International and Comparative HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

International and Comparative HRM - Essay Example Nevertheless, the management department of human resource faces some critical challenges in managing people of different cultural orientation, races, language, different educational backgrounds and system of believes. Moreover, the human resource department deals with intergenerational people with varying competencies as well as orientations. Human resource management adopts various frameworks for their operations depending in the country, prevailing factors such as government policies, and social cultural frameworks among other considerations. In particular, the human resource management within multinational corporations are the most hit by the dynamics that characterize the current world (Srivastava and Agarwa, 2012, 46-47). There is constant designing as well as implementation of policies geared to regulating the dynamics in this field within the different nations that the corporation operates. However, there are a whole range of potential strategic threats that the human manageme nt departments within Multinational Corporation are facing. Moreover, the practices within the department of human resource have some similarities, which this paper will as well discuss. Over and above this analysis, this paper aims at evaluating some potential problems faced by human resource management while managing people. These are the problems that the roots are traced back to the concerned people. They may include corruption, mismanagement of a corporation’s fund, age difference as well as the other ethical matters that govern a society. Decision making by the MNCs are influenced by the international as well as the national guiding frameworks in political, social, economic as well as the technological contexts. Multinational corporations consistently strive to unify the strategies adopted for dealing with the human resource within the different countries of operations. The major issues that are seen to adversely affect the efforts of the human resource management withi n the global perspective are the prevailing economic conditions and systems, political systems, legal systems, education systems as well as ethical (social-cultural) issues (Anyim, Ikemefuna and Mbah, 2011, 4) . A country’s economic system is seen to influence the human resource practices of multinationals in the way of training as well as hiring the personnel. For instance, within the socialist countries, multinational find it rather easy to training and manage own employees as the systems advocate for free educations systems. The costs that are incurred on the matters of training employees in their respective areas of specialization are low. However, the case in capitalistic countries is quite different as the costs of training are very high owing to the already fixed systems of education. Literature reveals that there exists a critical problem within the management of the employees from the different backgrounds especially as regards to the wages as well as the salary pack ages. Human resource management practices are also influenced by the legal systems that are in operation within the country of operation. Normally, the legal systems in existence within a country framework are derived from these cultures as well as the societal norms that do govern the people within the country. It is the responsibility

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bront Essay Example for Free

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bront Essay In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, there is a description of a room. In this essay, I will compare the similarities and differences of the two rooms. The two stories were written thirteen years apart, in the 19th century. In Jayne Eyre, the red room is decorated in bright colours, in comparison to Great Expectations, which is a faded white room. They are both large, and ornately furnished. In Great Expectations, the little boy is narrating (first person narrator), I answered, more in shyness than politeness, this quote supports two facts, one that it is a first person narrative, and that the feelings of the boy are quite uncomfortable and slightly timid about the situation hes in. Dont be ridiculous, boy, this shows that the first person is in fact a boy, therefore suggesting a young naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve nature in the storys narrator. This reflecting the readers view on the happenings in the story, but more precisely the extract on this particular subject. Like Great Expectations, Jayne Eyre, has a first person narrative, Jayne, herself. The narrator in Jayne Eyre, is actually older than the narrator in Great Expectations. The narrator seems less anxious than the boy in Great Expectations, there seems to be no signs of nervousness or anxiety in the passage of Jayne Eyre from the narrator. Both the rooms in the two stories are parts of rich, wealthy, large houses. One of the largest and stateliest chambers in the mansion, and massive pillars of mahogany support my statement for Jayne Eyre. In Great Expectations, large room and a fine ladys dressing table also strengthen my statement. Both the rooms in the two stories have been kept as almost museums, as if time stood still at one point and never restarted. In Great Expectations, the room creates this impression from remarks from the boy (the narrator), such as, No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it, this suggests how no light has entered Miss Haveshams dressing-room since whatever happened when time effectively stood still. She had not quite finished dressing, as if she had started but then suddenly frozen half way through, forgetting about it and everything else in her world. Half packed trunks, were scattered, this also suggests the stopping of time. It says in the passage about how everything used to white, but had no faded and was a pale yellow colour, had been white long ago, was faded and yellow. No brightness left, this also suggests that time has stopped. In Jayne Eyre, Very seldom slept in, this suggests loneliness to the room, where nothing breathes in it, like its also been frozen in time. Blinds always drawn down, this suggests that no light is allowed into the room, therefore leaving it in darkness, like Miss Haveshams dressing room. This room was chill, this suggests loneliness in the room, expressing lack of happenings in the chamber. Words used to describe the room such as, silent, and solemn, also show that the room has effectively been frozen in time. These words are also reflected in Great Expectations, as the boy enters the room, he is greeted with utter silence and a solemn atmosphere. The sense of a chill is also reflected in a way in Miss Haveshams dressing-room, with all the bland, cold, faded, white colours, you also interpret a cold atmosphere. The use of colour and light in the two passages are also very effective on the affect its having on the reader. In the red room, it is filled with deep reds and whites (hence the red room). These colours offer warmth and maybe innocence. In Miss Haveshams dressing-room, the whole room is that of a faded white colour, showing maybe faded innocence, or purity which has lost its initial form. The mentioning of people in the paragraphs helps to create certain atmospheres within the rooms. In Great Expectations, Miss Havesham, makes a strong impression on the room. She is wearing all white, (suggesting that she was a bride-to-be when time froze) although the white is faded, turning to a pale yellowy colour. Expressing the rooms coldness and staleness. When the boy describes her as a waxwork and skeleton that had eyes that moved and looked at him, this is also expressing the feelings of Miss Havesham reflecting on the rooms atmosphere aswell. In the red-room, there isnt actually a person physically present in the room as such as Jayne is describing it to you (the reader), although it does mention certain people. Mr. Reed is a man that had breathed his last in this room. This sends an eerie feeling into the room, a very uncomfortable feeling wraps itself around the room. The fact that nobody actually enters the room often at all gives you an idea of the rooms loneliness aswel l. A sense of dreary consecration had guarded it from frequent intrusion, this also supports my statement of the rooms lack of feeling or love. A very lonely room is felt by the fact that nobody wants to enter the room. This is obviously given through the fact of Mr. Reeds death. I think my response was stronger to Great Expectations, as I found it more intriguing. One of the main causes of this would be that there was actually a person present in the room as it was being narrated. A very interesting person aswell, somebody that can capture your attention. I would imagine so because I simple dont hear of people who lock themselves up like that, although it is a fictitious character. I didnt get into Jayne Eyre as much, it seemed to float past me as I went through it without making much of an impact. As I said a few moments ago, it is probably as there isnt a person in the room as Im reading the story to interest me as such. I felt that the writing in both stories conjured up a respectful amount of imagery in my mind, but in all I think my preference has swayed towards Great Expectations.

Prosperity and Peril at the Peak with Pericles Essay -- Philosophy, Gr

In the Age of Pericles, from 491 until his death in 429 BCE, Athens thrived. In this short period, Athens was a place of reform and advancement, giving us our sources of democracy, architecture, and the dramatic arts. Here, great minds such as Socrates and Sophocles congregated; here, ideals flourished. These developments of the Age of Pericles distinguish it as a high point in Greek society and, indeed, all Western civilization. From the start of his career in government, Pericles provided the Athenian people with the foundations of democracy. In 461, Pericles campaigned against aristocrats sitting in government, and in 451 enforced a law to prevent children of non-citizens from becoming full citizens (PBS, â€Å"The Greeks†). By managing the ties that aristocrats often made to other countries, Pericles managed to keep government from being monopolized. Unlike the aristocracy, Pericles focused on the disenfranchised, instructing Athenians to â€Å"especially obey those laws enacted for the protection of the oppressed and those which, although unwritten, it is acknowledged shame to violate† (Kagan 166, from Thucydides 2.37.3). Expounding on this social observance of fairness, Pericles most directly gave rights to the Athenians when he made possible â€Å"the full participation of its citizens in the government of city and empire† (Robertson 90). This faculty of citizens to have full acces s to their government provided Athenians with the start of democracy. Although not everyone benefited, as women and slaves were left out during this particularly â€Å"masculine age† (Robinson 91), Pericles did try to attend to the rights of men as equally as he could. It was thus that he narrowed the gap in representation of wealthy and poor citizens: paying the ... ... of the state as a whole they judged him to be the ablest† (Kagan, from Thucydides, 2.65.4) Having realized that Pericles was altogether the best man to lead them, Athens re-embraced the man who brought them to their peak. Unfortunately, they soon fell from it, but as that didn’t happen until after the Age of Pericles, this age, gilded like Athens’ goddess, remains relatively intact. Athens was at once the site of the forerunner of democracy, the epitome of Classical architecture, the height of drama, naval superiority, and enlightened minds such as Socrates. As much as these developments gave Athens its preeminence, and despite how rapidly it fell, the growth of Athens in this brief time has given us the source of our modern democracy, our sense of culture, and our ideals for society. In the Age of Pericles, Athens bloomed, but even now we relish its benefits. Prosperity and Peril at the Peak with Pericles Essay -- Philosophy, Gr In the Age of Pericles, from 491 until his death in 429 BCE, Athens thrived. In this short period, Athens was a place of reform and advancement, giving us our sources of democracy, architecture, and the dramatic arts. Here, great minds such as Socrates and Sophocles congregated; here, ideals flourished. These developments of the Age of Pericles distinguish it as a high point in Greek society and, indeed, all Western civilization. From the start of his career in government, Pericles provided the Athenian people with the foundations of democracy. In 461, Pericles campaigned against aristocrats sitting in government, and in 451 enforced a law to prevent children of non-citizens from becoming full citizens (PBS, â€Å"The Greeks†). By managing the ties that aristocrats often made to other countries, Pericles managed to keep government from being monopolized. Unlike the aristocracy, Pericles focused on the disenfranchised, instructing Athenians to â€Å"especially obey those laws enacted for the protection of the oppressed and those which, although unwritten, it is acknowledged shame to violate† (Kagan 166, from Thucydides 2.37.3). Expounding on this social observance of fairness, Pericles most directly gave rights to the Athenians when he made possible â€Å"the full participation of its citizens in the government of city and empire† (Robertson 90). This faculty of citizens to have full acces s to their government provided Athenians with the start of democracy. Although not everyone benefited, as women and slaves were left out during this particularly â€Å"masculine age† (Robinson 91), Pericles did try to attend to the rights of men as equally as he could. It was thus that he narrowed the gap in representation of wealthy and poor citizens: paying the ... ... of the state as a whole they judged him to be the ablest† (Kagan, from Thucydides, 2.65.4) Having realized that Pericles was altogether the best man to lead them, Athens re-embraced the man who brought them to their peak. Unfortunately, they soon fell from it, but as that didn’t happen until after the Age of Pericles, this age, gilded like Athens’ goddess, remains relatively intact. Athens was at once the site of the forerunner of democracy, the epitome of Classical architecture, the height of drama, naval superiority, and enlightened minds such as Socrates. As much as these developments gave Athens its preeminence, and despite how rapidly it fell, the growth of Athens in this brief time has given us the source of our modern democracy, our sense of culture, and our ideals for society. In the Age of Pericles, Athens bloomed, but even now we relish its benefits.

