Disadvantages Of Standardized Testing - 1949 Words

Another big concern of standardized tests is how accurate the tests are when it comes to measuring a student’s knowledge and understanding of the subject. The tests are known for having mistakes in the answer key which ruins the entire point of even taking the test. Since the tests are being scored by a machine it kills off more than 200 workers annually for test graders (Strauss 1). The tests are unable to measure a student’s creativity or ability to critically think especially if it is a pure multiple choice test such as the ACT. Sometimes it is better when a teacher grades tests, because they already have a relationship with the student so they can understand where the student is coming from. Partial credit is also a huge thing when†¦show more content†¦Some standardized tests such as MAP tests and even the ACT written part allow graders to explore the critical thinking and knowledge of students when it comes to their writing skills. When it comes to deciding whether America should use standardized testing to decide school’s success; it is helpful to look at other countries and their success or failures with standardized testing. There are some countries who have never used standardized testing to check their teacher’s and student’s productivity. According to ProCon.org, â€Å"Finland topped the international education (PISA) rankings from 2001-2008, yet has no external standardized tests used to rank students or schools† (1). There is no way of knowing how much of a role the type of education the kids receive when they are younger plays. In many foreign countries, such as Finland, they focus on teaching as many skills as possible when the kids are youngest because they believe it is the most beneficial. That is why many Europeans are so good at speaking other languages such as English because they were taught at a young age. Other countries, such as China, use standardized tests to such an extreme, so far that it decides kid’s careers. While the United States will probably never use the standardized tests to that level, one can still observe the effect it has on the students in China. According to ProCon.org, â€Å"China displacedShow MoreRelatedDisadvantages Of Standardized Testing1495 Words   |  6 PagesStudents Performance Second, standardized testing is not an equal result of what each student can do. All standardized tests are so important in students lives, so why is standardized testing so unequal for students. Disadvantage students get the shorter end of the stick when it comes to standardized testing. Most disadvantaged students can not do the same work in the same amount of time that someone without any disadvantages can do it. According to â€Å"Testing Patience†, â€Å"members of organizationsRead MoreDisadvantages Of Standardized Testing1816 Words   |  8 Pageshas taught them and perform to the best of their abilities in order to get into college. In recent years, there has been much speculation and dispute over the these examinations. The truth is, standardized tests to not accurately depict a student s knowledge on a particular subject. Removing the standardized test requirement creates an equal and fair chance for all applicants by removing the socioeconomic unfairness, and for ces admissions representatives to analyze more than just a test score andRead MoreDisadvantages Of Standardized Testing Essay1143 Words   |  5 PagesAdnanur Chowdhury Alex Kurian English 1301 9 November 2017 Disadvantage of Standardized testing system American Education has remained a work in growth for the earlier century. Standardized testing has been used to compare state, nation and school. The main focuses being tested as a worldwide measure are science, mathematics and reading. The impression behindhand statewide or national testing is mostly that all students are learning the similar stuffs at the same period so every student are on theRead MoreThe Disadvantages of Standardized Testing Essay1487 Words   |  6 Pages Standardized tests are exams that are supposed to measure a child’s academic knowledge but have long been a controversial subject of discussion. Although it is one method to see how a child is performing, is it the best method? Standardized testing can be biased or unfair, inhibit both the teacher’s and the children’s creativity and flexibility, affect funding for schools, cause untested subjects to be eliminated from the curriculum, and cause anxiety for children and teachers. StandardizedRead More The Disadvantages Of Standardized Testing Essay examples1702 Words   |  7 PagesStandardized tests must be improved. Instead of traditional standardized testing, random testing should be put in place and tests themselves should be reconstructed to promote fairness, reduce errors and and more accurately assess student’s knowledge. Testing should be done to random groups of students on random dates throughout the year. There will be a large enough group of students to give a good idea of how well material is being taught but a small enough group that not everyone needs to takeRead MoreAmerica s Educational System Must Improve Nationally By Removing Standardized Testing1287 Words   |  6 Pagesremoving standardized testing. American has recognized some of the flaws the education system has presented and chose to fix them; however, one of these problems has been standardized testing, which has not been identified nor changed. Standardized testing infli cts many problems to students that need to be fixed immediately. From inefficient teachers to poorer school systems, standardized testing needs to change because it deteriorates America’s education systems, it is an unfair disadvantage, and itRead MoreLimitations Of Standardized Test Scores1644 Words   |  7 Pagestime a student has reached their senior year of high school, they have taken a standardized test a great number of times in order to get the score to attend their college of choice. A standardized test is any exam that is given and scored in a predetermined, standard manner. The SAT and ACT are known as standardized aptitude tests (Popham). SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test and ACT stands for American College Testing. The SAT was first given in 1926 and the ACT followed in 1959. Students spendRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1085 Words   |  5 PagesA standardized test is any form of test that requires all test takers to answer the same questions in the same way, and scored in a consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of students. A critical addition to education, standardized testing was a major step towards regulating a student’s achievements, ensuring the accountability of teachers, and guiding a school’s curriculum. Despite this noble aspiration, since the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act andRead MoreStandardized Testing Should Be Optional Within The College Admission Process926 Words   |  4 PagesFrom the time that children begin school, standardized tests have been used to gauge their intellect and evaluate how they stack up amongst their peers. Since the initiation of the No Child Left Behind Act, under the Bush administration, standardized testing has seen a sharp increase. The immense emphasis placed upon standardized tests has acquired several opponents and received backlash from various parties involved. Although the tests are implemented w ith positive intended results, there are severalRead MoreStandardized Testing : Standardized Tests1186 Words   |  5 Pages Standardized Testing Impact Standardized testing is known to improve students’ education, but is it really needed in school? Standardized testing determines whether a student is prepared for the next grade based on their test scores. While some students do great on their test others struggle a lot. Not all students are good test takers; majority of the students do good in school but struggle when it comes down to testing. While many agree that standardized testing helps improve students

Fast Food in the Cafeteria - 1347 Words

Fast Food Healthier than Cafeteria food? Many people think that fast food is bad for our health and that it shouldn’t be allowed in school. More healthful options should be promoted but what’s the use of healthy food in school if the kids don’t want to eat it? Nobody least of all adults LIKE eating healthy if given a choice everyone always goes for the fast food.When we eat lunch at school we get the bad end of the stick. they feed us cardboard pizza, meat that isn’t even meat and has been washed in ammonia to kill bacteria, we get fries that aren’t fries, slimy ravioli, and lunch that generally looks unappetizing and tastes little better than that. the dilemma is should schools offer fast food such as KFC, Taco Bell or McDonalds? I†¦show more content†¦Studies show how test scores improve when students eat. When students like lunch, they’ll eat it! They won’t be tempted to throw it out or give it to another student. In addition to helping students, a fast food r estaurant in the cafeteria would benefit the school because first of all, the restaurant would give a percentage of its profits to the school and secondly the restaurant might even participate in the Adopt-a-School program. With more students buying lunch, profits would increase, and if other students hear that that school has fast food in the cafeteria they might be attracted to the school because of the restaurant, increasing profits even more. All this extra money could be used for supplies, computers, or books, all of which would make our educational experience at school much better than it is now. Helping students and schools is something that everyone enjoys doing. Putting a fast food restaurant in place of cafeteria food would do both. Hopefully if we got this restaurant no one would ever think of the food as being nasty, greasy, overcooked or overpriced, everyone would be happy. Cafeterias are a vital part of a student s high school career. It is a place of social interactions and various degrees of shenanigans, whether it is over breakfast, lunch, or walking to classes with friends. Cafeterias are not just for keeping society s niches alive, however, as school cafeterias are also used to provide a form of food for the general studentShow MoreRelatedFast Food Should Not Be Served For School Lunch Menu946 Words   |  4 Pagessystem has been serving unhealthy foods to kids (Psyche Pascual).Schools are changing salad bars for ice cream bars and fruit for candy. Your body is not designed for harsh amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar. In the school system, kids should be allowed to only choose healthy alternatives. The community and parents need to change laws to promote healthy nutrition in schools. There are overwhelmingly too many obese children because of school lunch menu. Fast food should not be served in schools becauseRead MoreHealthier Foods Is Not A G ood Solution976 Words   |  4 PagesHealthier foods in school Are you tired of going to the school’s cafeteria after four class periods of intense working, but the only thing you see is fried, disgusting food? Health requirements have recently become a major problem in almost every Elementary, Middle and High school. Students are only consuming fried or unhealthy meals that negatively affect the student’s general life. The government should pass a law regulating the food served in schools because it increases obesity possibilitiesRead MoreThe Effects Of Fast Food On Human Health Badly857 Words   |  4 Pageslive without air, water, and food. These essences are vital for people to live. There are a great number of various types of food in the world such as Japanese, Italian, French, Mexican, American, and so on. Nowadays, people have more options to eat compared with decades ago. On the one hand, some people argue that this situation is efficient for people because they can select whatever they want to eat any time and anywhere. On the other hand, others contend that fast food affect on human health badlyRead MoreOverview of the Healthy Food for Healthy School Act Essay1206 Words   |  5 Pageslunch time and students walked into the cafeteria to purchase lunch. A wide variety of food was placed in front of them to choose from ranging from pizza to burgers to bags of chips and chocolate bars. Their choices were endless up until a new reform took over and enlisted new changes. The Healthy Food for Healthy School Act was placed on September 1st, 2008. Its policy entailed schools to practice healthy eating where they would be â€Å"dropping trans fat from food and beverages sold in schools and establishingRead MoreThe Strike Of Foodservice Workers At Unc Chapel Hill1587 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1969 strike of foodservice workers at UNC Chapel Hill was a labor dispute involving lunch ladies, less than 20 women of color, working in a college cafeteria serving the large student population. This unlikely gr oup of women and their labor dispute had a much more important effect on the larger perspective of not only work conditions and wages for women and African Americans, but the macro level of civil rights on college campuses in the south during the civil rights movement. The efforts ofRead MorePersuasive Essay On Fast Food1001 Words   |  5 Pages Ever walked into any cafeteria and seen fried chicken, french fries, burgers and all sorts of fast foods? Where you ever tempted to buy these type of foods? This temptation happens to anyone, even children. Did you think what these types of foods can do to the health of a person, especially younger children. We already have fast foods being served in schools. There are things we can do to change that. The government should make stricter laws regulating the food that is served in schools becauseRead MoreIn America Today About One Out Of Three Children Are Obese1115 Words   |  5 Pagesserving nutritional food to our children every day they attend? Over a decade, we have seen an outraging increase in number of children experiencing their dislike on the cafeteria food and dumping it in the trash. Have parents taken out of their day, and visit their children s cafeteria food. America is rated one of the unhealthiest lunch program compared to other countries. We need to do some thing about this problem involving school s cafeteria food. People want to know if the food being consumeRead MoreArgumentative Essay - Junk Food1617 Words   |  7 PagesShould the sale of junk food in school cafeterias be banned? In more traditional years, parents had to prepare packed lunch for their kids when going to school. However, in present times, most parents are already incapable of doing such things. This is because they lack the luxury of time with the hectic schedules that they have. Parents tend to just give money to their children to purchase what they need. Given this kind of situation, students are exposed to a variety of options and they areRead MoreTime to Junk Junk Food656 Words   |  3 Pagesjunk junk food Tired, crabby, or unfocused in class? Perhaps it’s the food you are eating. The excessive intake of junk food and the lack of healthy food has recently become a serious problem among people. There are many reasons to get rid out of junk food and replace it by a good healthy diet. Although many people believe that junk food is more tasty than healthy ones and provide the body with energy, it contributes in obesity and leads to addiction. Fast food is a majorRead MoreUnhealthy Fast Food Essay906 Words   |  4 Pages The population of America is becoming more aware of the importance of good nutrition. Ironically the people are becoming increasingly less healthy. In the 1960s the nation ate healthier but knew less about nutrition. The foods that the teenagers consume today contributes to the increasing weight and decreasing health of the nation. Many outside factors determine the eating habits of teenagers today. When the baby boomer generation grew up a majority of the homes had mothers who worked

