Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Macrophagesâ€Germ-Eating White Blood Cells

Macrophages are immune system cells that are vital to the development of non-specific defense mechanisms that provide the first line of defense against pathogens. These large immune cells are present in nearly all tissues and actively remove dead and damaged cells, bacteria, cancerous cells, and cellular debris from the body. The process by which macrophages engulf and digest cells and pathogens is called phagocytosis. Macrophages also aid in cell mediated or adaptive immunity by capturing and presenting information about foreign antigens to immune cells called lymphocytes. This allows the immune system to better protect against future attacks from the same invaders. In addition, macrophages are involved in other valuable functions in the body including hormone production, homeostasis, immune regulation, and wound healing. Macrophage Phagocytosis Phagocytosis allows macrophages to get rid of harmful or unwanted substances in the body. Phagocytosis is a form of endocytosis in which matter is engulfed and destroyed by a cell. This process is initiated when a macrophage is drawn to a foreign substance by the presence of antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by lymphocytes that bind to a foreign substance (antigen), tagging it for destruction. Once the antigen is detected, a macrophage sends out projections which surround and engulf the antigen (bacteria, dead cell, etc.) enclosing it within a vesicle. The internalized  vesicle containing the antigen is called a phagosome. Lysosomes within the macrophage fuse with the phagosome forming a phagolysosome. Lysosomes are membranous sacs of hydrolytic enzymes formed by the Golgi complex that are capable of digesting organic material. The enzyme content of the lysosomes is released into the phagolysosome and the foreign substance is quickly degraded. The degraded material is th en ejected from the macrophage. Macrophage Development Macrophages develop from white blood cells called monocytes. Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cell. They have a large, single nucleus that is often kidney-shaped. Monocytes are produced in bone marrow and circulate in the blood anywhere from one to three days. These cells exit blood vessels by passing through blood vessel endothelium to enter into tissues. Once reaching their destination, monocytes develop into macrophages or into other immune cells called dendritic cells. Dendritic cells aid in the development of antigen immunity. Macrophages that differentiate from monocytes are specific to the tissue or organ in which they reside. When the need for more macroghages arises in a particular tissue, the residing macrophages produce proteins called cytokines that cause responding monocytes to develop into the type of macrophage needed. For example, macrophages fighting infection produce cytokines that promote the development of macrophages that specialize in fighting pathogens. Macrophages that specialize in healing wounds and repairing tissue develop from cytokines produced in response to tissue injury. Macrophage Function and Location Macrophages are found in almost every tissue in the body and perform a number of functions outside of immunity. Macrophages aid in the production of sex hormones in male and female gonads. Macrophages assist in the development of blood vessel networks in the ovary, which is vital for the production of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone plays a critical part in the implantation of the embryo in the uterus. In addition, macrophages present in the eye help to develop blood vessel networks necessary for proper vision. Examples of macrophages that reside in other locations of the body include: Central Nervous System—Microglia are glial cells found in nervous tissue. These extremely small cells patrol the brain and spinal cord removing cellular waste and protecting against microorganisms.Adipose Tissue—Macrophages in adipose tissue protect against microbes and also help adipose cells to maintain the bodys sensitivity to insulin.Integumentary System—Langerhans cells are macrophages in the skin that serve an immune function and aid in the development of skin cells.Kidneys—Macrophages in the kidneys help to filter microbes from blood and aid in the formation of ducts.Spleen—Macrophages in the red pulp of the spleen help to filter damaged red blood cells and microbes from blood.Lymphatic System—Macrophages stored in the central area (medulla) of lymph nodes filter lymph of microbes.Reproductive System—Macrophages in gonads aid in sex cell development, embryo development, and the production of steroid hormones.Digestive Systemâ₠¬â€Macrophages in the intestines monitor the environment protecting against microbes.Lungs—Macrophages present in the lungs, known as alveolar macrophages, remove microbes, dust, and other particles from respiratory surfaces.Bone—Macrophages in bone may develop into bone cells called osteoclasts. Osteoclasts help to break down bone and to reabsorb and assimilate bone components. Immature cells from which macrophages are formed reside in non-vascular sections of the bone marrow. Macrophages and Disease Although a primary function of macrophages is to protect against bacteria and viruses, sometimes these microbes can evade the immune system and infect immune cells. Adenoviruses, HIV, and the bacteria that cause tuberculosis are examples of microbes that cause disease by infecting macrophages. In addition to these types of diseases, macrophages have been linked to the development of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Macrophages in the heart contribute to heart disease by aiding in the development of atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis, artery walls become thick due to chronic inflammation induced by white blood cells. Macrophages in fat tissue can cause inflammation which induces adipose cells to become resistant to insulin. This can lead to the development of diabetes. Chronic inflammation caused by macrophages can also contribute to the development and growth of cancer cells. Sources: White Blood Cells. The Histology Guide. Accessed 09/18/2014 (http://www.histology.leeds.ac.uk/blood/blood_wbc.php)The Biology of Macrophages - An Online Review. Macrophage Biology Review. Macrophages.com. Published 05/2012 (http://www.macrophages.com/macrophage-review)

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Prevalence Of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And...

The Prevalence Of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And Binge Eating Disorder How prevalent is anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders? Without the knowledge of research, one is likely to think eating disorders are quite prevalent in society today. However, research proves that eating disorders, in general, are not as prevalent as one might think without any knowledge of the subject. Prevalence of an eating disorder refers to the number of cases of an eating disorder within a population. When discussing the prevalence of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorders, it is important to realize and understand the risk factors and characteristics that help to better explain the prevalence of such†¦show more content†¦(Fairbum and Wilson, 1993, 9). There are several types of anorexia nervosa (restricting type and binge eating/purging type), but these distinct classifications are not relevant to this discussion. After discussing the criteria used to establish the presence of an anorexia nervosa disorder, the discussion of prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa is necessary. Eagles et al (1995) conducted a study of the prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa by comparing referral rates of patients. They acknowledge that a number of studies on this subject have been conducted and that the outcomes have been conflicting. Eagles et al (1995) recognize that these conflicting results can be explained by the changes in admissions practices, changes in the frequency of referrals and an increase in public awareness (Eagles et al, 1995, 1266). Studying the incidence of referral rates is necessary in order to determine the prevalence of anorexia nervosa because referral rates are a direct measurement of the number of cases within a given population. The study by Eagles et al (1995) found that referral rates of anorexia nervosa have risen in the past two decades and these rates have a direct influence on pre valence rates. Therefore, the researchers conclude from the increase in the incidence of referral rates and increased public awareness that the prevalence of anorexia nervosa has also risen, but they do not give a prevalence rate. Therefore, the increase in referral rates and increasedShow MoreRelatedBulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa Essay997 Words   |  4 PagesEating disorders are extremely harmful and rising in prevalence. . The two most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. In this essay, I will compare and contrast these two disorders. This essay will also assess the symptoms, causes, health affects and the most prevalent characteristics of people diagnosed with these two eating disorders. â€Å"Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by self-starvation to avoid obesity. People with this disorder believe they are overweight, evenRead MoreEssay Bulimia Nervosa1311 Words   |  6 PagesBULIMIA NERVOSA 307.51 (F50.2) Introduction Individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa undertake frequent binge eating, followed by expelling the food, typically by inducing vomiting, but also through exercising and the use of laxative agents, diuretics, and enemas (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The binge eating occurrences are often prompted by a negative perception of one’s body image, temporarily alleviated by the binge eating episode. Since the individual with bulimia nervosa is overanxiousRead MoreEating Disorders Are Potentially Life Threatening Illnesses Essay1912 Words   |  8 PagesBack in 2005, Amy, at age 17, was diagnosed with Anorexia nervosa after dropping twenty-two pounds for a school dance. Amy had been under a great amount of stress with organizing their school ball, trying to find a partner, and getting a dress. She decided to drop weight before this special occasion. While at the ball, Amy received multiple compliments about her weight loss. This was a contributing factor to her Anorexi a. Soon after, Amy’s family noticed she was still dropping weight. Amy was thenRead MoreEye Opener : The Mind And Body1480 Words   |  6 Pagestypes of disorders. One type of disorder that is becoming very common in the everyday high school aged student are eating disorders. Even though some people believe it is normal to have an eating disorder, people should be aware of the different kind of eating disorders because it is easy to develop these kinds of illnesses and too many innocent teenagers are dying from these unhealthy life choices. There are different types of eating disorders but the most common are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia NervosaRead MoreComparing the Similarities and Differences Between Anorexia and Bulimia1016 Words   |  5 PagesAnorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are described as psychological eating disorders (Keel and Levitt, 1). They are both characterized by an over evaluation of weight. Despite being primarily eating disorders, the manifestations o f bulimia and anorexia are different. They both present a very conspicuous example of dangerous psychological disorders, as according to the South Carolina Department of Health, â€Å"Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness† (Eating Order StatisticsRead MoreEye Opener : The Mind And Body1478 Words   |  6 Pagestypes of disorders. One type of disorder that is becoming very common in the everyday high school aged student are eating disorders. Even though some people believe it is normal to have an eating disorder, people should be aware of the different kind of eating disorders because it is easy to develop these kinds of illnesses and too many innocent teenagers are dying from these unhealthy life choices. There are different types of eating disorders but the most common are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia NervosaRead MoreEating Disorders Can Be Generally Characterized By Any Range Of Abnormal Or Disturbed Eating Habits897 Words   |  4 PagesEati ng disorders can be generally characterized by any range of abnormal or disturbed eating habits. The DSM IV has expanded from two categories of eating disorders; Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, to three categories; now including Binge Eating Disorder. As defined in the DSM IV, Anorexia Nervosa is predominately found in adolescent girls and young women. The disorder is defined as distorted body image and excessive dieting that leads to severe weight loss with an obsessive fear of becomingRead MoreEating Disorders Are A Serious Issue People Face914 Words   |  4 PagesEating Disorders Eating disorders are a serious issue people face in our society. A study put on the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, Involved 9,282 individuals. In this study, they resulted in 0.9% of women and 0.3% of men are suffering from anorexia nervosa,1.5% of women and 0.5%of men are suffering from bulimia, and 3.5% of women and 2.0% of men are suffering from binge eating. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating all differentiate but are detrimental to bodily functions. In which caseRead MoreDiagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders1631 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2013) or DSM-5 outlines the four feeding and eating disorders as, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder, and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED). These are complex and highly devastating disorders that cause health, emotional, and relationship problems (NEDA, 2016). These conditions should not be taken lightly due to their potential to cause long term emotional and physicalRead MoreTaking a Look at Eating Disorders1708 Words   |  7 Pages EATING DISORDERS Introduction: Eating disorders are conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that include excessive or insufficient food eating habits that hampers a person’s mental as well as physical health. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common types. Others are binge eating disorder and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Classification: †¢ Anorexia nervosa (AN), †¢ Bulimia nervosa (BN), †¢ Eating disorders not otherwise specified †¢ Binge eating disorder