Baptist Bible Fellowship International :: bible colleges, chruch, fellowship

The Baptist Bible Fellowship International has done great things throughout the many years of its existence. The reason for the group’s success has been through missions, evangelism, Bible Colleges, and church planting. In the 1950’s the World Baptist Fellowship ruled the Baptist scene. During the era of the WBF there was a conflict that arose as J. Frank Norris attempted to overthrow G.B. Vick’s presidency at his Bible College. Norris desired to be president of the college that Vick established. Norris attempted to push Vick out by spreading rumors and causing dissension regarding Vick’s character among the students that attended the college. Jeffery D. Lavoie writes in, Segregation and the Baptist Bible Fellowship, that G.B. Vick aided a â€Å"movement† for a new fellowship after being removed from his presidency by J. Frank Norris. When about one hundred pastors decided leave the WBF and start a new fellowship. With the leadership of Vick and t he other pastors, a brand new fellowship called the Baptist Bible Fellowship was created in May 1950 (Lavoie 2). The WBF was the most prominent fellowship among Baptist pastors, and slowly after the BBF was formed, the WBF faded away. To this day is still existing and running as a missions agency. As time passed, the BBF had the desire to communicate the need for missions and missionary help. In 1975, in order to raise the awareness of missions, the BBF changed the name from, Baptist Bible Fellowship, to Baptist Bible Fellowship International or BBFI. The reason for the name change was to emphasize missions among the group of pastors (Lavoie 3). This change of heart and emphasis helped in creating some of the greatest missionaries the world has ever seen. The Baptist Bible Fellowship International produced an abundance of great missionaries, while all missionaries deserve their honor and dues: three of the most influential missionaries from the BBFI are John Birch, Fred Donnelson, and Bob Hughes. One of the most influential missionaries within the BBFI is John Birch, whom God brought to the world on May 28th, 1918, in Landour, India. Mike Randall the writer of an article in Our Baptist Heritage about John Birch explains how John Birch’s parents, George Birch and Ethel Birch, taught at Ewing Christian College in Allahabad, India. George suffered from chronic health problems, but that problem did not stop them from completing at least three years of ministry in India.

French Revolution: Ultimately a Failure

Liberte, Egalite, and Fraternite were the main principles of the French revolution. However, it was a time where these three ideals would be twisted into nothing more than moral and physical violence. The revolution was ultimately a failure which spun out of control and began to murder itself. The French wanted Freedom from its absolutist ruler, but in turn saw themselves being governed by the devil. These citizens wanted a sense of brotherhood amongst their country, but saw their nation being torn apart by violence.Furthermore, the third estate sought to benefit from a new government that promised equality; however, the result was a further imbalance in an already corrupt society. Ironically, the gruesome reign of terror which was fabricated by the French government, contradicted the ideals of which the very revolution stood for, further illustrating the utter failure of this event. In the beginning, the French saw the revolution as a way to improve their lives, but this path quickl y turned into a horrifying ascent into oblivion, which aside from immense suffering, achieved nothing.During the reign of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, revolutionary ideas flourished through the age of enlightenment. However, Louis made a crucial mistake by aiding the American Revolution; although it was a military success, it was an economic failure. France was bankrupt and the people were starving; they watched as their monarchs, nobles and aristocracy live a life of luxury and wealth while they suffered through poverty, drastically changing how the citizens perceived their monarch. Soon this resentment transformed into pure hatred and nothing could be done to change their minds.Before long the people revolted and Louis’ powers were stripped away, a new man was then put in his place, Robespierre. Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore de Robespierre was a man who had great power and abused it; to some he was â€Å"The Incorruptible†, but in reality was a blood thir sty dictator. As a young man, he studied the law and held a reputation for honesty and compassion. He sought to abolish the death penalty and refused to pronounce a required death sentence after becoming a judge : A victor who kills his captive enemies is called a barbarian!A grown man who kills a child that he could disarm and punish seems to us a monster! An accused man condemned by society is nothing else for it but a defeated and powerless enemy. Before it, he is weaker than a child before a grown man — to erase from the code of the French the blood laws that command judicial murders, and that their morals and their new constitution reject. I want to prove to them: 1- that the death penalty is essentially unjust and, 2- that it isn’t the most repressive of penalties and that it multiplies crimes more than it prevents them.However, as the revolution progressed so did his ideas; he soon became the head of the Jacobin club, a radical group who advocated exile or death for the French nobility. By this time the once soft and kind-hearted man, was now replaced by one who had developed a great love of power along with a reputation of intolerance, self-righteousness and cruelty . Robespierre quickly came to a conclusion that the end would justify the means, and that in order to defend the revolution against those who would destroy it, the shedding of blood was justified.Merlin de Thionville who was a member of several French legislative bodies said commented that: â€Å"In those days so rotten had France become that a bloody mountebank without talent or courage, whose name was Robespierre, made every citizen tremble under his tyranny†. The French now lived under fear and oppression of a man who no longer cared for the people of the revolution but rather the revolution itself. Using his great oratory skills he successfully demanded the execution of the king and queen without fair trial or judgement, saying that â€Å"Louis must die so that the revolution may live†.In January 1973 Louis XVI was executed, followed by his wife ten months later. By his own words he had become a monster, â€Å"A victor who kills his captive enemies is called a barbarian† . A nation cannot be one when the people do not believe in the ideals of the government. The revolution was merely a civil war which pitted citizens against one another. While many people believed in the revolution, they did not accept the extremist ideas of the Jacobins, and for that thousands of ordinary people were targeted and killed.The September Massacres was a subsequent mass killing of prisoners, after news that the Prussian Army had invaded France. On September 3, 1792, crowds of French citizens stormed into the prisons where they attacked prisoners and refractory clergy, regardless of their status as counter revolutionary. An account of this event by Nicolas-Edme Restif illustrates the torture the citizens inflicted on the prisoners who were their †Å"brothers†: There had been a pause in the murders. Something was going on inside. . . . I told myself that it was over at last.Finally, I saw a woman appear, as white as a sheet, being helped by a turnkey. They said to her harshly: â€Å"Shout ‘Vive la nation! ‘† â€Å"No! No! † she said. They made her climb up on a pile of corpses. One of the killers grabbed the turnkey and pushed him away. â€Å"Oh! † exclaimed the ill-fated woman, â€Å"do not harm him! † They repeated that she must shout â€Å"Vive la nation! † With disdain, she refused. Then one of the killers grabbed her, tore away her dress, and ripped open her stomach. She fell, and was finished off by the others. Never could I have imagined such horror. I wanted to run, but my legs gave way.I fainted. When I came to, I saw the bloody head. Someone told me they were going to wash it, curl its hair, stick it on the end of a pike, and carry it past the windows of the Temple . What pointless cruelty! . . The number of active killers who took part in the massacres was about one hundred and fifty. The rest of Paris looked on with fear or approval, and the rest behind closed shutters, signifying the destruction of unity through the people. With a country whose citizens mercilessly killed one another, how could the French have a sense of Fraternite amongst themselves?A Nation is not united under fear and death but rather through peace and prosperity, which was clearly the opposite of the French Revolution. Equality was promised to the third estate, but the revolution did not create a balance. What it did was further upset the structure of society. In turn the first and second estate was removed from power, and the bourgeoisie put in their place. The rest of the third estate which included the peasants and the working class (sans-culottes), were left with nothing: They were the working people, the farmers, the shop owners, the trades people, the artisans, an d even the factory workers.They were among the prominent losers of the first, more subtle revolution. While the middle class and wealthy classes benefitted greatly from the revolution, the sans-culottes saw their livelihoods disappearing and inflation driving them to fight for survival. The sans-culottes and peasants were generally poor and had little power, they could not vote, hold office, or own land because they did not have the means to do so. Since they could not own land, peasants were angry that they had traded one master for another; once again they had found themselves at the bottom of the ladder.The Sans-culottes atoned for this by aligning themselves with the Jacobins. While this alliance gave them a facade of power, they were nothing more than henchmen to a group of radical thinkers who needed people to do their dirty work. However, at the end, many of the Sans-culottes found themselves imprisoned and executed by the very revolutionary tribunals that they had supported. The revolution gave nothing more than an illusion of what the common masses craved; while the first and second estates were gone, a new powerful and cruel organization made up of the bourgeoisie were put in their place.The Reign of Terror was designed to fight the enemies of the revolution; with that in mind the revolution was no longer about freedom, equality and brotherhood, but rather an extremist form of revolutionary ideals. Anyone who had not aligned themselves with the Jacobin rule or had talent and power were seen as a threat to the new revolution, they were subsequently dubbed as traitors and sentenced to the guillotine. For the first time in history, terror became an official government policy, with the intent to use violence to achieve political goals.In the course of this reign the new regime managed to execute thousands of people who were considered as having the potential to stand up or overthrow the government. Through this, scores of influential people were falsely accused. In one particular execution, a woman by the name of Mme Roland uttered the words that have been immortalized by history, â€Å"O Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name†. She was right, the revolution had abused and committed crimes against not only the idea of liberte, but also of egalite and fraternite.Every person who placed their head upon the guillotine, were there because the three ideals which the revolution stood for were corrupted to support the extremist views of the Jacobins. The modern era has unfolded the shadows of the French revolution. Ultimately this time period did not bring any successes, but rather the opposite. The revolution was purely the product of a few conspiratorial individuals who brainwashed the masses into subverting the old order. The promises of egalite, equalite, and fraternite, were soon lost as violence and bloodshed set in.The French were eager to be free of the constricting class system and absolute monarchy. However, the p eople found themselves under the rule of a man who oppressed the people into an absolute state of obedience. Furthermore, the French wanted a sense of unity throughout their country, but instead resorted to the brutal murders of their own people. Ultimately, this reformation was caused by an upset in the balance of equality amongst the classes. The third estate was promised equal status by the revolution, but in the end only the bourgeoisie emerged victorious.Ironically, the reign of terror distorted the three main ideals for which the revolution stood for. Through the guidance of corrupted leaders, these ideas were washed away in bloodshed. The French revolution is an usurpation of power gone wrong, at the end of this ten year period, nothing was gained, yet everything was lost. The people who once saw this transformation as the answer to an oppressive regime soon realized that had simply set themselves up for a meeting with death.