Justice and Global Changes in World-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Justice and global changes in world. Answer: This opinion editorial is about children in detention centre. This is local and global issue and has impact on common good. The open editorial is about nursing profession and the challenges faced with realising the aspirations of common good in the professional community. Australia is obliged to process the claims of the asylum seekers and to protect the refugees as a signatory of United Nations Refugee Convention of 1951. Children seeking asylum are kept in detention and yet to be determined for the claim of refugee (Triggs, 2015). On communicating with child and family health nurse, in professional circle it was evident that the parents expressed their deep concerns for their children seeking asylum who are detained in offshore detention centres. As per The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and Maternal, Child and Family Health Nurses Australia (MCaFHNA) these centres of detention create inappropriate environment for childrens health. The detention centre has negative effect on the physical, social and mental wellbeing (Phillips Spinks, 2013). It is evident from literature review that, the children in detention centre experience high level of distress. Childhood is the cornerstone for future well being. Traumatic experiences in early life can lead to learning difficulties and poor access to health care (Mace et al., 2014). Nurses in the Australia detention centre are responsible for the health care delivered in the security environment. They are responsible to deal with the traumatised children from non-English speaking and culturally diverse background. Their position is compromised due to party-political interests. Nurses role in the detention centre is compromised due to debates on children being refugee versus illegal immigrant, and stereotyping attitude that the children are helpless refugees. Further, there have been incidents of violations. It includes not caring well for the disabled child (Isaacs, 2015). This affects nurses and children and is becoming a global issue. My aim is to grow in my profession and help children in detention centre. The common good seems challenging due to the politics of detention. The aspiration to provide quality health care with person centeredness seems difficult. As per my personal research many nurses in the detention centres have been dominated by constant bullying and harassment in the workplace. Tracking the literature of 15 years ago, it was found that in 2004, 16th March, an article on DIMIA and ACMwas published, which highlighted that both were paranoid about the human rights (Project SafeCom, 2017). In 2004, 18th March an article was published that some of the asylum seekers in the detention were forcefully feeded as they were in hunger strike (Project SafeCom, 2017). There will always be clash between the organisational objective and ethical considerations. It is because the nurses are not recruited for detaining people. In order to fulfil the nurse role ethically and to fulfil the aspiration of doing good to the children in detention, there is need to reduce the political dominance in the detention centres. Nurse professionals should be able to fulfil responsibilities towards children irrespective of their mode of arrival in Australia. With the political and unethical dominance it would not be possible to comply with the code of ethics, which compels a nurse to do anything that can preserve the integrity of the nursing practice (Isaacs, 2015). In order to continue with the common good a nurse must speak when human rights are ignored. A nurse must stay updated on the recent immigration policy. He/she should have a brief of human rights in relation to practice and workplace. Nurses must act in support of issues related to human rights. It is recommended to advocate for people seeking asylum in Australia. As per the code of professional conduct for nurses in Australia, a nurse should execute the right for community good and freedom of speech. Even if people are deemed refugees nurses should not breach the human rights. In case the rights of any children in detention are compromised nurses should practice to acknowledge the culture, beliefs, dignity and values of people. This is in accordance with the The National Professional Competency Standards for the Australian Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2017). To promote the community good nurses should disclose the information related to the illegal, mis conduct and unethical events encountered in personal practice in response to children in detention. References Isaacs, D. (2015). Are healthcare professionals working in Australias immigration detention centres condoning torture?.Journal of medical ethics, medethics-2015. Mace, A. O., Mulheron, S., Jones, C., Cherian, S. (2014). Educational, developmental and psychological outcomes of resettled refugee children in Western Australia: a review of School of Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health input.Journal of paediatrics and child health,50(12), 985-992. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2017).Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Professional standards.Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 16 December 2017, from https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards.aspx Phillips, J., Spinks, H. (2013). Immigration detention in Australia.Parliamentary Library,20. Project SafeCom, W. (2017).Mary-Anne Kenny, Derrick Silove Zachary Steel, Force Feeding Hunger striking asylum seekers.Safecom.org.au. Retrieved 16 December 2017, from https://www.safecom.org.au/hungerstrikes.htm Project SafeCom, W. (2017).The Rules of Nursing in a Detention Centre: a Curtin Immigration Detention Centre nurse speaks out.Safecom.org.au. Retrieved 16 December 2017, from https://www.safecom.org.au/michael-hall.htm Triggs, G. (2015). The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014.The Medical journal of Australia,202(11), 553-555

