Liberty and Equality Essay

The principles of liberty and equality are what led America to be the great country it is today. Those terms would not be as meaningful if Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and many other founders of our country did not embrace those ideas and adopt them from the Europeans. The strong belief in liberty and equality led this nation to adhere to those standards set by the great leaders above. Without liberty, equality, and those who fought for the pursuit of these ideals, life in America would not be the same. The great leaders who helped bring liberty and equality to America did not create these concepts; they were adopted from the European countries that were also fighting for equality and liberty. William Russell claims that the idea was not formed in America. He states, â€Å"The climate of America did not breed liberty, nor did its geography foster equality† (Russell 55). Even though the idea might not have come from Thomas Jefferson himself, he was stil l instrumental in the formation of American values and the implementation of democratic ideals in America. Jefferson strongly believed that every citizen deserved to be equal. He did not like the fact that some people had more rights than others, because this implied that not everyone in America was the same. Jefferson had the perfect opportunity to express his feeling and he did; when he helped draft the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wanted to make sure that no group’s rights were limited. Jefferson also highlighted the importance of everyone’s ability to pursue their own ambitions, by stating that we all possess â€Å"unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness† (The Declaration 7). This statement has become iconic because of its message—anyone can and should be able to follow their dreams. This step was crucial in the formation of America’s democracy. Similarly, George Washington upheld the values of liberty and equality by citing views comparable to Jefferson’s. Washington strengthened his argument when he included the notion of God’s involvement in the success and the happiness of  the people in America. In his First Inaugural Address, he expresses to the people that the Almighty Being has the power and the will to heal all defected humans and to bring happiness to every human being in this country. Washington asks that God’s â€Å"Benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people in the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes† (First Inauguration 44). Washington believed in the importance of God in guiding citizens toward a thriving government and nation, which he believed would lead to the happiness of the American people. He states the significance of sticking to rules placed by the Almighty, because the nation that follows the rules of Heaven will receive smiles. Like Washington, Abraham Lincoln also felt that God was an influential Almighty Being, who could help America meet its longtime goals of Liberty and Equality. Lincoln wanted everyone—from the slaves to the slave owners—to be in an equal nation under God. He expressed these thoughts in the â€Å"The Gettysburg Address.† In this speech, he explains that the current Civil War was being fought to preserve the idea of total equality, and to abolish the institution of slavery. Lincoln states that the nation under God â€Å"Shall have a new birth of freedom† (Gettysburg 93). The war’s purpose, to settle a longstanding dispute between the North and the South, evolved from Lincoln’s desire to rid the nation of slavery. Both Washington and Lincoln believed everyone—including African Americans, women, and any other marginalized group—had the right to freedom. Likewise, Henry David Thoreau’s essay â€Å"Civil Disobedience† exp resses his thoughts and feelings about laws set by the government. Thoreau explains the role of liberty and equality in America differently than Washington and Lincoln. He decides against using God as a persuasive tool. Instead, he encourages people to stand up to the government and disobey the laws they feel are denying justice to certain people. Thoreau believed that to fight a law in a â€Å"civil† way, you must â€Å"Cast your whole vote, not a stripe of paper merely, but your whole influence† (Civil Disobedience 9). He suggests that if one person expresses his or her idea of justice, more people may speak up and fight back. He believed this would lead to the government’s forced compliance with more just acts of liberty and equality. Martin Luther King Jr. took Thoreau’s ideas to heart. He very famously stood up to laws he believed were unjust during the Civil Rights movement. He fought a very long  time to bring a greater level of equality to Ameri ca, especially for African American people. King felt that liberty and equality had been denied too long for African Americans. He expresses that thought in a letter from his jail cell in Birmingham. King writes, â€Å"We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights† (King Web). King’s frustration led him to believe that his best option was what Thoreau describes: civil disobedience. Ultimately, King’s pursuit of liberty and equality proved incredibly worthwhile; his acts of civil disobedience changed the landscape of American culture. Throughout history, America has had great leaders of all backgrounds and religions. This diversity has strengthened our desire and pursuit of equality and liberty for all. Each great leader, writer, and thinker has contributed to the molding of America as a democratic land. Each person encouraged others to contribute to their cause, resulting in a country where liberty and equality have truly become a group effort. Works Cited Jefferson, Thomas. â€Å"Declaration Of Independence.† The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History, 1775-1865. Ed. John Grafton. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2000. 5-9. Print. King, Martin L., Jr. â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.].† Letter. 16 Apr. 1963.Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]. University of Pennsylvania, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. . Lincoln, Abraham. â€Å"The Gettysburg Address.† 1863. The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History, 1775-1865. Ed. John Grafton. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2000. 92-93. Print. Thoreau, H. D. â€Å"Civil disobedience.† Civil disobedience, and other essays (pp. 1-18). New York: Dover Publications. Print. (Original work published 1849) Russell, William Fletcher. Liberty vs. Equality. New York: Macmillan, 1936. 54-55. Print. Washington, George. â€Å"George Washington: First Inauguration Address.† The Declaration of In dependence and Other Great Documents of American History, 1775-1865. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2000. 43-46. Print.

The Concept Of Agency Theory Recognizes There Are Fundamental Differences Accounting Essay

