent technology in their working place increases their optimism. The optimistic atmosphere making them feels the need of being associated with the institution. Workers who are using portable devices feel as if no one is watching. This report makes a conclusion that there are many benefits associated with portable device. These benefits make it necessary to introduce them in the working environment. The veteran affairs should allow their use but with some limitation to eradicate misuse. Focus on improving working conditions of workers and service delivery to the public. The other measure is educating workers on the benefit of using those devices in the right way. Education will cut resistance from worker because of change in the working environment.

Stress in The Workplace Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stress in The Workplace - Assignment Example The external environment also caused the organization to transit to a technological system; this included the political, economic stimuli, technological, and social factors. Finally, the internal environment that included the procedures, styles and policies, systems, as well as the attitude of the workers, had an influence on the change (Northouse, 2013). The stakeholders of the organization comprising of the investors, owners, and employees were affected in a way by the technological transition to the company. For instance, the technological change came from the investors needs to increase their profits by improving the technology in their insurance company. To achieve this, they involved the managers and directors to implement those decisions. The investors and top management staff were impacted positively by the changes. However, the employees at some point were affected by some of the decisions, as they are normally not involved in decision making of these magnitudes. Some employees were forced to leave the job since the implementation of technology lessens work, and the organization may see the need to reduce its workers. Nevertheless, the ones who remained were positively affected by the technology as work was now easier, and also they gained more skills in using the computerized equipment’s which will benefit them in fu ture. To enable the smooth technological transition of the company, the company applied an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) plan to be aware of the needs and any obstacles that may arise during its implementation process. This transition plan was an element of the (ACTD) management plan, which reflected the transition strategy. For instance, the initial cost estimates for fulfilling the technology, the envisioned used of the technology, the functional aptitude elements supported, and the concept of operation, among others. This plan addressed the transition elements and issues that were relevant to the

Relationships Between Society and Religion Essay Example for Free

Relationships Between Society and Religion Essay The relationship between religion and society has provided the focus for some of the greatest works of sociology (one thinks of Durkheim, Pareto, and Weber, as well as Marx and Parsons). Samuel Delbert, a Canadian sociologist, rebelled against what he saw as the static concerns of American sociologists, trained his eyes on the process of social change, and placed the study of religion as a major item on the agenda of social analysis in Canada. In three important works, Clark argues that the changing structure of religious organization provided a measure of the pace and character of social change. Clark undoubtedly made the study of religion an important topic in Canadian sociology. At the same time, however, his work intended to limit the range of sociological concerns by linking the study of religion to questions of the forms of religious organization and politics (Artibise, 1990). The Essence of Religion In order to further understand the context between the relationship between religion and society, it becomes clear only after we have determined the basic essence of religion, that which is common to them all. Many different attempts to conceptualize the essence of religions have been made. These definitions usually reflect the viewpoint of the defining subject more than the essence of the defined object. When, for instance, Immanuel Kant defines religion as the â€Å"fulfillment of all of our duties as divine commands,† this doesn’t reflect the essence of religion which is concerned with a completely different sphere, but rather the rationalistic standpoint of Kant, for whom religion is essentially theonomic ethics. Often the essence of a specific historical religion is held up as the ideal and norm for all religion (Mensching, 1976). Prophecy presupposes a relationship between religion and society that conflicts profoundly with established religion. Established religion sees religion as the sacred ideology of the established social order. It is the â€Å"handmaiden† of the ruling class. It pronounces the established social order to be created by God and to be a reflection of the divine will (Riemer, 1996). The Founding Fathers In their sociological writing, Marx, Weber, and Durkheim were responding to the economic and social changes of the 19th and early 20th centuries, timely more often than not by the disastrous effects that fleeting industrialization had imposed on the European community of which they were sector. The course of religion could scarcely be averted with this foundation, for religion was seen as an important area of the society that seemed to be shifting beyond identification. By at least a period, Karl Marx (1818-83) predates the other. There are known two important factors in the Marxist thoughts on religion: The first is descriptive, the second evaluative. His dependent variable is religion; in other words, its structure and nature are liable on social and most importantly economic relations, which constitute the foundation of social examination. It can never be understood separate from the economic form and the association of the capitalist or worker to the basis of formulation. The second factor connects from this however, has an assessing component. Religion is said to be a form of indifference or alienation; it is a symptom of social malformation which disguises the exploitative relationships of capitalist society. Religion persuades people that such relationships are natural and, therefore, acceptable. It follows that the real causes of social distress cannot be tackled until the religious element in society is stripped away to reveal the injustices of the capitalist system; everything else is a distraction. Subsequent debates concerning Marx/s approach to religion have to be approached with care. It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between (a) Marx’s own analysis of religious phenomena, (b) a subsequent school of Marxism as a form of sociological thinking, and (c) what has occurred in the twentieth century in the name of Marxism as a political ideology. The essential and enduring point to grasp from Marx himself us that religion cannot be understood apart from the world of which it is a part; this is a crucial sociological insight and central to the evolution of the sub discipline. It needs, however, to be distinguished from an over deterministic interpretation of Marx that postulates the dependence of religion on economic forces in mechanical terms; this is unhelpful. The final point is more political. It may indeed be the case that one function of religion is to mitigate the very evident hardships of this world and so disguise them.

Rani Shankar Essay examples -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Rani Shankar As much as I would have liked to continue my engaging research on Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's (issues I hold very dear to my heart), during my preliminary research for the third paper I felt drawn to another, equally interesting, topic. As finals rapidly approach and the idea of graduation becomes more real by day, this new topic seemed to have more personal significance to my life. And so I began research on this topic with purely selfish motivations- to better understand the phenomenon of stress. A relatively new concept involving brain and behavior, Hans Selye first proposed the idea of stress as a normal adaptive syndrome, a fight-or- flight situation, very similar to escape behavior (1). Stress is defined as "the set of all organic reactions to physical, psychic, infectious, or other, aggressions, which are capable to disturb homeostasis" (1). Stress lies at the intersection between personal, social, and economic factors and biology. Although stress is an important, integral part of our existence, there is a point at which it becomes overwhelming and our adaptive responses may break down (2). The breaking point varies from person to person, depending on past experiences, coping responses, and genetics (2). Clearly, socio-economics has a lot to do with the ability to cope with stress over time. We may know of some people that are inherently better able to deal with life's stressors. However, genetic bases for dealing and coping with stress are unknown at this time. Stress, usually used to describe a state of mind, illustrates the important connection between mind and body. Although stress is primarily a neuronal reaction, it's effects reach far past neurobiology. Stress is thought to adversely aff... ...y. Biology 202 1st Web Papers. 1998. Bonnie Kimmel. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/serendip.brynmawr.edu 11. Panic Attacks and Panic Disorders. The Harvard Mental Health Letter. April (I). http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-an06.html 12. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. May 9, 1995. Stress Signs are Often Missed In Victims of Violent Crimes. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-an06.html 13. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Body-Mind Queendom. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.queendom.com/ptsd.html 14. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Harvard Mental Health Letter. June (part I), July 1996 (Part II). http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.mentalhealth.com Rani Shankar Essay examples -- Biology Essays Research Papers Rani Shankar As much as I would have liked to continue my engaging research on Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's (issues I hold very dear to my heart), during my preliminary research for the third paper I felt drawn to another, equally interesting, topic. As finals rapidly approach and the idea of graduation becomes more real by day, this new topic seemed to have more personal significance to my life. And so I began research on this topic with purely selfish motivations- to better understand the phenomenon of stress. A relatively new concept involving brain and behavior, Hans Selye first proposed the idea of stress as a normal adaptive syndrome, a fight-or- flight situation, very similar to escape behavior (1). Stress is defined as "the set of all organic reactions to physical, psychic, infectious, or other, aggressions, which are capable to disturb homeostasis" (1). Stress lies at the intersection between personal, social, and economic factors and biology. Although stress is an important, integral part of our existence, there is a point at which it becomes overwhelming and our adaptive responses may break down (2). The breaking point varies from person to person, depending on past experiences, coping responses, and genetics (2). Clearly, socio-economics has a lot to do with the ability to cope with stress over time. We may know of some people that are inherently better able to deal with life's stressors. However, genetic bases for dealing and coping with stress are unknown at this time. Stress, usually used to describe a state of mind, illustrates the important connection between mind and body. Although stress is primarily a neuronal reaction, it's effects reach far past neurobiology. Stress is thought to adversely aff... ...y. Biology 202 1st Web Papers. 1998. Bonnie Kimmel. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/serendip.brynmawr.edu 11. Panic Attacks and Panic Disorders. The Harvard Mental Health Letter. April (I). http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-an06.html 12. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. May 9, 1995. Stress Signs are Often Missed In Victims of Violent Crimes. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-an06.html 13. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Body-Mind Queendom. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.queendom.com/ptsd.html 14. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Harvard Mental Health Letter. June (part I), July 1996 (Part II). http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/www.mentalhealth.com