Multigenerational Workforce free essay sample

Abstract Managing a 21st century labor force is becoming more complex as the marketplace becomes increasingly global. It is vital that organizations understand the challenges and benefits of effectively managing a diverse workforce in order to maintain a competitive advantage. While diversity in the workplace can take many forms (race, gender, religion, etc. ) this paper specifically examines generational diversity. This is the first time in history where there are four generations employed in the workforce. As such, it is imperative that managers â€Å"recognize what motivates each generation to develop effective communication tools to minimize conflict, progressive HR and work-life strategies to attract and retain key talent, and management practices to enhance productivity† (Boston College Center for Work and Family). This primary focus of this research paper is to examine each generation’s values, preferences, and provides managers with ways to minimize generational conflict. When managers obtain generational competence, organizations are able to maximize their human capital by increasing employee knowledge and experience. We will write a custom essay sample on Multigenerational Workforce or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This new type of competence will provide organizations with a competitive advantage in the 21st century marketplace and beyond. Diversity as a concept in today’s business world focuses on a broader set of qualities than race and gender. Knowing how to effectively manage diversity in the workplace is one of the greatest challenges for 21st century managers. In the context of the workplace, valuing diversity means creating a workplace that respects and includes differences, recognizing the unique contributions that individuals with many types of differences can make, and creating a work environment that maximizes the potential of all employees. Historically speaking, this is the first time four generations of employees are active within the workforce: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. â€Å"The plummeting economy is sending many workers back to the job market as layoffs and cutbacks abound; the massive losses of retirement savings are driving older workers back into the workforce in record numbers† (Lieber, 2010). Additionally, due to advances in healthcare, life expectancy has increased allowing workers to remain in the workforce well after retirement age. These are only three reasons for the four generations working together. While most research on the multigenerational workforce focuses on the differences between the generations, little has been documented regarding their similar values: family, respect, and trustworthy leaders (Boston College). When managing multiple generations, it is important to remember that managers must not use a â€Å"one size fits all† approach. If the generations in the workforce are managed effectively, â€Å"they create opportunities for collaboration and synergy among the different generations of workers, giving the organization a competitive edge† (Lee Hecht Harrison). Multigenerational Workforce It is an essential skill set for 21st century managers to understand what makes each generation unique, their expectations, values, attitudes, as well as the strengths and weakness each generation person brings to the organization. â€Å"These four generations of workers are now competing for and/or holding positions in the work-place, and may have to work with each other for as many as 10 more years (Cekada, 2012). With the right tools it is possible for the generations to work cohesively and give the organization a competitive advantage. Most generational conflicts arise due to a lack of understanding which is why examining the defining moments which helped to shape each generation within society will help to build the foundational knowledge for managing each group of generational employees. In order to fully understand how each generation might interact as an organizational whole, a clear understanding of what shaped each of the four generational groups individually is a critical starting point for any organization. Traditionalists. The Traditionalists are those workers who were born before 1946 and make up approximately 8% of the United States workforce. World War II, the Great Depression, Korean War, and the emergence of labor unions helped to shape their world growing up. They are extremely loyal to the companies that they work for and have a wealth of knowledge and work experience. Traditionalists have respect for their superiors and believe that their loyalty to their organization should be the basis for an employee’s climb up the corporate ladder. They feel most comfortable working for a traditional hierarchical business structure. TraditionalistsNeeds, approaches expectations. Traditionalists need respect and thrive on structure. They believe in working hard now and receiving gratification/rewards later. As previously mentioned they respect authority; are very task oriented; and have a strong work ethic. They prefer to have formal relationships with those positioned above them and expect their supervisors to tell them what to do. Traditionalists can be resistant to change, because they tend to believe that the current process works effectively. These individuals will put the needs of the company before what may be best for themselves as an individual. Traditionalists are more receptive to face-to-face interaction with co-workers as well as supervisors. Because they are the oldest employee generational group they tend to be resistant to wholesale change. However, many are still eager to continue learning about new technologies that are incorporated into the workplace. Managers must not neglect these workers from leadership and development trainings. Managing Traditionalists Currently the United States has over 1 million workers who are over the age of 75. These workers have a wealth of knowledge that if a company fails to transfer that knowledge to younger employees, that knowledge will be lost when Traditionalists retire. When managing Traditionalist employees, supervisors must respect the knowledge and experience these worker bring to the workplace. Larry and Meagan Johnson identified several ways that managers can effectively work with Traditionalists. They are: 1. Find interesting ways to get older workers engaged and to contribute their considerable experience, knowledge, and perspective 2. Show Traditionalists that you are willing to work hard to earn the loyalty of your elders 3. Be smart about and sensitive to what motivates older workers to perform, produce, and excel 4. Be creative and figure out ways to tailor one’s management approach to the very distinct working styles and preferences of older workers Traditionalists are the least technologically savvy generational group and as a result, may not feel comfortable using Internet, e-mail, web conferencing, and other social media tolls that are second nature to other generational groups. While they may not be as up to date with the recent innovations in technology, many are willing to learn how to use the new tools in the workplace. If management overlooks this age bracket because they think Traditionalists are too set in their ways. This can negatively impact productivity in the workplace, including fundamental training issues such as knowledge transfer. It is important for management to remember that Traditionalists must remain engaged with their work. These employees can â€Å"disengage if they believe the organization, management, or coworkers do not respect the value of a lifetime’s worth of experience† (Lieber, 2010). Baby Boomers Those born between 1946 and 1964 make up the Baby Boomer generation. These employees experienced the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and man’s first steps on the moon. This is also the first time that large numbers of women entered the workforce. Baby Boomers comprise 41% of the workforce and just recently reached the start of the â€Å"typical† retirement age on 1/1/11. While they are beginning to reach an appropriate retirement age, many have no intent on retiring in the near future. This group is known for challenging rules and place high value on personal satisfaction, obtaining high achievements and enjoys receiving recognition for their accomplishments. Baby BoomersNeeds, approaches, and expectations. Due to numerical dominance of this generational group, it is important for managers to retain these employees for as long as possible. Like Traditionalists, they have a vast wealth of work knowledge and experience that will need to be passed down to Generation X and Millennials. Baby boomers demonstrate a more independent work style than the other generational groups. Due to significant characteristic, managers must find a way to let them take ownership of assignments. This generation struggles the most with finding balance between their work and personal lives. Because this generation comprises the largest section of the workforce, retaining these workers and their knowledge is vital to management in developing and effective efficient succession-leadership plan. To facilitate the transition away from the Baby Boomer generation, it is important for managers to be aware that these workers will most likely remain in the workforce well past the normal retirement age. Managing Baby Boomers Baby Boomers enjoy being recognized for their achievements and often times do not enjoy sharing praise. While these employees have a more independent working style than their predecessors, â€Å"boomers promote collaborative efforts and prefer business decisions to be made by consensus† (Lieber, 2010). Much like Traditionalists, Boomers enjoy having loyalty to their company. It is important that these members are incorporated into mentoring programs to assist with knowledge transfer. When training this generation managers need to draw on employees past experiences, include case studies and facilitate discussion sessions. Generation X Generation X-ers (1965-1980) are considered to be the best educated of the four generations and make up 30% of working United States employees. They live to work, rather than work to live. â€Å"The emphasis of Generation X is more on close friends and virtual families than no material success or traditional associations† ( ). In addition, this generation marked the advent of the dual-income family. As such, Generation Xers elect to accept change rather than challenge rules like the Baby Boomer generation did. Generation X grew up with Operation Desert Storm, the fall of the Berlin Wall, AIDS, and the start of the video game era. Needs, approaches, and expectations. This generation expects managers to utilize direct communication where expectations are clearly stated and to take the time to â€Å"explain how successfully completing the task at hand can serve them† (Beekman, 2011). Managing Generation X. Generation Y (1981-1994) The youngest employees in the workforce, Generation Y otherwise known as Millennia’s, were born from 1981-1994. These employees comprise 21% of the workforce and this number is increasing rapidly as Traditionalists and Baby Boomers retire. It is also interesting to note, â€Å"the number of young people in the United States without jobs has exploded to 53. 4 percent – a post-World War II high† (Lieber, 2010). This generation likes to create rules for themselves and find it hard to separate their professional lives from their personal lives. September 11, the digital age, Enron, and web-based social networking all shaped the world for these employees. Generation YNeeds, approaches, and expectations. Unlike the preceding three generations, members of Generation Y are extremely devoted to their careers and have little loyalty to the actual company or organization. These employees look for meaningful work that will have a positive impact on the world and are always looking for a way to leave their mark. Generation Y has never known a world without technology and consequently they are able to adapt to the changes, especially in technology, that occur rapidly in today’s world with ease. They also have a much different view of workplace norms than their counterparts as they do not like to have their work environment limited by cubicles, corner offices, and walls. These employees expect employer’s to implement flexible working schedules to accommodate their busy lifestyles. Generation Y learns best by doing, rather than in the classroom as they tend to be visual learners. Immediacy is a high priority for this generation. It is important for older managers to not take offence if an employee prefers to correspond via e-mail or text as it may be the fastest way for communication and getting the task at hand done. Managing Generation Y. This new type of generation always needs to be engaged and challenged. Additionally, â€Å"they want their managers to relate to them and value their contributions† (Kyles, 2005). They require flexible work schedules so that they are able to have a good work-life balance as they do not allow their careers to consume them. They will need to have a connection with their organization and their purpose within the company must be well known. To assist with this, managers can explain to employees the importance of their job responsibilities and how they impact the company and the world around them. Because this group is digital natives, it is important that company policy regarding cell phone and computer use during work hours is clearly explained. This will allow them to be most productive during their work hours. Managing the Generations Customizing one’s managerial style to the specific needs and expectations from the four generations is a challenge in and of itself. One additional key area where conflict may arise between the generations in the workplace is the use of technology. Technology (Tracey Cekada) The advances in technology that the world has experienced in the past few decades have drastically changed the way the world does business. What previously took hours, days, weeks, or even months to complete can now be done in a fraction of the time. While the two younger generations have grown up with and are comfortable using technology, the Baby Boomers and Traditionalists may need some additional time to get acclimated to the advances in technology that have occurred in the past few decades. Managers must be mindful that effectively utilizing technology may not come as easy to older employees; they challenge should not be generalized t suggest that Traditionalists are incompetent. Rather, managers need to find a balance between having the older generations work with new tools so they feel comfortable by effectively training these employees irrespective of their chronological age. Knowledge Management In the upcoming two decades, Traditionalists will be removed completely from the workforce and with them a vast amount of knowledge and work experience. According Roxanne Stevens, â€Å"42% of corporate knowledge resides in the brains of the workforce, [and as a result], companies are directly and severely affected by the knowledge loss of their departing senior executives† (Stevens, 2010). It order to minimize the loss of knowledge, organizations should implement a mentoring program as well as having a well thought out succession plan in place. A mentoring program is one of the most effective ways to help bridge the generational gap in the workplace. This type of knowledge management will help Traditionalists feel valued and respected while they are mentoring a younger generation employee. Additionally, because Traditionalists and Baby Boomers have been in the workforce the longest they have been able to develop extensive business relationships. Generation Yers can also impart some of their technical knowledge onto some of the less familiar employees. â€Å"Generation Y employees should modestly offer their expertise and remain open to opportunities to glean knowledge from experienced colleagues in other areas† (McDonald, 2008). The relationships between different internal departments and external organizations can continue to be productive long after the Traditionalists and Baby Boomers have retired if these relationships are natured through succession planning and focused mentorship programs. Mentorships can go both ways Looking ahead, organizations must have a strategic workforce plan (SWP) in place. If an organization waits until their older workers have exited the workforce to begin looking for replacements, it will be too late and the success of the organization will be at risk. One way to ensure the company does not fall victim to this trap is to develop a very specific leadership-succession plan. This type of planning can take years to develop to ensure that the goal of hiring or promoting the most qualified replacement is met and exceeded in all key leadership positions. During the process, it is important that â€Å"HR practitioners need to ensure their companies engage in a process where experienced workers review the current procedures, policies, guidelines, and customer data and determine which are still valid and which need updating† (Jenkins, 2008). Knowledge transfer should be one of the top priorities of the leader who is planning to exit. Workforce Accommodations As a manager, it is important for companies to reasonably create choices within the workplace. Some reasonable accommodation choices can include: telecommuting, education, and flexible schedules. It is important that employees are provided with flexible options, when appropriate, for how their work-life will operate, while ensuring overall organizational productivity. This focused approach will foster higher quality of work-life satisfaction, and as a result, help with retaining quality employees throughout the organizational environment. Offering employees the option of telecommuting greatly helps the younger generations (X Y) balance their work and home lives. As more women enter the workforce, this can allow women to remain active in the workforce if they decide to take time of to have children, or take care of elderly parents as an example. Telecommuting is another great way for companies to continue to retain Traditionalists knowledge in the event that they are unable to physically make it to a worksite. Telecommunication can be cost effective for companies, as well as being environmentally friendly. Traditionalists and Baby Boomers may not be as eager as the other generations are to use this technological advancement as it minimizes actual human interaction. With a little training and development and an understanding for the benefits of using telecommunication in the workplace, depending on the job this is a very effective way to manage the generational gap. Ensuring that your organization has quality training for all employees is another way to reduce the possibility of generational conflicts. Training on diversity in the workplace is one way for employees to achieve an appreciation and respect for one another’s differences. The mentoring program mentioned earlier is one way that younger employees can learn business practices from the experience of their older mentor. All employees need to be included in trainings that are pertinent to their job position such as business process updates, policy changes, and new software implementation. Additional training, which is beneficial to employees, is leadership and formal educational training. By taking the time to invest in employees education organizations are investing in their future. Flexible schedules are another option for effectively managing multiple generations. â€Å"Flexibility is the key to continuing success when dealing with different generations existing, leaving and entering the workplace over time (Macon, 2009). Furthermore, by offering flexible schedule plans to employees, this can increase younger generations’ quality of work life and assist with providing work/home life balance. For the older generations, they should still be offered the opportunity to take advantage of having a non-traditional schedule even if they respectfully decline. More and more organizations are moving away from the traditional 9-5-business day. Managers are beginning to see that as long as employees are able to get their job assignments and responsibilities accomplished in less time, then there is no need to require them to be at the office longer than necessary. Providing flexible scheduling to older employees shows that you respect the time that they have invested in the company and are willing to work with them if they choose to increase their pursuit of personal interests. Regardless of the generation or combinations of generations that managers oversee, they must remember to keep all employees engaged in their work. Understanding the value that each employee can add to the success of the company should be maximized. Being able to listen and understand the different wants, needs and expectations of your workforce will play a large role in effectively managing the generation gap within any organization. By being able to tailor one’s management style to fit generational preferences, this will ensure the success of your human capital strategy which is essential to overall business success. Lastly, managers must remember that the â€Å"key stage in the diversity program will be measuring its results and effectiveness. That part of the process will help us examine our accomplishments with an eye toward improving our efforts† (Scott Jr. , 2007). If this final aspect is neglected, organizations are unable to see how successful or unsuccessful their programs were and are unable to make appropriate adjustments.