IntroductionAn bureau relationship is a contract under which one or more individuals ( the principal ( s ) ) engage another individual ( the agent ) to execute some service on their behalf which involves deputing some determination doing authorization to the agent ( Jensen and Meckling, 1976 ) . If both parties to the association are public-service corporation maximizers and they may hold different purposes and aims, it is inevitable that the agent will non ever move in the best involvements of the principal. The construct of bureau theory originated from the work of Adolf Augustus Berle and Gardiner Coit Means, who were discoursing the issues of the agent and rule every bit early as 1932. Berle and Means explored the constructs of bureau and their applications toward the development of big corporations. Michael C. Jensen and William Meckling shaped the work of Berle and Means in the context of the risk-sharing research popular in the 1960s and '70s to develop bureau theory as a formal construct. Jensen and Meckling formed a school of idea reasoning that corporations are structured to minimise the costs of acquiring agents to follow the way and involvements of the principals. ( Renee O'Farrell, 2010 ) The construct of bureau theory recognizes there are cardinal differences in how stockholders, directors, and even bondholders interpret their several relationships to an organisation. While they may portion some common ends and aims, there is the possible for at least some aims to emerge that are focused more on single enrichment than on the wellbeing of the whole ( Kleiman, 2010 ) . For illustration, directors may be more focussed on constructing a repute for themselves, perchance making their ain power bases within the construction of the larger organisations. Stockholders may go more focussed on gaining dividends now and less on the hereafter of the concern. Bondholders may be concerned merely with the undertaking associated with the bond issue, and lose sight of how the overall stableness of the company can hold a negative impact on the return earned from that bond ( Kleiman, 2010 ) .Contribution of bureau theory to the development of accountingCurrent mainstream accounting resea rch is based extensively on economic theoretical accounts of bureau that represent he runing company ( house ) directors â€Å" agent † and the single investors â€Å" chief † . This chief agent theoretical account has besides been implicitly adopted in the ordinance of accounting, which focuses on the demands and public assistance of a diverse group of single investors who entrust their wealth to the control of director. ( Bricker, Chandar 1998 ) Accounting plays an of import function as a critical portion of the contracts that define a house. For illustration, imparting agreements between a house and its creditors frequently contain several accounting based compacts. Accounting-based fillip programs are often a constituent of executive compensation programs. Accounting steps are normally used in the public presentation rating of a house ‘s cost and net income centres. ( Bricker, Chandar 1998 ) The construct of Positive Accounting Theory has emerged, in recent old ages, which is based on the theory of bureau. It focuses on the relationships between the assorted persons involved in supplying resources to an organisation and how accounting is used to help in the operation of these relationships. While normative theories tend to urge what should be done. When decision-making authorization is delegated, this can take to some loss of efficiency and consequent costs. For illustration, if the proprietor ( chief ) delegates decision-making authorization to a director ( agent ) it is possible that the director may non work every bit difficult as would the proprietor, given that the director might non portion straight in the consequences of the organisation. Any possible loss of net incomes brought approximately by the director underperforming is considered to be a cost that consequences from the decision-making deputation within this bureau relationship – an bureau cost. The bureau costs that arise as a consequence of deputing decision-making authorization from the proprietor to the director are referred to in Positive Accounting Theory as bureau costs of equity. ( http: //www.download-it.org/free_files/Pages % 20from % 20Chapter % 207 % 20Positive % 20Accounting % 20Theory-d0385ad3b7925717c0b72a06b16de4f4.pdf ) Positive Accounting Theory, as developed by Watts and Zimmerman and others, is based on the cardinal economics-based premise that all persons ‘ action is driven by opportunism and that persons will ever move in an timeserving mode to the extent that the actions will increase their wealth. Impressions of trueness, morality and the similar are non incorporated in the theory ( as they typically are non incorporated in other accounting or economic theories ) . Given an premise that self-interest thrusts all single actions, Positive Accounting Theory predicts that organisations will seek to set in topographic point mechanisms that align the involvements of the directors of the house ( the agents ) with the involvements of the proprietors of the house ( the principals ) . ( http: //www.download-it.org/free_files/Pages % 20from % 20Chapter % 207 % 20Positive % 20Accounting % 20Theory-d0385ad3b7925717c0b72a06b16de4f4.pdf ) Some of these methods of alining involvements will be based on the end product of the accounting system ( such as supplying the director with a portion of the organisation ‘s net incomes ) . Where such accounting based ‘alignment mechanisms ‘ are in topographic point, there will be a demand for fiscal statements to be produced. Directors are predicted to ‘bond ‘ themselves to fix these fiscal statements. This is dearly-won in itself, and in Positive Accounting Theory would be referred to as a ‘bonding cost ‘ . If we assume that directors ( agents ) will be responsible for fixing the fiscal statements, so Positive Accounting Theory besides would foretell that there would be a demand for those statements to be audited or monitored, otherwise agents would, presuming opportunism, seek to exaggerate net incomes, thereby increasing their absolute portion of net incomes. ( http: //www.download-it.org/free_files/Pages % 20from % 20Chapter % 207 % 20P ositive % 20Accounting % 20Theory-d0385ad3b7925717c0b72a06b16de4f4.pdf )Agency Theory and Corporate GovernmentPersons are by and large taken to be preoccupied with Generally the basic unit of analysis is taken as the ‘individual ‘ who is preoccupied with maximizing or at least fulfilling their public-service corporation ; conceived typically in footings of a tradeoff between work and leisure. It is this blend of false independency and self-interested thrust that creates the jobs within bureau relationships. ( J Roberts, 2004 ) Using this construct to corporate administration, in effect of the separation of ownership and control, it is the stockholder who is taken as the ‘principal ‘ and the job is how the principal can do certain that his ‘agents ‘ – company managers – work for the fulfilment of stockholders involvements instead than their ain. The redresss to this construct of the bureau job within corporate administration involves the credence of certain ‘agency costs ‘ involved either in making incentives/sanctions that will aline executive ego involvement with the involvements of stockholders, or incurred in supervising executive behavior in order to restrain their self-interest. ( J Roberts, 2004 ) As these premises have been read onto corporate administration, and informed its reform in recent decennaries, they have resulted in what are now an about cosmopolitan set of techniques and patterns designed to command the behavior of executives both within the corporation and externally ( Walsh and Seward 1990 ) . Inside the company, boards have basically two agencies to exert control over executives ; they can fire them and they can give them incentives – portion options, long-run inducement programs. For these levers to work, nevertheless, boards must be populated with ‘independent ‘ non-executives who are willing and able to supervise executive public presentation, peculiarly where there are possible struggles of involvement. The growing and development of both the figure of non-executives on boards every bit good as the increased specification of their function and conditions of ‘independence has characterized board reform around the universe. The separa tion of the function of main executive from that of the non-executive president has been portion of this ; in the linguistic communication of Cadbury it is intended that this ensures that no 1 person has ‘unfettered ‘ powers of determination. The creative activity of audit, wage, and nominations commissions all staffed by independent non-executives, is besides common and ideally ensures both the proper usage of inducements and a high grade of monitoring of executive public presentation and decision-making. To these internal controls are added a scope of external controls. Foremost here has been the focal point on enhanced ‘disclosure ‘ , and the ‘transparency ‘ that this allows, chiefly of fiscal public presentation but late besides of societal and environmental public presentation ( Dissanike 1999, Zadek 2001 ) . The purpose is that the portion market is thereby better informed such that all relevant information is impacted into the share-price ( Fama 1980, Barker 1998 ) . There is besides a market for corporate control ( Cosh et al 1989, Robert 2004 ) that ideally allows for weak direction squads to be displaced by strong squads that will run companies to better consequence for stockholders. In recent old ages at least at a policy degree at that place has besides been concern that stockholders – in the signifier of the big institutional investors – taking on their duties as proprietors ( Myners, ISC 2002, Simpson and Charkham, Robert 2004 ) through exerting proper examination and influence both publically and through their private contacts with investors ( Roberts et al 2003, Robert 2004 ) .Covering with Agency Problems – Reward strategiesThere are two polar places for covering with shareholder-manager bureau struggles. At one extreme, the house ‘s directors are compensated wholly on the footing of stock monetary value alterations. In this instance, bureau costs will be low because directors have great inducements to maximise stockholder wealth ( Eugene and Jensen, 1985 ) . It would be highly hard, nevertheless, to engage gifted directors under these contractual footings because the house ‘s net incomes would be affected by economic events that are non under managerial control. At the other extreme, shareholders could supervise every managerial action, but this would be highly dearly-won and inefficient. The optimum solution lies between the extremes, where executive compensation is tied to public presentation, but some monitoring is besides undertaken. In add-on to monitoring, the undermentioned mechanisms encourage directors to move in stockholders ‘ involvements: performance-based inducement programs direct intercession by stockholders the menace of firing the menace of coup d'etat Most publically traded houses now employ public presentation portions, which are portions of stock given to executives on the footing of public presentations as defined by fiscal steps such as net incomes per portion, return on assets, return on equity, and stock monetary value alterations. If corporate public presentation is above the public presentation marks, the house ‘s directors earn more portions. If public presentation is below the mark, nevertheless, they receive less than 100 per centum of the portions. Incentive-based compensation programs, such as public presentation portions, are designed to fulfill two aims. First, they offer executives inducements to take actions that will heighten stockholder wealth. Second, these programs help companies pull and retain directors who have the assurance to put on the line their fiscal hereafter on their ain abilities-which should take to better public presentation wealth ( Eugene and Jensen, 1985 ) . An increasing per centum of common stock in corporate America is owned by institutional investors such as insurance companies, pension financess, and common financess ( Kleiman, 2010 ) . The institutional money directors have the clout, if they choose, to exercise considerable influence over a house ‘s operations. Institutional investors can act upon a house ‘s directors in two primary ways. First, they can run into with a house ‘s direction and offer suggestions sing the house ‘s operations. Second, institutional stockholders can patronize a proposal to be voted on at the one-year shareholders ‘ meeting, even if the proposal is opposed by direction. Although such shareholder-sponsored proposals are nonbinding and affect issues outside daily operations, the consequences of these ballots clearly influence direction sentiment. In the yesteryear, the likeliness of a big company ‘s direction being ousted by its shareholders was so distant that it posed small menace. This was true because the ownership of most houses was so widely distributed, and direction ‘s control over the vote mechanism so strong, that it was about impossible for heretical shareholders to obtain the necessary ballots required to take the directors ( Kleiman, 2010 ) . In recent old ages, nevertheless, the main executive officers at American Express Co. , General Motors Corp. , IBM, and Kmart have all resigned in the thick of institutional resistance and guess that their goings were associated with their companies ‘ hapless runing public presentation. Hostile coup d'etats, which occur when direction does non wish to sell the house, are most likely to develop when a house ‘s stock is undervalued comparative to its possible because of unequal direction ( Chen et al, 2006 ) . In a hostile coup d'etat, the senior directors of the acquired house are typically dismissed, and those who are retained lose the independency they had prior to the acquisition. The menace of a hostile coup d'etat subjects managerial behaviour and induces directors to try to maximise stockholder value ( Kleiman, 2010 ) . In the best instance scenario, bureau cost is managed in such a manner that the involvements of all parties is protected, and the organisation is able to boom as a consequence ( Tatum, 2010 ) . Even if the assorted types of costs or disbursals involved are identified, if the actions pursued to make a balanced divergency of control are non effectual, the organisation is extremely likely to endure, sometimes to the point of complete failure. When this occurs, the collective and personal ends and aims of directors, stockholders, and bondholders are all undermined to some extent, ensuing in losingss for everyone concerned ( Tatum, 2010 ) .