Managerial Skills

Time is an important resource in an organization; and a manager has to concentrate on effectively handling this resource.   One of the biggest problems in an organization would be to manage the time allocated to complete the work.   Only a few managers are able to handle this resource effectively.   A manager would have to determine the time taken for each process to be completed.   He would then have to determine ways in which the processes can be speeded up, and the effects the process of speeding up the workflow would have on the quality and the staff members.The manager may have to allocated several resources to effectively handle time such as human resources, logistics, support systems, IT systems, etc.   He would also have to identify the factors responsible for wasting time including telephone calls, personal visitors, unnecessary meetings, chatting of the staff members, indecisive staff, procrastination, problem situations, crisis situations, lack of communication, lack of rest, stress, poor technical knowledge and skills, poor planning and strategic management, not having a proper assistant to perform work, etc.   The organization may also have to change its policies in order to better manage time.   The manager should ensure that the staff members are not stressed too much (Total Success, 2007).A pretest measurement would help to determine the baseline data, before any activity is conducted.   It can be later compared to the posttest measurement.   The results would demonstrate the effectiveness of the activity.   In this way the manager would be studying the effectiveness of the activity.   Before a manager has a time management system in place, he would have to conduct a test to determine the baseline data (SBU, 2007).  A good pretest tool would be a questionnaire given to each staff member of how they manage time.   This is a good example of a pretest tool (SBU, 2007): –1. Time spend on sleeping:2. Time spend on per sonal hygiene3. Time spend on cooking/eating:4. Time taken to travel:5. Actual time spend in the office:6.   Time spend to complete one unit of work7.   Actual time allocated to complete the work:8.   Quality standards achieved:9.  Ã‚   Quality standards required:10.   Time spend in the office doing personal work:11.   Ways in which the time gets wasted:The staff members could also use a time used chart, in which every alternate hour or so they would enter the activity preformed (UMD, 2006): –The management can improve the time management using several strategies: –Having a strong plan in mind.   The manager should ensure he takes into consideration the resources available and the processes that would be involved during the performance of work. Using interactive software tools that can help the staff members to identify what has to be done, and within what amount of time it should be completed. Managers can have certain schedulers to help them plan the pe rformance of tasks and even use of hardware devices.Managers and the staff member should effectively complete the task at that particular moment than wait and keep it pending.   In this way procrastination can also be reduced. Focusing and concentrating on the tasks.   The staff members should be constantly prompted of the targets that have to be achieved.The manager should plan on short-term goals, which would effectively be in line with the long-term goals. Using assistants to perform the less important task, effectively saving the time of the staff member. Prioritizing the work that has to be performed and given importance.  Having activity logs and submitting work reports (Sonic, 2002 & Total Success, 2007)After implementing the time management improvement techniques, the manager would have to use same test tools.The results obtained should be determined.   This should be compared to the pretest data.   The effectiveness of the managerial skills in bringing about appro priate time management can be determined.References:Mind Tools (2007), Time Management, Retrieved on September 29, 2007, from Mind Tools Web site: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_HTE.htm?Sonic (2002), Time Management Tools, Retrieved on September 29, 2007, from Sonic Web site: http://sonic.net/~mfreeman/time.htmTotal Success (2007), Time Management Manage yourself, not your time, Retrieved on September 29, 2007, from Total Success Web site: http://www.tsuccess.dircon.co.uk/timemanagementtips.htmUniversity of Minnesota Duluth (2006), Time Use Chart, Retrieved on September 29, 2007, from UMD Web site: http://www.d.umn.edu/kmc/student/loon/acad/strat/time_use_chart.html

Looking For Alibrandi Essay

At the start of â€Å"Looking for Alibrandi†, by Melina Marchetta we are introduced to a seventeen year old girl by the name of Josephine â€Å"Josie† Alibrandi, who is in her last year of high school. By the end of the book it is made obvious that Josephine has gone through many dramatic and important changes, including achieving her emancipation, discovering her family secret, accepting her culture, and meeting, and having a relationship with her father, Michael Andretti. All of these changes, and others, help to shape the character of Josephine Alibrandi. Throughout the year, Josephine talks of wanting to achieve her emancipation. ‘I’ll run one day. Run for my life. To be free and think for myself. Not as an Australian and not as an Italian and not as an in-between. I’ll run to be emancipated.† (pg40). Josie also wants to be free to make her own decisions, and she doesn’t want to care about what others are saying, like she does now. J osie Marco Andretti (left #26) and his father Michael A†¦ Andretti Autosport (then Andretti Green Racing) ow†¦ At the same time, she realises that she can’t escape everything. â€Å"If my society will let me.† (pg40). Josie thinks that part of her emancipation is to be free of her Italian background, which is not possible, because it will always be a part of her. She believes that it may stop her from achieving her emancipation. Soon Josie realised that the only thing that was stopping her emancipation was herself. â€Å"Relief because I was finally beginning to feel free. From whom? Myself, I think.† (pg221). Josie realises that she is holding herself back from what she really wants, but she isn’t sure whether she wants to fight for it or not. When John Barton died, she came to a decision. â€Å"I remembered when we spoke about achieving our emancipation. The horror is that he had to die to achieve his. The beauty is that I’m living to achieve mine.† (pg240). Josie believes in fighting for her emancipation. By the end of the year, Josie realises that she has already achieved her emancipation. â€Å"I just sat there thinking back over the year and I realised that I was emancipated long ago. It wasn’t at one particular point either, it was at several.† (pg258). At the Walk-a-thon, for example, Josie realised that leaving the walk-a-thon to go with her friends was wrong. â€Å"I was wrong, I thought to myself. I honestly believed it. Not because Sister Louise told me so or because she made me believe I was. I knew deep down that I was  wrong and I think that my emancipation began at that moment.† (pg185). Events such as these lead to her emancipation, letting Josie feel free. At the beginning of the year Josie doesn’t have a good relationship with her Nonna, Katia. As the year goes on, they get closer, and it is through this closeness that Jos ie learns of Katia’s secret, that her mother’s biological father is not her Nonno Francesco, but is in fact, Marcus Sandford, an Australian man that Katia was friends with. Josie first learns of Marcus after having a fight with her mother Christina. She later finds out that he was an Australian policeman who helped Katia during the war. Katia’s sister Patrizia was very thankful towards him for his help, but Josie could tell that Katia thought of him as more than another pair of hands. At Christina’s birthday party Josie realises that it was impossible for Francesco to be Christina’s father, because he was away for the holidays. Josie then has an argument with Katia about this, and runs out of the house. â€Å"I’m not quite sure why I hate Marcus Sandford and Nonna for what they did. I had thought their story was romantic. I had thought that nothing had happened. It was like he was a myth I could always dream about. My mother, though, is the reality. Her reality was living with a man who detested her for something her mother did.† (pg218). After realising that she was no longer angry at Katia, Josie goes to talk to her, and appreciates that staying with Francesco, instead of going with Marcus, was only for Christina’s benefit, not her own. â€Å"Those years without Christina or you when you were a baby were my punishment.† (pg226). Josie understands the pain Katia went through, and knows that Katia loves her, and Christina, more than anything else. Josie has always seen her Italian culture and heritage as a burden, but as the year progresses, she gains a greater understanding of it, and ultimately accepts that it’s part in her life. From the beginning of the year, and perhaps before then, Josie thinks of her culture as something that will hold her back from being what she wants to be, and doing what she wants to do. She also sees it as the thing that keeps her from being like the others at her school. â€Å"I think if it comes down to the bottom line, no matter how smart I am, or how much I achieve, I am always going to be a little ethnic from Glebe as far as these people are concerned.† (pg167). She later realises that she can never get away from it. â€Å"†¦simply because like religion, culture is nailed into you, so deep you can’t escape it. No matter  how far you run.† (pg175). Josie knows that her culture is a part of her being, it plays a part as to her appearance, and how she looks at life. As she spends more time learning and understanding her family, in particular Katia, she sees her culture not as a burden, but as a gift, something that sets her apart from everyone else. She gains an understanding that her culture is just one of Australia’s many. â€Å"Well, I’m not sure whether everyone in this country will ever understand multiculturalism and that saddens me, because it’s as much a part of Australian life as football an d meat pies.† (pg258). She knows that some people will never accept her, and she’s okay with that. â€Å"I didn’t care what they thought and I even began to doubt that anyone, give or take a few gossips like Sera, gave a damn either. I thought of Michael and my mother, who didn’t seem to worry about people’s opinions. And by the looks of things, Nonna didn’t have the right to. Jacob didn’t give a damn who I was either, John accepted me the way I was and Lee and Anna had never made me feel different. So that covered all the important people and I’d be a pretentious hypocrite if others were more important to me than those who loved me.† (pg220). Josie knows that culture will change people’s minds about her, but as long as it doesn’t matter to the people she loves, then it doesn’t matter to her either. Josie experiences an unusual thing in her year, meeting her father Michael Andretti for the first time, and having a relationship wit h him. She has known about him all of her life, and at first, when he moves to Sydney, she doesn’t want anything to do with him. When she finally meets him at Katia’s she becomes emotionally overwhelmed, and can’t face him. After a fight with Carly Bishop, resulting in a broken nose, Josie decided to call him. As much as Josie would like to keep on ignoring him, she needs his help. â€Å"‘My father is a barrister. I’ll call him,’ I said calmly†. (pg84). When he comes and helps her, she accepts him as her father. Soon after that, Michael decided that he would like to know Josie, and they begin a relationship. As time goes on, Josie and Michael get closer, and they go away together to Adelaide. During this time, the two get closer. â€Å"I’m still shocked by how fast things are going between us. Six months ago I hadn’t met my father and I didn’t want to. These days I see him three times a week and the days I don’t see him he rings me. Somehow we’ve developed a great relationship.† (pg156). Near the end of the year Josie finds out that Michael is staying in Sydney, and Josie is ecstatic,  and spends more and more time with him, even going as far as calling him â€Å"Dad† â€Å"But I love Michael Andretti more and more every day. I love him double to what I did maybe a month ago, yet I see his faults now too.† (pg259). Although Josie started the year not knowing her father, Michael Andretti easily moved into the role, providing Josie with a complete, loving family. Throughout the year Josie went through many changes and developments, caused by important events in her life. Some things happened that she expected, like her emancipation, and some things that happened that she didn’t really expect, like accepting her culture. Josie got something she didn’t want, her family secret, but got something better, her relationship with her dad. Josie finally realised exactly who she was, and understands where she fits into the lives around her. â€Å"I’ve figured out that it doesn’t matter whether I’m Josephine Andretti who was never an Alibrandi, who should have been a Sandford and who may never be a Coote. It matters who I feel like I am – and I feel like Michael and Christina’s daughter and Katia’s granddaughter; Sera, Anna and Lee’s friend and Robert’s cousin. You know, a wonderful thing happened to me when I reflected back on my year. ‘One day’ came. Because finally I understood.† (pg260).

effects of wars essays

effects of wars essays The onset of WW I marked a turning point in the history of mankind, dramatically redefining the nature of warfare. The brutal restructuring of national policies to involve the entire nation, from industrial production to unwarranted assaults upon civilians, represents a tragic shift. The severity of this change warrants examination of both the general historical factors and specific events that produced such dire consequences, as well as speculation on whether WWI may have been avoided. Historians largely look toward two general trends of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The rapid economic development and industrial growth that occurred in the 19th century, coupled with the diminishing availability of abundant resources, fostered a high sense of nationalism among Europeans. Nationalistic rivalries appeared throughout Europe. Britain jealously guarded its diminishing status as the world power, harboring much negative sentiment towards prosperous Germany. Meanwhile, under the lead of the militaristic Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany attempted to rush its own emergence as an economic powerhouse. Kaiser Wilhelm, both jealous of being shut out of the colonial race and hoping to preserve Germany's rise, cultivated a large naval fleet. This only served to increase tensions with the British, as well as to threaten the French and drive them into a favorable relationship with Britain. Austria-Hungary, an empire rapidly losing its respected status, was also swept u p in the nationalistic fervor, with Archduke Franz Ferdinand's visit to Bosnia largely intended to assert his nation's power. The nationalistic fervor was fed by the absence of a large war involving any of the great powers in over fifty years. Even the most prominent political and military leaders lacked a true sense of what combat entailed. Most viewed war as some idealistic entity, nothing more than a way to heroically promote their interests. T...

GMAT Sample Questions, Answers and Explanations

GMAT Sample Questions, Answers and Explanations The GMAT is a crucial step in the business school application process.  Admissions committees use applicants  GMAT scores to assess their ability to succeed in a graduate-level program. The best way to prepare for the GMAT is to complete sample questions that test the same skills as the actual exam. The samples listed below resemble GMAT questions in structure, format, and skills tested. After completing all of the sample questions, review the answers and explanations at the end of this article. Integrated Reasoning Sample Questions The Integrated Reasoning section  contains 12 questions in four different categories: Multi-Source Reasoning, Graphical Interpretation, Two-Part Analysis and Table Analysis. You will have 30 minutes to complete this section of the GMAT. Question #1 Commodity Production: World Share (%) Production: World Rank Exports: World Share (%) Exports: World Rank Pork 8 4 20 4 Beans 13 3 24 2 Beef 32 2 22 3 Corn 47 1 34 1 Evaluate the table shown above, which displays data about American agricultural products. Answer YES to the following statement if the information in the table makes the statement true. Otherwise, answer NO. No country, including America, produces more than one-half of the worlds corn. Question #2 ABC Boats is producing a new speedboat called the Lake Skipper. The Lake Skippers fuel economy is R miles per gallon (R(m/G)) when it is driving a constant speed of S miles per hour (S(m/h)). Select the expression that represents the number of gallons of fuel that the Lake Skipper will use when driving at a constant speed (S) for 1 hour. Your answer should be in terms of the variables R and S. Select the expression that represents the number of gallons of fuel that the Lake Skipper will use when driving at a constant speed (S) for 60 miles. Your answer should be in terms of the variables R and S. You should make two selections total (one in each empty column). Gallons of Fuel in 1 Hour Gallons of Fuel in 60 Miles Expression S/R R/S S/60 R/60 60/S 60/R    Quantitative Reasoning Sample Questions The Quantitative Reasoning section  contains 31 questions in two categories: Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. You have 62 minutes to complete this section of the GMAT. Question #1 If a b, c d, b c and e b, which of the following statements must be true?   I. a e  II. e d  III. a c (A) I only   (B) II only (C) III only (D) II and III   (E) I and III Question #2 On a 3-day trip to Italy, 4 adults ate $60 worth of spaghetti. How much would it cost for 7 adults to eat spaghetti on a 5-day trip to Italy if they ate the same spaghetti at the same cost per person per day? (A) $175 (B) $100 (C) $75 (D) $180 (E) $200 Verbal Reasoning Sample Questions The Verbal Reasoning section contains 36 questions in three categories: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction. You will have 65 minutes to complete this section of the GMAT. Question #1 According to a recent study, the amount of work people are tasked with  rank as one of the high causes of workplace stress for American adults. (A) rank as one of the high causes of workplace stress (B) ranks as one of the more high causes of workplace stress (C) rank as one of the leading causes of workplace stress (D) ranks as one of the leading causes of workplace stress (E) rank as one of the higher causes of workplace stress Question #2 The cost of purchasing raw materials from Company A is fifteen percent less than the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. Even after taxes and transportation fees are added, it is still cheaper to purchase raw materials from Company A and have them transported than to purchase raw materials from Company B. Which of the following assertions is supported by the above statement? (A) Labor costs at Company A are fifteen percent lesson that labor costs at Company B. (B) The taxes on raw materials from Company A are more than fifteen percent of the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. (C) Company B inflates their prices to be more competitive than Company A. (D) It takes less time for Company A to mine raw materials. (E) The cost of transporting raw materials from Company A is less than fifteen percent of the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. Analytical Writing Sample Questions This section does not contain questions like the other three sections. Instead, you will be presented with a written argument. Your job is to critically analyze the validity of the argument and then write an analysis of the argument. The analysis should be an assessment of the reasoning used in the argument; you do not need to express your personal opinions. You have 30 minutes to complete the Analytical Writing section. Question #1 Many experts agree that reading can reduce stress and ease tension in muscles. Recently, two new libraries opened in the tri-county area. Consequently, the hospitals in the area should see a reduction in patients seeking treatment for heart attacks and strokes. To ensure that Lavender Hospital is not overstaffed, we should immediately reduce the number of emergency nurses at the hospital and allocate payroll savings to the radiology department, which desperately needs funds for new equipment. Write a critique of the above argument within 30 minutes. Question #2 Lick It Up Ice Cream began advertising in the local newspaper last month and saw its business increase by 15 percent over previous months totals. This rise in sales proves that newspaper advertising still works as well as it used to and can be used to make any food service company more profitable. Write a critique of the above argument within 30 minutes. Integrated Reasoning Answers and Explanations #1 Answer: Yes. This answer can be obtained by analyzing the table. Look at the Production: World Share (%) column for Corn and the Production: World Rank column for Corn. America is ranked first in corn production in the world and only produces 47% of the world share of corn. Therefore, it is true that no country, including America, produces more than one-half of the worlds corn. #2 Answer: S/R and 60/R. When Sspeed and Rmiles per gallon, S/R represents the number of gallons of fuel the Lake Skipper will use in one hour of drive time at constant speed. You would need to divide S by R to find out how much fuel would be used in one hour. When Rmiles per gallon and 60 represents the number of miles, 60/R represents the number of gallons of fuel that the Lake Skipper will use when driving at a constant speed (S) for 60 miles. You would need to divide 60 by R to find out how much fuel would be required for a 60 mile drive. Quantitative Answers and Explanations #1 Answer: D. It is true to say that e is greater than d and that a is greater than c. However, you cannot say that a is greater than e. Although we know that e is greater than b and that a is greater than b, there is no evidence that a is greater than e. #2 Answer: A. The answer is $175. To get to this number, you need to start by determining how much spaghetti costs per person per day. Divide 60 by 4 to get 15. This is the cost of spaghetti per day. Then, divide 15 by 3 to get 5. This is the cost of spaghetti per person per day. Then you switch from division to multiplication to get the cost for the second trip. Multiply 5 (the number of days on the trip) by 5 (the number of people on the trip) to get 25. Then, multiply 25 (the cost of food for five days) by 7 (the number of people) to get 175. It would cost $175 for 7 adults to eat spaghetti on a 5-day trip to Italy. Verbal Sample Answers and Explanations #1 Answer: D. The correct answer is ranks as one of the leading causes of workplace stress. This is the option that creates the most effective sentence without awkwardness or grammatical error. The verb ranks agrees with the subject of this sentence (amount of work). The word leading is also a better fit idiomatically than high and makes the sentence less awkward. #2 Answer: D. The cost of transporting raw materials from Company A is less than fifteen percent of the cost of purchasing raw materials from Company B. This is the only answer option supported by the statement. The statement does not mention labor costs, price inflation, or the amount of time to mine raw materials. The statement also clearly indicates that even with taxes and transportation fees, it is still costs LESS to purchase raw materials from Company A than Company B. Analytical Writing Answers and Explanations #1 and #2 Answer: There is no single correct answer or critique for either argument. However, each critique should 1.) restate a brief summary of the argument; 2.) analyze the use of reasoning and evidence in the argument; 3.) identify potential counterarguments, alternative explanations or questionable assumptions; and 4.) identify evidence that could have been used to strengthen the argument; 5.) provide a conclusion that sums up your critique. Check over what you have written to see if you have accomplished all five of these goals.

Religious Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religious Studies - Essay Example II. Historical Occurrences: Historical events such as the revolution also played a part as the Father's desired a 'break' from the traditionalist British religions. The American Revolution itself has sacred tales of origins, the centre and the source for an American civil religion. (pp. 297, 298). III. Unity and Nationalism: The need for a 'one religion and many religions' also enforced the founding father's to adopt the civil religion. As early as 1749, Benjamin Franklin was already speaking about the need for 'publick religion' (p. 284). Deliberations of the continental congress 25 years after that birthed the US were filled with attention to religious details (p. 284). They adopted a religious system with a 'theology, creed and set of symbols related to their political state existing alongside the churches' (p. 284). They sought to promote nationalism. Civil religion was designed to 'unite many people from many different nations into one state (a political state)' thus creating nation and a nation state (p.285). By the time George Washington took his first oath of office in New York, civil religion was in place. It had arisen out of England Puritanism, but especially out of a union of Puritanism with the engagement of Americans (p.285). Roman Catholism was "introduced into America by Spanish, French missionaries" and introduced to the new world sacramentalism. "Sacramentalism did not end with the seven sacraments; it was a means of understanding the mystery of the church, human life, and the natural world". From sacrament perspective "the sign of God's reality was God's presence among humans". The Pope of Rome was that presence, "the sign of the church: representing the reality of God and acting as a conduit through whom God communicated with human". He was "Vicar and stood equal to the bible as a source of spiritual authority". The Catholic Church "unlike a sect or denomination" sought to include ideally all the "human race not withstanding territory or culture". It sought to include all saints and sinners. "The church was the sign of God's presence in the world". (pp. 66, 67) 4. Do you think that it's possible for modern Americans to return to the primordial religions of their ancestors Why or Why not Religion in the United States evolved over centuries from the religious beliefs of the Native American to the dominant Christianity. From Protestantism to Scientology most modern Americans are still trying to find a balance in the many denominations and sometimes adopting new ones, clearly according to their beliefs, convictions or lack of 'faith' in others. For the native Americans "culture was tradition was religion" (p. 21), while in contrast for modern Americans "religion transcended culture" (p. 21). The current era of coexistence of "one religion and many religions is a fact of American life" (p. 371) and provides solace for Americans uprooted by a

Friedreich's Ataxia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Friedreich's Ataxia - Essay Example Loss of frataxin in the system results in deregulation of iron levels in the mitochondria causing oxidative stress that kills the cells. This leads to a degeneration of the spinal cord, brain, and nerve communications to the muscles. Symptoms are generally manifested early in life between the ages of 5 and 25. Diagnosis is usually accomplished by observing symptoms and self-reporting of symptoms. Symptoms can include spinal curvature, impaired swallowing, deformed feet, and cardiomyopathy (impaired heart muscles). In addition, with the identification of the specific genes responsible, genetic testing can be done to accurately diagnosis the disease. A family history of Friedreich's Ataxia is also an indicator used in diagnosis. As with many of the ataxias, there is not a cure but there are regimens indicated to treat the specific symptoms. Treatment for Friedreich's ataxia generally requires the close cooperation of multiple physicians in several disciplines. The main overall goal for the patient is to remain in good health by a healthy diet and good physical exercise. Diabetes is often closely correlated with Friedreich's Ataxia and treatment consists of insulin. Further treatment is administered on an as needed basis. Propranolol, a beta blocker, may be prescribed to control muscle spasms.

Apple Pie as totem food Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Apple Pie as totem food - Research Paper Example This essay discusses that apple as a fruit in itself was more predominant in Asia and Europe. The first apple was said to be cultivated in the â€Å" northern slopes of the Tien Shan, the mountain range running for a thousand miles between the Chinese border to the east and Uzbekistan, in fact almost to the Caspian Sea, in the west.† The biblical reference to the apple as the forbidden fruit could also have emerged from the fact that Mount Ararat; the resting place of Noah’s ark is also around this region. The mountain range is in present day Turkey and extends from Iran to Armenia, which encompasses the region where the first instance of apple cultivations were found. Turkey till today remains one of the biggest producers of apples in the world. Earliest origins of apple cultivation could be dated back to 8000BC with the discovery of agriculture when nomadic settlements settled in the fertile lands along the Tigris and Euphrates and moving from there to other regions w ith the onset of trade and military expeditions. There is evidence that the early colonists brought with them the first seen apples, crab apples in US. Crab apples are considered the native apples of America and since then there are more than 20 different varieties of apples grown in the US. It is believed that John Endecott, an early governor, was the first to bring an apple tree to North America, and the first orchard was planted on Beacon Hill by a clergyman named William Blaxton. The apple consequently grew to become a part of the staple diet, as it could be easily stored in winter. Despite the fact that apples were not initially from North America, and have been growing disease-free for centuries in their native habitats, the early settlers found that the long, hot summers and cold winters of New England grew apples unlike anywhere else in the world.  Ã‚  New England apples are known not only for their unique blend of tart and sweet flavours, but also for their size and fresh ness. (Nahmias, 2012). The growing of apple consequently began to be viewed as a status symbol. With the growing popularity of the American Apple Pie, diplomats and statesmen began to grow the prize apples for these pies in their backyard. It is therefore no coincidence that 60% of the nation’s yearly harvest in apples comes from the State of Washington. Recorded history shows evidence that Apple Pie was served as a gourmet desserts during dinners for