The Pirates of Penzance essays

The Pirates of Penzance essays A new and original comic Opera by Messrs. W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, entitled the "Pirates of Penzance, or Love and Duty. It is amazing how two dramatic writers have mastered the ability to amuse the public in such an original manner. This opera had its premiere on December 31, 1879, at the Fifth Avenue Theater in New York with Arthur Sullivan conducting. It opened on April 3, 1880, at the Opera Comique in London and ran for 363 performances. When one thinks of Pirates of Penzance many tend to immediately recollect the movie depicted from this play. Visions of Kevin Kline playing the Pirate King, Linda Ronstadt playing Mabel, Angela Lansbury as Ruth and George Rose plays the Major-General. The adaptation of this script was very true to Gilbert Although this play originated in 1879 the director did not seem to have any difficulty keeping the original historical plot and at the same time blending in a bit of modern themes and characteristics. Several words were added that weren't part of Gilbert's original script. It kept the adaptation novel and interesting. Complete with lessons of courage and honor this play demonstrates with humor the lengths one man will go to in order to fulfill his dutiful and unusually contracted obligation. In this case the participants were not quite as seasoned as those mentioned above. The play itself was quite clever and entertaining. Varying degrees of acting and vocal ability made for a very diverse cast. Meshing an 1879 play with Millennium type humor is no small feat. The scenes were concise; costumes were extremely original; and the cast was particularly enthusiastic. What imperfections may have occurred within the play was overshadowed by these above-mentioned strengths. Comedic plays tend to be quite challenging. The ability to m ...

James Meredith, Civil Rights, and the Ole Miss Riot

James Meredith, Civil Rights, and the Ole Miss Riot James Meredith is an African American political activist and Air Force veteran who rose to prominence during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement by becoming the first black student admitted to the previously segregated University of Mississippi (â€Å"Ole Miss†). The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the university to integrate the school, but Mississippi state police initially blocked Meredith’s entrance. After campus riots occurred, leaving two people dead, Meredith was allowed to enter the university under the protection of U.S. federal marshals and military troops. Though the events at Ole Miss forever entrenched him as a major civil rights figure, Meredith has expressed opposition to the concept of race-based civil rights. Fast Facts: James Meredith Known For: First black student to enroll in the segregated University of Mississippi, an act that made him a major figure in the civil rights movement Born: June 25, 1933 in in Kosciusko, MississippiEducation: University of Mississippi, Columbia Law SchoolMajor Awards and Honors: Harvard Graduate School of Education â€Å"Medal for Education Impact† (2012) Early Life and Education James Meredith was born on June 25, 1933, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to Roxie (Patterson) and Moses Meredith. He completed 11th grade at Attala County, Mississippi Training School, which was racially segregated under the states Jim Crow laws. In 1951, he finished high school at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Days after graduating, Meredith joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1951 through 1960. After honorably separating from the Air Force, Meredith attended and excelled at traditionally black Jackson State College until 1962. He then decided to apply to the strictly segregated University of Mississippi, stating at the time, â€Å"I am familiar with the probable difficulties involved in such a move as I am undertaking and I am fully prepared to pursue it all the way to a degree from the University of Mississippi.† Denied Admission Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address, Meredith’s stated goal in applying to Ole Miss was to persuade the Kennedy administration to enforce civil rights for African Americans. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic 1954 ruling in the civil rights case of Brown v. Board of Education that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional, the university persisted in admitting white students only. After being denied admission twice, Meredith filed suit in U.S. District Court with the support of Medgar Evers, who was then head of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP. The suit alleged that the university had rejected him solely because of he was African American. After several hearings and appeals, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Meredith had a constitutional right to be admitted to the state-supported university. Mississippi immediately appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Ole Miss Riot On September 10, 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that the University of Mississippi had to admit African American students. In clear defiance of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Mississippi governor Ross Barnett, on September 26, ordered state police to prevent Meredith from setting foot on the school’s campus. â€Å"No school will be integrated in Mississippi while I am your governor,† he proclaimed. Students hoist a Confederate flag into the air during Ole Miss riot. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images On the evening of September 30, riots on the University of Mississippi campus erupted over Meredith’s enrollment. During the overnight violence, two people died from gunshot wounds, and white protestors pelted federal marshals with bricks and small arms fire. Several cars were set on fire and university property was severely damaged. By sunrise on October 1, 1962, federal troops had regained control of the campus, and escorted by armed federal marshals, James Meredith became the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. Integration at the University of Mississippi Though he suffered constant harassment and rejection by fellow students, he persisted, and went on to graduate with a degree in political science on August 18, 1963. Today, Meredith’s admission is considered one of the pivotal moments in the American Civil Rights Movement.   In 2002, Meredith spoke of his efforts to integrate Ole Miss. â€Å"I was engaged in a war. I considered myself engaged in a war from Day One,† he said in an interview with CNN. â€Å"And my objective was to force the federal government- the Kennedy administration at that time- into a position where they would have to use the United States military force to enforce my rights as a citizen.† March Against Fear, 1966 On June 6, 1966, Meredith began a one-man, 220-mile â€Å"March Against Fear† from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. Meredith told reporters that his intent was â€Å"to challenge the all-pervasive overriding fear† that black Mississippians still felt when trying to register to vote, even after the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Asking only individual black citizens to join him, Meredith publicly rejected the involvement of the major civil rights organizations. Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images However, when Meredith was shot and wounded by a white gunman on the second day of the journey leaders and members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) all joined the march. Meredith recovered and rejoined the march just before some 15,000 marchers entered Jackson on June 26. During the trek, more than 4,000 black Mississippians registered to vote. Today, Mississippi has one of the nation’s highest rates of black voter registration and voting. Highlights of the historic three-week march were famously recorded by SCLC’s photographer Bob Fitch. Fitch’s historic images include the voter registration of 106-year-old, born-in-slavery El Fondren, and black activist Stokely Carmichael’s defiant and captivating call for black power. Meredith’s Political Views Perhaps surprisingly, Meredith never wanted to be identified as part of the Civil Rights Movement and expressed disdain for the concept of racially-based civil rights. As a lifelong moderate Republican, Meredith felt he was fighting for the same constitutional rights of all American citizen, regardless of their race. Of civil rights, he once stated, â€Å"Nothing could be more insulting to me than the concept of civil rights. It means perpetual second-class citizenship for me and my kind.† Of his 1966 â€Å"March Against Fear,† Meredith recalled, â€Å"I got shot, and that allowed the movement protest thing to take over then and do their thing.† In 1967, Meredith supported avowed segregationist Ross Barnett in his failed run for reelection as governor of Mississippi, and in 1991, he backed former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in his close but unsuccessful race for governor of Louisiana. Family Life Meredith married his first wife, Mary June Wiggins, in 1956. They lived in Gary, Indiana and had three sons: James, John and Joseph Howard Meredith. Mary June died in 1979. In 1982, Meredith married Judy Alsobrooks in Jackson, Mississippi. They have one daughter together, Jessica Howard Meredith. After graduating from Ole Miss, Meredith continued his education in political science, at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. Returning to the U.S. in 1965, he went on to earn a law degree from Columbia University in 1968.   When his third son, Joseph, graduated at the top of his class from the University of Mississippi in 2002, after having also earned a degree from Harvard University, James Meredith stated, â€Å"I think theres no better proof that white supremacy was wrong than not only to have my son graduate but to graduate as the most outstanding graduate of the school. That, I think, vindicates my whole life.† Sources Donovan, Kelley Anne (2002). â€Å"James Meredith and the Integration of Ole Miss.† Chrestomathy: Annual Review of Undergraduate Research at the College of Charleston.†Mississippi and Meredith remember CNN (October 1, 2002)..† June 1966: Meredith Marchâ€Å"SNCC Digital GatewaySigner, Rachel. â€Å".†On the civil rights trail with Bob Fitch Waging Non-Violence (March 21, 2012).Waxman, Olivia B. â€Å"James Meredith on What Todays Activism Is Missing.† Time Magazine (June 6, 2016)