Aint No Makin It

In this paper I will explore some concepts that I saw that were prevalent in her undercover research. Weberian Sociology The first concept that I immediately grasped was Max Weber’s theory of stratification of equality. Weber’s view of stratification differed from the one-dimensional class theory of Karl Marx. Weber theorized that there are three different factors that help shape class formation, class status, and party. All but the latter of the three were evident in the book. The first notion of Weber’s notion on class stated that people with common occupations, earning approximately similar incomes, constitute a class. Marger p. 39) In each city that she worked in the living conditions and earnings were about the same, most of her coworkers had living arrangements that involved sharing housing with someone other than their spouse, if they had one. Another trait that was displayed from here coworkers in each city was the proximity of where they lived into relat ion to where they worked. Transportation plays a key role in life chances for people. If a person is mobile they may go for that higher paying job on the other side of town. Weber’s second theory of social stratification of inequality, status, was made evident while Barbara was working in Maine. While Barbara worked in Maine as a maid she noticed how convenience store clerks, who made $. 65 less than she made an hour, look at her and her coworkers as if they were beneath them. Another example of this was when she stated that everywhere she went people looked at the uniform and instantly regarded her and her coworkers as lower class citizens. People saw there green and yellow uniforms like the white and black stripes of a convict and that their style of life isn’t as good as people in their social class. One particular instance when she bought a beer from the grocery store she could feel the cold stares that implied that the reason she had that maid job was because all her money was going to support her alcohol habit; even though Barbara has a PH. D and probably made more money than many of them all they saw was a lower class citizen. Social Mobility Another sociological concept that prevalent of the working poor that was portrayed in the book was the theory of social mobility. It will be difficult for many of Barbara’s ex-coworkers to ever move into a different class because mobility rates in the U. S. have been on a decline over the past five decades. It is said in America that everyone can lace up their boots and pull themselves out of poverty but mobility is getting harder to accomplish. One factor of mobility is marriage; statistical data has said that women that never marry are 16% to 19% more likely to fall out of the middle class. Barbara worked with three females, Gail, Annette, and Marianne, who all fell into this statistic. Two of the three women lived with boyfriends but since they were not married it will be statically harder to make their way up the class ladder . Married women usually benefit from their husbands class and prestige; â€Å"shacking up† is not conducive to women making a climb up the ladder. Gender is another factor that hinders mobility; although the workplace has gotten better the fact still remains that women are still far behind men. In this system of inequality women have to work harder and are not usually respected as much as men. In lower paying jobs, like the ones Barbara worked, most of her coworkers were woman with a man being their immediate supervisor; the only exception was Linda which was her supervisor at the nursing home she worked at in Maine. This injustice to women played a major role in her life as an undercover journalist. Immigration to United States also dictates class mobility. Barbara worked with people from Haiti and the Czech Republic. The movement of immigrants moving up the class ladder is getting harder to accomplish. The lower paying jobs that they had were jobs that many Americans do not want to do but Americans blame the immigrants for taking â€Å"good† jobs away from naturalized citizens, which in all actuality the immigrates create as many jobs as they take. (Marger p. 34) The current trend is that Americans look at unskilled foreign citizens as a burden and hindrance to the economic growth to America. Americans forget that their great great grandfathers and great – great grandmothers came to this country looking for a better opportunity for their families and that they often had to jobs and work in conditions that most people did not want to work in. The lack of generational mobility was also displayed in the book. Social mobility can also be measured from one generation to another, how well the children of the previous generation do in their lives and workplace. I mentioned earlier that one of the women who Barbara worked with was unmarried, Annette, well she has another tribulation that will hinder her movement up the social ladder; she lives with her mom. Instead of creating upward mobility for herself and her family she has gone down, Annette’s mother worked as a postal clerk. The social mobility of Annette’s family took a vertical turn downward and it’s highly unlikely that her life chances will promote upward growth. Horatio Alger Jr. The mythical days of success stories portrayed in Horatio Alger Jr. s books are long gone. Horatio Alger Jr. wrote and published stories were young men were able to change their class system and life chances by working hard to gain economic and social success. (Marger p. 98) In his stories the young man always worked hard and had good moral values to make it out of poverty. This concept inspired workers back then but the farce of the books still apply in today’s society. One far ce of his books is that one can work harder only by working hard. A person can work hard all their lives and still not vertically move up the social ladder. One question that rises to me is what the definition of hard work is; is hard work physical, mental, and/or both. In the book Barbara worked so hard that she had to ingest a heap of ibuprofen pills just to make it through the day; the deterioration of her body showed that she worked hard but the fact remained that neither Barbara or her coworkers could not move up the corporate ladder in the companies that they worked at. Alger Jr. Books also portrayed young men as heroes, excluding women, minorities, and immigrants. Times have changed since his books were published; there are women, minorities, and immigrants in the modern workforce. These groups have entered the Caucasian male driven workforce to have the same opportunities of their white counterparts. Although in modern times the inequality of the groups has closed a meniscal amount each year those groups will never be the same across the board. Social Functions of Poverty The 2nd part of poverty, the political economy of capitalism, according to structural sociologist explains that poverty results from the way the economy and government operate. America is set to be a capitalistic society; in capitalistic society corporations profit first objective. Corporations decide where to do business and structure employment and employee hours to maximize profits. The inequality of these practices was blatant in every city that Barbara worked in. Barbara first victimized to this practice while working as a waitress at the Hearthside Diner. The diner did not have a break room for employees. The employees were not allowed to have idle time, there was always something to clean, resupply, or make more visually pleasing. The objective of this was to get the employees to work continuously through their shifts without breaks. The practice of this theory could also be seen while Barbara was working in Minnesota at Wal-Mart, the store had a policy that employees were not allowed to â€Å"time steal† ; all associates were told to always look for something to complete in the store. Wal-Mart also cross-trains it associates in different departments in order to be well-rounded; this is a capitalistic practice for validating not giving the employees a decent wage, if one employee has knowledge about many areas of the store then the company can maximize profits by just hiring one person to do the job instead of hiring more that are specialized in that particular section. A dentist is a doctor but I would not want the dentist to perform open heart surgery on me because the dentist is only specialized to work on teeth. The best way to explain our capitalistic society is to quote Gail, Barbara’s coworker and training partner in Florida, said it best â€Å"They don’t cut you no slack. You give and you give, and they take. †(Nickel and Dimed p. 22); because of these practices Gail vowed never to work for a corporation again. Economic Function of Poverty The 1st point of the economic function theory is that poor perform the dirty work of society because they have little choice to do other jobs. Barbara’s coworkers were unskilled laborers so their opportunities for better employment were limited to jobs that require service instead of a skilled job. Another example of this in book was the story of Isabelle. Isabelle was a coworker of Barbara in Minnesota that previously worked as a waitress; she worked at a high class restaurant but when the restaurant closed she had to work at Wal-Mart because the available high class restaurants would not hire her because of her age. The 2nd point of the economic function of poverty is that since poor people receive little wages that subsidize the rich and middle class. Over the past thirty years manufacturing jobs have been downsized or outsourced to other countries, most of the jobs in America now are service jobs. The jobs that Barbara worked at were all jobs that catered to servicing people’s needs and wants. The jobs that are offered to lower class citizens make the lives of the rich and middle class make life more â€Å"convenient†, the mind state of the rich and poor is I don’t want to do this so I can pay someone to do it for me. The rich and middle class in today’s society rely on the underprivileged to do the work. There is not a caste system in America with serfs, but the two share similar values. Slavery in Modern Form The modern system of slavery in America has transformed from owning people to controlling people through economic exploitation. One technique of corporations to control the lives of their employees to implement the practice of a pre-job drug screen; in today’s society companies want to know want their employees do in their personal lives. Although studies have shown that pre-employment testing does not lower turnover rates or absenteeism it is still a practice. I believe that employers should probe into the personal lives of their employees, what one does in their own time and not on the companies’ clock should not matter until it affects their performance on the job. Today’s society and companies assume that all lower class people do drugs that will hinder them from performing their jobs at an optimal level. The fact is that people from every class ingest drugs into their bodies; the drug cocaine is preferred by other classes because the drug does not remain in the body for an extended period of time. Barbara had to experience this form of slavery when she applied for a job at Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie in Minnesota. Barbara had to spend extra money on a detoxification drink that she did not really have, lower her sodium intake, and drink plenty of water to get marijuana out her system just to have employment at Wal-Mart. Another example of employers assuming that workers use drugs was in Florida; the manager of the Hearthside Diner, Stu, assumed that the George was stilling money for drug, but in fact it was him that stealing money from the cash registrar. Religion Karl Marx examined the relationship between religious values and its effects on the economy; he concluded that the two things are essentially the result of capitalism; one cannot exist without the other. Marx examined this and published a book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism which detailed the relationship between the two. Early protestant religious figures believed that working to acquire material success and wealth was an indicator that God chose that person to enter heaven and this believe is still practiced today. I believe that relationship to be true but do not believe in the philosophy behind it. Barbara visited a church tent revival in Maine and was preached on how Jesus gave up his life for the sins of his followers. I used to attend church regularly and I always wondered why the church would always ask for money to support different things within the church, tithing was pushed the most. Tithing requires that one give the church at least 10% of their income, if people work and can barely make it on the low wages they earn it astonishes me how they give money to the church every week. I also agree with Barbara’s notion that Jesus was a sociologist, Jesus worked spreading the word of God and performing miracles but he was never paid for doing them. Barbara also mentioned in the book that the churches were always the place to go when one is down on their luck or experiencing tough times; she noted that one of the first things people said was to get help at a church. Once again the church, because of people’s cultural values, is the center point focused on the poor. I believe that church reality wanted to end the poverty cycle and help people in poverty that the church would use their political power to stop poverty instead of lobbying in Congress to pass laws that hinder the poor. In conclusion Barbara Ehenreich’s book, Nickel and Dimed, had many sociological concepts within her travels from Florida, Maine, and finally Minnesota. The jobs low wage jobs she took to see how lower class people survive gave validity to many of the sociological concepts I have learned in this class. There are many other concepts that were evident in the book but the concepts of Weberian Sociology, Social Mobility, Horatio Alger Jr. , Social Functions of Poverty, Slavery in Modern Form, and Religion were instantly apparent . The book gave deeper insight on how lower class people survive from low wages and demeaning jobs to make higher class people’s lives better.