Saturday, December 14, 2019

To Study of the Law of the Constitution Free Essays

Introduction A V Dicey described the rule of law as â€Å"one of two pillars upon which our constitution rests, the other being the sovereignty of parliament.† [1] This immediately brings emphasis to the view that ourUK constitution values the rule of law as well as considering parliamentary sovereignty as a supreme component of our Country’s constitution. The question however, lies in whether parliament has the absolute power to ‘legally legislate on any topic whatever which, in the judgment of parliament, is a fit subject for legislation,’ or conversely, a contradictory argument is much more valid. We will write a custom essay sample on To Study of the Law of the Constitution or any similar topic only for you Order Now First of all, I will take Her Majesty’s words of enactment into account, which conferred that, our present assembly of Parliament, has the authority to create legislation with the consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal. This implies Parliament has the power to â€Å"make or unmake law whatever, and no body or person is recognised by the Law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of parliament,†[2] as Dicey well defined in his rule of law theory. Evidently, this supports the basis of my argument that Parliament has the sovereignty of power to create or dismiss law and no Political MP or common man, has the capacity to do so. Furthermore, there is much to support the view that the doctrine of supremacy lies in the hands of Parliament. The courts ascribe Acts of Parliament to have legal force which â€Å"other instruments for one reason or another fall short of being an Act of Parliament.† This superlatively supports Dicey’s statement above â€Å"no power which, under the English constitution, can come into rivalry with the legislative sovereignty of parliament.’ However, in terms of rivalry the courts referred to treaties entered under prerogative powers, by-laws created by a local authority, order in council, the Scottish parliament or the Northern Ireland Assembly. Yet, it is justifiable to a very large extent, Parliament has unlimited power in the constitutional affairs of the United Kingdom. The Septennial Act (1715) which Parliament passed to â€Å"extend the life of parliament from three to seven years.† [3] Furthermore, the amendments which Parliament made through the Parliament Acts (1911) and (1949) to hold â€Å"a general election at least every five years.†[4] As well as, amending its own composition and bills as set out in the 1911 Act. These were the initial legal changes which gave rise to Parliament’s supremacy to legislate on any matter which is ‘a fit subject for legislation.’ Additionally, through the Act of Settlement (1701) and the Abdication Act (1936), Parliament made a remarkable change through the succession of the throne. The courts who have a role to interpret and apply Acts of Parliament affirmed that only Acts have legal force. Dicey’s first principle on the rule of law can be supported from above. In addition, Parliament being able to legislate retrospectively strengthens the view that ‘parliament can make or unmake any law it chooses.’ In the case Burmah Oil co v Lord Advocate (1965)[5] Parliament exercised its power to introduce another Act, the War Damages Act (1965) as the decision to overturn the House of Lords decision became crucial to prevent theUK suffering a huge financial drain, at the time of the World Wars. This exemplifies Parliament being able to legislate with no legal limits as such. Thereby, supporting Dicey’s statement above. Now I will bear relevance to Dicey’s second principle which states â€Å"Courts are constitutionally subordinate to parliament.† The rationale for courts to be constitutionally lower than parliament is that Bills do not have legal force, it is Acts that do. Therefore, the stages that a bill must pass to become an Act clearly imply Parliament has greater supremacy, on the grounds, the courts cannot make law. However, they do have the authority to enforce law which has already been an Act. Moreover, the Enrolled Act rule legally permits the courts to amend legislation which parliament cannot change. The case Edinburgh and Dalkeith co V Wauchope (1842) [6]gave rise to this rule, as Wauchope set out to challenge Parliament as a result of the Private Act affecting Wauchope’s rights against the railway company. Challenge was rejected, as Parliament refused the introduction of the bill into parliament through standing orders of the House of Commons. The legislative authority of Parliament was evident in this case. On the other hand, Lord Reid in the case Madizimbamuto v Lardner Burke [1969] â€Å"it would be unconstitutional for the United Kingdom parliament to do certain things.†[7] The implication of this was clear, it would be unconstitutional for Parliament to legislate for other governments likeRhodesia. However, Parliament may do such things if it wishes to do so, as it is much evident the supreme power remains with parliament. This strongly supports Dicey’s rule of principle. On the contrary, Sir Glanville Williams (1947) argued that, â€Å"no statute can confer this power upon Parliament, for this would be to assume and Act on the very power that is to be conferred.† [8] This implicates statute cannot form sovereignty, opposing the the sovereignty parliament being able to legislate, both ‘prospectively and retrospectively, to be noted from above.’[9] Conversely, the dismissal which took place in the case Cheney V Conn (1968) due to illegal taxes, allowed Ungoed –Thomas J to proclaim â€Å"it is the law which prevails over every other form of law†[10] subsequently, ‘what the statute enacts cannot be unlawful because the statute is the law.’[11] In opposition of Dicey’s statement above, Dicey’s third rule of principle highlights certain limitations on the legislative power of Parliament. In the view that, ‘Parliament cannot bind its successors or be bound by its predecessors.’ Primarily because Parliamentary sovereignty is protected by two doctrines, express repeal and implied repeal. Implied repeal in context for instance, states that if there were to be a conflict between two Acts, one previous and one repealed, then the rule applies that the last of two Acts passed at separate times, it is the most recent Act which must be obeyed. Therefore, Parliament must cohere to this rule. However, the key limitations which have been argued to challenge the sovereignty of parliament are the Human Rights Act [1998], Devolution ofScotlandandWales, the Treaty of Union (1707) and the European Communities Act (1972). The Human Rights Act [1998] seeks to protect human rights against legislation by later Parliaments. So it could be justified as a limitation for Parliament to pronounce a lawful decision such as ‘all blue eyed babies should be killed.’ Also, since the devolution of the UK Parliament[12], devolving powers toScotland as ruled in the Scotland Act (1998), Northern Ireland Act (1998) and Government of Wales Act (1998), this may contradict Dicey’s statement above. AsWales,Scotland andNorthern Ireland have the power to legislate on certain matters such as Education-student tuition fees; this possibly means ‘Parliament cannot legislate on any topic whatever’ unless, the powers were to be taken away, which could in theory happen. Seeing as,Westminster still holds the supreme power. Yet, the process is likely to be time consuming. Additionally, it could be reasoned that Parliament’s powers have been limited since the Treat of Union (1707) came into existence. On the basis that, the treaty of union was introduced to unite the two kingdomsEnglandandScotland, with the belief that, there was a union of equals. Implying thatScotlandis somewhat equal toEngland. They could argue, the Treaty of Union is a higher form of law and may prevail over inconsistent Acts of Parliament. In historical context, the sovereignty of Parliament was seen in a different light as it is today. Coke CJ in the case of Bonham (1610) 8 co Rep [13] asserted that, Common Law was a higher form of law than an Act of Parliament. However, this judgment was formed when the monarch had greater legislative and judicial power than Acts of Parliament. Since 1714, there has been a reversal of constitutional affairs; consequently this justifies the power of parliament to ‘legally legislate on any topic whatever, which is a fit subject for legislation.’ Conclusion In conclusion, after evaluating all the limitations above, it would be rightly justified to say that a majority would agree that they were political rather than legal limits imposed on parliament’s sovereignty of power. Thereby, with the supported arguments above, it seems right to agree on A V Dicey’s statement above as there was greater validity. How to cite To Study of the Law of the Constitution, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Ethical Analysis of Decision Making Process †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Ethical Analysis of Decision Making Process. Answer: Ethical Dilemma: Harry is working as a network programmer in the company named as Fabio Inc. He was working on developing security program to provide proactive security to the company assets. He developed a solution which can save the company resources from external attacks. He presented his security program to the IT security head and describes him the key features of the software (Kohn, 2013). He told the security head that the software is capable of presenting graphical user interface, it can develop graphics for every activity performed, and resources can be rescued from potential cyber-attack. The new program is having the capability to differentiate between new and old viruses. The security head denies the advantage of the developed program. He says that the program developed by him is the dangerous program and can have a negative impact on the organization infrastructure. The analysis of the security head, demotivated harry for his good work. Harry decided to present his idea on the internet w ith the new name named as Lock Smith. On analysing the situation, Jill made Harry out of work from the organization with the permission of the IT head. Later on, the owner of the company asked the IT head to bring the expertise of Lock Smith back to the organization. In the current situation, the demotivation in the employee compels him to do wrong deeds which are against the laws of the company. The employees should be rewarded for their good deeds which creates the feeling of oneness in the employees. The appreciation and reward should be presented for giving their best in the benefit of the organization. The false review can creates negativity in the working employees (Owens, 2010). It can be predicted from the case study that if the employees will not provide with the valuable incentives for their hard work, the company can face the loss of expertise which works well for improving the profitability of the organization. The decision making plays an important role in developing an ethical environment for the organization. The ethical action is composed of four psychological processes which are categorised as sensitivity in the recognition of good work and bad work, decision and judgement should follow moral values, judgement should provide motivation to the employees, and lastly the decision maker should follow the moral character in taking appropriate decision in betterment of the employees and the organization (Bazerman, 2013). The project leader or head should follow the ethical behaviour to provide valuable recognition to the good work of the employee which helps in keeping the employees motivated towards the common goal of the organization. In the given case study, the ethical issues associated with the employees of the organization are depicted in the table below: Name Role Ethical Issues Harry Network programmer He should not work against the laws of the company. Jill IT security Head Before the judging the work of the Harry, she should have tested the program developed by him to give the correct judgement. The wrong judgement creates the negative feeling in Harry. Brockley IT executive Head Without any proof, he should not trust Jill. The decision should not be provided on the decision taken by other. Iris Project Owner The action should be taken against the high official also for taking wrong judgement Ethical Analysis in four steps with the use of decision of decision making process: Facts The facts collected from the case study about ethical issues in the organization are giving wrong judgement of the good work of Harry, putting harry out of work, taking negative decision without any proof, demotivation in Harry, and other Ethical Issues: The ethical issues which are associated with the given scenario are: The hard work of the employees get wasted Feeling of demotivation in the working employees The employees can go against the policies of the company The performance of the employees get affected Coordination and cooperation between the employees will be affected Potential Harm: The performance of the other employees can also get affected due to the feeling of demotivation which in turn affects the profitability ratio of the organization (Gilman, 2012). One wrong judgement can affect the dignity of the enterprise. Involvement of stakeholder: There are four members who are involved in the ethical dilemma of the organization who are network programmer, IT security head, IT executive head, and project owner of the company. Isolate the Major Ethical Dilemma: The judgment of the IT security head should be taken by collecting the relevant facts for the developed program to know its correct functioning. The laws of ethics should be followed so that the moral values of the employee will not be affected. The tools of ethics should be followed for rewarding the good work of the network programmer (Yerby, 2013). The corrective action plan should be provided by the head to remove the flaws of the developed software so that it can efficiently use in the infrastructure of the organization. it helps in raising the feeling of motivation in the programmer and remains connected with the working of the organization. Ethical Analysis and Consequentialism: The follow up of the ethical codes in taking judgement will work in the benefit of the company and its employees (Ejimabo, 2015). No one will be negatively affected and it works well for the organization prosperity. The higher authority do not use ethical standards and policies in taking decision then it is going to affect the performance of the employees which in turn affect the growth rate of the company (Kidder, 2014). The subsequent follow up of the ethical standards and policies before giving the judgement on the work done by the employees helps in raising the confidence with the top professionals. The employees will get benefit in terms of incentives and reward of good works. No extra burden of providing incentives will occur on the project owner The best alternative to overcome the ethical dilemma of the company is to follow the ethical standards and policies before giving judgement on the work done by the employees. Comment: The goodwill of the company depends on the efficient and motivated employees which give their best in providing benefit to the organization. Right and duties: The dignity and culture of the employees should be affected The integrity should be followed for taking professional judgement Facts and figures should be accumulated for taking decision The respect of work should be given privilege The judgement should be based on evidences, not on trust. The moral values and professional ethics should be followed The following ethical duties should not be neglected: The respect should be given to the other views, thoughts, opinions, vision, and ideas. The good and healthy relationship should be developed between the employees and top executives The good working conditions should be provided to the employees. No discrimination should be done in the working culture on the basis of religion, caste, region, sex, and others. Categorical Imperative: Jill will be treated with disrespect Harry will be treated with disrespect Follow up of ethical laws and duties Harry The judgement should be based on evidences Yes it will create a feeling of motivation which works well in improving the performance of the employees (Mablin, 2012) No, it will adversely affect the profitability of the organization The ethical principles and standards should be followed for taking decision Discussion: The decision making plays an important role in developing an ethical environment for the organization. It can be predicted from the case study that if the employees will not provide with the valuable incentives for their hard work, the company can face the loss of expertise which works well for improving the profitability of the organization (Mitchell, 2015). Defensive ethical decision: The judgement taken by the top executives should be based on ethical principles and strategies which is associated with the relevant facts and figure collected for the action plan. Steps followed: Values, ethics, and legal requirement should be clearly identified before taking professional judgement The terms and concepts should be defined in relation with integrity and moral ethical sensitivity associated with the action taken (Hanson, 2014). The professional should have a clear specification of the ethical dilemma The strategies should be developed for resolving ethical conflict References: Bazerman, M. (2013).Ethical Breakdown. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/04/ethical-breakdowns Ejimabo, N. (2015).The influence of decision making on organization leadership and management activities. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-influence-of-decision-making-in-organizational-leadership-and-management-activities-2169-026X-1000138.php?aid=54660 Gilman, S. (2012).Ethics code and code of conduct as tool for promoting an ethical and professional public service. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/mena/governance/35521418.pdf Hanson, K. (2014).The six ethical dilemma every professional faces. Retrieved from https://www.bentley.edu/sites/www.bentley.edu.centers/files/2014/10/22/Hanson%20VERIZON%20Monograph_2014-10%20Final%20(1).pdf Kidder, E. (2014).Ethical Decision making and behaviour. Retrieved from https://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/39590_Chapter7.pdf Kohn, A. (2013).Why incentive plans cannot work. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/1993/09/why-incentive-plans-cannot-work Mablin, R. (2012).Human Resource management ethics and employment. Retrieved from https://www.hrpa.ca/Documents/Designations/Job-Ready-Program/Human-Resource-Management-Ethics-and-Employment.pdf Mitchell, C. (2015).Rewarding ethical behaviour. Retrieved from https://www.tsphr.com/pdfs/rewarding_ethic_behavior.pdf Owens, J. (2010).Work Ethics for development professional. Retrieved from https://www.manage.gov.in/studymaterial/workethics.pdf Yerby, J. (2013).Legal and ethical issues of employee monitoring. Retrieved from https://www.iiakm.org/ojakm/articles/2013/volume1_2/OJAKM_Volume1_2pp44-55.pdf