Total Quality Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Total Quality Management - Essay Example In quality improvement teams, employees from the same department, division, or team of the organisation brainstorm to identify a list of problems to resolve. The advantage of this approach is that the employees characteristically have the best view of their work environment and associated problems and can develop ideas to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The drawback to this is that the problems chosen by the group may or may not contribute to the Axact Inc. overall goals. Axact Inc. with a focused success paradigm can multiply the return on its investment for its quality efforts over an organisation without a clear vision. With the myriad of problems any given group can identify, it is important that resources be allocated for problem solving that can contribute positively to the successful implementation of Axact Inc. strategy. Based on such considerations, it is evident that the need for specific criteria and models to verify the quality fit between the Axact Inc. and the business atmosphere in that it operates, and to effectively and efficiently manages the relationships among the actors within the network. Such relationships, in fact, are characterised by many-to-many connections instead of more traditional one-to-one. For that reason, a deep revision of current managerial techniques is dramatically requested. Regardless of huge number of works on this subject, (Harland et al., 2001; Lamming et al., 2000), reliable criteria for the analysis and the evaluation of Axact Inc. networks, based on the relationships among economic actors interconnected through Internet, are not yet available. Accordingly, managers usually operate according to empirical methodologies that often do not assure optimal quality performances. In order to contribute towards the solution of such a problem, preliminarily examined facto rs that mostly affect the Axact Inc. quality performances. It may be assumed that effectiveness and efficiency of Axact Inc. depend on the coherence between the characteristics of the atmosphere in that the embedded actors operate and the way in that relationships among embedded actors are managed. The management of such relationships, consecutively, is based on the following three factors (Cucchiella et al., 2002): The structures adopted to organise the relationships among the actors of the network (Axact Inc. organisational structures). The criteria adopted to manage such relationships (managerial criteria); and The activities to be done for coordinating the relationships (critical activities). With respect to the Axact Inc. organisational structures, Tapscott et al. (2000) define five types of b-web adopted to manage relationships among embedded actors based on the level of product-service value integration (high vs. low) and control type: Agora, Aggregation, Value chain, Alliance, and Distributive network. According to Nkkentved (2000), the managerial criteria may be instead, defined on the basis of two variables, the market fragmentation and the product/process complexity. Consequently, six types of criteria may be identified: Auction house; Independent trading exchanges; Vendor trading

Financial Management case study 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Management case study 1 - Essay Example The inflation component preserves the purchasing power of money (Ross, Westerfield, & Jaffe, 2005). Based on economic reports, a 2.5% inflation rate over the next 5 years would sufficiently account for inflation. The second component of the interest rate is the credit risk. The interest rate offered to customers with poor credit worthiness is higher to compensate for the higher risk of lending to them (Weston, Besley, & Brigham, 1996). Based on the credit rate range established by the credit department, the best customer would be assigned a 1% credit rate. The last component of the interest rate is the profit component. This component is the profit from financing activities of XYZ. Since Shanghai Winters is one of the best customers, this component is not applicable to it. Notice that this interest rate is higher than the 8.0% going rate on a $70,000 five-year note receivable. The higher rate is to compensate for the credit risk of extending credit to such a customer. Also built inside the 8.0% is the profit component, which has not been charged to the best customers.