Telephony Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Telephony - Essay Example Over the years, the increasing development in the field of technology presents the capability of human beings to master over nature (Vergragt 2006, pp.1-3). Telephony represents that form of technology that allows easy and active interactions between different points through the availability of voice equipments. Telephone is the most commonly observed and used instrument of the technology of telephony. It provides interactive facilities to every residential house as well as in businesses. Telephones have also been associated with telephony switching systems and exchanges that are necessary for the processing of the calls occurring between two points. Developments have occurred over the years in telephony reflecting a shift from the initial local point to point connections to highly sophisticated connections in the modern world (What is Telephony 2012). The present study focuses on the origins, characteristics, and consequences of technological system considering the example of teleph ony. ... xtensive knowledge on the nature of sound that he applied in determining the possibility of passing multiple messages through at the same time through the same wire (Bellis 2012). The figure on the left presents one of the earliest telephones as invented by Graham Bell. The use of multiple telegraph had been suggested and tried earlier as well. However, with Bell’s application of a harmonic approach, the idea could be actually implemented. It was in the year 1878 that the first Bell telephone company was established. It is now known as the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T). In 1878, the first exchange of telephone was established in New Haven. Earlier the connections of the telephones had to be done in pairs. In the year 1889, the system of pay phone came into existence. Thereafter, with the advancements in the technology, the touch-tone phones, cordless phones, and mobile phones were developed (Bellis 2012). Characteristics of Telephony: The Technological System : The service of telephony or telecommunications is provided by an industry that includes different groups of people like the engineers, scientists and craftsmen. Telephone companies are either under the control of the government of a country or they may also be private in nature (Freeman 2004, p.1). Basic Telephony: The simple connection of the telephone as is most commonly known to the world is characterised by a device that is connected to other points across the world through use of pair of wires. The parts of such a telephone include a handset, a cradle, along with the signalling system that contains either dial or push buttons for making the connections. The handset is created with two electroacoustic transducers, the earpiece that acts as the receiver, and a mouthpiece that acts as the

ARE POLICE ABOVE THE LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ARE POLICE ABOVE THE LAW - Essay Example However, at the same time police are in the best position to be tempted by corruption, kickbacks, dealing in contraband, and covering up excessive force. While violating the law is not the norm for the vast majority of good officers that play by the rules, for those that don't the system and organization places them above the law. Police officers are in a position to abuse the law and will naturally take advantage of their position when the opportunity arises, and are in fact encouraged by the system to do so. According to Johnson and Cox, "Police officers are exposed to an extraordinary level of temptation in such areas as drug investigations" (70). As with any cross section of Americans, some people will be more prone to violate social values when there is an opportunity for economic gain. This factor is exacerbated by the fact that "little or no discipline is imposed when police officers witness fellow officers engaging in misconduct. As a result, public safety officers believe that it is acceptable to break the law or the rules of the department" (70). In many routine instances police officers, and the department, places their actions above the law. The police department not only provides the opportunity fo... Police are conditioned to form an unbreakable bond with their peers. As part of their training, "Police rookies are given the impression that they are under attack by the public and can only rely on one another" (Terrance and Cox 73). This carries over through generations and pervades the entire department. According to Terrance and Cox, "The problem is not a "few bad apples," but an organizational climate that molds new officers into thinking and doing as the organization wishes" (74). If the officer was honest when he or she entered the academy, by the time they hit the street they will encouraged to turn a blind eye to corruption and abuse. Incidents involving police misbehavior confirms the theory that when police are given a considerable opportunity to break the law they will take advantage of a system that will refuse to report or punish them. In 1998, Human Rights Watch reported that police brutality was a persistent problem in US law enforcement. They cited cases of "unjustified shootings, severe beatings, fatal chokings, and unnecessarily rough treatment" and while they represented a minority of the total officers they found that "law enforcement supervisors, as well as local and federal government leadership-often fail to act decisively to restrain or penalize such acts" (Police Brutality). Police officers that operate outside and above the law have become a growing national problem. Critics will argue that the public exposes the police to too much scrutiny and places unreasonable expectations on the officers. They will say that officers are often in life and death situations that call for immediate reactions and split second decisions. The heat of the moment can cause an officer to over-react, but should be considered

Origin and the Possible Effects in Health and Disease Term Paper

Origin and the Possible Effects in Health and Disease - Term Paper Example As the paper stresses scientific research shows that some bacteria existing in maternal guts could also be transferred to the breast milk in the latter periods of pregnancy in mothers and during lactation. This is through a process characterized by gut monocytes. It is consequently important to consider that during the latter stages of pregnancy or in the course lactation period, the alteration of the maternal microbiota system could be very significant in an infant’s health. Mammary dysbacteriosis, a condition of microbial imbalance, could lead to inflammation of the breast, hence causing mastitis. Such a condition could prompt for unanticipated weaning.This research paper highlights that  a significant amount of bacterial phylotypes usually found on human skin have also been shown to exist in breast milk. These include Propionibacteria and certain phylotypes of Corynebacteria. Consequently, the probability that the composition of breast milk microbiota could also be a fact or for the interactions with the maternal skin. Studies, however, have shown a difference in the genotypic variations between isolated lactobacilli present in the skin to that in the breast milk. The discovery has therefore led to the assertions of the unlikeliness of the speculation. It has however been shown that there exists a possibility that through the endogenous pathway, bacteria could reach the mammary glands from the maternal gut.

The Walter Family Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Walter Family - Case Study Example Catherine Walter, a self-proclaimed ‘depressed’ mother. The children are entitled to their basic needs and because there appeared to be a lack of provision in the Walter family, Mrs. Walter may indeed be guilty of neglecting her children. II. Major Issues of the Family The major problem of the family is that it does not have any dependable resources, let alone in the financial aspect. Although the lack of financial resources does not significantly qualify for a type of neglect, the Walter children are left exposed to possible substantial harm from the lack of food and a safe and clean dwelling place with no parent or any form of guardian to attend to their immediate needs. Mr. Walter abandoned his family without providing any essential aid (e.g. insurance) while Mrs. Walter admitted to have depressive symptoms which would give enough reason for the community CPS to take necessary action over the situation. Parental depression can cause a parent to divert her attention aw ay from her children (Jackson et al. 5). III. Needs of the Family The Walter family requires a good provider. ... Generally, the family needs economic and professional help from concerned social workers who could assist them. IV. Action Plan and Intervention Goals It is necessary that the alleged neglect of the Walter children by their mother, Mrs. Catherine Walter be determined properly. The community agency should know whether the treatment or intervention is favorable for the children and Mrs. Walter. Despite the fact that it’s the main duty of the community CPS to reduce the probable risks to a child, separating a child from his/her parent should be its last remaining option because doing so against the will of the family member concerned may have negative psychological effects to them especially when it is not necessary. In the following action plan, the persons directly involved during the treatment will be the Walter children, Mrs. Walter, physicians, pediatricians, social workers, child psychologists, and nutritional professionals who can detect victims of abuse or neglect. Intake /Initial Assessment/Investigation The Child Protective Services Agency must acquire credible evidence to substantiate the report of neglect (Depanfilis). Mrs. Walter should be properly and justifiably evaluated whether she could still provide the physiological and emotional needs of her children or not despite the fact that she admitted to undergoing depressive symptoms for it still unjust to opt for placement without due process of law (25). However, if it is the parent’s own choice to confine her children into a foster home instead, then she is already waiving her right as a responsible mother to her children. This recommended action will also determine whether statutory child protection is the best approach to the Walter family case.

Huffman Trucking Company Inc. Telephony Service Profiling Essay

Huffman Trucking Company Inc. Telephony Service Profiling - Essay Example To connect to an external number or to place an outside call a trunk access code is normally pressed like 0 for operator and overseas/ international calls, or 9 for local calls after which if given the tone you can dial your outside number directly. A department normally has 2 to 3 trunk lines based on call volume load and other specific criteria. Normal features includes forwarding, conferencing, call pick up groups, intercoms and transferring. In a telephone company, one has to pay separate for these features, but with PBX everything is already built in. A gateway is needed to communicate with others within the network. In some locations like MO in Saint Louis, New Jersey and Ohio office, they are already using an upgraded VOIP like a CISCO 10mb Hub. A Voice enabled talk switch model is used to integrate VOIP and handle the traditional telephone network. This uniquely connects your cell phones and any other telephones anywhere. They are remote extensions of this talk switch which connects your mobile and teleworkers. Limitation of the subscription is only for internal or within the company premises use. A switch of the least features afforded. We shall discuss this further in the recommendations later. The main idea is the opportunity cost we get from choosing PBX phone system over other regular phone system. With the estimates that it is 50% cheaper considering add on features, we can say PBX is already a good deal in terms of cost accounting measures. But choosing PBX of minimal cost and regular features may also cost more when it comes to consideration for the present connections and features upgrade especially if we talk of the present technology re PC based call integration applications. Disadvantages: There is a time delay incurred in routing calls from the central box to the trunk lines. Somehow if the customer knows the local number they aim to eliminate seconds of the delay by automatic elimination of an operator use. If we go on a recording voice first for the identification of local trunk lines, we tend to test the patience of our callers and of our best customers who would want trucking services that are literally fast movers in every sense of the word. Susceptibility to tapping is very liable when it comes to unguarded PBX installations. Disclosure of and unauthorized recording of information by eavesdropping from the central box and routing of address data made possible thru unauthorized access including data modifications. Emergency dial is not accessible. There is a big difference in using a PBX phone line than a regular phone line for it needs to be routed to the central box before it gets to access outside lines. II. Network Protocols A. Identifying Network Protocols On locations CA office and CA Plant, MO Plant, NJ Office, NJ Plant, OH Plant uses the TCP/IP protocols. For locations MO Office and OH Office uses both IPX/SPX and Apple-Talk. TCP means Transmission Control Protocol while IP means Internet Protocol. Nature of the application sends data in 8-bit data bytes to TCP. TCP then divides these bytes to smaller segments and pass thru IP to TCP module on the