The Wilding of America Essays

The Wilding of America Essays The Wilding of America Paper The Wilding of America Paper but all inspections were announced. Hence, why bother! Kudos to the companies that have discovered this was happening with their own products and put an end to it. Wilding has also nested a place in religion. Charles Drabber stated Wilding in the church is then, arguably, the most dangerous type (Drabber 84). Does individualism overpower a belief or a message? We have Jimmy Swaggers and Jim Baker who admittedly preached about morals and values, yet had affairs with prostitutes nonetheless. We have John J. Goanna who was one of many priests in Boston who molested children. Cardinal Bernard Law, a highly respected and valued member of the church, sealed his fate when he attempted to cover up the Boston molestations by transferring the priests to other archdioceses. Religious wilding and corporate wilding are very similar in these aspects. Hurricane Strain. What kind of wilding would one associate with this horrific, life canalling, analogical numerical? As tenure personal winning: survival winning? Government wilding? Economic wilding? Media wilding? Yes, there was. First, lets talk about the media wilding, my personal peeve. The national media made out like bandits and were chomping at the bit regarding this hurricane. They showed stories of people dying, hurting, starving, stealing, shooting, and trying to get out. They were here, they got in. Were they going after ratings at the expense of people lives? Why didnt they bring in any food, water, tents, first aid kits? They got in to do the stories. Why couldnt they help people out? The media showed what they wanted you to see. Chaos! Anderson Cooper was right there in the thick of it watching old women struggle to get up a bridge. Why didnt he put his microphone down to go assist? Why didnt the cameraman? The media did not show survival wilding and that the majority of people looting were doing so to survive. They showed people walking out with televisions, tennis shoes and guns. What about the people walking out with food, and water and sharing that with other? They showed police shooting, arresting, and even occasionally sleeping in high rise garages. What about showing the police and military who were working for over 48 hours straight who were exhausted, had not eaten in days and were still walking through infested water to save people? All sorts of wilding was present during and far after Hurricane Strain. There were helicopter pilots who were being shot at. There were nursing homes that did not evacuate the members, all died. There were gas and other price gouging prevalent all over the southeast United States. There were faulty and negligent insurance claims made. There was lack of government support. Contractors contracting to do house repairs, getting paid, not doing the work and skipping town. There were people charging to do work that other volunteers would do for free. Wilding during and after Hurricane Strain was rampant to say the least. Student wilding also has been going for years and years. Although it seems to be more prevalent now then ever more so due to advances in technology. There are essays that are for sale on the internet or even on the campus. There are codes that can be formed during tests. There are discs being sold with answers on them. There re sales of the professors study guides with tests in them. If one looks hard enough, a cheat sheet or quick fix are out there. Who does this benefit though? Yes it might get you that A you are looking for, but on the flip side it does absolutely nothing to help you in the future. So you get an A in this class, and then take the requisite class and have no clue what the professor is talking about. The only people benefiting from this are the ones making the buck. There are even books on how to cheat. The author of these books sees nothing wrong with it claims its his First Amendment eight (Drabber 50).