Cuba and China Essay Example for Free

Cuba and China Essay Democracy, or the power of people, is rather old form of rule. While the word â€Å"democracy† originated in the Ancient Greece in 5th century BC, this form of rule had existed even before this, found in ancient India republics before 6th century BC. However, it was the city-state of Athens in the Ancient Greece that presented this word in the sense which resembles, in some features, the modern vision of democracy. In Athens, people had the right to vote, to take the most important decisions, influencing the political situation of their state. Of course, not all the population could vote – women and children could not vote as well as disabled people. In fact, only one forth or one sixth of the citizens of Athens could vote and participate in a political life of their state. However, it was the first form of democracy and it had many aspects in common with today’s notion of democracy. For example, all the citizens of Athens, poor or rich, powerful or powerless, had the right to vote, they were equal in this right. The democracy, in the form in which it existed in Athens and in the Ancient Greece, was not preserved until our time. Moreover, great changes took place in Europe in 18-19th centuries, in the form of revolutions. The right to vote and to participate in the political life of a state directly is not the main factor characterizing democracy in the modern world. Democracy in the modern sense includes such basic postulates as the basic freedoms: of speech, of expression, of the press, of association et cetera. The democracy in the western world is much more associated with the notion of free market and free trade. However, these preconditions are not exactly true for some countries, for example for China, where free market and free trade can coexist with the lack of democracy, where there are no basic freedoms (for example, the freedom of association – the assembly of Falun Gong in China was violently dispersed by police and banished for practicing in China). Cuba which has made some steps toward the free market economy, opening some part of its economy for the US dollars, does allow the internationally recognized organization of the Red Cross to its prisons, where political prisoners are kept in big numbers. The rule of Communist Party as the only party in the country is observed both in Cuba and in China. And this excludes another characteristic feature of democracy – pluralism, the possibility of many political parties to take part in the political life of the state. Before we proceed to explain the lack of democracy in Cuba and China, it is necessary to understand what democracy means and why China and Cuba should become democratic. In the twentieth century, democracy has gained such popularity that most world rulers describe their rule as democratic. However, most countries were not democratic, and some even became totalitarian. Generally speaking, the term â€Å"democracy† is misused in two ways. First, democracy is expanded into a laundry list that contains almost all kinds of good things. Second, democracy is modified by adding an adjective to the term. Since Western bourgeois democracy is the prototype of modern democracy, modifications are made along two lines. Either rulers characterize their systems not as bourgeois democracies, but as â€Å"people’s democracies,† â€Å"proletarian democracies,† or â€Å"socialist democracies,† or they emphasize local characteristics of their system, such as â€Å"Burmese type of democracy† or â€Å"African type of democracy. † What is democracy? Etymologically, the term means rule by the people. Democracy originated in Athens more than 2,500 years ago, when Cleisthenes allowed all citizens of Attica to preside over the affairs of the city. Athenian democracy took the form of direct democracy. Citizens, which excluded women, slaves, and resident aliens, participated directly in making laws. Moreover, regardless of their properties and talents, rulers were selected not by ballot but by lot. Not surprisingly, virtually all famous Greek scholars were no fans of democracy, regarding tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy as corrupt forms of government. Democracy includes two forms: popular sovereignty and individual liberty. This paper defines democracy in terms of political freedom, which involves both positive and negative aspects. Positive freedom refers to a situation in which people have the ability to participate in government; negative freedom means a situation in which people are free from arbitrary interference from government. Modern democracy adheres to the dual principles of popular sovereignty and individual liberty, but has its own distinctive features. Ideal as the principle of popular sovereignty may be, it is technically impossible to let the people in a nation-state decide everything. As a result, modern democracies are representative, not participatory (or direct). The principle of popular sovereignty in modern times hinges on two major mechanisms: the separation of powers and the competitive election. While the ruled choose their rulers during an election, rulers are mutually checked and balanced before and after the election. In determining the nature of a particular political system, the competitive election is more important than the separation of powers. A division of labor is employed in any government, particularly a modern one. Despite the importance of liberalism for modern democracy, popular sovereignty precedes individual liberty. Popular sovereignty talks about the purpose of government; individual liberty comprises the notion of government. The term that means â€Å"people† has undergone great changes in terms of class, education, gender, race, and age. Besides, individual liberty is historically and culturally specific. In the twentieth century, democracy and totalitarianism are regarded as two ends of the political spectrum. To put it in terms of ideal types, a government respecting both popular sovereignty and individual liberty is democratic; a government violating them is totalitarian. Falling somewhere in between, most systems are neither democratic nor totalitarian in the strictest sense of the terms. Some may respect popular sovereignty but violate individual liberty; others may violate popular sovereignty but respect individual liberty. Today’s Islamic Republic of Iran and eighteenth-century Britain are cited as respective examples of these two types. Throughout human history, not many regimes have ever been totalitarian and most have been authoritarian. Compared with totalitarian regimes, authoritarian regimes are less willing and less able to damage people’s rights and interests. The United States of America when compared to China or Cuba, presents the example of â€Å"democratic† democracy towards which China or Cuba should strive. Because now, when we took a closer look at the notion of democracy in the modern world, we are going to analyze the kind of democratic situation and democratic changes that took place in two of the most controversial countries in the world: China and Cuba. To reach conclusions as to the qualitative aspects of Cuban politics in the post-transition era, we will examine aspects of political culture as they relate to the formation and practices of civil society in democracy. From this angle one can interpret some key dimensions of politics in particular settings. Transition to democracy (and its consolidation) depends on a multiplicity of factors, including elite decisions, institutional arrangements, pacts between competing social actors, a constitution and organizations typical of liberal democracies, a favorable moment in world history, supportive international structures, and a measure of good luck. Political and economic factors also impinge on the likelihood of democratic transitions and survival. But political and economic factors determine neither transition to democracy nor democratic stability. The impact of the economy on democracy is not automatic, unidirectional, or necessarily predictable. According to Mattiace and Camp (1996), democracy is the product of multiple causes working together. In contexts where the system confronts unresolved foundational issues and consensus is elusive – on such matters as how the political community is defined, who has authority, what the rules of the game are – political questions become an affair of the heart, lending themselves less to compromise and pragmatism. As a result, democracy tends to be endangered, particularly in places where institutional democratic norms are weak and personalism is high. This is likely to occur in Cuba after Fidel Castro (as it has before and during the socialist years). Though democracy will be established in Cuba sometime in the future, Cuban democracy will not conform to normative models of liberal democracy. Democracy in the way it is in Cuba will be characterized by features of incivility in civil society. The democracy that is most likely to emerge on the island will be far from perfect, will share striking continuities with the past, and will dash the hopes of many who dream of democracy. The cynicism about democracy also has a long genealogy in Cuban intellectual history. As far back as the nineteenth century cultural pessimists on the island have remarked on the frustration that has followed modern projects of independence, nationalism, republicanism, and democracy. Democratic aspirations have a long history on the island, as long as the trajectory of their frustration. The notion is not as alien to Cuban soil as many believe (Dealy, 1996)

Essay --

Another reason why sugar harms the body is that a calcium deficiency leads to osteoporosis. Sugar will steal calcium from the blood stream; however, if there is not enough calcium in the blood stream, the sugar will then pull vital calcium from the bones. The calcium taken directly from the bones causes them to be weak and fragile, which unmistakeably leads to osteoporosis (((APPLETON, 23))). Osteoporosis is a bone disease that plagues many Americans. The best way to counteract osteoporosis is to drop sugar from the diet completely. Americans on average do not have a proper calcium-phosphorus ratio and sugar simply creates more havoc for the human body. Because of an imbalance of nutrients, important enzymes of the human body are disrupted. The human body is full of small chemical reactions called enzymes. These enzymes enable cells to function properly and efficiently. One important role of enzymes is that of metabolism. Metabolism is a digestive process that relies on properly functioning enzymes. The enzymes that control metabolism need a proper balance of nutrients in order to function properly. However, the enemy, sugar, once again causes harm. Sugar negates these nutrients, leaving the enzymes weak and ineffective. An increased amount of sugar in the body decreases the effectiveness of enzymes, therefore decreasing metabolism. A decrease in metabolism causes food to be digested and absorbed at a slower rate. A weak metabolism leaves the human weak as well. The enzymes that are responsible for metabolism are negatively affected by sugar. Due to a slowed metabolism, allergies can result if food is not properly digested. The enzymes in the small intestine are greatly affected by sugar. Sugar makes the digestion process slow... ...foreign invader. Common autoimmune diseases are Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type one diabetes, and hyperthyroidism, to name a few (((CAMPBELL, PG 184))). These diseases distress all to many Americans because they appear because of an overload of sugar. The endocrine gland is greatly inhibited by the increase in sugar. The body regulates the affect of sugar on different minerals by the endocrine system. It is an automatic process that occurs in the body be specialized organs, or glands. Processes such as respiration, heartbeat, digestion and elimination of food, body temperature, and balanced body chemistry rely on properly functioning endocrine glands (((APPLETON, PG. 27))). Without these automatic processes occurring properly, the human body will decay rapidly. Sugar greatly inhibits the endocrine gland, which in turn annihilates the human body.

Luxury Brand Engagement Research Write Up Essay

Brand Management is a function of marketing that uses techniques to increase the perceived value of a product line or brand over time. Effective brand management enables the price of products to go up and builds loyal customers through positive brand associations and images or a strong awareness of the brand. Developing a strategic plan to maintain brand equity or gain brand value requires a comprehensive understanding of the brand, its target market and the company’s overall vision. Brand engagement is a term loosely used to describe the process of forming an attachment (emotional and rational) between a person and a brand. It comprises one aspect of brand management. What makes the topic complex is that brand engagement is partly created by institutions and organizations, but is equally created by the perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours of those with whom these institutions and organizations are communicating or engaging with. Brand engagement between a brand and its consumers/potential consumers is a key objective of a brand marketing effort. In general, the ways a brand connects to its consumer is via a range of â€Å"touch points† — that is, a sequence or list of potential ways the brand makes contact with the individual. Examples include retail environments, advertising, word of mouth, online, and the product/service itself. It can be broadly classified into two areas- Internal and external. Internal refers to the company’s employees, franchisees, etc while external refers to the end consumers. All the consumer behavioural factors like attitudes, beliefs, society, culture and trends are studied and form an interesting part of the study unlike many other areas of research. All these factors are psychological yet emotional and drive consumer behaviour towards brands ultimately leading to sales and higher revenues. Getting there requires convincing less conscious consumers that they can have their cake and eat it too (drive positive change and indulge their needs), and teaching them to choice-edit for the most personal, planetary and societal impact. Customer involvement starts from the personal basic perspectives of goals, values, and self-awareness. Depending on the relevance of these to individuals, they are reflected in decision-making behaviours. Different product attributes cause different degrees of involvement in consumer minds. These differences of involvement result in differences when consumers make purchase decisions. Therefore, when consumers perform consuming behaviours, the extent of their involvement affects purchase intention and this is only reflected when a deeper understanding of their psychological and emotional factors is attained. It relates at an emotional level and ensures long term sustainability, revenue and growth for the brand. One of the most significant sectors where brand management plays an even more important role is Luxury. Luxury as a concept is defined within the scope of socio-psychology as a result of its connection to a culture, state of being and lifestyle, whether it is personal or collective. When linked to brands, it is characterised by a recognisable style, strong identity, high awareness, and enhanced emotional and symbolic associations. It evokes uniqueness and exclusivity, and is interpreted in products through high quality, controlled distribution and premium pricing. These core factors have led to the development of a $180 billion global industry with an uninterrupted growth for over two decades. These elements have also led to the summarisation of luxury as a ‘dream’, leading to justifiable curiosity and interest. Luxury good manufacturers offer high quality products at higher prices. At times, the quality of the actual product may not actually be very different from the low cost one, however, the brand value attached to it is high. It is for this reason that the branded product still sells at a higher price. The customer, though buys the product, actually pays for the brand. He pays for the emotional/ psychological/ physiological need that he has been able to satiate through this purchase. Also, it is worth noting that building a luxury brand can be a very tough task. It has to have the right value of consumer behavioural/ attitudinal compatibility mix for it to achieve its purpose owing to the high costs. Brand Managers for luxury products cannot over advertise their product (devalues the image) and not under advertise their product (loss in enquiries/ revenue). This interesting amalgamation of business drivers and human behaviour forms a motivating and challenging topic for research studies. Brand value measures the economic asset value of a company or product brand. It details how much of the company’s operating income and free cash flow is derived from the brand, the influence of the brand within each consumer purchase decision driver, and the associated brand risks. By linking the brand to the economics of the business at a detailed level, brand value opens the door to a number of useful applications like proving that branding offers real value, justify a proposed marketing budget, align the commercial organization, evaluate acquisition opportunities, optimal royalty rate, optimize the brand relationship to best tell the brand story, focus investments, drive higher prices, leverage brand value to lower taxes, reduce turnover and quantify the damage. It is very intriguing when we look at the financial output of the brands, grouping the companies into two categories of highly and least engaged in brand engagement. The companies who were highly engaged grew on an average of 18% in revenues over the last 12 months, compared to the least engaged companies who on average saw a decline of 6% in revenue during the same period. The same holds true for two other financial metrics, gross margin and net profit. Interbrand was recently involved in brand valuation with respect to business and the approach used is as follows:Snapshots of couple of models or indexed used has by different organizations to measure brand engagement has given under the research design section. Consumer buying behavior has changed a tremendously over the last decade and below is the Worldwide Personal Luxury Goods Market Trend (this has been discussed in detail in the industry literature review at the end) to illustrate the fact:Third year in a row of double-digit growth for the personal luxury goods market: over the 200â‚ ¬B threshold! There are various challenges that brands face over the course of their engagement tactics. The brand’s core thought or value should be in sync with the target audience. If it’s not, then there is no engagement at an emotional level. For a consumer to be engaged with the brand, he has to continuously be bombarded with the brand’s advertising or communication through various mediums. This process is very costly to the organisation as it involves various media channels and every channel (print, digital, TV, etc) has its own rate structure. The competition in every industry has further caused problems for any brand to create its importance. The consumer mind space is cluttered with messages from different brands making it even more difficult for a particular brand to register itself. Even if a consumer gets engaged, there’s no specific tool to measure the impact of the engagement on the final sales/ profits of the brand. The huge costs therefore become difficult to justify. Competition is fierce in developed economies and consumers are bombarded with offers, many of which are very similar. In such a setting, differentiation is vital and academic research has revealed that brands can build sustainable competitive advantage by increasing customer loyalty and fostering personal recommendation. However, to achieve such a sustainable competitive advantage, brands need to go beyond their traditional focus on communication and advertising and become the key to integrated client experience management. In such a scenario, it becomes even more important to build a brand that is strong in its values. It involves designing campaigns to generate intention to purchase and top of the mind awareness, various metrics to measure the effectiveness of brand campaigns, retuning parameters, redesigning the campaign and measuring the metrics again till the time the campaign reaches its desired GRPs (gross rating points). A very interesting real life example of how a brand faces a situation when it’s present engagement measures don’t work and it has to continuously make new efforts to ensure engagement with consumers is illustrated in a research paper titled ‘Luxury Brand Exclusivity Strategies’ which can be visited through this link – URL: http://dx. oi. org/10. 5430/jbar. v1n1p106. It examines how luxury fashion brands renew themselves in order to balance the exclusivity that is associated with luxury goods and with profit maximization. Using consumers’ demand theory it is shown how luxury fashion brands go through different phases to renew the perce ption of exclusivity.

Interactive Learning Approach Essay

Complicated new computer system. The complicated system poses a couple of problems for the auditors. First, the auditors may have difficulty getting the information they need from the system, and a question arises regarding auditability. Second, inadequate controls over the new system may increase the amount of substantive testing required. Client hesitant to allow new auditor to speak with previous auditor. Anytime a client is hesitant or unwilling to allow new auditors to communicate with the previous auditor, a red flag should be raised in the mind of the successor auditor, and a careful examination of the issue, including consideration of management integrity, should ensue. Illegal gambling incident. This is a matter of concern because it raises the management integrity issue. What the V.P. of finance did was definitely wrong, but the impact on the overall integrity of management is a matter of judgment. This issue can be debated among the students. Some will come down on one side saying that if a key member of management is dishonest in one thing, he is likely to be dishonest in others. Other students will argue that the incident has little to do with the business and its management, especially since there are no other known incidents. At a minimum, this incident creates an opportunity to raise and discuss the central role of management integrity in the client acceptance decision. Initial public offering. Ocean has plans to go public and aggressively expand into the national market. If successful, these plans will make Ocean a more attractive client for Barnes and Fischer, but they also serve to increase the auditor’s business risk (increased reliance on the statements, increased litigation risk, etc.) and should be considered. Management’s aggressiveness. There are some indications in the case that management is willing to manipulate the financial statements via year-end accruals and revenue recognition to achieve relatively low interest rates from creditors. This raises a potential management integrity issue, and should be heavily weighted in view of the fact that the upcoming IPO may give management even greater incentive to manipulate the financial statements. Relationship with predecessor auditor. This issue is left intentionally debatable in the case, but is certainly a concern that should be raised. The  relationship with the predecessor auditor has been negative, and this is cause for concern. On the other hand, the poor relations may be present because the auditor did not have a sound understanding of Ocean’s business and was not competent in helping Ocean with its new IT system. Personality issues can also play a role. Further, the apparent differences over the current year’s audit fee should be a concern to Barnes and Fischer from a business perspective. Students should also raise positive non-financial issues, such as the opportunity to expand into a new industry and the opportunity to provide significant consulting services relating to Ocean’s new IT system as well as to Ocean’s internal controls. The company has a relatively long and stable history in the small appliances industry. Further, Ocean is well positioned in the small appliances market. With its plans for going public and expanding nationally, the company may become an even larger and more attractive client. Some students will think the case represents a clear non-acceptance situation due to the negative factors listed above. The instructor can provide some perspective by pointing out that no prospective client comes without some concerns and problems. Ocean certainly presents some issues and concerns, but would likely be accepted by most auditing firms. (Two different partners from major firms commented in presenting this case to graduate auditing courses that the level of risk presented by Ocean Mfg. was fairly typical of many of the firm’s clients. In our experience, most students indicate that they would not accept Ocean Mfg. as a client. This case provides an opportunity for students to better understand the subjective issues and risks that auditors face in practice.).

Passion, or something like it - Emphasis

Passion, or something like it Passion, or something like it It probably wont surprise you to find out that were pretty keen on the English language here at Emphasis. And we like to know that others are too. Fortunately, evidence of this is easy to find: look no further than the comments section at the bottom of just about any online article about our language. Take this Guardian blog about the growing use of the phrase right now: what follows is a veritable hotbed of debate and rancorous ravings on some uses of English people just love to hate. It seems many members of the public take deep and personal offence at everything from classic management speak (blue-sky thinking, window of opportunity) to misplaced reflexive pronouns (yourself for you; myself for me); from starting every sentence with look to peppering them too generously with like. And a fight might yet break out between the haters of Americanisms and the haters of haters of Americanisms. It may get pretty ugly sometimes, but they do say that the opposite of love is actually not hate, but indifference. And while passionate certainly isnt a word to use lightly, its safe to say there are obviously some ticks and traits of our language that get people pretty hot and bothered. This can only mean that they care. So show us you care too. Leave a comment here in our writing blog on any aspect of the language that raises your ire, your interest, or anything else.

John D. Rockefeller, Americas First Billionaire

John D. Rockefeller, America's First Billionaire John D. Rockefeller (July 8, 1839–May 23, 1937) was an astute businessman who became America’s first billionaire in 1916. In 1870, Rockefeller founded Standard Oil Company, which eventually became a domineering monopoly in the oil industry. Rockefeller’s leadership in Standard Oil brought him great wealth as well as controversy, as many opposed Rockefeller’s business practices. Standard Oil’s nearly complete monopoly of the industry was eventually brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1911 that Rockefeller’s titanic trust should be dismantled. Though many disapproved of Rockefeller’s professional ethics, few could devalue his substantial philanthropic endeavors, which led to him to donate $540 million (more than $5 billion today) during his lifetime to humanitarian and charitable causes. Fast Facts: John D. Rockefeller Known For: Founder of Standard Oil and Americas first billionaireBorn: July 8, 1839 in Richford, New YorkParents: William â€Å"Big Bill† Rockefeller and Eliza (Davison) RockefellerDied: May 23, 1937 in Cleveland, OhioEducation: Folsom Mercantile CollegePublished Works: Random Reminiscences of Men and EventsSpouse: Laura Celestia â€Å"Cettie† SpelmanChildren: Elizabeth (Bessie), Alice (who died in infancy), Alta, Edith, John D. Rockefeller, Jr.Notable Quote: I was early taught to work as well as play, My life has been one long, happy holiday; Full of work and full of play- I dropped the worry on the way- and God was good to me every day. Early Years John Davison Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839, in Richford, New York. He was the second of six children born to William â€Å"Big Bill† Rockefeller and Eliza (Davison) Rockefeller. William Rockefeller was a traveling salesman peddling his questionable wares across the country. As such, he was often absent from the home. John D. Rockefeller’s mother essentially raised the family on her own and managed their holdings, never knowing that her husband, under the name of Dr. William Levingston, had a second wife in New York. In 1853, â€Å"Big Bill† moved the Rockefeller family to Cleveland, Ohio, where Rockefeller attended Central High School. Rockefeller also joined the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland, of which he would remain a long-time active member. It was under his mother’s tutelage that the young John learned the value of religious devotion and charitable giving, virtues he practiced regularly throughout his life. In 1855, Rockefeller dropped out of high school to enter Folsom Mercantile College. After completing the business course in three months, 16-year-old Rockefeller secured a bookkeeping position with Hewitt Tuttle, a commission merchant and produce shipper. Early Years in Business It didn’t take long for John D. Rockefeller to develop a reputation as an astute businessman: hardworking, thorough, precise, composed, and adverse to risk-taking. Meticulous in every detail, especially with finances (he even kept detailed ledgers of his personal expenditures from the time he was 16), Rockefeller was able to save $1,000 in four years from his bookkeeping job. In 1859, Rockefeller added this money to a $1,000 loan from his father in order to invest in his own commission merchant partnership with Maurice B. Clark, a former Folsom Mercantile College classmate. Four years later, Rockefeller and Clark expanded into the regionally booming oil refinery business with a new partner, chemist Samuel Andrews, who had built a refinery but knew little about business and the transporting of goods. However, by 1865, the partners, which numbered five including Maurice Clark’s two brothers, were in disagreement about the management and direction of their business, so they agreed to sell the business to the highest bidder amongst them. The 25-year-old Rockefeller won it with a bid of $72,500 and, with Andrews as a partner, formed Rockefeller Andrews. In short order, Rockefeller studied the nascent oil business in earnest and became savvy in its dealings. Rockefeller’s company started small but soon merged with O.H. Payne, a large Cleveland refinery owner, and then with others as well. With his company growing, Rockefeller brought his brother (William) and Andrews’ brother (John) into the company. In 1866, Rockefeller noted that 70% of refined oil was being shipped to overseas markets. Rockefeller set up an office in New York City to cut out the middleman, a practice he would use repeatedly to cut expenses and increase profits. A year later, Henry M. Flagler joined the group and the company was renamed Rockefeller, Andrews, Flagler. As the business continued to succeed, the enterprise was incorporated as the Standard Oil Company on January 10, 1870, with John D. Rockefeller as its president. The Standard Oil Monopoly John D. Rockefeller and his partners in the Standard Oil Company were rich men, but they strove for even greater success. In 1871, Standard Oil, a few other large refineries, and major railroads secretly joined together in a holding company called the South Improvement Company (SIC). The SIC gave transportation discounts (â€Å"rebates†) to the large refineries that were part of their alliance but then charged the smaller, independent oil refineries more money (â€Å"drawbacks†) to shuttle their goods along the railroad. This was a blatant attempt to economically destroy those smaller refineries and it worked. In the end, many businesses succumbed to these aggressive practices; Rockefeller then bought out those competitors. As a result, Standard Oil obtained 20 Cleveland companies in one month in 1872. This event became known as â€Å"The Cleveland Massacre,† ending the competitive oil business in the city and claiming 25% of the country’s oil for Standard Oil Company. It also created a backlash of public contempt, with the media dubbing the organization â€Å"an octopus.† In April 1872, the SIC was disbanded per the Pennsylvania legislature but Standard Oil was already on its way to becoming a monopoly. A year later, Rockefeller expanded into New York and Pennsylvania with refineries, eventually controlling nearly half of the Pittsburgh oil business. The company continued to grow and consume independent refineries to the point that Standard Oil Company commanded 90% of America’s oil production by 1879. In January 1882, the Standard Oil Trust was formed with 40 separate corporations under its umbrella. To increase the financial gain from the business, Rockefeller eliminated middlemen like purchasing agents and wholesalers. He began manufacturing the barrels and cans needed to store the company’s oil.  Rockefeller also developed plants that produced petroleum byproducts like petroleum jelly, machine lubricants, chemical cleaners, and paraffin wax. Ultimately, the arms of the Standard Oil Trust eradicated the need for outsourcing entirely, which devastated existing industries in the process. Marriage and Children On September 8, 1864, John D. Rockefeller married the valedictorian of his high school class (though Rockefeller did not actually graduate). Laura Celestia â€Å"Cettie† Spelman, an assistant principal at the time of their marriage, was a college-educated daughter of a successful Cleveland businessman. Like her new husband, Cettie was also a devoted supporter of her church and like her parents, upheld the temperance and abolition movements. Rockefeller valued and often consulted his bright and independently-minded wife about business manners. Between 1866 and 1874, the couple had five children: Elizabeth (Bessie), Alice (who died in infancy), Alta, Edith, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. With the family growing, Rockefeller bought a large house on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, which became known as â€Å"Millionaire’s Row.† By 1880, they also purchased a summer home overlooking Lake Erie; Forest Hill, as it was called, became a favorite home of the Rockefellers. Four years later, because Rockefeller was doing more business in New York City and did not like being away from his family, the Rockefellers acquired yet another house. His wife and children would travel each fall to the city and stay for the winter months in the family’s large brownstone on West 54th Street. Later in life after the children were grown and grandchildren came, the Rockefellers built a house in Pocantico Hills, New York, a few miles north of Manhattan. They celebrated their golden anniversary there but during the following spring in 1915, Laura â€Å"Cettie† Rockefeller passed away at age 75. Media and Legal Woes John D. Rockefeller’s name had first been associated with ruthless business practices with the Cleveland Massacre, but after a 19-part serial exposà © by Ida Tarbell titled History of Standard Oil Company, started appearing in McClure’s Magazine in November 1902, his public reputation was proclaimed to be one of greed and corruption. Tarbell’s skillful narrative exposed all elements of the oil giant’s efforts to squash competition and of Standard Oil’s overbearing domination of the industry. The installments were later published as a book of the same name and quickly became a bestseller. With this spotlight on its business practices, the Standard Oil Trust was attacked by state and federal courts as well as by the media. In 1890, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed as the first federal antitrust legislation to limit monopolies. Sixteen years later, the U.S. attorney general during President Teddy Roosevelt’s administration filed two dozen antitrust actions against large corporations; chief among  them was Standard Oil. It took five years, but in 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision that ordered Standard Oil Trust to divest into 33 companies, which would function independently from each other. However, Rockefeller did not suffer. Because he was a major stockholder, his net worth grew exponentially with the dissolution and establishment of new business entities. Rockefeller as Philanthropist John D. Rockefeller was one of the wealthiest men in the world during his lifetime. Though a tycoon, he lived unpretentiously and kept a low social profile, rarely attending the theatre or other events typically attended by his peers. Since childhood, he had been trained to give to church and charity and Rockefeller had routinely done so. However, with a fortune believed to be worth more than a billion dollars after the dissolution of Standard Oil and a tarnished public image to rectify, John D. Rockefeller began to give away millions of dollars. In 1896, 57-year-old Rockefeller turned over the day-to-day leadership of Standard Oil, though he held the title of president until 1911, and began to focus on philanthropy. He had already contributed to the establishment of the University of Chicago in 1890, giving $35 million over the course of 20 years. While doing so, Rockefeller had acquired confidence in Rev. Frederick T. Gates, the director of the American Baptist Education Society, which established the university. With Gates as his investment manager and philanthropic adviser, John D. Rockefeller founded the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research (now Rockefeller University) in New York in 1901. Within their laboratories, causes, cures, and various manners of prevention of diseases were discovered, including the cure for meningitis and the identification of DNA as the central genetic matter. A year later, Rockefeller established the General Education Board. In its 63 years of operation, it distributed $325 million to American schools and colleges. In 1909, Rockefeller launched a public health program in the effort to prevent and cure hookworm, a serious health issue in the southern states, through the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission. In 1913, Rockefeller created the Rockefeller Foundation, with his son John Jr. as president and Gates as a trustee, to foster the well-being of men and women around the world. In its first year, Rockefeller donated $100 million to the foundation, which has provided assistance to medical research and education, public health initiatives, scientific advancements, social research, the arts, and other fields around the world. A decade later, the Rockefeller Foundation was the largest grant-making foundation in the world and its founder deemed the most generous philanthropist in U.S. history. Death Along with donating his fortune, John D. Rockefeller spent his last years enjoying his children, grandchildren, and his hobby of landscaping and gardening. He was also an avid golfer. Rockefeller hoped to live to be a centenarian but died two years before the occasion on May 23, 1937. He was laid to rest between his beloved wife and mother at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. Legacy Though many Americans scorned Rockefeller for making his Standard Oil fortune through unscrupulous business tactics, its profits aided the world. Through John D. Rockefeller’s philanthropic endeavors, the oil titan educated and saved an untold number of lives and aided medical and scientific advancement. Rockefeller also forever changed the landscape of American business. Sources â€Å"John D. Rockefeller: The Ultimate Oil Man.† John D. Rockefeller: The Ultimate Oil Man.â€Å"John D. Rockefeller.† Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 16 Jan. 2019.The Rockefeller Archive Center.