Exam_4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exam_4 - Essay Example These components are applied in operational management allowing the management to access up-to-date data in real-time. Therefore, operational analytics offer an insight of the data within a data warehouse because it allows greater visibility of the various forms of data at a great speed (Turban, Sharda, Delen & King, 2010). OLAP (Online Analytic Processing) is the commonly used technique in data analysis employed within data warehouses driven by the increase in data volumes and the value of data-driven analytics in business. OLAP is also referred to as the capability to effectively manipulate and analyze data from various perspectives using its operational structure that relies in the concept known as cube. This concept has a multidimensional data structure that allows fast analysis of data because arrangement of data into cubes overcomes the limitations associated with relational databases (Turban, Sharda, Delen & King, 2010). KPI (Key Performance Indicator) represents a strategic objective and measures performance against a goal. KPIs are multidimensional and upon translation, this indicates that KPIs encompass various unique features. One of the distinguishing features includes strategy because KPIs embody a strategic objective. Moreover, KPIs measure performance against specific targets that are defined within the strategy, planning, or budget allowing the targets to take different forms like achievement targets, reduction targets and absolute targets among others. KPIs also have ranges because objectives have performance measures like above, on or below the target. Encoding in KPIs allow ranges to be encoded in software enabling the display of performance through colours like green, yellow and red based on percentages or other complex rules. Time frames in KPI mean that targets are assigned time frames within which they have to be accomplished; as well, the time frames are often divided into small int ervals to allow monitoring of performance

Personal Statement of Purpose for MA in Criminal Justice to Loyola

Of Purpose for MA in Criminal Justice to Loyola University of Chicago,IL - Personal Statement Example This foundation I suppose bears enormous impact on my decision to pursue further studies involving criminal justice system. Through my work as a manager of a commercial department back in Russia, I obtained profound realization of the immense worth there is in building people’s confidence at work. I used to supervise six people at this stage and treating each of them with fair amount of reward or sanction deserved became essential as it reminds every person that justice does exist. During my undergraduate years prior to this, I studied diligently and was also conscientious of taking academic details in account so that as early as this period I had already practiced even distribution of energy to each scholastic assigned task besides wise management of time. At school, I made sure that I could get my points across with adequacy in any aspect without offending the other party and in return, allowed others to be listened to sincerely. Such endeavor has not ceased to this age and even while I took up Management in Social Sphere which was another huge step in my learning to adjust with different kinds of people and value deep human relations where everyone is synergistically encouraged to express diverse opinions with respect to social matters that tap into politics and economy in general.

“The God That Sucked” by Thomas Frank Essay Example for Free

â€Å"The God That Sucked† by Thomas Frank Essay Thomas Frank wrote the article â€Å"The God That Sucked†. It would be no exaggeration to say that this article shocks, astonishes and makes people look on their lives differently. The god that sucked. Who is this god? Why did he suck? The god is the market. The rule of the life is to obey to the market, because it is something great, incomprehensible. The explanation why the market must rule is ‘globalization’. The market is spread throughout the world not leaving anything behind its borders. Every person is involved in the market and society cannot exist without it. It is like a whirlpool which sucks you in and will not let you go until it does not need you anymore. The market is a god of the whole humanity. In spite of everything, all his demands must be appeased. All the people must entrust their welfare to its hands. Why? Because it ‘decides’ who will become richer and who will become poorer. That’s the law of life. The market is called ‘god’ because ‘big bosses’ are praying to him to favour them. If people have any troubles in their lives, for example, lose their jobs because it is cheaper for the company to do their job somewhere else, or they don’t have health insurance, person realizes that god sucks. The market is the reason of rising prices and non-rising wages. But at the same time the market can not be held responsible for anything. â€Å"Smart† guys say that if something goes wrong, that only we are to blame. Due to the theological teaching, everybody has the choice and every step in the economics depends on it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One the one hand all this is merely a guess on my part but on the other hand not much explanation will be elicit the fact that all humanity is swallowed up by the market and none can escape from it. It is deplorable to confess that according to the laws of the market poor people become poorer and rich people become richer. This flow of ideas can easily lead to the conclusion that people become the slaves of the market and they cannot leave it. But those, who are the active part of the society can overcome it and achieve success not only in their career but also in their private lives. It is very difficult but possible to make the market the god that helps but not rules.