Essay Sample on Animal Testing Solutions and Resolutions

Essay Sample on Animal Testing Solutions and Resolutions Introduction Today as I trot through the forests of my homelands, I feel free knowing that my life is free from torture. For me, there will be no new products tested on my body or any body of any organism. My life is safe now from all manufacturers and scientists. My life is no longer open for testing. Although this may be true for my generation and me in the year 2050, it unfortunately was not for my ancestors. Long ago, I was walking through the forests of my homelands. It was a cold morning; so I wasn’t really worried about many predators, just something to eat. As I foraged, I began to sense something. My left ear turned 40 degrees to try and catch a sound to help me find out where and what it was I was hearing. Was it a predator or just a rabbit foraging like myself? I wasn’t sure, so I forgot about food for a little while and started to fear for my life. Little did I know that my life wasn’t going to end with a quick bullet through the heart like other rabbits. I began to walk away from my foraging site; slowly, then faster and faster. Still not sure of what had made me so paranoid, I began to run. But as I jolted off, a net fell on me, preventing my escape. I began to frantically flop on the ground like a fish on the bank of a pond on a hot summer day. I finally gave up as I heard a human chuckle at me and mock my futile attempts at escape. My muscles ached and started to cramp because of the strain put on them from my useless attempts to shimmy away from the net I was so entangled in now. As the end of the net was grabbed, I was dragged off; I did not fight because I knew it was useless now. The bed of the truck felt cold on my skin where my fur had been folded because of the tightness of the net against me. Still in shock because of the capture, I just laid there in a daze, staring blankly into the gray sky. When the truck stopped, the human came around and grabbed the net with me in it and went into a building. The man took me in another room. There were bright lights in the room which seemed focused on a long metallic table. I was tossed onto it, and the metallic surface reminded of me of the lonely ride in the back on the truck. A man with a long, light colored coat came over to me, observed me and said, â€Å"Thanks Charlie, this rabbit will do just fine for the tests.† Part of my fur was shaved off, then a man rubbed some kind of liquid like substance on me. It burned badly, but I could do nothing to tell him. I could not squirm, I was tied down and all I could do was lie there with the unbearable pain hoping it would end soon. It did, I fell asleep and did not wake up for what seemed a very long time, along with the other animals in that laboratory. These tests are still being performed today, keeping the issue of new product testing alive. The history and background, the players and their positions, and possible resolutions and solutions, must all be explored in fully researching this issue. History and Background Throughout the history of biological testing, no subject has caused more debate than product testing. The issue of testing products on living things dates back near the 17th century (All 1). Around then, a philosopher named Rene Descartes stated that, â€Å"Animals are not able to reason and therefore do not feel pain and suffering,† (All 1). During the same time period another famous philosopher by the name of Jeremy Bentham strongly disagreed with Descartes statements on animals. Bentham’s belief on the issue of animal testing was that living creatures are able to suffer and enjoy and their ability or inability to reason is immaterial to the issue of the treatment of animals. Bentham’s philosophy was, â€Å"The question is not, can they reason, nor can they talk, but can they suffer?†(All 1) The animal testing of cosmetics began in the early 1930’s in response to a lady using Lash Lure mascara on her eyelashes (All 1). First, the woman experienced a burning sensation in her eyes. Soon after this, she suffered blindness and in due course died (All 1). The moral dispute for using living things in experiments and testing pivots on the idea that animals are inferior to humans because they are not as intellectual as human beings and are incapable of reasoning (Animal Experimentation 1). Some people believe that this conclusion has a defect in that if we were to follow it, testing could begin on the mentally disabled or on children (Animal Experimentation 1). As human beings, we do not base value or give rights to people based on their intellectuality (Animal Experimentation 1). We give rights to people based upon empathetic knowledge that not doing so could cause undue pain, harm and suffering. Morally, we have a responsibility as humans to acknowledge the potential harm we cause to living creatures and should attempt to end their suffering. The scientific side of this issue is a result of a century’s work in using living creatures for medical studies in the search for cures and treatments of illnesses. Over the years the number of scientists who are finding animal testing to be obsolete and inaccurate has been rising steadily (Animal Experimentation 1). Scientists question the ability to accurately test and apply knowledge gained by animal testing to humans. Humans do have some of the same qualities and characteristics as those creatures used in laboratories, but the dissimilarities are very considerable (Animal Experimentation 2). For example chimpanzees, although known for being closely related to humans because they have 99 percent of the same genetics, are not vulnerable to some diseases including AIDS. In addition, they do not react similarly to humans when taking a drug or experiencing a medical procedure (Animal Experimentation 2). Because of this, some humans have suffered greatly, died, or even suffered from a disease that has gone undiscovered (Animal Experimentation 2). One example of this is with cigarettes. When experimented on using a variety of living creatures, scientists were led to believe that cigarettes did not cause cancer; therefore cigarette boxes went unlabeled with no cancer-causing label for many years (Animal Experimentation 2). In testing new products on animals to conclude the safety of the product, there are two primary methods; the LD50 (lethal dose) test and the Draize skin and eye irritancy tests (Protest 1). For more than 600 years these test methods have set the standard for safety with new products. The LD50 test procedures were invented in 1927 by J.W. Trevan. These tests were used to verify the potency of digitalis extracts, diphtheria antitoxin, and insulin and were used to determine proper dosages of certain drugs to obtain specified results for certain illnesses (Protest 1-2). The LD50 test method is composed of a group of animals that are given the same substance, the number of times administered is not specified, and are observed until 50 percent of the animals in the test group have died. Observing the test animals till death occurred was to determine lethal doses of the substances. The substance is administered in a number of ways. The test group is either force-fed or placed in a gas chamber to test products for inhalation safety, or the substance is applied to the epidermis (Protest 1). The testing can potentially cause paralysis, severe distress together with convulsions, shock, and blood loss through the nostrils, mouth or anus. Within 5 years of the invention of th e LD50 tests, the tests received major criticism on ethical and scientific grounds (Protest 2). Despite the major criticism, tests continued because of the straightforwardness of the tests and the solid numbers that were quickly observed. The straightforwardness of the tests comes from the idea if the test animal(s) is dead, don’t use the product, and if the test animal(s) is alive it is safe to use. The other primary animal test method to determine safety is the Draize test, named after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientist John Draize (Protest 3). During the early 1940’s, the FDA assigned Draize and other scientists to develop a testing method to determine skin and eye irritancy; a rabbit or species of rodent was usually used (Protest 2). During the eye irritancy test, a substance was placed into the eye of the test animal and observation was done for up to seven days (Protest 2-3). Observers looked for signs of opacity, ulceration, redness, swelling, hemorrhage, and discharge in differing intervals (Protest 2). Just as the LD50 test received major criticism, so did the Draize test. Just like the LD50 test, the Draize test continued because of the straightforwardness of its procedures and its ability to produce raw numbers quickly (Protest 3). A major company that used both tests was Revlon, which stopped in 1990 because of animal rights campaigns (Protest 3). Tod ay, the Draize and LD 50 tests are diminishing due to the use of the in vitro test method known as Eytex. Eytex measures eye and skin irritancy using a vegetable protein from jack beans (Animal Testing 1). Although some companies may still use the Draize and LD 50 tests, they are now becoming the minority. Players and Positions The issue of new product testing seems to be only two-sided. People either support product testing on living things or oppose it. Either way, each player has a solid reason for his/her position. Scientists and physicians are where most people look for solid numbers, for example if the test group lived or died, and factual information. Most researchers and scientists publicly speak out against tests or experiments done on animals stating their position by saying they are â€Å"outdated studies† (Drug 1). The tests are considered outdated because they have been used since the 17th century (All 1). In addition scientists speak out against these tests because of the inaccuracy of the results when compared to humans. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) believe that, â€Å"Human reactions to drugs cannot be predicted by tests on animals because different species (and even individuals within the same species) react differently to drugs. Britain’s health department estimates that only one in four toxic side affects that occur in animals can actually occur in humans,† (Drug 1). Even though the species used for the experiments are very similar to hu mans, the results can still vary greatly (Animal 2). For example, penicillin would not be available today if it had been tested on guinea pigs, a common test animal, because penicillin kills guinea pigs (Drug 1). Another example is morphine. Morphine would not be available if it had been tested on cats, goats, or horses because although it is a depressant to humans, to such animals it is a stimulant (Drug 1). Difficulties occur when trying to relate data gained from animal tests to human beings, and these difficulties have caused multiple problems over the years (Animal 2). Animal rights activists and groups, such as PETA, support most scientists and physicians and share their position, but activists add a new dimension to the issue. Activists believe that product testing on animals should stop, not just due to inaccuracy of results but also because of the raw cruelty. With such test methods as the Lethal Dose 50 (LD 50) and Draize irritancy test that involve substances forcefully placed on. A professional organization called American for Medical Progress Educational Foundation (AMPEF) has documented evidence supporting the testing of new medicinal products and procedures on animals and how beneficial and vital it has been to the human race. An example benefit would be polio. If it had not been for the tests done on animals with the polio vaccine, polio would still kill or cripple thousands of unvaccinated humans this year and years to come (Without 1). In addition, millions of American’s diabetics who need insulin would not have insulin, and would be dead without the tests performed on animals to come up with insulin for diabetics (Without 1). Similarly without the testing of chemotherapy on animals, 70 percent of the children that suffer from lymphocytic leukemia would die (Without 1). Over a million people who live in this nation would go blind in at least one eye because successful cataract surgery would not exist (Animal 1). Rehabilitation techniques would not be available for thousands who suffer disability from strokes or head and spinal cord injuries. Bone marrow and corneal transplants would not have been developed if not for the tests done on animals. Progresses in cardiology such as, coronary blood flow, coronary bypass methods and high blood pressure medication are another result of animal tests. The use of AZT to prevent HIV transmission from mother to newborn is another example of a medical advancement from animal testing. Such vaccines for smallpox, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, lyme disease, hepatitis B and chicken pox have been available because of tests preformed on animals (Without 1). Over 80 medicines originally developed for humans after being tested ended up being used to treat animals instead of humans, medicines including anesthetics, painkillers, and animal tranquilizers, which means animal testing can benefit both animals and humans (Animal Research 1). Other medications, procedures, or medical breakthroughs that resulted on tests done on animals and ended up being regularly used for treatment are skin grafts for wounds, organ or tissue transplantation methods, treatment for parasites, orthopedic surgeries, and for all pet-lovers the prevention of heartworms (Without 1). Millions of farm animals and pets are now safe from anthrax, distemper, canine parvorvirus, feline leukemia, and rabies thanks to researching on animals. With benefits for both for the animals and the humans, AMPEF makes a strong statement for the testing of products on animals. Another activist that would like animal testing to continue is the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) (NABR 1). They believe, â€Å"Virtually every major medical adcance of the last century has depended upon research with animal,† (NABR 1). An impressive figure, in favor of their argument, is that 70% of American’s supports the necessary use of animals is research (NABR 1). Another figure put out by the United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA), stated that 1,267,828 animals are used in biomedical research in 1997 (NABR 2). These animals include cats, dogs, non-human primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and other animals (NABR 2). One of the major concerns animal rights activist groups have with testing on animals is the pain that is endured during testing. However, research done by the USDA proves that 92 percent of the tests done was not painful to the animals involved (NABR 2). Also, in over 50 percent of the cases involving animal testing, the animals were not subjected to any painful procedures (NABR 2). Solutions and Resolutions The scientists, researchers, and activists see only one way to solve the problem that they have with product testing on living things; it is to end product testing as soon as possible. But professional organizations like Americans for Medical Progress Educational Program (AMPEF) do not see why these tests must be stopped because of the benefits humans and some animals receive. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the John Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) have developed many solutions to the issue of product testing and have developed a program for students called CAATalyst (CAATalyst 1). CAATalyst was developed to teach students and their teachers about concepts to alternatives of animal testing. CAAT has worked with scientists for over two decades to find new test methods to replace the use of animals for laboratory experiments, to reduce the quantity of animals tested, and to refine indispensable tests to stop pain and distress on both humans and animals (Untitled 1). CAAT supports companies or scientists trying to change their ways by supplying grants for scientists developing methods that do not include animals, workshops that talk about alternative test methods, and books, newsletters, and other publications (Untitled 1). CAAT defines alternative tests by, â€Å"The three R’s – reduction, refinement, and replacement,† (CAATalyst 1). A reduction alternative is a test that uses fewer animals (CAATalyst 1). A refinement alternative is a test that improves the well-being of animals being used for testing (CAATalyst 1). A replacement alternative is a test that uses an in-vitro or computer method instead of a whole animal (CAATalyst 2).† By law, companies must test some of their products on animals to insure the safety of consumers. A group of companies, in response to the concerns of people, donated one million dollars to fund a center dedicated to in- vitro, or literally meaning â€Å"in glass†, and other alternative test methods rather than testing on animals to insure safety of thousands of animals (CAATalyst 2). A 2000 animal rights activist newsletter called â€Å"All for Animals† listed some alternatives to animal tests. Much of the tests involve the in-vitro test method which actually means â€Å"in glass† (Animal Testing 1). The in-vitro test contradicts the in-vivo test methods, which actually means â€Å"whole animal† (Animal Testing 1). In-vitro tests have prospered because of the progress in tissue culture techniques and many other analytical methods (Animal Testing 1). Such tests are the Eytex, Skintex, EpiPack, neutral red bioassay, testskin, TOPKAT, Ames test, and the Agarose diffusion method (Animal Testing 1). The Eytex test is a test that measures eye irritancy by means of a protein alteration system; it has replaced the Draize eye irritancy test in some laboratories (Animal Testing 1). The Skintex test is a test that uses pumpkin rind to imitate the reaction of the human skin to a foreign substance (Animal Testing 1). The Skintex and Eytex tests methods can accurately test and measure up to 5,000 substances (Animal Testing 1). The EpiPack test method uses cloned human skin tissue to measure the potential harmfulness of a substance. Cloning is a relatively new procedure, which makes cloned human tissue difficult to find. The TOPKAT test uses computer software which measures toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and teratonogenicity (Animal Testing 1). The effectiveness of such alternatives is not yet known, but such big companies as Avon an d Estee Lauder use these alternative test methods (Animal Testing 1). Those that are in favor of animal testing have only one solution; that is to continue with current practices without interference from activist groups or protestors. Such groups as AMPEF and NABR continue to lay bare the advances made possible by animal testing. Conclusion The history of new product testing has deep roots on both sides of the issue. Philosophers began arguing over the moral issue of testing on animals in the 17th century, and the actually animal testing dates as far back as anyone can remember (All 1). But with tests as gruesome as the LD 50 and Draize irritancy the opposition’s argument is understandable (All 1). Although the LD 50 and Draize tests were after the times of the arguing philosophers such as Bentham and Descartes, I’m sure test methods were not less gruesome even further back in time for the philosophers’ generations. Although the tests improved as far as the welfare for the animals is concerned, the amount of criticizism did not lessen. Instead more and more animal rights activist groups grew rapidly around the world, making product testing the issue it is today. Such groups as PETA, ASPCA, All For Animals, and several Anti-Vivisection Societies around the world speak against companies that have tested on animals for many years. Those groups oppose testing on animals because of the raw cruelty of it; and I concur; there is nothing classy about watching a rabbit’s eyes hemorrhage (Eye 1). However, major progress in the field of medicine, including diagnoses, medications, and treatments for diseases such as polio, measles, and smallpox have been developed as a result of animal testing. These diseases are among many known to have killed millions of people. Today we have vaccines that have nearly wiped out these diseases and other dreadful diseases because of animal testing (Without 1). The alternatives to product testing on animals seem to be more update usage in-vitro methods and computer software rather than just dropping some substance into or onto a living, breathing creature (Animal Testing 1). As the researcher of this project,I find myself supporting the testing of new products on animals, simply because of the medical advances that have resulted from these tests (Without 1). Testing using computer software may give results on a new product more efficiently than testing on animals, but by saving a few animals we may have killed millions of humans. In testing on a computer that cannot react like a living creature, we may miss the opportunity to develop a cure for cancer, HIV, or AIDS. Although my point may be exaggerated with the cure for cancer, HIV, and AIDS, such major medical breakthroughs have occurred because of the tests done on animals (Without 1). I do not enjoy hearing or researching about killing and torturing animals, but I will not stand in the way of medical advancements for the human race. We have cloned a sheep, although this is not the only option to make up for the ones killed in order to save millions upon millions of human lives. Currently, there is no definite solution to the issue of new product testing. Companies continue to test on animals. Due to the major advances, without animal testing these would not be possible (NABR 1). However, animal rights activist groups such as PETA and newsletters such as â€Å"All for Animals† will not stop with their protests until animal testing is completely obliterated. You can also order a custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis or dissertation on Animal Testing from our professional custom essay writing company which provides students with high-quality custom written papers.