Friday, November 29, 2019

Who Should Rule

Who should rule? According to Plato, philosophers should rule because they have what it takes to be leaders. In his work, Plato explains that leaders should possess certain â€Å"forms†. These forms are relevant because they are unchanging and present the best knowledge.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Who Should Rule? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Plato believes that philosophers are the only people who can grasp such aspects (Jowett 19). They are also capable of understanding everything appropriately. The leading â€Å"form†, according to Plato, is that of â€Å"Good†. All other â€Å"forms† arise from the â€Å"Form of Good†. According to Plato, philosophers grasp ideas by undergoing through certain stages of understanding. This is what makes them the best leaders in a society. Plato claims that philosophers are a class of men that possess unique ideas, knowledge, and unde rstanding (Adam 72). They are â€Å"just† and capable of leading others. The souls of these philosophers are conditioned thus making it easier for them to fulfill the needs and expectations of their people. Rationality, according to Plato, is what guides a philosopher. Rationality is one of the attributes that make a philosopher an effective leader. Philosophers will promote justice because it is worthwhile. Justice is relevant because it embraces people’s psyche and health. Such leaders will ensure the souls of their people are healthy, contented, untroubled, and happy. Such kings are able to make appropriate judgment in order to address the needs of the people. The other argument presented by Plato is that of pleasure. Philosophers are â€Å"truth-loving†, something that makes it easier for them to apply â€Å"impartial judgment†. According to Plato, any kind of pleasure that is not associated with truth and philosophy is unpleasant. Only philosophers u nderstand the importance of â€Å"just life† and its importance towards a better society. From this understanding, it is agreeable that being a philosopher is a privilege. Plato believes that philosophy is a unique occupation that embraces wisdom (Adam 48). Such kings will be â€Å"just†. This is necessary because justice helps such kings grasp the â€Å"Form of the Good†. Philosophers will imitate the â€Å"Form of the Good† thus creating orderly societies.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From the above discussion, it is notable that Plato connects the idea of â€Å"justice† to the â€Å"Form of Good†. He furthers views the two as essential qualities of a leader. That being the case, it becomes evident that philosophers possess such qualities. The kings will behave in a â€Å"just† manner because it is the best thing for them to do. A s well, such leaders consider justice to be something essential regardless of the rewards or punishments it presents (Jowett 20). Plato believes that justice should be able to appeal to psychology. This is what promotes individual justice. With such ideas, Plato strongly believes that a philosopher will become the best ruler in The Republic. From a personal perspective, I would support Plato because he offers valid ideas about leadership. Philosophers should become kings because they will govern their kingdoms for the good and welfare of the citizens. Such kings will apply practical theories and ideas in order to address the needs of the people. The approach will ensure all classes benefit equally from their leadership. Philosophers, as Plato argues, will not leave the minorities behind (Jowett 85). This will promote equality, peace, and development. These classes include farmers, warriors, and guardians. With these three classes, philosophers can establish the best systems thus mak ing it easier for the people to understand their respective obligations and responsibilities. The idea can reduce corruption and injustice. The people will never question their positions in the society. Instead, they will stand firm in order to safeguard their rights. This explains why such kings can address most of the challenges affecting our societies today. According to Plato, a ruler should have skills and virtues in order to lead others. This is necessary because a tyrant cannot be virtuous. A king will establish the best relations in his kingdom. He will always be close to his family, his villages, and eventually bring his people closer.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Who Should Rule? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the â€Å"Form of Good†, the philosopher will make his kingdom successful. The leader will use his knowledge to implement the best ideas and opportunities that can address the di verse needs of his people. As Plato states, â€Å"true leaders should consider every issue at hand in order to make the best decisions (Jowett 103)†. This explains why only philosophers can complete these duties and empower their people. After examining Plato’s arguments, it is evident that philosophers can help establish successful societies. Such a philosopher will be a servant of the people. This is exactly what Plato argues in his work, â€Å"The Republic†. Although many people would argue that Plato’s ideas influenced leaders like Adolf Hitler, the outstanding fact is that such a leader was a tyrant but not a philosopher-king. It is necessary to consider some of the ideas presented by Plato in order to understand the importance of justice and proper leadership (Jowett 75). If applied properly, Plato’s views on leadership can help societies and corporations overcome most of the challenges they face today. Works Cited Adam, James. The Republic o f Plato. New York: Longman, 2009. Print. Jowett, Benjamin. The Republic by Plato. New York: Wiley, 2010. Print. This essay on Who Should Rule? was written and submitted by user Randall Mccray to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Italy Country Report. Company Ford

Italy Country Report. Company Ford Company: Ford Overview Italy is geographically positioned in Europe. The country’s capital city is the renowned city of Rome. Italy’s population is estimated as over 61.2 million people. The country takes pride in a parliamentary form of government. Moreover, the country trades with Euro (EUR) as its main currency. Since the year 2011, the countrys GDP shows that the main economic sectors are service delivery, industry and agriculture. In addition, the country’s both import and export are associated with the United States, France, Germany, China and Spain.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Italy Country Report. Company: Ford specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Economic Situation Weak Economic Performance Italys economic performance has been in decline since the Eurozone economic turmoil in the year 2012 (Lane 52). The subsequent economic struggles in Greece had a negative impact on both external and internal demands in Italy. In fact, the economic struggles reduced business and consumer confidence in the country. This factor has a negative impact on Fords operations in Italy. With a declining demand for automotive products and reduction in industrial production, Ford would suffer huge losses of the company ventures in Italy in 2013. The general economic performance in Eurozone affects consumer spending. This is attributed to the increasing unemployment rate. Ford manufactures high quality products, and consumers in Italy cannot spend money on expensive automotive. International Competitiveness Italy’s position in international competitiveness has been deteriorating since the year 2011 (Smeral 8). The fact that the country has lost at least 20% of the market share in international exports is discouraging. In this respect, Italy has avoided conducting business with countries that do not pose competitiveness in terms of costs and price change. Such countries include Germany and the United States. In this regard, it would not make economic sense to have Fords venture in the Italian market. Inflation Rates In the year 2012, the inflation rate in Italy had increased incredibly. A major reason for the increasing inflation rate was the rise of energy costs. An increase of the value added tax (VAT) also influenced the high inflation rate. During this period, the demand for automotive products was stable, but the decreasing demand for trend in the year 2013 is a sign of reduced inflation rate. In this regard, a demand for imports in Italy will reduce in the year 2013. A projected decrease of inflation by 1.6% would influence the demand for Fords products in the country. Unemployment Unemployment in Italy has been on the rise since the year 2012. By November of 2012, unemployment had risen by 11.1%, which is 25% higher than the previous year (Checchi 148). The current labor laws in Italy seek to protect employees who only work on a permanent contract.Advertis ing Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this respect, companies like Ford and similar businesses are unable to invest in uncertain labor environment. In fact, this makes it difficult for companies like Ford and automotive businesses to manufacture and sell automotive products in Italy. Fords success in Italy requires constant availability of labor and stable market. Bank lending and interest rates The Eurozone crisis in the year 2012 led to restrained bank lending. The Italian economy has depended on the European Central Bank to fund government projects, and bail out major economic sectors. The increasing lending rates provided by Italian banks are making it difficult for investors to increase their capital base. Companies like Ford or automotive businesses require support from financial and lending institutions during an economic meltdown. Such support was evidenced in the U nited States when the government bailed General Motors from receivership and total bankruptcy. Currently, the lending institutions in Italy cannot support Ford or bail out a foreign investor in the automotive industry. Italy’s interest rates are determined by the European Central Bank. Interest rates in the year 2001 were recorded as 4.8 % compared to 0.5% in the year 2013 (Spaventa 9). The projected reduction of interest rates in the year 2014 might increase the business opportunities for Ford and automotive business in Italy. However, the current interest rates are still high and cause a decline of the automotive business in Italy. Moreover, the high interest rates are causing the weakening of the Euro in the region and especially in Italy. GDP It is estimated that the country’s GDP reduced by 0.1% between August and September of 2013. Until the year 2013, Italy’s GDP has always averaged 0.6% since the year 1960. From the year 1992, Italy’s expansion of trade within the European Union has seen its GDP reduce significantly. This may be due to its low international competitiveness and the global economic meltdown. The increased public spending in Italy is not favorable for automotive business and Ford. Fig 1.0 Sample Italy’s GDP graphical representationAdvertising We will write a custom report sample on Italy Country Report. Company: Ford specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Demand The demand for Ford vehicles in Europe has been high for the past two decades. By targeting market segments in Germany, France, Spain and Italy, Fords sales volume rose by 2.3% by the end of August 2013. However, a decrease of automotive sales in Europe declined by 5.7 % during the same period. This is an indication that Fords sales volume may be reducing if the current economic factors remain constant. Checchi, Daniele. Labor market and inequality trends in Italy. The Politics of Structural Reforms: Social and Industrial Policy Change in Italy and Japan. Ed. Magara, Hideko and Sacchi, Stefano. Boston: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013. 148-170. Print. Lane, R. Philip. The European sovereign debt crisis. The Journal of Economic Perspectives 26.3 (2012): 49-67. Print. Smeral, Egon. The impact of the financial and economic crisis on European tourism. Journal of Travel Research 48.1 (2009): 3-13. Print. Spaventa, Lugi. The growth of public debt in Italy: past experience, perspectives and policy problems. PSL Quarterly Review 66.266 (2013). Print.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Relationship between School and Society Assignment

The Relationship between School and Society - Assignment Example However, time took drastic turn with the passage of time, and now an overwhelming majority of the individuals study in various schools, colleges, universities, academies and other formal educational institutions, from where the individuals seek professional education and obtain certificates and degrees in order to enter into practical life as qualified and skilled persons. Wilson (2011, p. ) is of the view that the increasing emphasis upon specific knowledge and the acquisition of credentials as the pathway for young adults seeking any hope of attaining financially rewarding occupations and navigating the existing social structure has captured the attention of the parents and students alike, which has paved the way towards the popularity of learning even in the poor and underdeveloped nations of the world. My respected parents got me admitted to a well-reputed school in the city when I was four years old. That was the institution from where I learned how to read and write. Like all s chools, my institution also taught me language, literature, pure and social sciences, humanities, mathematics and other disciplines. Somehow, I developed the special aptitude for political science, history, theology, philosophy, and literature. During the beginning of my educational career, the parts of the curriculum carrying civics, history, and spiritualism captured my attraction, and I always obtained excellent grades in these disciplines. My taste did not witness any decline in these subjects; as a result, I selected these subjects for my undergraduate program. I studied Plato, Descartes, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Adam Smith, Keynes and other political economists and sociological and political science theorists. The utilitarian theory articulated by J.S. Mill and structural-functional theory by Herbert Spencer opened new avenues of wisdom and foresight to me. I keenly studied the 1930 and 1970s economic recessions and drew out the causes and consequences of the same in an analytical way. I found Marxist conflict perspective to be highly moving (Ritzer, 2007, p. 88), and I looked for developing a worker-friendly corporate environment for the future years to come. I obtained the education under the system that was close to the Jeffersonian model of education. Famous statesman and educationalist of early nineteenth century Thomas Jefferson had introduced the education system where the children gradually climb the educational ladder in the light of their age-group. Stage I consists of primary school years, which should be specified for children of the age-group between 6 to 8 years. The students belonging to the age group from 9 to 16 years should be offered the education of intermediate level at secondary school, which is Stage II of education. Stage III of education focuses on the university years, which offers higher studies to the students. Consequently, the students should complete their education gradually and in a systematic way, wh ere the level of education should be determined in the light of the mental capabilities and understandings of the students, so that they could easily comprehend with the curriculum being taught to them at schools (Miller, 1998, p. 3).  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Letter of Complaint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter of Complaint - Essay Example Despite the urgency of the situation, I could not move the car. I have to confess that it was embarrassing, and I did not anticipate this to happen to me while driving such a well-established car brand. I was also extremely disappointed since none of the cars I have driven over the last years has given me this kind of problem. We called, in a tow truck, to help us move the car to the Auto-world Frontier service station. Our conversation with the dealership’s advisor went well enough as she accepted that the company had, indeed, neglected to carry out ground clearance and that this model was meant for German roads. I left the car there for the replacement of the oil chamber. The insurance company will cover this bill. I was informed to pick the car up after two days. As I returned to pick up the car, the advisor informed me that while the chamber’s replacement had gone off smoothly, the oil was still leaking when the engine was started. I was asked to call at two PM since the mechanics were still on the car. When I called, his phone was off. The landline number went through, only to be informed that the advisor was on a two-week leave and that I should get in touch with a Mr. Brandon. Brandon, for his part, told me that he would call me back after twenty minutes with the status on my car. When he did, he informed me that my car was badly damaged and that the engine required repair. The insurance company, apparently, would not cover the cost for repairs. No one between the insurance company and the service centre seems willing to take responsibility for my car’s damage. I would like to ascertain that the fault lies directly with VW and its ground clearance design for the model of my car. It is also worth noting that my car was not running when my misfortune occurred, and thus, the incident might not have been caused by an engine trouble before the incident. I would

Monday, November 18, 2019

Management Overview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Management Overview - Essay Example These approaches are preferred because companies have little control over external factors in their environment, including their competition, but have a great deal of control over internal factors within the firm. This is especially true with PLCs seeming to shorten over time, most notably in technology fields. With all this taken into account, it makes sense for organizations to focus internally to attempt to gain a competitive advantage, rather than being reactionary and responding to external factors consistently (Teece, 1997), which should help them not only get a competitive advantage in the first place but also sustain it over the long term. In this paper, the writer will attempt to analyze changes that have occurred in the field of strategic management. Dell Corporation will serve as the model for this analysis, as its business model has been praised recently due to its unique approach to markets. 1.2 Dell Computers Product Lie Spans have been shortening from some time in Dell ’s sector (computing), which obviously can create problems for a corporation in terms of creating a long term sustained advantage. This is because any advantage gained from innovation is unlikely to last more than one product life cycle, after which competitors will adapt or copy such innovations, meaning that without constant innovation, a company will quickly lag behind. This also means that a company must display excellent flexibility, and be able to change their strategic focus quickly: in Dell’s case, for instance, a weakening desktop market might be inevitable, so they would need to be able to quickly capitalize on other business such as laptops or accessories. Competition in this sector changes frequently, as new firms enter, and new technologies redefine the expectations of the consumer base. While this leads many firms to jump head first into this sector, it has also led to some existing it, when they cannot compete with their competitors, cope with external d ynamics, or maintain enough innovation to keep them competitive with their competitors in the long term. Failed companies within such organizations also frequently do not possess the necessary resources to create or maintain competitive posture: thus the problem can be viewed as both resource based and externally driven. HP, for instance, could not maintain competitive advantage in the tablet market or the PC business because of competition from firms like Apple and Google (Cellan-Jones, 2011), making the company rely solely on its printer/scanner division to stay afloat. Lawson and Samson (2011) show that competitive advantage in this field depends on organizational asset positions as well as strategic flexibility and strategic decisions; there are distinctive flavors of strategic paths that seem to lead to success in this field. This flavor touches on the way the firm is put together and operated, and has a lot to do with organizational culture including working conditions, expect ation, management systems and so on. Samson and Lawson create a definition of the dynamic corporation – which will maintain competitive advantage, which includes things like cross-functional resources and management fascilities, which spans research

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Developing Mathematical Abilities for Children

Developing Mathematical Abilities for Children The mathematical development foundation was established in the earliest years. Mathematics learning had built on curiosity and enthusiasm for children to grow naturally. Mathematics at this age, is suitably connected to a child’s world, is more than â€Å"getting ready† for school or accelerating them into elementary mathematics. Appropriate mathematical skills challenge young children to explore ideas related to patterns, shapes, numbers, and space with increasing complexity. The child’s cognitive development is how the concentration works and how the children learn, aim and comprehend. As children develop cognitive from pre-lingual and pre-symbolic stage to the use of language and symbols to operate concepts. The ability related to later mathematics learning are also developing. The abilities for mathematics cognitive learning are memory, language skills and the ability to male mental pictures of numbers and space. Young children begin to use their memory when co-operating with others and recall the experiences. Infants will respond to familiar faces and to music. Children begin to notice environment print and they begin to understand the role of letters and numbers as abstract symbols for familiar things. The child’s cognitive development is how the concentration works and how the children learn, aim and comprehend. As children develop cognitive from pre-lingual and pre-symbolic stage to the use of language and symbols to operate concepts. The ability related to later mathematics learning are also developing. The abilities for mathematics cognitive learning are memory, language skills and the ability to male mental pictures of numbers and space. Young children begin to use their memory when co-operating with others and recall the experiences. Infants will respond to familiar faces and to music. Children begin to notice environment print and they begin to understand the role of letters and numbers as abstract symbols for familiar things. Pattern making it is significant as it enables children to identify simple repeated ideas. It is a good basis for finding patterns in numbers later on. Sorting will help children’s understanding of numbers, they should have opportunities to sort as many different materials as possible and in many different ways as they can. Counting and ordering children will need to be come familiar with the number system, they will need to do this through counting and ordering numbers and group of numbers with the same criteria. Recording they will start to record numbers and patterns. They have found out in simple ways, through pictures and simple charts and tallies. When I was observing children there was a child that knew the numbers and knew how to make 3 colours the same. This child is very intelligent, last day we were playing with blocks and I told him to tell me how many reds there are and he told me that there are 10 in all. Then I told him to put 4 block together that are the same colour and he did them without any help. In maths the boy is at a higher level, he knows how to count and to join 4 blocks together I was playing with a boy and we were saying numbers and I told him to count the clothes that there are suspended and he started to count but he didn’t knew the numbers well. He begin to count but he forgot what numbers comes after 1 and he had some problem to remember them so I tried to help him by saying him the beginning of the numbers but he couldnt remember the number that comes after 1. This child needs help in numbers, he need someone to teach him the numbers at home. I think that their parents are not helping him and teaching him the numbers. His level is low and he needs to improve more. The children built their confidence when they have someone who understands them and who play with them. They be confident with people that they have attachment with. When children know things like numbers they feel more confident of saying them. If they are confident their self- esteem will be more high. For children to be fruitful in working with others, and in explanation their own sympathies, they must develop the mathematical language vital to help them express what they believe. Conversation amongst themselves and with a teacher, offers children with chances for social message, and for shared understandings to be exchanging and developed. To do this children need to have self-assurance and don’t be shy of saying the answers or asking a question. If they don’t understand they can’t learn maths well so they need to be confident and ask. Yesterday I was doing an activity with 2 children that are the same age. They are different from each other because one is very confident and likes to do the activities and she is very motivated of doing them. Her self esteem is very high and she is very confident. The other child is very shy and he don’t like to interact with others. He don’t like to do activities because he knows that Im going to ask him questions for example which color he like most so he need to built some confidence with himself and with others because his self-esteem is very low. He need to communicate more with others even at home his parents need to interact more with him. As with all others areas of learning one will need to build children’s confidence when working on mathematical ideas. From an early age , children should be presented with positive and fun methods of working with mathematical tasks in ways that engage all learners. Adults should take care to ensure that tasks are introduced in a way that stimulates children so that they do think of mathematics as difficult. Occasionally concepts may be difficult to grasp, and children will find new ideas challenging. They should be given plenty of opportunities to use games, investigations and other forms of mathematics, which will develop their skills while also encouraging them to be independent. Last day we were playing, and in the class we have a number line. I was playing with Christian and I asked him to count the numbers. He was very shy at the beginning because he don’t believe in himself and he don’t have confidence with others. Then I helped him by praising him and told him that he is able to count them and I knew that he know them so he began to count them. He needed some support and courage to built confidence and to feel comfortable talking to me. Im going to talk about the theories that are involved in mathematical development. I’m going to talk about Piaget and his conservation of numbers according to his constructivist theory. Constructivism, first developed by Piaget, views learning of mathematics as the building of meaning and understanding based on the modeling of reality, the examination of pattern, and the gaining of a mathematical nature. Though I have chosen conservation in mathematics as the test case the account Piaget provided is expected to apply more usually to his entire composition, and I believe is further genuine by changes in his thought he also draw upon other examples to make his case. He make no effort to define the different stages of Piagetian development but make position to them when necessary; that wasnt his focus. More, he use Skinner as the exemplar of behaviorism even though there are other varieties. The reasons for doing so rest with his supremacy among instructors of all punishments and the potential benefits to justifying the wide-spread mistake of his work, too. Language and hearing processing shortfalls affect ability to learn language and math concepts and solve problems. Students may have amenable or communicative language problems that can considerably affect their learning and ability to express what they do not comprehend or show how they solved problems. They can help them by teaching them those things: Partner with Teachers to Manage Language and Auditory Processing Deficits. Use Hands-on Materials to Improve Your Childs Math Comprehension Re-Write Word Problems to Enhance Auditory Comprehension Provide Step-by-Step Models of Problem Solving We were doing an activity about maths and I was explaining them sum and what they need to do some of the children couldnt understand the concept of the sum so I needed to explain it again and more in detail. If I didn’t explained it again and more in detailed they wouldnt understand and learn the sum. When I was doing the activity some of the children didn’t understood the vocabulary because was a little bit hard for them so I asked them where they didn’t understood and I explained it better.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Character of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter Essay -- Papers N

The Character of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne, a character within The Scarlet Letter, is a prime example of Hawthorne's common transformation of individuals within his books. These mutations involve the qualities and attributes of her physical appearance, feminine emotions, and reputation among the townspeople. Throughout the novel, the mentioned elements of Hester's character develop and change several times, providing the reader with better understanding of the influence that the scarlet letter and other characters have on her. In the beginning of the novel, the reader is presented with a physical appearance of Hester that is pleasing to the visual eye. It is Hawthorne describes his heroine of the book by writing that "She had dark and abundant hair†¦face†¦beautiful†¦features and richness of complexion†¦deep black eyes" (51). Over time, these attributes faded and the "attractiveness of her person had undergone†¦change†¦sad transformation†¦luxuriant hair†¦cut off†¦hidden†¦some attribute had departed from her, the permanence of which had been essential to keep her ...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Justice in Antigone

Antiquity and the 19th Century (Ulfers) William Rauscher Thursday, 9:30AM Justice in Antigone In Sophocles’ Antigone, two notions of ‘justice’ are presented, which conflict with each other. Creon’s form of justice rewards the loyal Eteocles and punishes the traitor Polyneices, by refusing to give Polyneices proper burial rites. This form of justice directly conflicts with Antigone’s idea of justice, which doesn’t differentiate between the â€Å"wicked† and the â€Å"just. † These two conflicting thoughts on justice illustrate two classic philosophies.Creon represents a Paramenidean view of justice, while Antigone represents a Heraclitean view of justice. Paramenidean thought splits the world into two systems, where â€Å"Being† is primary and â€Å"Becoming† is secondary (Ulfers, Lecture). To Paramenides, â€Å"Being† is associated with the idea of â€Å"oneness† and â€Å"timelessness,† while a ny â€Å"Becoming† or process is an illusion produced by the senses. This dualistic worldview simplifies everyday occurrences and thoughts into opposites, which are unchangeable. In contrast, Heraclitean thought presents â€Å"Becoming† as primary, while â€Å"Being† is secondary (Ulfers, Lecture).Heraclitus regards change and temporality as ultimate in a perpetual process of â€Å"Becoming. † Heraclitus goes on to argue that opposites are simultaneously present in a state known as chiasmic unity. Chiasmic unity constitutes a paradoxical unity of opposites, which binds opposites together and keeps them apart. Heraclitean thought favors the logic of â€Å"both/and,† which violates the Paramenidean logic of â€Å"either/or. † Antigone presents a Heraclitean view of justice in a conversation with her sister Ismene abut Creon’s proclamation that their brother, Polyneices, will ot receive proper burial rites. Antigone determines that Creon has no authority to dictate burial rites: â€Å"It is not for him [Creon] to keep me from my own† (Sophocles, 163). By choosing to defy Creon’s decree, Antigone accepts her fate as â€Å"a criminal-but a religious one,† revealing that she wants to make her act of defiance a public example. Antigone does not fear Creon’s threat of punishment because she follows a different form of justice based on a higher religious authority.Religion functions in a chiasmic structure, where the opposite values of â€Å"wicked† and â€Å"just,† lose their oppositional aspects (Ulfers, Lecture). Antigone’s commitment to a Heraclitean view of justice allows her to defy the sovereign, yet keep her honor: â€Å"No suffering of mine will be enough to make me die ignobly† (Sophocles 165). In contrast, Ismene chooses to follow Creon’s interpretation of justice because he is the current ruling power, whose authority is unquestioned. She is not a ble to see past the â€Å"either/or† logic Creon has imposed on his people.As a wiser, older sister, Ismene warns Antigone about disobeying Creon, pleading with Antigone to come to her senses: â€Å"†¦and see how miserable our end shall be if in the teeth of law we shall transgress against the sovereign’s decree and power†¦Extravagant action is not sensible† (Sophocles, 163). Ismene determines that Antigone’s intended action is flawed because it goes beyond the simplicity of following the sovereign’s law. Despite these warnings, Antigone is compelled to defy Creon’s proclamation as a result of her Heraclitean view of justice.Creon confronts Antigone for defying his decree. In contrast to Antigone, Creon represents the Paramenidean view of justice, which is based on an oppositional order of wicked and just, punishment and reward (Ulfers, Lecture). Creon extends these distinctions to the realm of the dead: â€Å"My enemy is still my enemy even in death† (Sophocles 181). Creon believes that by extending the intolerance of treachery into death’s realm, he will set an example that will dissuade any future uprisings against his rule.Antigone shows no remorse for her actions, believing that Creon’s rule does not extend to the realm of the dead: â€Å"†¦it was not Zeus that made the proclamation; nor did Justice, which lives with those below, enact such laws as that, for mankind. I did not believe your proclamation had such power to enable one who will someday die to override God’s ordinances† (Sophocles 178). Antigone disagrees with Creon, since death is inevitable and is neither considered a punishment nor a reward. In this sense, judgment is suspended in the realm of death.She feels that the mortal Creon cannot make a proclamation that governs the realm of the dead. Antigone embodies a â€Å"law† that revolves around the chiasmic unity of the opposite values of honor and dishonor attributed to Etocles and Polyneices, respectively (Ulfers, Lecture). She will not give allegiance to the temporal rules of Creon, since she will be in conflict with the higher authority of the gods regarding the realm of death: â€Å"The god of death demands these rites for both† (Sophocles 181).As a result of Antigone’s public display of disobedience toward Creon’s rule, Creon believes that he is forced to fulfill the justified punishment of death on Antigone. In order to uphold his authority as a good ruler, he feels that he has to rule with intolerance toward disobedience: â€Å"The man the city set up in authority must be obeyed in small things and in just but also in their opposites† (Sophocles, 187). In Creon’s mind, creating a victorious rule means inflexible justice, order, and discipline.This unchanging mentality of a strict separation of being either loyal or disloyal and receiving either reward or punishment represents a Pa ramenidean view of justice. His form of justice is devoid of leniency and mercy, only seeing his own perspective on justice. Creon finally realizes the true â€Å"injustice† of his law only after the tragic deaths of his son, wife, and Antigone: â€Å"The mistakes of a blinded man are themselves rigid and laden with death† (Sophocles, 209).His inflexible decrees blinded him from true justice by locking him into a rigid Paramenidean view of the world. After facing unparalleled tragedies, he ultimately has gained insight into Antigone’s â€Å"justice. † Creon has switched from the Paramenidean separation of opposites to the chiasmic unity of opposites: â€Å"Everything in my hands is crossed† (Sophocles, 212). Creon is now able to comprehend that not everything can be categorized into separate distinctions to be judged, seeming to accept the Heraclitean view of justice.Creon sees the error in his notion of justice, but he is too late to prevent the t ragedy that befalls him. His absolute power of ruling combined with his pride and arrogance leads him to be blinded to Antigone’s beliefs. At the end of the play, Creon gains â€Å"wisdom† from his â€Å"unwelcome fate† realizing that he â€Å"[should] have kept the old accepted laws† (Sophocles 204, 212). This realization bestows upon him the knowledge to rule in favor of the â€Å"both/and† Heraclitean view of justice, rather than the â€Å"either/or† Paramenidean view of justice that he once followed.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Anglo

Anglo Although, it now became a commonplace practice among particularly ‘progressive’ social activists to blame Western civilization on account of its environmental unfriendliness, the objective analysis points out to the fact that it is namely in Western societies, where people have traditionally been concerned with trying to preserve nature. The soundness of this suggestion can be well illustrated even today.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Anglo-Germanic Writers’ Influence on Popular Environmental Thinking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example; whereas, in Nigeria it is being considered absolutely normal by the residents of country’s even biggest cities to dump garbage onto the street, right in front of their shabby houses1, in such Western countries as Britain, Sweden and Germany, one may very well end up facing administrative charges for even as little as throwing a cigarette butt anywhere else but into specially designed garbage bins. And, the reason why, as compared to the people from Third World countries, Westerners appear to grow ever more environmentally aware is simple. As history indicates, the more a particular society is being affected by scientific progress, the less its members require natural resources to sustain their physical existence, which in its turn creates objective preconditions for them to consider adopting friendly stance towards the nature. In other words, the notions of environmental friendliness and scientific progress are very much.2 This is precisely the reason why it is specifically Anglo-Saxon societies, which have traditionally been considered the most technologically advanced, that continue to feature world’s highest environmental standards. In our paper, we will aim to substantiate the full soundness of this suggestion by exploring how creative writings and visual artworks from Anglo/Germanic authors, concerned w ith popularizing the objective essence of natural laws, contributed towards increasing the extent of public’s environmental awareness in 19th and 20th centuries. When we assess the qualitative subtleties of Western civilization’s socio-cultural and scientific progress, from the time of antiquity until today, a very striking picture will emerge – the pace of this progress appears to have been gaining exponential momentum during the time of antiquity (5th century B.C. 5th century A.D.) and during the time of comparatively modern era (15th-20th centuries). However, during the course of so-called Dark Ages (6th – 14th centuries), the pace of Western socio-cultural and scientific progress came to virtually a complete stall – all thanks to Catholic Christianity.3 Therefore, it comes as not a particular surprise that it was specifically the exposure of Biblical fables’ anti-scientific essence, on the part of European most prominent intellectuals, which created the initial preconditions for Western civilization to be set back on its natural track of development.4 And, there can be very little doubt that Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) was one of these intellectuals. In his poetical work The Botanic Garden; a Poem in Two Parts, supplemented by scientific commentaries, Darwin went about promoting a revolutionary idea that people and plants are being subjected to the same laws of nature.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In its turn, this implied plants’ sexuality: â€Å"The first buds of tree raised from seed die annually and are succeeded by new buds by solitary reproduction; which are larger or more perfect for several suc ­cessive years, and then they produce sexual flowers, which are succeeded by seminal repro ­duction†.5 Nevertheless, it were not the explicit references to the very n otion of sexuality, quite unconventional for its time, which ensured Darwin poem’s progressive sounding, but the fact that this poem suggested the physiological origins of a number of purely metaphysical notions, such as ‘soul’. As a result, Darwin’s poem ended up promoting clearly positivist message that it is the existence that defines consciousnesses, and not the other way around. As it was noted by Reed: â€Å"If life, mind, and feeling are concomitants of the arrangement of organs and of a fluid ether in animal bodies, what role was left for either God or the soul? Erasmus Darwin†¦ argued that the way we act is a function of our upbringing- of social, not divine intervention†.6 It goes without saying, of course, that such Darwin’s botanical stance was wholly inconsistent with the very spirit of anthropocentrism, based upon Judeo-Christian tradition, which contributed rather substantially to poem’s scientific value. After all, even during the course of 18th century, Church continued to exert a strong influence onto the essence of socio-political dynamics in British society. And yet, Darwin proved himself intellectually honest and courageous enough to utilize his poetic talent for the purposes of enlightenment, while defying the conventions of anthropocentrism. What is particularly interesting, in this respect, is the fact that he went about accomplishing it by the mean of endowing plants with clearly anthropocentric psychological traits – whatever the ironic it might sound. In The Botanic Garden; a Poem in Two Parts, flowers are being represented as such that can experience a variety of different emotions: Whilst erythrina oer her tender flowerAdvertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Anglo-Germanic Writers’ Influence on Popular Environmental Thinking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Bends all her leaves, and braves the sul try hour;- Shield, when cold hesper sheds his dewy light, Mimosa’s soft sensations from the night.7 Thus, even though in Darwin’s poem, plants can be formally referred to as God’s creations, under no circumstances can they be referred to as some sort of God’s commodity. Just as it is being the case with people, in this poem, plants appear to have a life of their own. And, even though The Botanic Garden; a Poem in Two Parts is not being concerned with promotion of the concept of evolution, by being exposed to plants’ sexuality, readers come to suspect the existence of dialectically predetermined links between flora and fauna. Thus, it will not be much of an exaggeration, on our part, to suggest that Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution partially derives out of his grandfather’s insights, in regards to biological commonality between just about all life-forms. The irony lies in the fact that both: Erasmus and Charles’s insightful ness in the matters of biology appears to be of essentially Lamarckian nature. As Barlow had put it: â€Å"Erasmus’s cast of mind appears to hold special heritable qualities When we examine the achievements and characteristics of his (Charles Darwin’s) forbears and descendants, the copious mind of Erasmus appears as a vast family aggregate†.8Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apparently, the example of Erasmus Darwin shows that in 18th century, the sheer vibrancy of the process of Western empirical sciences freeing themselves out of Christian imprisonment had put era’s most prominent intellectuals at liberty to utilize just about any creative techniques, while popularizing scientific notions. The legitimacy of an earlier suggestion can be also explored in regards to one of 19th century’s most famous ornithologists John Gould (1804 – 1881). Just as it used to be the case with many intellectually advanced enthusiasts of science at the time, Gould took an interest in a number of scientific pursuits. Contemporaries considered Gould a professional in the fields of taxidermy, gardening, naval navigation and zoology.  Nevertheless, it was namely his love of birds, which did not only allow Gould to ensure its fame as ornithologist but also to contribute to the process of Charles Darwin designing the concept of natural selection. According to Pycior: â€Å"Darwin has been described as being ‘frankly stunned’ by Gould’s telling him that the Galapagos finches were a peculiar group of thirteen species, all closely related to one South American finch, that Galapagos mockingbirds belonged to three distinct species from different islands, and that twenty’, Current Anthropology, 26/4 (1985), 503. 2 Joel Mokyr, ‘Technological Progress and the Decline of European Mortality’, The American Economic Review, 83/2 (1993), 325. 3 Andrew Keitt, ‘Religious Enthusiasm, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Disenchantment of the World’,  Journal of the History of Ideas, 65/2 (2004), 233. 4 Arthur Melzer, ‘The Origin of the Counter-Enlightenment: Rousseau and the New Religion of Sincerity’, The American Political Science Review, 90/2 (1996), 350. 5 E. Darwin, Botanic Garden, a Poem, in Two Parts; Containing the Economy of Vegetation and The Loves of Plants, with Philosophica l Notes (London: Jones Company, 1825), 23. 6 E. Reed, From Soul to Mind: The Emergence of Psychology from Erasmus Darwin to William James (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997), 15. 7 Darwin. Op. Cit. 66. 8 Nora Barlow, ‘Erasmus Darwin, F.R.S. (1731-1802)’, Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, 14/1 (1959), 85. 9 H. Pycior, Creative Couples in the Sciences (New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press, 1996), 89. 10 J. Gould, The Birds of Australia: in Seven Volumes (London: Richard and John Taylor, 1848), 28. http://nla.gov.au/nla.aus-f4773-1. 11 S. Gliboff, H.G. Bronn, Ernst Haeckel, and the Origins of German Darwinism: a Study in Translation and Transformation (Cambridge: Mass MIT Press, 2008), 156. 12 Niles Holt, ‘Ernst Haeckels Monistic Religion’, Journal of the History of Ideas, 32/2 (1971), 270. 13 Max Rieser, ‘Three Principles of Natural Beauty’, The Journal of Philosophy, 53/11 (1956), 355. 14 Harold McWhinnie, ‘A Biological Basis for the Golden Section in Art and Design’, Leonardo, 22/1 (1989), 61. 15 Reiser, Op. Cit. 356. 16 Nicholas Kyriazis, ‘Seapower and Socioeconomic Change’, Theory and Society, 35/1 (2006), 75. 17 A. Humboldt. Aspects of Nature in Different Lands and Different Climates; with Scientific Elucidations (London: Longman, Brown, Green Longmans, 1849), ix. archive.org/stream/aspectsofnaturei01humbuoft#page/viii/mode/2up. 18 Aaron Sachs, ‘The Ultimate ‘Other’: Post-Colonialism and Alexander Von Humboldts Ecological Relationship with Nature’, History and Theory, 42/4 (2003), 119. 19 C. Rourke J. MacDonald, Audubon (New York: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1936), 284. 20 P. Murphy,T. Gifford K. Yamazato, Literature of Nature: An International Sourcebook (Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998), 172. 21 R. Dawkins, The Selfish Gene (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1976), 3. 22 R. Dawkins. The Blind Watchmaker (London: Longmans, 1986), 13. 2 3 C. Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life (Oxford: Oxford University Press, [1859]1996), 70. 24 R. Dawkins, The God Delusion (London: Bantam Press, 2006), 79. 25 F. Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None (New York: Algora Publishing, [1891] 2003), 75. 26 K.. Dobbelaere, Secularization: An Analysis at Three Levels (Berlin: Peter Lang, 2004), 167. 27 Christopher Hoag, ‘The Atlantic Telegraph Cable and Capital Market Information Flows’, The Journal of Economic History 66/2 (2006), 350. 28 H. Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, FeedBooks.Com [web page] (2007) http:// generation.feedbooks.com/book/219.pdf. 29 R. Lynn T. Vanhanen, IQ and the Wealth of Nations (Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002), 63. 30 John Leighly, ‘John Muirs Image of the West’, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 48/4 (1958), 312. 31 J. Muir. A Thousand- Mile Walk to the Gulf (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1916), 139. 32 J. Burroughs. The Gospel of Nature, ReadBookOnline.Net [web page] (2011) readbookonline.net/readOnLine/21513/. 33 Ibid., 2011.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

There is no population crisis! essays

There is no population crisis! essays There is no world population crisis. There are lots of major countries with population problems, but it is also true that some dont have a population anywhere near to uncomfortable so it is not reasonable to categorize the world having a population crisis. Popular belief tells of recourses running out, perhaps a Water World in the not too distant future, but this is not possible, for It is integrally dependent on human ingenuity (Richmond, Sheldon). There is no possibility a shortage of living space either. If the entire world population moved to Texas, each person would have 1,400 square feet(Richmond, Sheldon). The world is huge, and we still have not discovered all of it. None the less we will not run out of area. Third World alone could support more than 30 billion people. The world's population now is only 5.6 billion.(Smith, Janet There is no World population problem Univ. Dallas 1994) We inhabit only 3% of the worlds landmass. We will always have land to live on. Yes, the resources in this world are limited, but it will not be exhausted because as long as man has the power to evolve, invent, and improvise we will think of ways to be more efficient, or substitute a more abundant resource with a seemingly rare material. This could not be more apparent than Silicon, for computer chips, and glass, for fiber optic cables. Both are made from silica, which, after oxygen, is the most common element on earth. It is sand! Thus, human beings took a common, abundant material, applied their ingenuity (in the form of, for example, quantum mechanics), and created unprecedented wealth.(Richmond, Sheldon). This subject goes back to lack of area; imagine if technology was developed to live under water. Countries have population problem, not the world. These counties have a population difficulty because they have the values different form some other countr...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Homestasis - Thermoregulation and control of blood sugar Essay

Homestasis - Thermoregulation and control of blood sugar - Essay Example The hypothalamus effects changes in response to alterations in body temperature by activating adjustments to effectors in the form of muscles manipulating body hair movement and operation of the sweat glands. Hence, the human body’ temperature can only be regarded as stable provided that the heat produced matches heat lost. The sustenance of the temperature of the body at a steady level is paramount given that the living processes within the cells closely depends on the action of the enzymes that work effectively in a set of stable conditions, especially at optimal temperature and pH. Any alterations in the set properties influence the utility of the enzymes and can yield to the death of the cells, and, ultimately, the death of the whole organism. This stresses the significance of regulation and sustenance of a constant internal environment. Nevertheless, the internal environment may not be entirely constant as it may be tolerated to fluctuate, albeit at exceptionally constric ted limits. Indeed, temperature regulation is imperative given that the speed of metabolic reactions is directed by enzymes activity that only functions optimally at temperatures that neighbor body’s core temperature of 37Â °C. ... Devoid of enzymes activity, much of critical bodily functions would fail to take place at the required level, which leads to the death of the cells. Q2 How the body gain and lose heat The outside temperature mainly differs significantly as the day progresses; however, the body temperature ought to be sustained at the core temperature of 37Â °C. This is well demonstrated in Jamel’s case given must be sustained at a constant 37Â °C with minimal variations while the outside environment is bound to change (Sircar 2008, 697). Given that the temperature in New York City stood at 10Â °C and there is a possibility that the temperature fluctuated prior the race, during the race, and after the race, Jamel’s body must adapt to the changing external environment. This is achieved via a number of processes through which the body is subjected to, namely: vasodilation, sweating, shivering, and vasoconstriction (Sircar 2008, 697). During the race in which Jamel’s body temperat ure rises owing to the rise in metabolism, the sweat glands located within the skin are activated to secrete/release sweat on to the surface of the skin. The action of evaporation of sweat from Jamel’s body’s surface yields to rapid cooling of the body, which, in turn, yields a drop in body temperature. How Jamel’s body Generate Heat Body energy (heat) is essentially gained through the action of two critical methods, namely: energy generation through metabolic and energy acquisition from environmental. Jamel’s body heat generation and preservation are facilitated by a number of factors: (1) increased muscular activity such as via shivering, which entails the transfer of stored chemical energy, which yields to a net increase in body heat around the skeletal muscle that flows

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Managing Business Operations - Supply Chain Essay

Managing Business Operations - Supply Chain - Essay Example In order to meet its customers’ demand by providing quality services they decided to introduce IT in their business operations. Later on they ended up with problems as there was no integration between the systems of different units. Every individual department maintained its own account of activities properly but had no knowledge of what is happening in other departments. The lack of integration between different departments often created problems for the company. Thus, managing and integrating the affairs of all the units and departments became a tough task for a single person. Most often problems were detected after its occurrence. There are many processes involved in their business, beginning from order for freight to dispatch of the freight at the desired destination. The customer here is the company who places the order for transportation. The first process is the receipt of order from the client. Based upon the order, the company locates and sources the goods. The next p rocess is packaging of the sourced goods. Packaging is the process that requires intensive care. Goods may be breakable, or of exploding or evaporating nature etc. Each type of goods must be appropriately packaged so that no loss occurs to the customer due to destruction of goods. Dispatch of defective goods also affects the credibility of the company. The goods are packed and insured by MLH to secure the goods from loss in transit.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 41

Assignment - Essay Example The context that the research is done is usually in school or other meetings where teachers from different schools meet and discuss their research and how they usually deal with various problems affecting their subjects. Students at the end of the day benefit since the research aims to conduct various methodologies on how one has been teaching and if he can improve and what ways can he use. School wide action research involves most members of the faculty and its goal of including parents and students in future is a welcome advancement. The inclusion of students in search a process is crucial since they get to comment on what they do not understand. The information from the students and parents who monitor their students activities especially academics will provide invaluable information for further research and the consequent solutions. The research will follow up on the parents’ involvement in their children’s studies, which will in turn help in dealing with the problems the students face and help in finding solutions to such problems. Some of the teachers are reluctant to engage in school wide action research because most of them considered the classroom as a private affair. They do not need to include outsiders as such. Such a methodology is for improvement purposes and not for judgmental purposes. Joining the league provided schools with methods of evaluating their performance and that of their students. Schools that joined the league would get valuable information on how to deal with various problems that other school had overcome. School wide research is thus an important area in which teachers discover their weaknesses and strengths and find out ways to overcome them. The interaction with various teachers is important since there are successful teachers who can share their strengths which in turn those who are struggling with their students. The students at the end of the day get to benefit from the varied teaching styles

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Infotainment of U.S. News Media Essay Example for Free

Infotainment of U.S. News Media Essay The current type of news media in the United States, dubbed as infotainment, wherein soft journalism is preferred over hard news, further stains the reputation of what is regarded as the â€Å"Fourth State† or one of the influential bodies in American society. This is because this kind of coverage does not offer serious reporting of events and hard facts, but sensationalized news about the lives of personalities, crime, and other less realistic stories. It is unfortunate to note that infotainment has made American media more comfortable with embellishing hard news primarily because it is what the public wants and what the public needs. Under the disguise and with misleading purpose of an energized print sales and broadcast ratings, infotainment is such a blooper which actually further escalates the worsening level of news media public. At the same time, it damages more the involvement and knowledge of the readers and viewers. In short, the existing nature of American news media weakens the quality of reporting and credibility of broadcast and print media companies, pushes further their respective public, and is detrimental to the nations democracy. Due the tight competition within the industry, American news media is now tied up to meet income expectations, resulting in a quality sacrifice and economic operation demands that dictate the choices of news content and compromise the managements operations. This transformation in the industrys mode has promoted a second thought of industry standards. This leaves the profession into the hands of new era of media practitioners who are less committed to the existing journalism code of ethics. These new breed have actually portrayed themselves as famous personalities moonlighting as journalists or news reporters. Ultimately, it is both the news organizations and American public which are to be blame for this sickening and continued reporting that focuses on personalities and other forms of entertainment rather than the essence or content of a news event. This is because no media company would practice infotainment if it will not click with the audience. However, it is not yet too late to save the news media industry. What it can do is for it to keep abreast and take advantage of the technological advancements within the industry such as the accessibility of satellite television or cable system and availability of World Wide Web or Internet. American media should utilize these technological improvements by not sensationalizing or resorting to what is called the â€Å"yellow journalism. † Instead, it should advance its cause and primary goal which is to present to the public a balance, fair, and fearless news reporting.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Characteristics of the leadership process

Characteristics of the leadership process Stogdills definition has three key components. First, it defines leadership as an interpersonal process in which one individual seeks to shape and direct the behaviour of others. Second, it sets leadership in a social context. In which the members of a group to be influenced are subordinates or followers. Third, it establishes a criterion for effective leadership in goal achievement, which is one practical objective of leadership theory and research. Most definitions share these processual, contextual and evaluative components. Some key charachteristics of the leadership process Leadership is a process of influencing others primarily through the use of noncorecive influence techniques. This charachteristics distinguishes a leader from a dictator. Leadership influence is goal directed to attain defined group or organisational goals There are five approaches to the study of leadership: Trait spotting: attempts to identify the personality trait and other related attributes of the effective leader in order to facilitate the selection of leaders. Style counselling :attempts to characterize different leadership behaviour patterns to identify effective and ineffective leadership styles. In order to improve the training and development of leaders. Context fitting: contingency theories which argue that the effectiveness of particular leadership behaviours is dependent on the organisational and cultural setting, which can also facilitate leadership awareness and training. New leadership perspective approaches: which identify new leaders, superleaders and transformational leaders as heroic and inspirational visionaries who give purpose and direction to others, with an emphasis on senior executives and politicians whose motivational role is said to be central to organisational strategy and effectiveness. Dispersing the role: a recent perspective which notes that leadership behaviour is not confined to those with formal leadership roles but can be observed across the organisation hierarchy, and thus one aspect of the new superleadership role is to develop self -leadership skills in others. Any study of leadership would be incomplete without an understanding of the debate between leaders Vs managers Leadership versus management We first have to deal with one crucial question: what is the difference between leadership and management? Some commentators argue that these terms are synonymous, as leadership is simply one facet of the management role. Other commentators argue that this distinction is significant. Leaders and managers play different contributions: leaders have followers, managers have subordinates. Those who make a clear distinction portray the leader as someone who develops visions and drives new initiatives, and portray the manager as someone who monitors progress towards objectives to achieve order and reliability. The leader is prophet, catalyst and mover-shaker, focused on strategy. The manager is operator, technician and problem solver, concerned with the here -and- now of goal attainment. The key distinguishing feature here is orientation to change . As Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus (1985, p.21) observe, managers do things right, while leaders do the right thing. Leadership versus Management Creating an agenda Establishes direction: Plans and budgets vision of the future, develops strategies decides actions and timetables, for change to achieve goals allocates recourses E Leadership functions Management functions Developing people Aligning people: Organizing and staffing: communicates vision and strategy, decides structure and allocates staff, influences creation of terms which develops policies, procedures and accept validity of goals Monitoring Execution Motivating and inspiring: Controlling, problem solving: energizes people to overcome obstacle, monitors results against plan and satisfies human needs takes corrective actions Outcomes Produces positive and sometimes produces orders, consistency and dramatic changes Predictability Tutorial question Discuss: Modern day organisations need leaders or managers Please discuss and give relevant examples to justify your answer. Power: what is it, and how can I get more? Leadership is about influencing the behaviour of others. One cannot be a leader without followers. One key attribute of followers is that they must be willing to obey. Leadership is a property of the relationship between leader and follower. We need to know why people are willing to let themselves be influenced by some individuals and not by others. We thus need to understand the nature of compliance. Leadership and power Power is a useful concept with which to explain the social process of interpersonal influence. Power is a critical dimension of leadership, and the two terms are often used with the same or similar meanings: a leader is someone with power, powerful individuals are leaders. We can thus define power in much the same way that we have defined leadership-as the ability of an individual to control or influence others, or to get some-one else to do something that they would perhaps not do. There are different sources of power to name a few information power, affiliation power expert power, all these power bases are interrelated. The exercise of one power base may affect a leaders ability to use another. The leader who resorts to coercive power may for example lose referent power. The leader may be able to use legitimate power to enhance both referent and expert power. A leader can operate from multiple sources of power and few leaders may be able to rely on a single power base. Please see table: Sources of power p+ are positive sources of power p- are negative sources of power POWER BASE EXPLANATION PERCEIVED AS Reward remuneration, award, compliment, symbolic p+ gestures of praise Coercion physical or psychological injury, symbolic gestures of disdain, demotion, unwanted transfer, withholding resources p- Authority Management right to control, obligation of others p- to obey, playing the boss and abusing authority exercise of leadership in times of crisis or need p+ Referent identification based on personal characteristics, sometimes on perception of charisma; or reciprocal identification based on friendship, association, sharing information, common interests, values and preferences p+ Expert Possession of specialized knowledge valued by Others, used to help others, given freely when solicited. p+ Unsolicited expertise creates barriers; expertise Offered condescendingly is coercive; withholding expertise in times of need p- Information access to information that is not public knowledge, because of position or connections; can exist at all organizational levels; secretaries and personal assistants to executives often have information power, and can control information flows p- Affiliation borrowed from an authority source-executive Secretaries and assistants act as surrogates for their Superiors p+ acting on their own self-interest; using negative affiliation power by applying accounting and personal policies rigidly p- Group collective problem solving, conflict resolution, creative brainstorming; group resolution greater Than the individual contribution. p+ a few individual dominating the proceedings, groupthink p- Tutorial question Discuss : Which power base or which combination of power bases would you expect to be most effective for an organisation leader in current times? Five approaches to Leadership Research on leadership shows five main approaches in the study of leadership and that leadership theories have evolved gradually starting from the Trait spotting approach to New Leadership theories Trait spotting: the research for personality markers For the first four decades of the twentieth century, researches assumed that they could identify the personality traits of leaders It would then be possible to select individuals who possessed those traits and to promote them into leadership position. This search for the qualities of good leaders was influenced by great man theory, which claims that (predominantly male) leaders are born as such, and emerge to take power, regardless of the social, organisational or historical context. Great man theory is a historical perspective based on the premises that the fate of societies, and organizations, is in the hands of key, powerful, idiosyncratic (male) individuals who by force of personality reach positions of influence from which they can direct and dominate the lives of others. Typical list of qualities: Strong drive for responsibility; Focus on completing the task; Vigour and persistence in pursuit of goals; Venturesomeness and originality in problem solving; Drive to exercise initiative in social settings; Self-confidence; Sense of personal identity; Willingness to accept consequences of decisions and actions; Readiness to absorb interpersonal stress; Willingness to tolerate frustration and delay; Ability to influence the behaviour of others; Capacity to structure social systems to the purpose in hand. Rosemay Stewart (1963) cites a study in which American executives were asked to identify indispensable leadership qualities. They came up with the following fifteen traits: judgement initiative integrity foresight energy drive Human relations skill decisiveness Dependability emotional stability fairness ambition dedication objectivity Co-operation Limitations of the trait spotting theory It is difficult to challenge the list of qualities cited by either Stogdill or Stewart. Can we say that effective leaders should lack judgement, be low in energy, be undependable, lack drive, ambition, creativity and integrity and have little foresight? What happens when we compare Stewart with Stogdill? Both identify drive as a key trait. However, Stogdill lists venturesomeness, self-confidence, stress tolerance and system structuring as traits which Stewarts omits. Stewart identifies foresight, fairness, integrity, fairness and co-operation, which are missing from Stogdills list. Traits spotting presents several difficulties. First, there are more attributes here than personality traits. Second, these attributes are vague. Third, many of the items on these lists describe skills and behaviour patterns which have to be observed, rather than personality traits that can be assessed by questionnaires or interview: persistence in pursuit of goals, ability to influence others. It is difficult to see how trait spotting can be used effectively in leadership selection context, as originally intended. A further problem lies with the observation that one list of good leadership qualities is as good as another. Stogdills review revealed some overlap between research findings, but it is also revealed disagreement and inconsistency. This line of research has been unable to establish a consistent set of leadership traits of attributes. Leadership is about power and influence, the chemistry of which it is difficult to analyse in terms of personality traits. Style counselling: the search for effective behaviour patterns Disillusionment with the traits approach meant that leadership, management and supervisory style became a major focus for research. Attention switched from selecting leaders on personality traits to training and developing leaders in appropriate behaviour patterns. This research tradition argues that a considerate, participative, democratic and involving leadership style is more effective than an impersonal, autocratic and directive style. Two research projects, the Michigan and Ohio studies, in the 1940s and 1950s underpinned Employee- centred behaviour: focusing on relationships and employee needs; employee-centred behaviour: focusing on relationships and employee needs job-centred behaviour : focusing Consideration is a pattern of leadership behavior that demonstrates sensitivity to relationships and to the social needs of employees. Initiating structure is a pattern of leadership behavior that emphasizes performance of the work in hand and the achievement of product and service goals. Consistent with the Michigan studies, the Ohio results identified two categories of leadership behaviour, consideration and initiating structure. The considerate leader is needs- and the relationship- oriented. The leader who structures work for subordinates is task-oriented. The considerate leader is interested in and listens to subordinates, allows participation in decision making, is friendly and approachable, helps subordinates with personal problems and is prepared to support them if necessary. The leaders behaviour indicates genuine trust, respect, warmth and rapport. This enhances subordinates feeling of self-esteem and encourages the development of communications and relationships in a work group. The researches first called this leadership dimension social sensitivity. The leader initiating structure plans ahead, decides how thing are going to get done, structures tasks and assigns work, makes expectation clear, emphasizes deadlines and achievement, and expects subordinates to follow instructions. The leaders behaviour stresses production and the achievement of organisational goals. This type of behaviour can stimulate enthusiasm to achieve objectives as well as encouraging and helping subordinates to get the work done. This is the kind of emphasis that the scientific management school encouraged, except that here it is recognised that task orientation can have a positive motivating aspect. The researches first called this leadership dimension production emphasis. Consideration and structure are independent behaviour patterns and do not represent the extremes of a continuum. A leader can emphasize one or both. Job satisfaction is likely to be higher and grievances and labour turnover lower where the leader emphasizes consideration. Task performances, on the other hand, is likely to be higher where the leader emphasizes the initiation of structure. Inconsiderate leaders typically have subordinates who complain and who are more likely to leave the organisation, but can have comparatively productive work groups if they are high on initiating structure. Initiating structure High low High performance low performance High few grievances few grievances Low turnover low turnover Consideration Low High performance low performance Many grievances many grievances High turnover high turnover Figure 1 : The Ohio State leadership theory predictions The influential work of another University of Michigan researcher, Rensis Likert(1961), reinforced the benefits of considerate performance-oriented leadership. He found that supervisors in highly productive sections were more likely to: Receive general as opposed to close supervision from their superior; Give general as opposed to close supervision to their subordinates Enjoy their responsibility and authority; Spend more time on supervision; Be employee- rather than production-oriented Supervisors in sections where productivity was low were production-oriented and concentrated on keeping their subordinates busy on achieving targets on time. The effective supervisors were not just concerned with employee needs. They were seen as subordinates as emphasizing high performance and had a contagious enthusiasm for achieving goals. Likert and his team identified four main styles or systems of leadership: System 1: Exploitative autocratic, in which the leader Has no confidence and trust in subordinates; Imposes decisions, never delegates; Motivates by threat; Has little communication and team work. System 2: Benevolent authoritative, in which the leader Has superficial, condescending trust in subordinates; Imposes decisions, never delegates; Motivates by reward; Sometimes involves subordinates in solving problems. System 3: Participative, in which the leader Has some incomplete confidence and trust in subordinates; Listens to subordinates but controls decision making; Motivates by reward and some involvement; Uses ideas and opinions of subordinates constructively. System 4: Democratic, in which the leader Has complete confidence and trust in subordinates; Allows subordinates to make decisions for themselves; Motivates by reward for achieving goals set by participation; Shares ideas and opinion. Likerts research showed that effective supervisors were those who adopted either system 3 or system 4 leadership, what Likert called and alternative organisational lifestyle. Tutorial question: The style counselling leadership approach is extremely relevant in current times Discuss this statement. Context fitting: the development of contingency theories The Michigan and Ohio perspectives offer leaders one best way to handle followers, by adopting the high-consideration, high-structure ideal. This advice is supported by the fact that most people like their leaders to be considerate, even when they are performance- oriented as well. The main criticism of this perspective lies with the observation that one leadership style may not be effective in all circumstances. Departing from one best way, Robert Tannenbaum and Warren Schmidt (1958) presented the autocratic- democratic choice as a continuum, from boss centred leadership at one extreme to subordinate- centred leadership at the other. This is illustrated in figure 2 Subordinate-centred leadership Boss- centred leadership The contingency theory of leadership is a perspective which states that leaders to be effective must adapt their style in a manner consistent with aspects such as the work context, attributes of workers and the nature of the work to be done Use of authority by the manager Area of freedom for subordinates Manager Manager Manager Manager presents Manager presents Manager defines Manager permits makes decisions sells presents ideas tentative decision problem, gets limits; asks group subordinates to and announces it. Decisions. and invites subject to change. suggestion, makes to make decision. function within limits questions. Decision. defined bysuperior. The Tannenbaum-Schmidt continuum of leadership behavior The steps in this continuum are represented as alternatives for the leader; their article was subtitled should the manager be democratic or autocratic- or something in between? Tannenbaum and Schmidt argue that the answer depends on three sets of forces: Forces in the manager personality, values, preferences, beliefs about Employee participation, confidence in subordinates Forces in the subordinates need for independence, tolerance of ambiguity Knowledge of the problem, expectations of involvement Forces in the situation organizational norms, size and location of work Groups, effectiveness of teamworking, nature of The problem Having concentrated on forces in the manager, having challenged the notion of one best way, to lead, research now considered aspects of the context in which the leader was operating: the people being led, the nature of the work they were doing, and the wider organisational setting. This perspective suggests that leaders must be able to diagnose the context and be able to decide what behaviour will fit. As the best style is contingent on the situation, this approach is referred to as the contingency theory of leadership. Tutorial question Leadership research and theory seems to be consistent in arguing that a considerate, employee- cantered, participative and democratic style is more effective. What factors in an organisational context would make an inconsiderate, goal- centred, impersonal and autocratic leadership style more effective? Contingency theory of leadership contd Another influential contingency theory of leadership was developed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard (1988). They believe that leaders can alter their style to fit the context. Hersey and Blanchard call their approach situational leadership, summarised in fig 3, which describe leader behaviour on two dimensions. The first dimension (horizontal axis) concerns task behaviour, or the amount of direction a leader gives to subordinates. This can vary from specific instructions, at one extreme, to complete delegation, at the other. Hersey and Blanchard identify two intermediate positions, where leaders either facilitate subordinates decisions or take care to explain their own. Situational leadership is an approach to determining the most effective style of influencing, taking into accounts of direction and support the leader gives, the readiness and maturity of followers to perform a particular task. The second dimension (vertical axis) concerns supportive behaviour and the amount of social backup a leader gives to subordinates. This can vary from limited communication, at one extreme, to considerable listening, facilitating and supporting at the other. The model establishes four basic leadership styles, labelled S1 to S4 S1 Telling: High amounts of task behaviour, telling subordinates what to do, when to do it and how to do it, but with little leadership behaviour. S2 Selling: High amounts of both task behaviour and relationship behaviour. S3 Participating: Lots of relationship behaviour and support, but little direction of task behaviour. S4 Delegating: Not much task behaviour or relationship behaviour. Share ideas and Explain decisions and provide Facilitate decision making. Opportunity for clarification. PARTICIPATING S3 S2 SELLING DELAGATING TELLING Turn over responsibility Provide specific instructions For decisions and and closely supervise Implementation performance. S4 S1 (Supporting Behavior/Relationship Behavior R RELATIONSHIP BEHAVIOUR Low TASK BEHAVIOUR high (GUIDANCE) High Moderate low R4 R3 R2 R1 Able and willing or confident Follower Readiness Able but unwilling Or insecure Unable and unwilling Or insecure Unable but willing Or confident Follower directed leader directed Hersey and Blanchard also argue that the readiness of followers to perform a particular task is a key factor. This is explained by the lower portion of the figure in which follower readiness is drawn on a continuum, with insecure subordinates unwilling to act at one extreme to confident followers able and willing to perform at the other. Superimpose the readiness continuum on the top half of the model and you have a basis for selecting an effective leadership style. It is compelling and consistent with other theories to suggest that insecure subordinates need telling while willing and confident groups can be left to do the job. Tutorial question; Take an organisation of your choice and discuss the relevance and significance of the Hersey and Blanchard situational leadership theory. Leadership in the twenty-first century Two related trends in leadership thinking are now evident: Recognition of the role of heroic, powerful, charismatic, visionary leader. Recognition of the role of information leadership, at all levels. These trends appear to be contradictory. We have the new leader, who is a rational figure motivating followers to superlative levels of achievement. However, we have also the super leader, who is able to lead other lead themselves .The super leader thus encourage, develops and co-exists with informal leadership dispersed throughout the organisation hierarchy. The new leader is an indispensable and inspirational visionary, a coach, a facilitator concerned with building a shared sense of purpose and mission, with creating a culture which ensures that everyone is aligned with the organisations goals and is skilled and empowered to go and achieve them. The super leader is a leader who is able to develop leadership capacity in other, developing and empowering them, reducing their dependence on formal leaders, stimulating their motivation, commitment and creativity. The new leadership theory originates from the work of McGregor Burns (1978), who distinguished between transactional and transformational leaders. The transactional leader is a leader who treats relationship with followers in terms of an exchange, giving followers what they want in return for what the leader desires, following prescribed tasks to pursue established goals. Transactional leaders see their relationship with formers in term of trade, swaps or bargains. Transformational leaders are characterised as individuals who inspire and motivates others to go beyond contract, to perform at unexpected levels. Although Burns saw these two types of leadership it was easy to see why some commentators equate transactional with management, and transformational with leadership. The transactional leader is a leader who treats relationship with followers in terms of an exchange, giving followers what they want in return for what the leader desires, following prescribed tasks to pursue established goals. The transformational leader is a leader who treats relationships with followers in terms of motivation and commitment , influencing and inspiring followers to give more than mechanical compliance and to improve organisational performance Transformational leadership occurs when leaders: Stimulates others to see what they are doing from new perspectives; Articulate the mission or vision of the organisation; Develop others to higher levels of ability; and Motivates others to put organisational interest before self-interest. They achieve this, according to Bass and Avolio, by using one or more of Idealised influence act as role models, attract admiration, respect and trust, put needs of others before personal interest, take risks and demonstrate high standards of ethical conduct Inspirational motivation motivate and inspire by providing meaning and challenge, arouse team spirit, show enthusiasm and optimism, communicate expectations, demonstrate commitment Intellectual stimulation question assumptions, reframe problems, approach old issues in new ways, encourage innovation and creativity, avoid public criticism of mistakes Individualised consideration attend to individual needs for growth and achievement, act as coach or mentor, create new learning opportunities, accept individual Differences, avoid close monitoring. The transformational leader is a leader who threats relationship with followers in terms of motivation and commitment, influencing and inspiring followers to give more than mechanical compliance and to improve organizational performance. It is tempting to regard the profusion of new terms and the shift in emphasis in leadership theory and research as a systematic development of earlier ideas. However, the identification of new, super, transformational leaders represent a simplification of the concept of leadership, returning to trait spotting (hunt the visionary) and overlooks what is known about the influences of a range of contextual factors on leadership effectiveness. Tutorial question Considering senior business and political leaders with whom you are familiar, either directly or through the media, which come closest to these definitions of new leader, super leader and transformational leader? The new, super, transformational leader looks like a one best way approach. Does this vindicate trait spotting and discredit contingency perspectives? Dispersing the leadership role In the distinction between leadership and management, orientation to change is a defining characteristic, a distinctive mark of the leader. These results suggest, therefore, that leadership is a widespread phenomenon. Leadership behaviours are dispersed rather than concentrated in the hands of formally appointed managers. Leadership functions are best carried out by people who have the interest, knowledge, skills and motivation to perform them effectively. This observation is reinforced by the development of self-managing autonomous teams, which often have no leaders, or have coach-facilitators whose role is to develop team skills. These coaching- facilitating are super leaders. Recognition of dispersed leadership does not imply a shift of focus away from formal, senior figures. It may be useful to separate notions of leadership from formal positions and prestige job titles. However, it is necessary to recognise that senior figures with prestige title continue to exercise leadership roles and functions as well. This twin-track approach, which combines recognition of visionary new leadership with the notion of a widely dispersed leadership decoupled from high office, is illustrated by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus (1985). Their model of twenty-first century leadership (in which the new role of the leader is to be (leader of leaders) is summarised in table 4.