Internationalization Strategies: European Car Makers

Internationalization Strategies: European Car Makers The Automobile industry is one of the truly most global industries in the world today. The automobile has changed the lives, culture, and economy of the people and nations that manufacture and demand them. Ever since the late 1800s when the first modern car was invented by Benz and Daimler in Germany, the industry has grown into a billion dollar industry affecting so many aspects of our lives. It covers a global community catering needs which may be common among the entire community or specific to a particular community. Its challenging for the Managers and their companies to develop a strategy that outrun their competitors and serve their global customer base. Automotive Industry in Europe at a Glance The automotive industry is a major industry in the European economy involving a few vehicle manufacturing firms and about 2/3 of the production is outsourced to a substantial number of independent suppliers. The produce includes cars, light trucks and vans, buses and coaches, medium and heavy trucks, motorcycles and agricultural and forestry tractors. A lot of mergers and acquisitions have been the routine of the automotive industry. Currently DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen (VW), BMW, Ford Europe, General Motors (GM) Europe, Renault, PSA (Peugeot-Citroà «n), Fiat and Porsche comprise the main EU car industry. Beside them, there are a good number of small manufacturers apart from some Japanese manufacturers production facilities in the EU. The Internationalization strategies by European car makers The car industry as a whole is much internationalised as it is easy to do business in different parts of the world. To an extent, a lot of multinational corporations of the industry are heavily based in their domestic markets for several reasons, such as cheaper labour and creating jobs for the local inhabitants. When it comes to sales, the industry is perhaps more global, for example in the USA, one of the top three leading cars Toyota is a Japanese company that has much of its production facilities and technical development in Japan but according to Data monitor- industry profile. The internationalisation of the industry has a long history as the car industry itself is old and prolific. The American car industry is said to date back to 1908 when the first automobile was built. Internationalisation is slightly older and has been linked with the ending of world war two for the majority of developed countries; however it is a fairly newer concept in emerging markets. Institutional differences are apparent as many companies entered emerging markets, such as Ford, an American manufacturer, entered many emerging markets such as the Japanese and Chinese. There are still trade barriers in many parts of the world but not many affect the selling of cars. The speed of internationalisation depends on the country where the car originates. In more economically developed countries it makes sense that the speed of internalisation is fast and furious, for example many countries aspire to live life in the American lifestyle, therefore the sale of American cars in emerging markets occurs at a faster rate than the other way round. Although recent events suggest this is no longer true, as now Japanese cars are outselling American cars in the USA industry. Japanese internationalisation occurred at a slower rate at first but then it took off as soon as other continents industries slowed and so Japan were able to capitalise. Volkswagen- volume and diversity model (Boyer and Freyssenet, 1999) Toyota- Profit Strategy (Keeping the total cost low, no matter in what market they are operating) Honda practiced Profit Strategy based on innovation and flexibility. Producing models with distinct features and launching them quickly before the competitors could copy them Companies such as GM and Fiat have reactivated a strategy based on volume and diversity by increasing the commonalisation of platforms; by re-engineering their equipment-making subsidiaries in such a way as to regain control over the value chain; and by developing employee polyvalence. PSA tried to implement a strategy based on the permanent reduction, irrespective of output, of costs, but the French group had to abandon this orientation when its employees took industrial action, and it has reverted to its previous emphasis on volume and diversity. Ford, which had pursued the same line, shifted towards a volume based strategy, and tried to design and sell world cars, each of which with its own platform. Chrysler was at first unclear about the direction to take, but then made the decision to modify its profit strategy so as to emphasise innovation and flexibility .For Renault and Rover, quality became the top priority and each firm has tried to upgrade its market presence, repositioning itself in its segments top half. Renault subsequently focused on innovation, but has progressively discovered that such an approach would require the complete re-organisation of its corporate structures. (Boyer and Freyssenet, 1999) Geographical characteristics of Internationalisation About 20 yrs back one can argue that the automobile industry was just concentrated in U.S, Europe and Japan. But Due Globalisation and aggressive Internationalisation strategies used the manufactures, the market is moving towards the developing the economies. Due to recession and saturated market in U.S and Japan the more sales are happening in the developing economies. Within the EU the top five Automobile producing countries are Germany, France, Italy, Spain and U.K and in the world the top five are Japan, U.S, China, Germany and France. The European market is the largest markets in terms of production (33%) followed by Japan (20%). Though ACEA 2010 reports states that China will soon overtake Japan and the U.S in terms of Production and sales of Automobiles. The stats also shows that big markets that once accounted for most of the production and sales are now saturated and diminishing. Manufactures has now moved into the emerging economies to reap the high growth rate and economic conditions prevailing in many of these economies. An e.g. for this is the growing number of production and assembly plants in countries like Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South- Korea, Poland. Entry strategies by European carmakers The European drive into central Europe has been spearheaded by Volkswagen and Fiat, both of whom see the region as a vital part of their global strategies, even if managerial resources are being strained in an effort to obtain a return on investment. Eastern Europes market can be split into two distinct areas: the Central European Free Trade Area (CEFTA) consisting of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia and the rest. Naturally, it is the former that is attracting Western attention, especially as sales in the CEFTA are running at around 600,000 per annum and are likely to rise at 10 per cent a year for several years to come, with VW and Fiat each commanding 25 per cent of the market. Fiats main interest lies in Fiat Auto Poland which it acquired in 1992 through its purchase of Fabryka Samochodow Malolitrazowich (FSM) and since then has exported 50 per cent of output to Western European markets. At the time of purchase FSM was riddled with the inefficiencies comm only found in state-owned automakers in Central and Eastern Europe, but Fiat pledged to invest $2 billion in Poland by the year 2000, and part of this at the time of writing is being used to finance production of its Palio models which it hopes to sell worldwide. Turning to Russia, Fiat in 1997 embarked on an $850 million project with ZAO Nizhegorod Motors, owned by GAZ of Nizhy Novgorod to produce 150,000 Palio units a year. Fiat and ZAO each have 40 per cent of the equity with the remaining 20 per cent funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (JustAuto.co. 2000; Automotive News, 1996b). Volkswagen holdings in the East are due to its acquisition of Skoda and the taking over of former Trabant plants in the former East Germany. VW has already diversified and modernised Skodas model range and will use these to drive into emerging markets in the area, including Russia, Poland and Belarus. Despite the workforce being well educated and skilled, VW did not always find it easy to persuade Eastern workers to adapt to Western production methods and this is best illustrated in its former Trabant plant at Zwickau. The plant was modernised to produce the Polo and Golf models, but workers experienced severe cultural difficulties in adjusting to modern production methods despite being given extensive training. Building a Trabant involved considerable physical effort just to get the body parts to fit together and this gave a sense of achievement for the workers. Though modern technology and lean production methods removed the physical effort, it also took away the sense of pride and it took VW a considerable time to persuade the workforce of the virtues of modern technology. Nevertheless, both Fiat and VW are firmly installed in Eastern Europe and are about to be joined by Renault which has signed an agreement joining forces with the Moscow City Authorities to build cars in an old Moskvich plant. Of the European producers, VW and Fiat are clearly the most dominant in Eastern Europe and, provided resources are not overstretched, will probably gather a considerable harvest in the future compared to their rivals. But the European arms of both Ford and GM are moving in the same direction, too. Besides being established in Belarus and Poland, Ford has formed a joint venture with Bankirski Dom, near St Petersburg and GM have entered into a similar arrangement with AvtoVAZ at Togliatti, 1,000 kilometres south east of Moscow (Automotive News, 1996b). Finally, stretching beyond the frontiers of Eastern Europe, European firms are currently attempting to establish themselves in China. It was Peugeot that made the initial running when, in the early 1980s, it formed a joint venture in Guangzhou to produce its 404 and 505 models. Neither vehicle was suited to the Chinese market. They were too large, unsuitable for the roads and considered old fashioned by the Chinese when compared to other Western models. In the end, no more than 20,000 units were produced in any one year, and in 1998 Peugeot were forced to withdraw from the market. As Peugeot withered in the market, its other arm, Citroen, prospered in a new joint venture at Wuhan where a stripped down version of the ZX is produced in approximately 15,000 to 20,000 units per annum, a figure that will rise sharply in the coming years (Donnelly and Morris, 1997). Volkswagen by contrast have been far more successful in its joint ventures with the Shanghai Automobile Industrial Corporatio n and the First Auto Works at Changchun in Jilinn Province in the north east of the country. Since the mid-1980s, VW has produced its Santana model in China with frequent updating and has recently introduced its more modern Jetta, Passat and Bora models. These ventures have proved successful in that VW have roughly 50 per cent of the taxi market in China, but have yet to obtain any return on their capital as they, like other multinationals in other countries, have discovered the Chinese market is no crock of gold (Donnelly and Morris, 1997, JustAuto.co., 2000c). While other European firms such as Mercedes and Renault have signed declarations of intent with the Chinese and are waiting to see how the market develops, both Ford and GM have moved further down the road and have begun production at Changan and Guangzhou respectively. Similarly, Chinese hostility to Japanese producers has waned and both Suzuki and Toyota have begun to compete in the market. Current opinion is that the Chin ese market will grow steadily in the coming century and that it is better to enter this market in its infancy than to hesitate. The ball is firmly in the European court and firms must either gamble now on the prospects of return in the future or they might be too late. An outline of the main foreign market entry modes and An overview of the enterprise structures and controls used by firms Ford of Europe was founded in 1967 on a merger between the British and German divisions of the Ford Motor company. Founded in Detroit, Mich., in 1903 by Henry Ford and a group of investors, the company introduced the hugely successful Model T in 1908 and by 1923 was producing more than half of all U.S. automotive vehicles. Through the Lincoln Motor Co. (acquired in 1922), Ford produced luxury Lincolns and Continentals. After years of declining sales, the Model T was succeeded by the Model A in 1927; other companies such as General Motors took the opportunity to make serious inroads into Fords dominance. The company was reincorporated in 1919, with Ford and his family acquiring full ownership. Later acquisitions included Aston Martin and the Land Rover brand of sport utility vehicles. Ford also owns a significant share of the Mazda Motor Corp. Because of financial struggles at the beginning of the 21st century, the company sold off Aston Martin in 2007 and both Jaguar and Land Rover i n 2008. However, Ford occasionally outsells Toyota in shorter periods (most recently, during the summer months of 2009). As of 2008, Ford has become the second largest automaker in Europe (only behind Volkswagen), with sales that occasionally exceed those in the United States and large markets in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. ( PaddockTalk). Ford Motor Co bought into China as a quick and low-cost way of entering the market. In contrast to Chrysler and GMs JV approach in China, Ford chose to acquire 20% of Jiangling Motor, a relatively small local auto producer. This helped in establishing their presence much quicker than their competitors and removed most of the barriers their competitors were facing such as management control and conflict. The European drive into central Europe has been spearheaded by Volkswagen and Fiat, both of whom see the region as a vital part of their global strategies, even if managerial resources are being strained in an effort to obtain a return on investment. Eastern Europes market can be split into two distinct areas: the Central European Free Trade Area (CEFTA) consisting of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia and the rest. Naturally, it is the former that is attracting Western attention, especially as sales in the CEFTA are running at around 600,000 per annum and are likely to rise at 10 per cent a year for several years to come, with VW and Fiat each commanding 25 per cent of the market. Fiats main interest lies in Fiat Auto Poland which it acquired in 1992 through its purchase of Fabryka Samochodow Malolitrazowich (FSM) and since then has exported 50 per cent of output to Western European markets. At the time of purchase FSM was riddled with the inefficiencies comm only found in state-owned automakers in Central and Eastern Europe, but Fiat pledged to invest $2 billion in Poland by the year 2000, and part of this at the time of writing is being used to finance production of its Palio models which it hopes to sell worldwide. Turning to Russia, Fiat in 1997 embarked on an $850 million project with ZAO Nizhegorod Motors, owned by GAZ of Nizhy Novgorod to produce 150,000 Palio units a year. Fiat and ZAO each have 40 per cent of the equity with the remaining 20 per cent funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (JustAuto.co. 2000; Automotive News, 1996b). Volkswagen holdings in the East are due to its acquisition of Skoda and the taking over of former Trabant plants in the former East Germany. VW has already diversified and modernised Skodas model range and will use these to drive into emerging markets in the area, including Russia, Poland and Belarus. Despite the workforce being well educated and skilled, VW did not always find it easy to persuade Eastern workers to adapt to Western production methods and this is best illustrated in its former Trabant plant at Zwickau. The plant was modernised to produce the Polo and Golf models, but workers experienced severe cultural difficulties in adjusting to modern production methods despite being given extensive training. Building a Trabant involved considerable physical effort just to get the body parts to fit together and this gave a sense of achievement for the workers. Though modern technology and lean production methods removed the physical effort, it also took away the sense of pride and it took VW a considerable time to persuade the workforce of the virtues of modern technology. Nevertheless, both Fiat and VW are firmly installed in Eastern Europe and are about to be joined by Renault which has signed an agreement joining forces with the Moscow City Authorities to build cars in an old Moskvich plant. Of the European producers, VW and Fiat are clearly the most dominant in Eastern Europe and, provided resources are not overstretched, will probably gather a considerable harvest in the future compared to their rivals. But the European arms of both Ford and GM are moving in the same direction, too. Besides being established in Belarus and Poland, Ford has formed a joint venture with Bankirski Dom, near St Petersburg and GM have entered into a similar arrangement with AvtoVAZ at Togliatti, 1,000 kilometres south east of Moscow (Automotive News, 1996b). Finally, stretching beyond the frontiers of Eastern Europe, European firms are currently attempting to establish themselves in China. It was Peugeot that made the initial running when, in the early 1980s, it formed a joint venture in Guangzhou to produce its 404 and 505 models. Neither vehicle was suited to the Chinese market. They were too large, unsuitable for the roads and considered old fashioned by the Chinese when compared to other Western models. In the end, no more than 20,000 units were produced in any one year, and in 1998 Peugeot were forced to withdraw from the market. As Peugeot withered in the market, its other arm, Citroen, prospered in a new joint venture at Wuhan where a stripped down version of the ZX is produced in approximately 15,000 to 20,000 units per annum, a figure that will rise sharply in the coming years (Donnelly and Morris, 1997). Volkswagen by contrast have been far more successful in its joint ventures with the Shanghai Automobile Industrial Corporatio n and the First Auto Works at Changchun in Jilinn Province in the north east of the country. Since the mid-1980s, VW has produced its Santana model in China with frequent updating and has recently introduced its more modern Jetta, Passat and Bora models. These ventures have proved successful in that VW have roughly 50 per cent of the taxi market in China, but have yet to obtain any return on their capital as they, like other multinationals in other countries, have discovered the Chinese market is no crock of gold (Donnelly and Morris, 1997, JustAuto.co., 2000c). While other European firms such as Mercedes and Renault have signed declarations of intent with the Chinese and are waiting to see how the market develops, both Ford and GM have moved further down the road and have begun production at Changan and Guangzhou respectively. Similarly, Chinese hostility to Japanese producers has waned and both Suzuki and Toyota have begun to compete in the market. Current opinion is that the Chin ese market will grow steadily in the coming century and that it is better to enter this market in its infancy than to hesitate. The ball is firmly in the European court and firms must either gamble now on the prospects of return in the future or they might be too late.

Crisis Situation Management in Hospitality Sector

Crisis Situation Management in Hospitality Sector Introduction The tourist destinations and the tourists have always been target of terrorist activities. Even though, it is broadly recognized that it not a question of what if terrorists attract but instead, how, when and how well-prepared these tourists destination are, what the frameworks of the crisis management that is suggested by different published literature offered by tourism authorities in the improvement and accomplishment of a method targeting the mitigation and prevention of these attacks (Anderson and Shah, 2004). This essay will explain the principles of risk and crisis management that plays an active responsibility in crisis management of the tourists destination hit by the 9-11 terrorist attack and how the stakeholders address the threat of terrorism. There have been scenarios where the tourism industry in a country or more has experienced the dramatic downturn of the demand of their services (Bamford and Xystouri, 2005). The government and policy makers are bound with the dilemma of how they should react to the said crisis without any research into the related efficiency of diverse responses. The downfall of the demand of the tourism industry after the 9-11 attack in the United States is a dramatic crisis in the industry. The general equilibrium model is used in analyzing the impacts of the 9-11 attack as brought by the possible and policy in how the industry response to the crisis. Definition of Crisis management The primary effect of the crisis to any firm and industry is its image, reputation and capability to function. In order to prevent the upheaval, many people need to be conscious of the responsibilities and roles in time of crisis. Moreover, the staff and employees should be aware of the issues that would possibly hit them. Inevitably every crisis receives the attention of the media and as a result draws the interest of the public, specifically from possible tourists (Barton, 2003). Therefore, financial outcomes, reputation and corporate image may be critically weakened by crises. Firms that is poorly prepared as well as their destinations where client safety is confronted by risk losing clients. Crisis management is supervising a crisis that may have great impact to the profitability of the business. The foundation of crisis management depends on the searching, plowing and collecting of the achievement that could possibly get from a crisis. The basis structure of a crisis operation m anagement is to identify the occurring crisis to take the proper action and to make that public action. An efficient crisis management strategy permits a company to decrease the possible risk to its status showed by the disaster or crisis situation. This is important since the unsatisfactory managed crisis that results to bad publicity can influence the consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ perspective of a firm in duration of time. Importance of Managing Crisis in the Tourism (and Hospitality) Industry The crisis in the hospitality and tourism industry should be managed with a specific care for different reasons: most of the companies in the said industry depend on discretionary spending of their consumers (Bitner et al, 1990). This implies that the hospitality and tourism firms are very receptive to animosity since the acquisition of the service or product is not essentially valuable to the clients and they can easily let go of. The marketing of the services and products tourism solely depends on the awareness of the consumers know about their purpose and the level of risk that they are eager to tolerate. Thus, any aspect that shares to a raise in the recognized risk in utilizing a tourism service and product will have a negative effect the buying behavior of the consumers. This outcome also implements to broad industry crises. The involvement of tourism and hospitality industry is both developing and industrialized countries are so great recessions in the stage of the industry practices as their concern. The consequences expand beyond the directly associated activities with the tourism and hospitality industry, particularly hotels, airlines and catering, to segments that provide intermediary or final products that are bought by employees and companies in the said industry, so that all segments of the economy are influenced to a lesser or greater extent (Booth, 1993). The main reaction of the tourism and travel-related companies to important recession in the industry is to negotiate with the government to execute a range of rules to counteract the recession. The policymakers are facing with the hard decision of what, is any, ways to take, specifically since the execution of many policy measures is expensive and the related efficiency of another different measures. The government is challenged, especially, b y three problems that are important to any downfall in tourism and hospitality practice. The first matter of whether the crisis is adequately great to value offsetting measures. The relevant fact includes the scale that reduces in the profit of the tourism and hospitality industry, the recession have resulted to impact across the other segment of the economy and the impacts on the welfare of the industry. The second matter is the period of the crisis. If turmoil in the economy is perceived to last longer or even permanently, the company should focus their attention on lessening the modification costs as the economy advances to the new balance. If a crisis is just short-term in nature, the issue should be shield the economy of is the unfavorable impacts of the crisis (Brewton, 1987). The third matter is the issues of the policies option for implementation. In this circumstance, the companies should examine the related advantages of substitute policies consideration and responses that are integration of rates of relief and policies that is most cost-effective in increasing income and minimizing the expenditures. The option of the responses to the policies, preferably, is according to the previous estimation of the dispersion and magnitude of the effect of the crisis and the effect of substitute measures across different segment of the economy. The estimated economic effect of the changes in the demand for the hospitality industry has, conventionally, been assuming employing input-output model. This model is well-created means of taking responsibility of the inter-sector effects of diverse types of exogenous distress to the economy. (Booth, 1993) On the other hand, the input-output model depends on the number of pre-suppositions, like a fixed costs and salaries that may not be proper for the conditions of particular economies. Theories and Methods Employed in Managing Crisis In the situations of the crisis, usually progress in cycles of pre-catastrophe, catastrophe and post-catastrophe. The firm begins from a usual situation and ultimately going back to it. It is the occurrences between these levels of familiarity that are of goals of this study. There are different standards that have been developed in the field of crisis management, with most frameworks of best practice are from experiences. For this industry a particular model was customized (Buchholtz, 2003). The main subject in crisis management is the advance preparation: there are some key decisions that should be arrived at before the crisis itself. These are the training for crisis managementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  prevention planning and quick response, in order to achieve effective crisis management, it should be performed proactively with the goal to protect and defend the interests of the firm. In spirit, crisis management is part of the strategic methods planning from a firm. In order for a firm to be prepared to act against a crisis, the management requires to get ready ahead in advance (Chong and Nyaw, 2002). The most common issues to a company are: fire, labor accidents, wreckages, economic crisis and external forces. The firms are classified in each crisis situation based on its rigorousness and responded consequently. For example, if there is an unfortunate loss of life during the crisis, then this is regarded as the basic consequence and is managed by the whole team. In the same way, a technical problem that is confronted on a regular basis may not need the similar mobilization (Chong, 2004). The tourism and hospitality industry has assumed a proactive method to their media management by presenting excellent relationship between the local and national media by regular, friendly and direct communication. There are press conferences, as well as special publications like newsletters and magazines that are utilized to operate together with the media. Th ere are direct communications that are important in crisis situations when the firm and the media cooperate to guarantee the truthfulness of any reports. Most firms seek the help of some consultancy firms that help with crisis management, which are two of the most valuable and important services they provide. Firms should be ready for facing crisis that are possibly harmful to their reputation. In simpler words, the firm, the employees and the management should train according to the development program of crisis management: brainstorming, media training, planning, audits and simulation (Clark and Varma, 1999). The whole organization from the top management down to the employees should use these skills and tools. Modeling Travel and Tourism in the Wider Economy The impacts of the 9-11 attack in New York and the related effects to the different policies on the tourism and hospitality industry can be analyzed on the U.S. economy. The government accepts all income taxes and invests it on the tourist and hospitality industry (COOMBS, 2006). The flows in the tourism and hospitality is based on the demand of the private households, both resident and domestic travels, some are for business purposes, purchasing products for tourism and travel use. For each flow in the industry, the model for the trips in the tourism and hospitality industry includes the tourism, travel and air travel. The limits in the functions of demand in the industry are transformed to reproduce the impact of the 9-11 attack on the demands in the industry, with the less attractive air travel. The model is structured so that policy on products and services is The model is formulated so that government expenditure on goods and services is exogenous, and government expenditure on travel and tourism trips is changed exogenously to simulate the effects of September 11. The government adjusts its budget through lump-sum transfers to private households. Net foreign savings are fixed, so that the changes that are modeled do not affect international capital flows. World market prices are assumed to be determined exogenously (Anderson and Shah, 2004). These conditions are known as the government, macroeconomic and external closures. The constancy of the dollar and the GDP of the economy is the typical measure of the economic practices. The net impact of the industry budget is the net change like in the local, state and federal, tax profits without the extra expenses during the 9-11 attack (Barton, 2003). There is an adjustment in the labor and capital constant dollar factor. More particularly, it is the constant value of dollar that moves from their employment, either into another segment or to become employed or unemployed or, in the case of the underutilized capital. It does not gauge the adjustment costs of re-tooling, re-training and expense on unemployment benefits, but it is a manifestation of the related size of these modifications costs. The relative factor modification is the same measure as the provided rate of all employment factors rather than the constancy of dollars. The Procedures of Crisis management Generally, the use of resources and time strategies for crisis management should have the development of a project plan provided by the firm, the high skilled employees and well-equipped projects, well-trained and well-educated employees, as well as efficient allocation of budget. Moreover, to these methods, the implementation of crisis management will most possibly provide increase to different problems and challenges. It is then fundamental that the firm recognizes these issues and get ready for their countermeasures in order to avoid worst impacts. Recognizing Possible Problems This strategy will aid the firm to classify possible problems in relation to quality systems should be used in crisis management (Bamford and Xystouri, 2005). One objective of developing other advance actions is to attend to the future challenges. The fast recognition of problems before the project is applied is advantageous not only because it avoids worst business impacts from occurring, but this also guarantees the length of the crisis management project. If the firm can last the probable problems of crisis management, the allotted resources for it implementation will be saved. The training in crisis management is one of the main elements that the firm should put in mind in order to classify the potential challenges. Basically, there are two types of crisis management training that will be very functional including statistical problem-saving and training. The training comprises of training on technical issues, participative methods, brainstorming or nominal collecting techniques that can be implemented in the crisis management. Potential Management Pitfalls The execution of crisis management is very useful for business development. On the other hand, the process of the implementation is not easy. Moreover, the important resources is needed to have the project materialize, a number of problems can have an impact to the success of the success of crisis management. One of the probable effects of the implementation of crisis management is the notion that such management does not generally lead to 100% success (Coombs, 2006). Moreover, it does not really follow an orderly and linear process, causing the firm to go through stressful and chaotic procedure. The crisis management can be perceived as a trial and errors practice that requires the constancy of changes and improvement. In most situations, the application of the crisis management is only focused on the professionals instead of the employees who will employ it. In this scenario, it is essential to take note that crisis management should get their personnel to get involved in the company, basically because they will be the ones who will be operating towards the success of the crisis management (Elliot et al, 2005). Another problem to focus is that crisis management does not usually need transformation in management compensation. The company should also consider the transition of its investment in crisis management. Therefore, unless the firm does something to encourage it employees and team players, they will not give the concept of quality seriously. Finally, the implementation of crisis management seems to apply technical and mechanical method. This makes the crisis management to people and emotion. Risk Management The firm should be free to enter the idea of challenges and risk that always exist in crisis management (Elsubbaugh et al, 2004). Therefore, it is necessary for the firm to motivate its people to improve on the other options that will counteract the problems. In order to take action to these identified problems in crisis management, the firm would have to adjust their crisis management methods (Evans and Elphick, 2005). One crisis management techniques that can be implemented is the monitoring system of employment. Through the created monitoring systems, possible causes or problems can be easily identified. It is essential that the members of the work force can actively participate in this crisis management practices. In this effort, there is an important regularity. There should be a definite monitoring schedule that should be followed closely. Another procedure of the crisis management is the feedback system implementation (Fall, 2004). In this procedure, the team will be designated per unit of the company. It is the task of the leaders to take notice of the enhancements of the quality systems. The feedback system then permits the quick resolution of quality issues even when observing scheduled procedures. Conclusions Crisis management and preparedness is critically important for all tourism and hospitality industry organizations to prevent bad reputation and damage to their business. The achievement in transacting with the crisis event depends within efficient pre-crisis planning. The study recommended that the tourism and hospitality industry have been provided great deliberation to possible crisis and how to do business with them. They have implemented the common crisis action team structure to one that provides the needs of the industry that enables accurate and speedy reaction and action to upcoming situations as well as permitting for the human factor of taking care with victims (Coombs, 2006). The tourism and hospitality industry has classified good practice from their methods of crisis management that could be implemented by other firms: Crisis preparation is the main factor, brainstorming of the types of crisis and improves action plans for each type. Classify the criteria of the crisis i f its major or a minor. Recognize the team of the crisis management and promote the possible stakeholders that the firm will be having business with. Finally, show good business relationships with the important reporters and media. The cost-effectiveness has various types of response to the policy in the crisis management in the tourism and hospitality industry that is very efficient in decreasing the worst impact of the 9-11 crises. On the other hand, the related success of the different policy considerably differs. The outcomes from the discussed model of crisis management in this model is directly related to the assistance towards the tourism and hospitality industry in the form of subsidy which the most effective instrument for facing the challenges of the crisis. These subsidies are for air travel, specifically it is the less effective manner of saving jobs and retaining the profit in the provision to the industry itself. This would have the benefit of offering the tourism industry with more benefit to decrease the ticket costs, therefore motivating the action against the crisis. The crisis management would specifically save jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry, so that the method of assistance for both company and government could be focused on. Even though, these actions are related to the impact of the 9-11 attack, it is possible that they can be simplified to other forms of crisis in the tourism and hospitality industry. Therefore, for an instance, the hotel business were adversely affected by any specific occurrences, it is probably that a policy of direct management of crisis in the hotel business be most successful when it comes to responses. The related efficiencies of different forms of crisis management policies to various forms of crisis in different countries could be done using a modeling technique.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare :: essays research papers