Salvador DAli on Surrelism essays

Salvador DAli on Surrelism essays Requirements for Mental Health Technician (MHT) 1. Must take post test after each video b. Intoxication 2. Read assigned books Chapter assigned are as follows 1,2,3,4,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,(25-33) 3. Verbal discussion with a Registered Nurse (RN) Scheduled Classroom lecture with Instructor (You will be notified of Classroom Lectures) 4. Mandatory Quiz after each video (Mandatory Test after curriculum) Every student will be notified on externship hours which they will need to grasp the social and verbal concepts. ( These are the topics that you will need to familiarize yourself with) Intake and Referral Services 24 hr. mental health crisis line Crisis Intervention Delegate Forensic/Mental Health Services to county jail and court system Mental Health Assessments and Recommendations Community Outreach Care Worker - Farrell/Wheatland Psychological, Psychiatric, Social Family Based Mental Health School Based Mental Health Partial Hospitalization (adult and adolescent) Family Support for the Mentally Retarded In-Patient Psychiatric Serv. (adult/adolescents) Community Residential Services (CRR + CLA) Community Services (public educa ...

Porter's competitive advantage of nations, cluster and the new Term Paper

Porter's competitive advantage of nations, cluster and the new economics of competition - Term Paper Example Despite this, the country has a lot of unskilled employees and with good strategic planning, it is possible to train some of the locals in non-demanding professional skills and import only the labor that is impossible to reproduce locally. There is a high supply of raw materials in South Africa owing to the extensive scope of the mining and manufacturing industry. Steel and plastic which and other materials which are required for production of toys can be locally procured thus cutting on the costs that could have been incurred if the material were to be imported. Demand conditions The demands conditions in South Africa are conducive for a toy market since the population of young middle class is growing as the economy grows many of these especially the educated ones will likely increase demand for toys products. In addition, the toy market has of late diversified to encompass the production of technology based games which are popular among children and younger adults. As a result, the local demand is likely to push firms in manufacturing the country to produce more products customized for them. Normally, a demanding local market is good for local industries since when the demand is high, innovation improves since the firms have to come up with ways to deal with the demand. As such, a firm investing in South Africa is more likely to be highly innovative since the locals will pressure it to make quality and diverse products so they will not have to buy imported goods. Related and Supporting Industries   In South Africa the toy and gaming market is dominated by a few large companies which maintain their market position by continuously broadening their portfolios and acquiring international licenses. Prima Leisure, Just Fun Group and Kids II lead the industry which offers a wide range of products in the local market (Toy and Game Companies 2012). Contrary to popular assumption the existence of these industries can be seen as incentive for new entrants because they actively participate in market upgrades and stimulate growth. In addition the state actively tries to encourage investment South Africa as to create jobs for the local, this is done by giving investors subsidies and tax cuts. Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry The structure and the management of different firms in various countries are different and this can impact the competitiveness of the firms operating within. South African companies can generally be categorized as a blend of hierarchical systems and organic, this is more so in the toy and games industry and as a result the competiveness is moderated. The home market in as far as toy manufacture is concerned is very competitive, nevertheless, this will work to the advantage of new entrants. The domestic competition also encourages firms to diversify their products, this way a new firm venturing in South Africa will find that there exists a ready market for their products both locally and abroad. While the porter 5 forces ma ke low rivalry seem attractive, the contrary is true in the diamond model; this is because when low rivalry may be good for the firm in the short run, in the long run it will even be more beneficial. In South Africa for instance, the toy manufacturing market is dominated by a few major companies which will undoubtedly provide formidable opposition. On the other hand, this way the new firms will be motivated

Religious Conflicts in Lebanon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Religious Conflicts in Lebanon - Essay Example Moreover, there is conflict between the Sunni Muslim majority and the Shiite Muslim minority who been engaged in conflict for a long time and up to date, they are not at peace with each other. The Druze is another distinct fraction in Lebanon, they are also the minority in Lebanese society, and they have been into conflict with the Christians in the 1840s when the country was known as Mount Lebanon. Until today, there is tension between these religious groups as they are trying to build a stable democracy. It can be therefore noted that the chaos among religious groups in Lebanon is as a result of failure to establish a working power sharing system between these groups. This paper explores the religious conflict in Lebanon and it is organized in three sections. The first section presents sectarianism in Lebanon, followed by an analysis of the root of the conflict, identifying the actors and their interests. Lastly, the paper discusses possible solutions and consequences of different policy solutions. Mostly, the conflict in Lebanon is presented as a sectarian conflict, which involves the moderate Christians and the extremist Muslims (â€Å"Troubles a test†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Apart from religious differences between the Christians and the Muslims, there is also conflict within the Muslim community, between the Sunnis and the Shiites. The Muslim society was divided in Sunni and the Shiite because of the power struggle over succession (Tomass 714). The entire population including the Christians and Muslims speak Arabic language; however, sectarianism is a dominant socio-political reality in Lebanese society despite the features they have in common. Sectarianism is not a new in Lebanon, historical Lebanon also called Mount Lebanon used to be shared mainly by Druzes and the Maronites. They did not coexist in peace and harmony as they fought over land ownership and distribution of political power among other issues. But these two groups have coexisted in harmony until the

Reflective Portfolio 05205 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Reflective Portfolio 05205 - Essay Example However the participation of the company in the global market also depends on the comparative advantage of the firms that is the firms can export goods in which the firm specialises as well it needs to consider the cultural as well as the political issues of the trading partners. The entrepreneurs within a market focus on technological progress. Through internalisation a new product can be known that the firm may produce and then export the goods to other countries. (Ethier, 2005; Hoekstra and Hung, 2005). The products produced by the firms also depend on the demands of the customers and the entrepreneurs apply various strategies related to internalisation in order to increase the production capacity of the firms. International trade links the home and the host countries through the export and the import of goods that take place. The main factors that play a key role in promoting the globalisation within the economy are the technological innovation that brings in a change within the economy, economic and political changes that take place. The technological innovation within the economy enhances the transportation and communication process at low costs. A large investment in the road infrastructure allowed greater share of trade to be conducted by trucks movi ng between North America and Western Europe (Lane and Milesi-Ferretti, 2008). The shifting of the coal miners towards oil and gas industry is also considered as an important element of Globalisation. The currencies were convertible and the balance of payment restrictions was eliminated. The birth of the Euro Dollar market in the global economy was a move towards the availability of the international liquidity and the cross border trade relations that was set up in Western Europe (Chen, 2006). The organizations are expected to carry out the exchange of goods so as to promote

International Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

International Finance - Essay Example There are various assumptions that are held regarding this model. The first one is that all prices, wages included are flexible both increasing and decreasing to restore the equilibrium after the observed shocks. The other assumption is that economical agents are rational and that exchange rate is regarded as an asset price, which is seen as a means of holding the wealth (Ghatak & SaÃŒ nchez-Fung 2007). There is also an assumption that there is a perfect sustainability of foreign and domestic goods, PPP holds continuously, capital is perfectly mobile and that money supply is exogenous with an instant clearing. The assumption that PPP holds continuously can be represented as follows: St=Pt-PtFor UIP, given the sustainability of the bonds and the mobility of capital: ∆Set+1=it-it. For the domestic residents wealth constraint: Wt=Mt+ Bt+Bt .Here Wt is nominal wealth, Mt= holding of domestic money, while Bt=holding of the domestic bond. This allows the IUP to hold. Attention is often focused on the money market where bonds have no independent role in the determination of the exchange rate (Evans 2011). This could be indicated by considering the domestic and foreign money demand: Thus, if the national income goes up, there is more demand for an individual to hold money in ones hands as one wants to spend. Moreover, if interests go up there is more incentive to save rather than hold the money (Parvin 2009). This leads into a less to hold making an individual to hold less in the long run. If the prices go up, it costs more to purchase given goods and services making an individual more content in holding money more. This makes an individual to hold more of this money (increase in pt while the mtt also increase). Considering that money supply is in this extent exogenous with instant clearing where money market is always equilibrated: then, mtD =mts≠¡mt, and mtD =Mts≠¡mt..From the equations, mt is the