Key Success Factors of the Ford Motor Company

Key Success Factors of the Ford Motor Company Introduction This case analysis is made on Ford Motor Company, presented below are key success factors that a global automotive player should possess in order to remain competitive, more over a brief discussion is also presented on Fords performance for the period of 1994 to 2004, at the end of this case analysis there are few marketing strategies presented that Ford can adopt for upcoming years and that are likely to help them get competitive advantage globally. The automotive industry is big in its nature, huge numbers of people are associated with this, throughout the industrial revolution this industry has been very competitive and global big players have been striving for their share all over the world. As globalization is there and there are also rising prices for oil, now it has been difficult for major player to stay competitive and earn profits because of the high costs associated with their industry(Bordenave and Lung,2000). Now along with traditional elements of marketing mix and competitive advantage, there is a need to have more drivers that major players should have in order to remain successful for coming years, below I have presented few of global drivers that can add value in their overall performance and keep them competitive. Factors for Success A Good Brand Image Since cars are high end products, they are associated with good amount of spending and their inherent nature and use is highly related to once own safety that why the decision making process of buying car is complex, involves lots of considerations by buyer and that is why this decision is dependent upon opinions of others as well. This is where a good brand image is required by companies to stay in the market, to win the trust of users and be the car of choice, unless you dont win the trust of consumers, you can stay in the market; its critical and vital to have a good and positive brand image in this industry(Bartlett, and Ghoshal1989). Efficient Channel of Distribution Cars are sold via third party, there is not direct consumer contact of company, that is why companies rely on a good channel of distribution to help them gain confidence and help consumer to have confidence in their product, while buying a car, consumers are also dependent upon opinions of dealers, if they are not knowledgeable and unable to transfer a good image of companies product to user then they are not going to buy. Other side of distribution network is related to supply chain and assembly line, a successful automotive company requires an efficiently managed channel of their vendor who can provide them with timely and quality parts and services(Freyssenet, Shimizu Volpato ,2002). Management of Cash Flow A healthy cash flow management is also vital and one of the key success factors to stay in this industry, since these companies have to give discounts, financing options and also need to manage their plan and other operational cost, a good, effectively managed and timely available cash flow is very necessary to sustain their position in the market (Bordenave and Lung,2000). Compliance with Local and International Standards This is also an equally important factor that their product should comply with local and international standards of safety and fuel consumption, this may initially seems to increase costs, but in the longer run this factor comes to pay back in shape of increased confidence by the consumer, a positive word of mouth that is hard to achieve in these days, and it also reduces the cost of maintenance and governmental handling. It is wise to spend on standards then to spend on additional cost incurred by any maintenance recall, which has been the case with Toyota recently when they had to call back a good amount of vehicle and that resulted in huge amount in terms of cost and bad image (Bordenave and Lung,2000). Being Flexible to Changing Needs Thats difficult but important to stay in modern day business, there has been the time customer needs regarding vehicles were not dynamically changing and companies could work with same models for longer period of time, but now things are more difficult, consumer are more demanding and their need regarding cars are changing more rapidly and new need are more diverse, now in order to stay competitive in business car manufacturers have to be flexible enough to manage and incorporate increasing demand and changing needs in their products. This will increase cost but this is one of the key success factors for new age automotive industry (Freyssenet, Shimizu Volpato, 2002). Efficient Production Todays need is efficient production, this can be achieved by streamlining their production activities in way that costs are low and production standards are not compromised, TQM or JIT can be solution for that and Toyota has been successfully implementing both of management concepts in their production line. Whatever the solution is the base is to get most efficient production in order to stay competitive, yes quality is not to be compromised and standards are to be maintained. Production efficiency alone can serve as competitive advantage in todays world (The Economist, 2005). Cost Planning High profit margins not only comes from high sales but also from well planned cost structures, as commented above efficient production along with a good channel of distribution can lower costs. Without being able to control and minimizing cost, modern day auto producers cannot win the game, due to intense competition and increased customer demands, globalization challenges profit margins are squeezing, without having effective cost management system it will hard for any organization to gain profits in these turbulent times(The Economist, 2005). Organizational Size Management Above mentioned cost management cannot be achieved unless there is no organizational size management. This is vital and critical to keep an eye on the size of the organization, as mentioned in the case now companies has to lay off plants and their employees in order to control their costs, any organization that is not able better manage their size will be victim of their own size, along with size there needs to have a look on the structure, high hierarchies are not applicable in todays business world, this is the time to empower people and give them decision making power, this saves cost in terms of number of people and managements time, and also provide the competitive edge of better and timely decision making(Buckley, Casson, 1976). Joint Ventures and Mergers To better serve the market and to get most out of it, todays need is to win the business with joint ventures and mergers, there are many benefits of such activities, for example mergers brings many brands under one umbrella and provides the positive image about the organization as big company and enhance the confidence, it also helps in better management of brand, since local management is involved in managing local brand they can better handle them as per consumer psychology and help the parent company to get the desired image(Bartlett, and Ghoshal1989). These joint ventures and merger also serve as a chance for knowledge sharing and getting more strength from each other positive aspects, modern day automotive industry would require big companies to explore new opportunities like these. Un-served Markets New emerging economies like India and China need more attention by the global players, anyone who will be able to exploit these markets before their competitors will be able to enjoy customer loyalty and first movers advantage, there few un-served markets that are emerging and can turn out a good opportunities for global suppliers. There is another dimension of these phenomena, global players not matter how big they are need to maintain and create their own niche, their own market that is not served by any other, such small niches can generate more profits and win more loyalty by consumers, along with their main business there should also be some small niches to serve the cause (Bartlett, and Ghoshal1989). Focused Strategy Focused strategy is relevant in every industry and same is the case with automotive industry, whatever strategy in place, it should be focused and relevant. Top managements commitment with strategy is very crucial, unless there is no strategic focus no organization can compete in new global environment. Todays environment is more dynamic and demanding that is why it requires more concentration, focus and commitment from the top management. Toyota has been a very good example for their strategic focus on making hybrid car, since Honda and Toyota were unable to compete in luxury cars; they decided to have focus on hybrid cars that strategy worked for them (Buckley, Casson, 1976). Ford, 2000 Globalization Plan In 1994 ford announced its 2000 globalization plan, that was in direction of their globalization strategy, that strategy focused on having global business standards and rather than having multi domestic presence. This strategy focused on unifying every aspect of the business to standardization such as marketing, sales, production, research and development and design. This strategy paid them as shown by their financial result and improved companys performance during the period of 1994-2004. There are several reasons behind adopting this strategy; we shall discuss them one by one here. Saving Costs By the time ford announced its 2000 globalization plan, their operational costs were high and they were not making profit as their sales were not high and their cost were increasing, so the main objective in announcing that plan was to save costs, by creating synergies in different geographical locations and plants and making shift from strategy of adaptation to standardization. This plan saved them money in term of cost saving and helped increase their profits. By unifying business operations they were able to achieve economies of scale and economies of scope. This was the main reason of launching that program (Freyssenet, Shimizu Volpato ,2002). Operational Excellence Different plant operating on different locations were producing without having any synergy, at that point in time Fords different plants were acting as silos, and there was no synergy among them, another reason on launching 2000 globalization program was to achieve operational excellence by creating synergy among different production housed so that they can achieve the best and provide the competitive advantage. Since Ford was acquiring other automotive companies like Volvo, that globalization plan was a great opportunity for them to learn from others experiences and ring together best practices to achieve excellent operational management and Ford was successful in doing that. RD of Design At the time when Ford was about to announce 2000 globalization plan, there were different design and RD teams were working in different geographical regions and on different projects. Another objective of announcing that program was to create standardization in design, at that time for one Ford brand two separate cars were used to produce for USA and Europe market, both different in design and performance, on the other hand Toyota was already in standardization strategy (Freyssenet, Shimizu Volpato ,2002). By adopting the strategy of combined design they saved the cost of research and development, design and different assembly lines. Another objective related to design was, that different stake holders like design, research, development, operations, marketing and parts suppliers should work together so that whatever is designed should be workable, marketable and efficient, this strategy alone helped save the management time of reviewing different design proposal. Bargaining Power over Suppliers By unifying the designs, standardization of models, and globalization of production, Ford were able to have to have bargaining power over suppliers, and that bargaining power came with lower cost as they were in better positions to negotiate prices and terms. Since they were trying to produce the product that was standardized and there was no variation in the parts for different geographical areas, that is why were able to buy in bulk quantities and negotiate their terms with vendors, more over they were able to have access to innovation and new development by their suppliers before their competitors, that also suppose to give them competitive advantage, they in better position to incorporate developments in the industry and remain competitive. Sharing Knowledge Another rationale behind launching 2000 globalization plan was to make different SBUs/Silos to share knowledge, for example previously there were different RD departments working independently, without any coordination and sharing of knowledge, what one dept have produced and innovate the other counterpart might not be aware of. That situation was critical and causing costs, after 2000 globalization plan, every department was suppose to work together in as single entity and share knowledge, this was suppose to save time and money. Same was the case with production dept, they were also supposing to share best practiced with each other so that overall organizational performance could be enhanced (Bordenave and Lung,2000). Marketing Strategy for Ford Ford has been market leader in automotive industry for last many years, after launching their 2000 globalization plan their performance has been impressive as of today they are again market leader in US and Europe. After analyzing the information provided in the case I have presented some components of marketing strategies that ford can adopt to sustain their position in coming years. Find New Markets For should start find new markets for its operations, India and other emerging economies are good opportunities as their penetration rates are high, entering into these markets will open many opportunities for Ford, these emerging economies are booming and can be served with good profit margins. Ford can also establish their plant in these areas to handle the entire region with effective supply chain management (Buckley, Casson, 1976). Since oil prices are increasing and there is a concern about oil reserves and production capacity, general shift towards small cars is increasing, Toyota, Suzuki and Honda along with many other are already in this segment. If Ford decides to expand they can also enter into this segment more aggressive as buying power of countries which are in emerging economies are low, they are more likely to buy a small car rather luxury cars. Ford with its good brand name if enters into these markets with small car segment which are more fuel efficient, can win the market before others (Bartlett, and Ghoshal1989). Find New Technologies As fuel concerns are rising for world, Ford should come up with new technologies of making car that are more innovative and fuel efficient, making electrical or solar power cars would not be a bad idea, if Ford is able to revolutionize the automotive industry with their innovative and efficient fuel solution they will be able to win the market like never before, entering into emerging economies with something new and innovative can be the big idea for success. Adapted Standardization Ford, after their success in 2000 globalization plan, should now start moving a little forward, they should keep on their standardization strategy but should include an element of adaptation in that, may be called adapted standardization. It has been observed that consumer needs are changing rapidly and their needs are becoming more diverse in nature; therefore there is a need of a bit flexibility and adaptability in automotive products depending upon the nature of the market. This way Ford will be able to stay one step ahead of competition, but to achieve that they will have to bring the flexibility in their systems and product development which necessary to shift at adapted standardization strategy. Build Brand in Asia Asia can be very attractive market for Ford, and their small cars, if they start investing in their brand in Asia and especially sub-continent they will be able to achieve greater penetration in the region, despite the fact that their main target market is US and Europe, they should also invest in brand building in Asia. Conclusion This case has been focusing Ford over all business strategy and their 2000 globalization plan, since the plan has been a successful move there are other factors that need to be kept in mind by Ford and other automotive players. Market dynamics are changing rapidly and there are certain key success factors that will play a vital role in deciding success or failure of any player in this industry, starting from a good brand image and cost management, going till strategic focus, there are several elements that are critical and vital for any company to be successful in this new market. There certain areas where Ford needs to concentrate in order to sustain its position as market leader in automotive industry, they should find new markets, make their strategy a bit more adaptive and enter into emerging economies, this way they shall be able to handle the rapidly changing business world.

The Deadly Ebola Virus :: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebola HF)

The Ebola Virus is the common name for several strains of virus, three of which are known to cause hemorrhagic fever in humans, which is characterized by massive bleeding and destruction of internal tissues. Named for the Ebola River in Zaire, Africa, where the virus was first identified, the Ebola virus belongs to the family Filoviridae. Three strains of Ebola virus that are often fatal to humans have been identified. Named for the areas in which the first recognized outbreaks took place, these strains are referred to as Ebola/Zaire (EBOZ), Ebola/Sudan (EBOS), and Ebola/Tai Forest (EBOT). A fourth Ebola strain, called Ebola/Reston(EBOR), has not been found to cause disease in humans. As outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever continue to occur, other strains may be identified. The viruses are long rods, 800 to 1000 nanometers (nm) long (1 nm equals one-billionth of a meter, or 4 x 10-8 in), but particles as long as 14,000 nm have been seen. Each virus consists of a coiled strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA) contained in an envelope derived from the host cell membrane that is covered with 7 nm spikes placed 10 nm apart visible on the surface of the virion (Figure 1). When magnified several thousand times by an electron microscope, these viruses have the appearance of long filaments or threads but the particles are pleomorphic, meaning they can exist in many shapes. Their basic structure is long and filamentious, essentially bacilliform, but the viruses often takes on a "U" shape (Figure 2). They contain a unique single-stranded molecule of noninfectious (negative sense ) RNA. The virus is composed of 7 polypeptides, a nucleoprotein, a glycoprotein, a polymerase and 4 other undesignated proteins. Proteins are produced from polyadenylated monocistronic mRNA a species transcribed from vi genomes. As the infection progresses the cytoplasm of the infected cell develops "prominent inclusion bodies" which contains the viral nucelocapsid, which will become highly structured. The virus then assembles, and buds off the host cell, attaining its lipoprotein coat from the infected cell's outer membrane. The replication in and destruction of the host cell is rapid and produces a large number of viruses budding from the cell membrane. Symptoms Cases of Ebola have occurred in isolated instances and in outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa. A significant problem in diagnosing the disease is that the viruses often strike in remote areas of developing countries, where access to laboratories for specimen analysis is limited. Of all the Ebola strains, Ebola/Zaire is the most dramatic and deadly. The Ebola virus causes hemorrhagic fever, which is characterized by such symptoms as severe headache, weakness, and muscle aches, followed by vomiting,

Bata Shoes Ltd Case study Essay

how has Bata interacted with foreign political systems Question 1 Following the First world War the Austro-Hungarian empire was fragmented into Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Yugoslavia. During this period the Czechoslovakian state was conceived as a parliamentary democracy, with the constitution of 1920 giving the central government a high degree of control over local government. Czechoslovakia, in particular, saw rapid economic growth during the 1920 brought about by foreign investment and advances in manufacturing technology. The country proved particularly tempting for foreign investors such as the British, French, Belgian and Dutch due to low labour costs and readily available natural resources. Only in the shoe industry the foreign capital played no important role. Thanks to a monopoly position of Bata Works Czechoslovakia held the first place among the world’s leading shoe exporters in 1930’s after overtaking Great Britain and the USA. In 1938 interference by Hitler resulted in the old Slovak and Ruthenian demands for autonomy finally been granted. Czechoslovakia was deprived of one third of its territory containing some of its most important industrial centres and most fertile farm-land, leaving the country economically crippled. Following this Bata realised his business did not have good future prospects if it were to remain in Czechoslovakia. He sought to continue operations and preserve the business by moving to Canada as the country was viewed as a safer operating environment, both economically and politically. Bata move to Canada, along with one hundred of his staff and families, would see the company and its workers having to adapt to operations in a different political system to Czechoslovakia, the first of many adaptations they would have to make as the company expanded across the globe. The relocation in Canada was a big change for Bata, as the government there gives significant political power to the provinces which each have their own  trade barriers. This is a big contrast to Czechoslovakia, where the central government has great power over the provinces. However, Canada was seen as very politically and economically stable in comparison to Czechoslovakia despite the political differences mentioned above. With operations in over 60 countries across the world, Bata Limited runs as a decentralised operation in order to allow its managers to adjust operating procedures to local environments. However tight control of Bata’s core philosophies and strategies are in place, even though these may be different from that of the country the operation is in and the managers and workers employed there. This could potentially cause problems if pursued too rigorously. However, the text states that Bata does interact with foreign political systems with Thomas G. Bata travelling extensively to check on quality control and to ensure good relations with the governments of the countries in which Bata operates. This interaction is particularly important as I feel Bata offers a number of key benefits to many of the countries it chooses to invest in such as increased economic stability due to their labour intensive operations and policy of purchasing materials locally. The countries Bata operates in vary in the amount of political and economic freedom they offer to their citizens and companies operating there. The case states that Bata does not won 100 percent of the factories it has in some countries. It appears that Bata prefer to own 100 percent of their factories, but are willing to compromise if the political situation requires. This includes taking minority ownership, or in some cases providing licensing, consulting and technical assistance where it does not have an equity interest in a country. Bata seem to work this policy well as they have the flexibility to cope with these different operating environments. I believe this is a sensible policy as it allows Bata intrusion into markets that may become freer and more prosperous in the future. Bata serves its markets by producing in each market all it will sell there. It will buy raw materials locally and achieves economies of scale due to its processes being very labour intensive. One may suggest that the lack of  exports would make Bata a less attractive prospect for the host countries as little outside money is feeding into the economy. However, since operations are labour intensive there will be a great benefit from the job opportunities created. The main issue that causes problems to arise in some countries is if raw materials are imported into the countries in question rather than being brought locally. In such cases the case states that Bata â€Å"must adjust to local laws and requirements for operation†. However, by normally buying raw materials within the countries Bata operates in it appears to work well with the governments concerned. The main driving force behind Bata choosing not to export goods is the security that operating domestically brings, such as the avoidance of problems associated with exporting like if an importing country were to restrict trade. Bata obviously feels that stability is of key importance to its strategy, particularly in many of the less economically developed areas in which it operates. In these countries there are not the laws to protect workers rights and safeguard income in times of unemployment, so if a factory were to close the effect would be very hard hitting to the workers and would potentially ruin Bata’s political relations permanently. Bata operates in countries with varying degrees of freedom. Tom Bata Snr. prefers to operate in democratic countries as these offer the chance to discuss issues, whereas totalitarian regimes do not. However, Bata have still operated under some Totalitarian regimes such as South Africa, Chile and Uganda. In Uganda Bata has had its operations nationalised and de-nationalised twice while operating under a violent and repressive regime that saw the expulsion of many skilled foreigners. Bata took the view that people would still need jobs and shoes whatever political system they were living under, a similar view that has been expressed recently by many people talking about Iraq. Therefore operations would continue. Bata benefited as the way it operated fitted in with the Ugandan governments policy of becoming more self sufficient, rather than relying on imports. This is because Bata obtained its raw materials from with the country and offered the stability of selling  in their home market. Bata also helped the government with a second policy that aimed to promote links between agriculture and industry, with the raw materials coming from rural areas. The continued presence of Bata in Uganda, despite the expulsion of many foreign workers, reinforces its faith in local workforce, which in turn helped build trust. By fitting in with these policies Bata was able to operate in Uganda while many other companies were forced to leave, and benefit from a 98% share of the shoe market. Bata followed a similar model in Chile where Pinochet ruled the country for a period of time while the company operated there. Again Bata saw no need to leave to country as it viewed its investment there to be long term, in which time various political systems would come and go, but people would always need jobs and shoes. Many of the benefits offered by Bata to Uganda were also of benefit to the Chilean government and people. The regimes in both Uganda and Penochet Chile both suffered from poor human rights records. Bata was therefore put under some pressure to withdraw from these countries by various parties including governments and international organisations. However, Bata was always able to argue that it had been in the countries far longer than the regimes in place and had seen many come and go. Its simple reason for being there was the fact that people needed shoes, and it was in a good position of providing this basic need. South Africa caused far greater problems for Bata. Here the same type of extreme regime was seen as in countries such Uganda and Chile. The difference for Bata was that South Africa attracted far more public attention across the globe. The Canadian government took a very negative view of Canadian countries having interests in South Africa. Maybe more importantly public opinion and knowledge about the regime in South Africa were to have a big effect on the company. Bata possibly realised that if it continued to operate in South Africa it would risk alienating itself from its consumers in countries such as Canada and the US and set itself up for ridicule by the large number of international organisations opposed to apartheid. In this situation it was important for Bata to interact with the various political systems involved to withdraw operations from South Africa while causing minimum disruption. It sold its holding in South Africa in 1986. It did not identify the buyer or the sales price, and it denied that apartheid was the reason for its pulling out, citing that all factors had been taken into account with respect to its investment. Bata ensured that the Bata name and trademark could not be used by the buyer and that the jobs of the workers in its plants would be preserved. Why they now operate in Czech Rep, but not Slovakia. Question 2 Czechoslovakia has being subject to turbulent time in the period following World War II. With the advent of communist rule countries were often formed from different ethnic groups held together by totalitarian rule, as was the case here. The break-up of the communist bloc in 1989 resulted in the disintegration of countries such as Czechoslovakia, that would be split into two independent nations; The Czech Republic and Slovakia. The fact that both of these countries are now free from communist rule does not necessarily mean that they are free. Freedom House is an organisation that monitors the political rights and civil liberties of countries around the world and rank them to the degree that freedom exists. Below is a summary of the assessment they give to the Czech republic and Slovakia. Since 1972, Freedom House has published an annual assessment of state state of freedom by assigning each country and territory the status of â€Å"Free,† â€Å"Partly Free,† or â€Å"Not Free† by averaging their political rights and civil liberties ratings. Countries whose combined averages for political rights and for civil liberties fall between 1.0 and 2.5 are designated â€Å"free†; between 3.0 and 5.5. artly free? and between 5.5 and 7.0 ot free.? As we can see from the chart above, both countries are now considered politically free. However, economically Slovakia still lags behind the Czech Republic. It has being politically free for less time and lacks consistency in the freedom scores it achieves, suggesting that the political system may be subject to some instability. Bata express concern relating to Slovakia not being economically free in the case. As The Czech Republic is clearly further along in its progress to economic freedom than is Slovakia, Bata is likely to face considerably less government intervention in its business. Private property ownership and protection, property rights, and economic competition are likely to be more common in the Czech Republic making the operating environment more stable. In Slovakia, Bata is likely to face greater political risks. There is likely to be more political instability in Slovakia, usually an indicator that there is also a lack of economic freedom. It also appears from the case that Slovakia may not have a very positive attitude toward foreign investment, despite Bata roots in the region. Bata would benefit from investment in both the Czech republic and Slovakia. From a nostalgic point of view, Bata will be able to return to the home country. Bata will also gain access to large facilities and a huge market in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Czech Republic and Slovakia would also benefit from Bata’s investment themselves. They would gain access to Bata global design, production, and marketing expertise. They will be able to design better, more fashionable, and more reasonably priced shoes. The Czech Republic and Slovakia might be able to get Bata to invest significant capital into the plant to get it up to world-class standards. Bata will create new jobs for Czech and Slovakian workers, especially as the processes are quite labour intensive. Bata also has a policy of buying raw materials locally, benefiting the host countries economy as a whole. There are some disadvantages of investment for both parties too. Bata may be forced to pay compensation for its own plants if the company chooses to invest in Slovakia. There is also a slightly higher risk of political instability and economic restrictions in the country. There are also disadvantages for the countries involved. Bata may actually have better production processes than are currently employed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Therefore they may actually require less workers than are currently employed in the factories so workers would be made unemployed. Bata do not export goods so do not bring as much foreign capital into the country as maybe would be expected by a company of their size. Bata reentered the Czech Republic and not Slovakia because the two countries have very different economic environments. The Czech Republic is moving more quickly than Slovakia toward a free market system. Slovakia are also in dispute with Bata regarding the ownership of the companies former factories in the country. The Slovak government appear disinterested in helping to solve the problem by implementing new laws to make it very difficult for companies in the same situation as Bata to regain their former property without either reaching agreement with the new owners or by taking expensive  legal action. When looking at this evidence it looks advantageous for Bata not to seek to reinvest in Slovakia at present. Explain the current situation and relate to probable causes mentioned above The political environment can have a dramatic impact on the operations of a firm. For example managers in most western European countries may be accustomed to a stable political system and a relatively homogenous population. This is often not true in other countries. A political system integrates the parts of a society into a viable, functioning unit. Sometimes that is a very difficult task. A country political system influences how business is conducted domestically and internationally. The basic political ideologies of a country are the body of ideas, theories and aims that constitute a socio-political program. The ultimate test of any political system in its ability to hold a society together despite pressures from different ideologies tending to split it apart. History, culture, language, religion, geography and political ideologies help define national borders. Forms of government range from Democracy to Totalitarianism. Democracies usually have economic freedom and laws that safeguard individual and corporate rights and are often preferred by investors. The more developed democracies tend to have the following characteristics. Freedom in the areas of political rights and civil liberties are particularly important in democracies. These are measured by the organisation Freedom House using a number of indicating factors, and the results compiled to rank countries according to their degree of freedom. In 1998, 88 of the worlds countries were â€Å"free† and 50 were â€Å"not free†. Free countries are high in both political rights and civil liberties, whereas those countries who deny their citizens basic political rights and civil liberties are not free. In addition 53 countries were partly free, with limited political rights and civil liberties, often in the context of corruption, weak rule of law, ethnic strife or civil war. Despite the large proportion of countries claiming to operate democratic governments, many new democracies around the world are not yet stable with few political parties and corruption threatening the system’s survival. Examples include Indonesia and some countries from the former Soviet union. Businesses should be cautious when looking to invest in these areas. In contrast to democracies, totalitarian regimes offer far less political and economic freedom. Forms of totalitarianism include fascism (Mussolini Italy), authoritarianism (Chile under Pinochet), and communism. Communists believe in the equal distribution of wealth, which entails total government ownership and control of resources. Political systems have a great impact on management decisions. This includes political risk and government intervention in the economy. Political risk occurs when there is a possibility that the political climate in a foreign country will change in such a way that the operations of  international companies in that country will deteriorate. Types of political risk include government takeovers of property, operating restrictions, and agitation that damage the company performance. Such problems can be caused by changing opinions of political leadership, civil disorder, and changes in external relations (such as animosity between the home and host country governments. We can see many examples of the above in the Bata case. The companies operations were taken over in Czechoslovakia with the advent of communist rule. They are subject to operating restrictions in several countries where they are not allowed to have 100 percent ownership of their plants. Animosity between the home Canadian government and the South African host government during the Apartheid era was a contributing factor that lead to Bata’s eventual withdrawal from South Africa. Civil disorder and strike action has affected the companies operations in several countries over the years. Government intervention in the economy occurs because some governments adopt an ndividualistic paradigm?and keep intervention in the economy at a minimum. Others adopt a ommunitarian paradigm?wherein the government plays a larger role in the economy. They thrive on a respected, centralised bureaucracy with a stable political party or coalition in power. If a U.S. firm moves from the United States (individualistic) to Germany, Japan, or South Korea (communitarian), it may have to develop new strategies for its relationships with government, suppliers, customers, and competitors. Bata show evidence of adapting to different environments as the case states that the company is â€Å"run as a decentralised operation in which its managers are free to adjust operating procedures to local environments†. This highlights how the company acknowledge the need to be flexible in order to fit in under varying restrictions depending where in the world they are. Stable democracies are usually seen as the safest operating environment for businesses. In the Bata case Tom Bata Snr states that he prefers a democratic system â€Å"a democracy offers the potential to discuss and change proceedings, whereas under totalitarianism it is sometimes wisest to remain silent†. However, one must remember that not all democracies operate in the same way. For example the degree to which citizens are involved in the  political process and the degree of centralised control. In the case Bata relocate from Czechoslovakia to Canada. Here the provinces have significant political power at expense of the federal government. Many provinces have their own trade barriers. Companies often have difficulty determining how to operate in decentralised democratic systems because they face many different laws and regulations. For example different tax laws. For this reason one assumes that Bata carefully chose exactly which state it would relocate to when it moved to Canada. Bibliography ?Kurian, George Thomas 1992. Encyclopedia of the Third World, fourth edition, volume III, Facts on File: New York, N.Y., pp. 2009-2011. ?Source: Byrnes, Rita M. (ed.) 1992. Uganda A Country Study, Library of Congress: Washington D.C. p. 123 ?The history of Slovakia (1929 – 1938) From Wall Street Crash to Munich http://www.adc.sk/english/slovakia/index.htm ?Skilling H. G. ed.: Czechoslovakia 1918-88. MacMillan Academic and Professional LTD., 1991. ?J.D. Daniels and L.H. Radebaugh, International Business, Environment and Operations, 9th Edition – 2001, Prentice Hall. Ch 3 ?D. Holt and K. Wiggington, International Business, Second Edition ?2002, Harcourt College Publishers, Ch 3 ?Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org/ ?R. Griffin and M. Pustay, International Business, A managerial perspective, Third Edition ?2002, Prentice Hall