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare there is a major conflict throughout the whole play. The main character Macbeth is faced with many decisions. The key decision that Macbeth makes that leads to his death is his decision to kill King Duncan. The opportunity cost would be keeping his loyalty to the king and his country. Macbeth, who is the Thane of Cawdor and already Thane of Glamis, has everything going for him. He has a good heart, but there is only one thing which keeps him from continuing to be a good person. The love of his life, Lady Macbeth, wants him to commit a heinous crime. She wants him to kill King Duncan so he could be crowned king and her Queen. Macbeth is manipulated and faced with the opportunity cost of killing the king. MACBETH. If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir† (1.3.34-36). This is Macbeth trying to decide whether or not he should kill the king, but in doing so he would be faced with other predicaments. The key decision Macbeth makes, which is to kill the king, leads to his own death and his moral downfall. Macbeth has a huge decision to make, to kill King Duncan or not kill him. The opportunity cost of killing King Duncan is Macbeth will get crowned king. The advantage of not killing him and waiting is he will gain king right away if he waits. The disadvantage of not killing him is he has to wait and could not get crowned king. He also may die before that happens. On the contrary the advantage of killing Duncan is he gets crowned right away and gets major status. The disadvantage is the murder could backfire on him and Macbeth could get killed while being king. People also would not respect him or his leadership if they thought he killed King Duncan. LADY MACBETH. When you durst do it, then you were a man: And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man (1.7.48-53). Macbeth’s decision was based on Lady Macbeth’s manipulation. She would mess with his ego and threaten his love for her until her committed the crime. Macbeth wanted to obtain king the holy way or the right way, but Lady Macbeth had other intentions, such as, killing King Duncan.

The Rise Of Christianity Essay -- Religion Christian Christianity

The rise of Christianity in philosophy One influential cult was based upon a mystical interpretation of Plato. Neo-Platonism was like a rational science that attempted to break down and describe every aspect of the divine essence and its relationship with the human soul. An Alexandrian Jew named Philo tried using Greek philosophy to interpret the Jewish scriptures. He wanted to unite the two traditions by suggesting that the Greek philosophers had been inspired by the same God who had revealed himself to the Jews. But only Christianity had the right combination of ingredients to appeal to both the masses and also eventually the ruling elite. Based on ancient scriptures, with a solid creation myth, its own collection of inspired writings, a convincing story about the appearance of God as a man (e.g. Jesus), a morality based upon personal maturity rather than harsh punishment, role models for both men and women, and a good organizational structure. Christianity was destined to grow to become the dominant religion. Greek philosophy was eventually extinguished by the hostility of Christianity towards other beliefs. Many of the followers of Greek philosophy were forced to move to Syria and other eastern countries to escape persecution by the Christian authorities. Many of the books they carried with them were translated into other languages. It would not be until the crusades, almost one thousand years later that Greek philosophy would be rediscovered by the Greek and Roman worlds. An early Church father, Augustine knew that Christianity was not compatible with science. For Christians, there was no need for new discoveries. Everything that mankind would ever need to know about God, nature, or humanity was to be found in the... ...d 330 BC. The teachings and beliefs of both the Greeks and the Romans posed a threat the Judaism belief system. All of Jesus' teachings were based solely on the Law. During the time of the Roman occupation, the Christian movement found it's way back into Rome and Greece, primarily through Saul of Tarsus (who re-named himself Paul the Apostle). Saul was a Jewish Pharisee who was converted to Christianity by a vision from God. The Chrisitan philosophy was summarized by Jesus himself when He said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." and "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." (Matt. 22:37, 39) Sources Cited http://www.evolutionary-metaphysics.net/ancient_greek_philosophy.html http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_principle_Christianized_philosophical_issues http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/B078