Fight Club - How Multiple Identities Were Portrayed in The Film Essay

Fight Club - How Multiple Identities Were Portrayed in The Film - Essay Example The symptoms vary over time according to different conditions (Ringrose 64). The movie, Fight Club, clearly shows how D.I.D can affect a person. This is as discussed below. Dissociative identity disorder normally tends to be exhibited by an individual during highly traumatizing, painful, and violent moments (Ringrose 123). This is fully exhibited in Fight Club when Jack fights to put off the bombs set by Tyler for the destruction of the credit card companies. The trauma at the scene transforms him into someone else such that he acquires two personalities while being in one body. He has exactly to know the side of the body where Tyler is hiding so that he can shoot him. He uses sense and conscience to determine the side Tyler is hiding and finally manages to shot him (Palahniuk 13). The main symptoms of the disorder are depression, sleep disorders like insomnia, and sleep walking. Mood signs, headache, panic attacks, and phobias can also be part of the first symptoms of the disorder. The disorder makes an individual perceive intrusive thoughts and emotions, which make the individual act in accordance with such emotions and thoughts (Ringrose 63). It also causes them to forget information and thus act as a blank personality driven by the implanted thoughts and no logic or reasoning. This is the most dangerous part of the disorder. It thus makes it necessary to take good care of such patients. The treatment of such a disorder is not yet fully defined but is mostly dependent on past case studies. The reaction a patient gives is the one that gives the doctor a clue about the required action to be taken. A patient is handled according to how a previous patient was handled (Ringrose 78). It is thus important to notice any early symptoms for the treatment to be easier. Complicated cases can be difficult to handle. Considering Fight Club as a movie, identity is used as a style. Identity is used to show how the character of Jack, the narrator of the movie has the same pe rsonality with Tyler. This is well exhibited at the end of the movie when Jack has to shoot through his cheek so that he can hurt Tyler (Palahniuk 23). It clearly shows how Jack and Tyler have merged into one person and are operating using the same body and characteristics. Identity is also exhibited at places when people are referring to Jack as Tyler. This was mainly when Jack was following the trail of places where Tyler used to do the preparation for destruction of the credit card companies. All the people he met during the trip referred to him as Tyler. Marla also is seen to refer to Jack as Tyler. She even gets confused and ends up having an affair with both of them. This shows that most probably the two personalities having have merged into one body are inseparable and unidentifiable (Palahniuk 16). Fight Club as a movie exhibits a number of film techniques. Suspense as a technique is used in the movie at the place when the narrator is not given a name at the start of the mov ie. In this case, the viewer does not fully understand the position of the narrator. Finally, it comes out that he is the main character and suffers from failure of identity (Ringrose 92). This again brings up another film technique of symbolism. The disorder affecting the narrator that leads to lack of identity makes the narrator not be given a name. Suspense is created at the place when

International Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

International Finance - Essay Example There are various assumptions that are held regarding this model. The first one is that all prices, wages included are flexible both increasing and decreasing to restore the equilibrium after the observed shocks. The other assumption is that economical agents are rational and that exchange rate is regarded as an asset price, which is seen as a means of holding the wealth (Ghatak & SaÃŒ nchez-Fung 2007). There is also an assumption that there is a perfect sustainability of foreign and domestic goods, PPP holds continuously, capital is perfectly mobile and that money supply is exogenous with an instant clearing. The assumption that PPP holds continuously can be represented as follows: St=Pt-PtFor UIP, given the sustainability of the bonds and the mobility of capital: ∆Set+1=it-it. For the domestic residents wealth constraint: Wt=Mt+ Bt+Bt .Here Wt is nominal wealth, Mt= holding of domestic money, while Bt=holding of the domestic bond. This allows the IUP to hold. Attention is often focused on the money market where bonds have no independent role in the determination of the exchange rate (Evans 2011). This could be indicated by considering the domestic and foreign money demand: Thus, if the national income goes up, there is more demand for an individual to hold money in ones hands as one wants to spend. Moreover, if interests go up there is more incentive to save rather than hold the money (Parvin 2009). This leads into a less to hold making an individual to hold less in the long run. If the prices go up, it costs more to purchase given goods and services making an individual more content in holding money more. This makes an individual to hold more of this money (increase in pt while the mtt also increase). Considering that money supply is in this extent exogenous with instant clearing where money market is always equilibrated: then, mtD =mts≠¡mt, and mtD =Mts≠¡mt..From the equations, mt is the

Japanese festivals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Japanese festivals - Essay Example Japanese Matsuri (festivals) are habitual festive events. There are in addition a variety of local festivals that are mainly unidentified external to a specified region. It is normally thought that one will for all time discover a festival everywhere in Japan. In Japan, festivals are typically supported by a confined temple or holy place, although they can be worldly. However, festivals are mostly originated just about one or two major occasions, with foodstuff stands, amusement and celebration playoffs to keep individuals occupied with entertainment. There is no particular matsuri time for every one in Japan, therefore dates differ from region to region and even inside an exact district, except festival days to be inclined to the group around the usual vacations for instance Setsubun or Obon. Approximately every surroundings has as a minimum of single matsuri in late summer or in the early days of autumn, generally linked to the rice yield. Noteworthy matsuri frequently characterist ic demonstrations which might absorb complicated drifts. Preparation for these demonstrations is generally prearranged at the stage of areas or in other words "machi."Previous to these, the neighbouring kami might be ritually mounted in mikoshi and procession all the way through the lanes. An individual can at all times discover in the surrounding area of a matsuri stalls selling mementos and foodstuff for example takoyaki and playoffs for example Goldfish scooping. Karaoke competitions, sumo games and other types of activity are repeatedly prearranged in concurrence with matsuri. Preferred essentials of the generally popular matsuri, for instance the Nada Kenka Matsuri of Himeji or the Neputa Matsuri of Hirosaki, are habitually televised on TV for the whole country to have the benefit of it. A number of festivals are mentioned below. Seijin Shiki (Coming of Age Day) Seijin Shiki is held on the 2nd Monday in January. Celebrations contain rituals held at neighbouring and territory workplaces and social gatherings among relatives and associates to rejoice course into middle age. Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) The Japanese Doll Festival, or in other words Girl's Day, is supposed on 3rd March, the 3rd day of the 3rd month. Display places with a red hi-mosen are worn to present a position of decorative dolls, demonstrating the sovereign, empress, followers and performers in customary court clothes of the Heian era. Introduction to Japanese Culture 3 Hanami (Flower Viewing) Hanami is the Japanese conventional tradition of taking pleasure in the exquisiteness of flowers, "flower" in this situation is nearly at all times means cherry blossoms or Ume flowers. From late March to the untimely May, sakura flourish every where in Japan. The flower conjecture is proclaimed every year by the weather organizations and is observed cautiously by those who are doing the preparation of hanami as the flowers. In contemporary Japan, hanami mainly consists of containing an open-air party underneath the sakura through day

Once upon a time Essay Example for Free

Once upon a time Essay These mechanical birds are books, with many wings, meaning pages. The body shrieking without pain is laughter and the eyes melting are the readers tears. Model T is a room with the lock inside A key is turned to free the world For movement, so quick there is a film To watch for anything missed. These seventh and eighth stanzas are talking about a car. This is simple as Raine refers to Model T, a well-known car. Raine says it is a room because you go inside of the car and you are away from the outside world. You need a key to turn the car on and off and to lock the car. As you read on, you can see some of the poets influences for his writing. Raine is participating in a very ancient poetic ancient tradition. If you look at the poem as a series of riddles to be deciphered by the reader, then that takes us back centuries to the riddle poems in Anglo Saxon literature. In stanzas 10-13, the following lines are- In homes, a haunted apparatus sleeps, That snores when you pick it up. If the ghost cries, they carry it To their lips and soothe it to sleep with sounds. And yet they wake it up deliberately, by tickling it with a finger. This is a reference to a phone, a haunted apparatus. If it cries- rings, we pick it up to our lips and soothe it to sleep with sounds, meaning we speak into it. If we tickle it with a finger, we dial into it. The following lines have possibly the most bizarre descriptions of the whole poem- Only the young are allowed to suffer Openly. Adults go to a punishment room With water but nothing to eat. They lock the door and suffer the noises Alone. No one is exempt And everyones pain has a different smell. These are probably the hardest stanzas in the poem, but with some hard thinking, the lines all make sense- A punishment room with just water is a bathroom. When Raine writes, only the young are allowed to suffer openly he is talking about a baby getting their nappies changed in the open. Yet, us adults have to go to the bathroom and suffer our pain alone. Raine has written three exceptional stanzas, nobody really thinks about their own or other peoples daily use of the toilet. It is generally unspoken about and could almost be seen as a taboo subject, not to be raised in public. The last two stanzas end on a peaceful note- At night when all the colours die, They hide in pairs And read about themselves In colour, with their eyelids shut. This is a normal full day seen in the Martians eyes. It has now come to an end, reading about yourself in colour with your eyes shut, is quite obviously understood as dreaming. These two poems both share one very significant subject which links them together overall, but it is important to state first the similarities and differences between each persons work. Gabriel Okara seems to feel strongly about the idea of such falseness in our mannerisms and ways of speaking in everyday western life, as it is not like the hospitable place his homeland was. Gabriel Okara seems to be speaking from his own mind, about how he feels about this environment. Craig Raine has been born and bred in England, and doesnt talk about a strange westernised country like Gabriel Okara, but about life on this planet in general. Craig Raine does not seem to be annoyed at our everyday customs (or if he is, he hides it in his wording very well), merely humoured at how humans generally structure their lives. With Gabriel Okaras style of writing, there are no riddles to unveil and his poem is structured very differently in contrast to Craig Raines. Okara simply starts with Once upon a time, son, which is straightforward enough, rather than Caxtons are mechanical birds with wings, which can baffle most readers. Gabriel Okara is quite dark about the cold place he has come to, not at all like his native Nigeria. He certainly did not intend to humour the readers. I think that Raine wrote this poem to give his mind a rest from the real world. Perhaps he wrote it for pleasure and humor. I think this would be an enjoyable type of poem to write. Raine wanted his readers to be humored, to see life through somebody elses eyes, who has never seen life on Earth before. Also, the Martian seems merely bemused by human life and our everyday rituals. Mysteriously, the Martian never discusses what life on his planet was like, unlike Gabriel Okara whom describes the warmth he used to experience before. However, despite these many differences, the poets come together on one extremely important subject. It is, the way we take our lives for granted while others, unsuspectingly wander around feeling confused at all the social and physical complexities of the strange and alien world around them. The poets both write about separate characters commenting on their experience in another place, and not feeling at ease with it as the other members of the population are. It is true that one poem is quite dark and the other is lighthearted, the stanzas and couplets are differently placed, the wording is different etc, but overall, the characters in question are both feeling out of place and confused about all the common perplexities. They comment on life on this Earth we experience every day and take for granted. We hardly notice how a car may sound to an outsider or how It was nice having you here today with us could hurt a guest or client who knows you didnt mean what you said. We are all so accustomed to our lives; we do not think much of how it may seem to anybody else who has never been in that state of environment.

The evolution of communication technology

The evolution of communication technology 1. Communication, the transfer of information, has been the key element needed to establish civilized societies, which require organization and planning. a. In a traditional sense, the advancement of communication technology has also sought to address four unique aspects of information transfer; these are: the speed and distance at which information can be sent and received, the staying power or permanency of the information, and also the volume of information that can be sent. Throughout history, technological innovations have allowed for the steady improvement of all three aspects. However, in the last three decades, advances and globalization has made complicated and convoluted these once unique qualities as factors that were once limiting began to disappear. Vocal and Gestural Communications were Instinct and Natural Had limitations of audibility and clairity. Previous systems of primitive vocations and gestures provided minimal coverage of the three main aspects of human communication. Mutations and evolution provided organ structures that allowed for more complex speech. Although it represented a major advancement of the volume, speed, and distance of communication, the temporary nature of speech and human memory made it unsuitable to foster large amounts of information for long periods of time, a problem that would later be addressed with the aid of technology. Written and Recorded History Earliest were ideograms and pictograms. Provided minimal but adequate record of history that allowed for passing of information. Later forms allowed for paper and writing. Distance Communication Signal fires, horns, drums Sacrificed volume for distance. Modern Age All four factors optimized in the new age. Jay Zhang Johnson AP World History 2nd Period 25 May 2009 The Evolution of Communication Technology Throughout history, the human propensity to communicate effectively has always been a factor that has defined the gap of intelligence between animals and humans. Communication, the transfer of information, has been the key element needed to establish civilized societies, which require organization and planning. The relationship between the advancement of a civilization and the advancement of communication technology is not a simple cause-effect relationship but a relationship of mutual gain; the development of superior methods of communication allow a society to advance while the advancement of a society is necessary for the development of new methods of communication. In a traditional sense, the advancement of communication technology has also sought to address four unique aspects of information transfer; these are: the speed and distance at which information can be sent and received, the staying power or permanency of the information, and also the volume of information that can be sent. Throughout history, technological innovations have allowed for the steady improvement of all three aspects. However, in the last three decades, advances and globalization has made complicated and convoluted these once unique qualities as factors that were once limiting began to disappear. The ability to perform most primitive form of communication, intuitive and instinctive vocations and gestures were ingrained from birth into the bodies of the earliest humanoid species of the Paleolithic age starting over two and a half million years ago with the emergence of the genus homo, an intelligent being capable of forming primitive societies. True speech, familiar to what we hear today was the first major change in the advancement of communication. Anthropologists believe that evolutionary advances and a mutation in the Foxp2 gene around 400,000 years ago were responsible for producing the modern organ structures of the larynx, tongue, and diaphragm that are responsible for human speech. Although not technically a technology, speech would be the first major improvement in communication. Previous systems of primitive vocations and gestures provided minimal coverage of the three main aspects of human communication. Primitive vocations and gestures provided very little informa tion; additionally, the information would be sent a short distance limited by visual and audible range of human vocations which were both quieter and less clear than modern speech. Therefore, expressing complex ideas would have taken an exceptional amount of time. Modern speech was louder and provided improved clarity which effectively sped up the rate in which information could be expressed. Abstract ideas became easier to represent through speech and thoughts became easier to transmit. Speech led to the improvement of three aspects of communication: speed, distance, and volume. Though revolutionary, speech also presented a set of challenges. Because speech is ephemeral and only captured in time through memory, the transmissions of information from one generation to the next, or even simply between contemporary humans were limited to what could be remembered and eventually passed on. This problem was evident in Western Africa, as even later cultures continued to operate in a tribal system with only speech as a system of communication. During times of war, rival African tribes would aim to kill the griot, the oral historians, of the opposing tribe in the effort to pacify their enemy. Doing so would result in the loss of many generations of tribal history. Although it represented a major advancement of the volume, speed, and distance of communication, the temporary nature of speech and human memory made it unsuitable to foster large amounts of information for long periods of time, a problem that would later be addressed with the aid of technology. The next major advance in communication technology came with the advancement of technology in the field of basic tools and shelters. In the late Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic times, the emergence of cave paintings, pictograms, ideograms, and petroglyphs addressed the fundamental challenged posed by the previous systems of oral history and communication. This problem was the staying power or permanency of the information. Cave paintings, followed by my complex systems of pictograms and ideograms allowed for the preservation of thought and thus the transmission of ideas even after death. Early pictograms only represented tangible objects while the later emergence of ideograms were used to convey the abstract ideas associated with a certain object. However petroglyphs, symbols carved in stone, were not the only form of early recorded information. The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and China developed early forms of paper to record written information. Uniquely, ancient c ivilizations in South America, particularly the Inca, did not develop writing but instead a system of tying knots to express numerical ideas. Thus, not only did the permanency of communication increase, the depth and volume of information that could be conveyed also increased as a direct result of the development of recorded information. The technological breakthrough of paper, a surface that compared to stone was lighter and more compact increased the rate at which information could be recorded and shared by providing an easily transportable surface that provided an easier method of writing. The early forms of recorded information, paintings and symbols which later evolved into paper, writing, and eventually printing, provided significant improvements in all four of the fundamental aspects of communication technology but most significantly, the permanency compared to the previous purely vocal and gestural methods. Though all four of the fundamental aspects of communication technology had improved drastically from Paleolithic times, one aspect not heavily addressed by the technological innovation of recording information physically was the distance to which information could be transmitted. Nearly all communication until 3000 BCE was limited to, at maximum the distance to which the human voice could travel. Around this time however, the invention of the signal drum allowed for a drastic increase in the distance in which information could be sent. Other inventions that served a similar purpose were also soon introduced. These included the signal horn and also the signal fire. The latter was used by the early Aborigines but its use continued to Qin China where it was used to quickly pass messages along the Great Wall. All of these methods of communication had a similar benefit as well as a similar drawback. Signal fires, drums, and smoke provided comparatively fast communication at extended dist ances but because of their very nature that allowed them to transmit information and be understood at a distance, they provided relatively little amounts of information volume. For example, a signal fire could only be used to convey a limited number of messages. Contemporary communication systems such as the postal system, which first emerged in 2400 BCE in Persia under Cyrus the Great allowed for the long distance transmission of a larger volume of information but at a slower rate. The invention of long distance, low volume information transmitters continued well into the 1800s CE with the invention of the telegraph. However, this is not to say that there were not significant advances in the volume of information that could be sent until this time. The invention of moveable type by the Chinese and then improved by Guttenberg in Germany was the major factor that contributed to the end of the Middle Ages. This statement simply emphasizes how the combination these two challenges were exceedingly difficult to overcome. Not until the invention of the radio would the gap between distance and volume close significantly. Perhaps the greatest achievements of technological innovation in the field of communication have all taken place in the modern age. Though communication technology has aided civilization since the beginning of human history, the globalization and interconnectedness observed today did not begin to form until the later industrial revolution but more so in recent decades. The greatest strives in communication technology that has nearly maximized the accommodations for the challenges posed by all four aspects of communication technology: speed, volume, distance, and permanency have all occurred in recent years. The invention of the radio in 1902 was both an iconic and realistic definition of the modern communication age. Still in wide use today, in addition to providing the ability to transmit information over a wide area wirelessly, the radio also provided a large step up in information volume from the telegraph by replacing an inefficient system of text messaging to wireless voice com munication. The later development of the television in 1923 further developed this same model by adding a new level of information transfer, visuals. Both radio and televisions were responsible for the broadening in the volume and speed at which communication could occur. The later invention and widespread use of taping and personal recording in 1934 added to the expanded the permanency of these communication technologies. The initiating relationship between the role of communication technology in the start of the modern age and the modern ages role in the creation of new technology is a prime example of the convoluted relationship of mutual gain described earlier. Even in the beginning of the modern communication age with the invention of radio and television, the once distinct lines between speed, distance, volume, and permanency began to blend as each was reaching new heights, perhaps human maximums. The speed of television and radio can be described as a human infinity, or near instantaneous, at least with respect to practicality. In addition to speed, by 1949 the coverage of television had become global in many developed nations, taping and recording become common and therefore information was rarely lost. As speed, distance, and permanency reached new heights, the exact definitions between them were blurred for the first time in history. Puzzling, but perhaps useless questions emerge from this historically unprecedented situation; clearly, the level of communication has risen dramatically, but to name what factor it can be attributed most is nearly impossible as the it is often impossible to distinguish them. The main cause of the confus ion has been removal of all historical limits. Using even a relatively recent example, the sacrifice of information volume for speed and distance during the widespread use of the telegraph, a revolutionary invention of its time, was overcome permanently by the use of the telephone, cell phone, radio, and television. The latest significant advance in communication technology aimed to maximize information volume to a similar degree to which speed, distance, and permanency have been. Computers, but more importantly the release and commercialization of the internet, in 1994 have revolutionized the volume of information that can be sent and received. The major change with respect to television, the previously frontrunner in communication technology is that the internet allows for the individual to request information in the same format, video, and many others in a comprehensive system. The volume of information that can be received by the computer is scores more than what can be received by the television. The internet which spans the globe has created a society more interconnected than ever before in history by not only providing a networked of linked computers, but also the backbone for all digital information transfer on earth. It is possible that a human chauvinism for the cotemporary distorts the view of the tremendous advances and advantages the modern age provides, but more likely, the innovations of the modern age in the field of communication technology are simply truly remarkable strides that have created a globally aware population that can communicate at virtually infinite speed, distance, volume, and permanency. Works Cited Ashford, Jenny. The Evolution of Human Speech. 20 October 2008. 23 May 2009 . Ancient and Modern Drums. Musical Instruments Drum. 2008. 23 May 2009 . Bellis, Marry. The History of Communication. About.com: Inventors. 2008. About. 22 May 2009 . Hoffman, Barbara G. Griots at War: Conflict, Conciliation and Caste in Mande. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001. McCannon, John, and Pamela Jordan. How to Prepare for the AP World History. 11th ed. Danbury: Barrons Educational Series, 2008. McClellan, James E. Science and Technology in World History an Introduction. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2006. Petroglyphs Pictographs Cave Paintings Geoglyphs Crystalinks. Crystalinks Metaphysical and Science Website. 2008. 23 May 2009 . White, Nancy. Middle and Upper Paleolithic Hunter-Gatherers The Emergence of Modern Humans, The Mesolithic. 2008. 23 May 2009 . White, Nancy. Middle and Upper Paleolithic Hunter-Gatherers The Emergence of Modern Humans, The Mesolithic. 2008. 23 May 2009 . Ashford, Jenny. The Evolution of Human Speech. 20 October 2008. 23 May 2009 . White, Nancy. Hoffman, Barbara G. Griots at War: Conflict, Conciliation and Caste in Mande. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001. White, Nancy. Petroglyphs Pictographs Cave Paintings Geoglyphs Crystalinks. Crystalinks Metaphysical and Science Website. 2008. 23 May 2009 . Petroglyphs Pictographs Cave Paintings Geoglyphs Crystalinks. Mccannon, John, and Pamela Jordan. How to Prepare for the AP World History. 11th ed. Danbury: Barrons Educational Series, 2008. Mccannon, John, and Pamela Jordan. Ancient and Modern Drums. Musical Instruments Drum. 2008. 23 May 2009 . Mccannon, John, and Pamela Jordan. McClellan, James E. Science and Technology in World History an Introduction. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2006. McClellan, James E. Mccannon, John, and Pamela Jordan. Mccannon, John, and Pamela Jordan. Bellis, Marry. The History of Communication. About.com: Inventors. 2008. About. 22 May 2009 . Bellis, Marry Bellis, Marry Bellis, Marry. Bellis, Mary.

Stress Types Essay -- Papers Exploratory Stressing Problems Essays

Stress Types There are three types of stress that will be explained. At various times in our lives, one or more of these stresses may overcome us. The first of these is ?Type A? stress, which is both foreseeable and avoidable. For example, going on a roller coaster is both foreseeable and avoidable, thus, it is considered a ?Type A? stress. A ?Type B? stress is defined as something that is neither foreseeable nor avoidable. A good example of this is being hit by a baseball while watching the game. The last type of these stresses is called ?Type C? stress, and is defined as stress that is foreseeable, but not avoidable. A good example of this would be a teenager staying out too late and knowing that when she comes home, she will get into trouble with her parents. At certain times in our life, such as marriage, we may be confronted with ?Type A? stress (foreseeable and avoidable). We know, of course, that when we get married, we will have to endure this added stress. It is foreseeable because we know whether or not we will ask someone to marry us. It is avoidable because you ...

A Call To Occupy Movement Essay examples -- Social Issues

The Occupy Movement has inspired a domino-like effect the world over, starting rebellions from the Americas to Asia. The universal vision of the movement is its aim to get the 99% to overthrow the rules decided and regulated by the rich, the powerful and the one percent for the greater benefit of the one percent. According to the anonymous writers of the official Occupy Movement page, â€Å"to occupy is to embody the spirit of liberation that we wish to manifest in our society. It is to exercise our freedom to assemble. We are creating space for community, values, ideas, and a level of meaningful dialogue that is absent in the present discourse† (OccupyWallSt.org, 2011). The circulation of this idea to reach an extensive spectrum of people has never been as easy as it is in today’s globalized world. The world, just a few decades ago, was very different from the world we see today. Today, information from one country can be accessed ten thousand miles away in a few se conds—and it is this type of access to information that makes the rebellions, sprouting all over, possible. The amount of different opinions and ideas people in today’s society have is as great as the number of people who can access the Internet—the main thing that makes our world as globalized as it is. And all these people with Internet access can take action through occupation. A person who occupies the very streets the movement is being done in is another voice to the 99%, trying to change the old ways of politicians and company bigwigs. And with the movement’s growth, people continue and join the fight against dated practices still trying to be pushed forward by governments all over the world. The occupiers fight back; they do not stay in the clear; they figh... ...Nov. 2011 . Beinart, Peter. "Occupy Wall Street Will Have Seismic Effect, Marks Split With Obama, Dems." The Daily Beast. 26 Nov. 2011 . Adam, Karla. "Occupy Wall Street protests go global - The Washington Post." Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis. 26 Nov. 2011 . Moran, Lee. "Global protests: Occupy the London Stock Exchange takes over the City | Mail Online." Home | Mail Online. 26 Nov. 2011 .

Integrating Culture and Diversity in Decision Making Essay

1. Provide a brief (1 paragraph) description of the organization you chose to research. Zappos was founded in 1999 during the dotcom boom by Nick Swinmurn [ (Twitchell, 2009) ] on a quest to buy a pair of sneakers at a local mall. It has grown in to a 1.2 billion dollar subsidiary of Amazon.com and a leading on-line provider of everything from shoes to couture handbags. They have done this with a simple motto: â€Å"Powered by Service†. Providing all of their customers with free (sometimes next day) shipping and returns, Zappos has invested in the power of word of mouth to fuel their business. 2. Examine the culture of the selected organization. Retail doesn’t seem to be the only thing that Zappos has gotten right, however. Beyond growing from a small, upstart company to a 1 billion dollar â€Å"behemoth†, Zappos prides itself on the culture it has created and invests in for its employees. Unlike some companies that guard their employee credos and internal culture (Apple comes to mind), Zappos promotes theirs for any would-be customer to see. Multiple links on their website lead to testimonials, blogs and YouTube videos providing a behind the scenes look at exactly what it’s like to work for this Once Upon a Time shoe company. Current CEO Tony Hsieh said in 2009 while celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary that â€Å"Our No. 1 priority is the company culture. Our whole belief is that if we get the culture right, then everything else, including the customer service, will fall into place,† [ (Twitchell, 2009) ] and indeed that thought processes seems embedded in the company’s Core Values which are posted on its website under a link labeled â€Å"Our Unique Culture†. 3. Explain how you determined that the selected organization showed the signs of the culture that you have identified. Zappos company culture seems to pride itself on creating a world-class experience not just for its customers, but for its employees as well. Both the external adaptation (day to day tasks) and internal integration (employees ability to live and work together) have been addressed in exactly the same way. Zappos seems to suggest that the way they treat their external customers as a company and the way their internal customers treat each other are not varied. In each of the videos posted on their company blog, employees regard their Core Values as both the way they guide their interactions with customers and with each other. Though subcultures do seem to exist (based simply on the variety of employee groups with blogs on their website), Zappos has taken great strides through rituals like their â€Å"Wishez† program to keep those unique subcultures from becoming countercultures that work against the common goals of the company. Indeed, relationships within these subcultures seem particularly strong. In one video describing the â€Å"Wishez† program and the way it bonds other departments together, employees seem to indicate that without it they might have never interacted in the first place. This seems to lend itself to Barker and Tompkins theory that â€Å"employees [maintain] a tendency to identify more strongly with their individual work teams than with the company as a whole†. [ (Schrodt, 2002) ] In one video, an employee identifies that she has hired a marching band to come and play Happy Birthday for another employees 40th birthday because he had teased when she turned 40. They work in the same department. By forging such strong relationships between employees, members of Zappos are encouraged to pursue similar relationships with their customers. One web page boasts that the longest recorded customer service call to Zappos (lines which are open 24/7) was eight hours long. Additionally, during Holiday months, customers might even encounter CEO Tony Hsieh on the customer service lines. 4. Determine the factors that caused the organization to embody this particular culture. This dedication towards customer service that the Zappos culture seems to be based around is what has allowed Zappos to survive where other dotcom’s had failed. In his book â€Å"The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time†, Verne Harnish lists Zappos’ decisions to offer free shipping and returns as particularly profound. He says (among the other decisions that he lists) that they â€Å"stood out from others because they were counterintuitive – they went against the grain of popular practice†. [ (Gringarten, 2012) ] Without this richly customer focused culture, Zappos as a brand might never have existed. Indeed, it continues to promote its customer focus and nothing else. While we might think of Zappos as a shoe company, Zappos seems to think of Zappos as a customer service company that happens to sell shoes. 5. Determine what type of leader would be best suited for this organization. Support your position. This kind of energy takes a particular type of leader to induce. Each video on their company website that mentions CEO Tony Hsieh mentions his name with some sort of revere suggesting that this type of culture is best suited for a charismatic leader. According to Schermerhorn, charismatic leaders â€Å"by force of their personal abilities, are capable of having a profound and extraordinary effect on followers†. [ (Schermerhorn, 2000) ] Hsieh gives seminars in which he instructs other companies on how they can adopt the Zappos culture to their own businesses. He believes very strongly in the culture that Zappos has created. 6. Imagine that there is a decline in the demand of product(s) or services supplied by the selected organization. Determine what the change in culture would need to be in response to this situation. The intense success that Zappos has enjoyed in such a short amount of time and the growth of their business from simply shoes to just about anything else seems to suggest that even if tomorrow people needed one less pair of shoes, the corporate culture of Zappos as a company would not need to be adjusted. By focusing on internal culture (employees) and external culture (customer) first, Zappos has answered the question of how to sell rather than what to sell. Their purpose implies that people don’t just need shoes; what they want is a different way to buy them. Bibliography Gringarten, H. (2012). The Greatest Business Decisions of all Time. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research , 95. Schermerhorn, J. R. (2000). Organizational Behavior . New York: Wiley. Schrodt, P. (2002). The relationship between organizational identification and organizational culture: employee perceptions of culture and identification in a retail sales organization. Communication Studies , 189. Twitchell, J. (2009, June 16). From Upstart To $1 Billion Behemoth, Zappos Marks 10 Years. Retrieved from LasVegas Sun: