Bodies of United Nations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bodies of United Nations - Essay Example This paper illustrates that the United Nations organization has 192 Member states which have to follow the rules laid down by the UN in the general assembly along with 5 permanent states and 10 non-permanent states in the Security Council. It also has an Economic and Social Council which has 54 members and an international court of justice consisting of fifteen judges. It has a Trusteeship council and a secretariat which are discussed subsequently. The United Nations through its five bodies is helping to maintain international politics in such a way that the whole world remains in peace and harmony. It is basically acting as a judge of politics so that countries do not fight or the populations of the countries do not suffer either financially or physically because of any threat. In order to develop a norm for all the countries, international laws are laid down by the United Nations which have to be followed by all the member countries. These international laws are regulated by treati es between the UN and the countries. These treaties are broad as they consider many aspects of the society such as human rights, refugees, and border restrictions. The question now arises as to if the United Nations has remained successful in achieving its objectives or not. This question can be viewed from several perspectives as some would view the role of United Nations to be limited to only the betterment of itself, however, some would view the UN to be an organization which is working for the betterment in the society. Rwanda Genocide is cited to be one of the failures by the United Nations organization which shows that the UN has not been very successful in achieving its objectives. On the contrary, many other successful scenarios of UN can also be analyzed all over the world which shows that they have regulated international politics in such a way that many wars have been avoided. An example of Indo Pak can be cited here which was stopped with the help of UN intervention.

Workplace Literacy Program Essay Example for Free

Workplace Literacy Program Essay Workforce development There is a symbiotic relationship between skilled workers and productivity. In an ideal workplace, workers must have sufficient knowledge of their individual tasks and be equipped with the necessary skills in order to better perform their work, avoid mistakes, deal with other organizational members without any difficulty, and increase the level of production. Nowadays it is necessary for every job applicants to be competitive, literate, skilled at writing and listening skills, and be able to perform a given task. It is important that human resources must be able to adapt to technological and technical developments taking place in a workplace or a particular industrial setting. Workforce development is indispensable in bracing the competitiveness of human resource through carefully planned programs and activities (Giguere, 2008, p. 238). This kind of development is not just the concern of individual employees but most importantly the company or employer himself. Both entry-level employee and existing personnel must be able embark on training skills in order to enhance their performance in a variety of service, interpersonal and administrative areas. In this regard, there are various areas to be improved on the part of human resource. To secure career development workforce must be able to improve their human resource skills through a systematic and practical programs. When it comes to technical aspects, it is also imperative to improve the workforce knowledge in computer networking and to embark on basic computer training. The problem why a workplace is saddled with low productivity is because there is no existing or fully developed workforce development program aimed at honing the skills of both entry-level and old personnel. Workplace literacy program, on the other hand, is aimed at enhancing the literacy level of both the employed and unemployed (Drago-Severson, 2004). This has been the focus of the federal government for nearly three decades in order to reduce the level of adult illiteracy. This only means that literacy has a huge impact on businesses which all seek to acquire literate and competitive workers. Apart from being a national priority, there is also a growing concern among businesses in regard to increasing adult literacy (Goad, 2002, p. 123). We are all aware of the huge impact of adult illiteracy on businesses. This concern was goaded by fast-paced technological development and the risk of foreign competition. The only answer to this scenario is an increased adult literacy and to improve workforce basic skill requirements. Recruitment plan Like any literacy and workforce development program in the past, recruitment is on a voluntary basis. Anyone who thinks he/she needs to improve his/her literacy skills is welcome to enlist or enroll in the program. However, those identified that will attend this program are both teenage and adult people who lack the necessary literacy skills to exist in a work environment. The main target of this program are people like Catalina who aspires to improve her career or work, which is the only means to improve her family’s economic standing and to have a quality time with her children. There are a lot of Hispanic and other immigrants in the United States who are fit to undergo this program, especially now that most businesses demand better literacy skills and competency among job applicants. The recruitment process may be made through building connections with businesses and through direct contact with potential subjects. Pre-assessment Plan Considering the ongoing economic crisis there is a need to implement this program whose purpose is to ensure career development, increase adult literacy rate, and raise workers’ productivity and competence through corporate-based and practical lessons and activities. Apart from this, this is the time wherein immigrants have to be more competitive in order to be acquired and to exist in the job marketplace being dominated by American citizens. Initially, there should be difference between workforce development and workplace literacy program based on the practical industry requirements. Workforce development should mainly center on soft skills or human resource skills, while workplace literacy should focus on basic skills needed by an employee. Instructional Design As already stated above, there should be a gap between workforce development and workplace literacy program. For the workforce development program, three areas should be mainly considered— a) human resource skills; b) computer networking; and c) basic computer training. For the human resource skills, the following courses or lessons shall be implemented: Handling difficult people: the purpose of this lesson is to train or motivate people how to deal properly with other organizational members, particularly the snotty executives and employers. Certainly this centers on human relations within a particular workplace. Other things to be considered are problem approaches and problem-solving techniques, as well as supervision of difficult workers. Developing positive attitude: This lesson shall focus on motivating employees to think big, to think out of the box, and to think independently. Communication Skills: some of the important subjects to be tackled here are effective communication, giving and receiving criticism, giving and receiving feedbacks, meeting skills, as well as business writing. Conflict Management: some of the important lessons to be taken here are the effective ways to manage conflict in the workplace, giving and receiving criticism, resolving and managing conflicts, negotiating and arbitration, among others. Effective listening: this lesson shall focus on good listening skills— on how to be an attentive listener. The role of communication and listening shall also be tackled in order to better inform the program attendee. Costumer service skills: This must be mastered by all program attendee whether they choose to work as costumer service provider or not. The lessons to be tackled here are the effective ways to deal with costumers, how to be in control when dealing with costumers, serving them, giving and receiving costumer feedback, and how to achieve outstanding costumer service. Career development and personal improvement (Rothwell, Gerity Gaertner, 2004, p. 1): The main focus of this lesson is to uplift employees’ self-esteem. Other subjects to consider are goals and setting them, enhancing positive assertiveness, time management, team-work skills, and successful long-term learning (Gallo, 2004). Interviewing skills: For entry-level personnel this aspect is very important. Program attendees should be informed of what to expect during the actual interview session. Leadership training: Under this lesson, some of the subjects to be considered are the importance of team leading, how to manage a team, mentoring and coaching, effective project management, team building, and motivating at work. For basic computer training, the following areas must be focused on: desktop operating systems (e.g. Microsoft Windows XP), suites, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, desktop publishing, database, internet, and network operating systems. On the other hand, for workplace literacy program, the following must be taken into account (Hull, 1997, p. 8): Knowing how to learn: This gives the attendee the importance of long-term learning, why there is a need to learn, and how to learn. Reading, writing and computation skills Listening and oral communication Creative thinking and problem solving When it comes to the philosophical framework of the program, it must be based on Objectivism wherein self-interest should be taken as the moral goal of an employee. A rational philosophy is needed in every workplace so that workers may be able to think rationally, independently and effectively. Instructional Staff All instructional staff must possess at least industry-based knowledge or work experience. Members of the instructional team must have finished college or taken up masters, but what is important is that they have an objective industry-based knowledge and that they have been in the profession for at least two years. However this two-year requirement is not necessary as long as the result of the written examination, interview and then practical examination show that they are qualified to be member of the instructional staff. Administrative and Support Services For the support services, the program attendees shall need the following: library with study room, computer laboratory for basic computer training, decent classrooms equipped with a computers, projectors, chairs and study tables. There should also be a community room wherein all attendees shall be free to interact with each other in order to from personal and professional bonding. As for the administrative services, there should be an administrative office to be composed of administrative officers. Administrative staff shall include an institute or program secretary, checkers, evaluators, and all other administrative staff needed for the success and continuation of the program. A program website, as well as a practical Information Technology infrastructure is also needed to better serve the needs of the program attendees. Program enrollees or attendees shall be encouraged to submit their works and projects through the website in order for them to enhance their computer and communication skills. Evaluation and Assessment Plan Workforce development and workplace literacy programs are indeed important instruments in raising adult literacy and making their competitive in the job marketplace (Boyle, 2001, p. 11). However, the success of this kind of program depends upon the effectiveness of the instructional design which is to carryout the underlying aims and objectives of the program. There is a need to split workforce development and workplace literacy program because they have different objectives and ends. Workforce development is synonymous to career development, which can only be achieved through improvement of human resource skills. The purpose of this program is to encourage workers to apply whatever they have learned to their workplace. On the other hand, workplace literacy program aims to reduce adult illiteracy in the industrial setting through vocational skills. Under this overall program, what is being developed and improved are not just the basic literacy and computer skills of the workers, but also interpersonal and goal-setting skills, their self-esteem, as well as costumer service and leadership abilities. With all these factors and design in mind, there is no doubt that this program will succeed and will be able to produce more able, more literate and more competent workers in the future. Resources: Boyle, M.E. (2001) The new schoolhouse.: Literacy, managers and beliefs. Westport, CT: Prager. Drago-Severson, E. (2004). Becoming adult learners: Principals and practices for effective development. NY: Teachers College Press. Gallo, M.L. (2004). Reading the world of work. Malabar, FL: Krieger. Giguere, S. (2008). More Than Just Jobs: Workforce Development in a Skills-based Economy. Paris, France: OECD Publishing Goad, T.W. (2002). Information Literacy and Workplace Performance. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishing Group. Hull, G. (ed). (1997). Changing work, changing workers. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. Rothwell, W.J., Gerity, P.E. Gaertner, E.A. (2004). Linking Training to Performance: A Guide for Workforce Development Professionals. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Community College

Abolitionists: Their Ideology, and Their Relation with Lincoln and Poli

During the 19th century the religious revival led to a corresponding social reform that would transform the American Society. Reformers led various campaigns including a campaign to close all public places such as shops and taverns on Sundays. The religious revival also led to the Abolition movement, which aimed to eliminate slavery in America. During the time up until the Civil war abolitionists would try to influence both society and politics using ways some of which were similar to those of political parties. The relationship between abolitionists, their ideals and politics was key in reforming national policy related to slavery. Though President Lincoln was opposed to slavery he was not an abolitionist. However despite this Lincoln was strongly influenced by their ideas and they often made their way into his own writings. By agitating against slavery both in and out of politics they were able to change the opinion of a public that had previously rejected them. During the1830s abolitionism was anything but main stream, most abolitionists were either black or they were pious whites . Some of the first abolitionists (in both the United States and the Britian) were Quakers. They believed that God loved every human â€Å"regardless of colour, sex or station in life.† Due to this belief Quakers seemed likely to conclude that â€Å"Slavery,† as denounced by Benjamin Lay, â€Å"was the greatest sin against God’s will,† and that it should be abolished. Before the American Revolution, Quaker reformers such as John Woolman, Anthony Benezet and Benjamin Lay began to publish their views and bring up the issue of slavery at Quaker meetings. Even in the Southern states, where many Quakers owned slaves their actions led to an increased number of fr... ... being as inclusive as the abolitionist societies. Abolitionists had used all means they could access to send their antislavery message across the nation. They used traditional methods such as lectures and petitions, as well as the new technology of the steam press to print large numbers of pamphlets and newspapers, to inform the American public (Foner, 20). Works Cited Scott, Donald. â€Å"Evangelicalism as a Social Movement.† Divining America, TeacherServe ®. National Humanities Center, 1. Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. â€Å"American Abolitionism and Religion.† Divining America, TeacherServe ®. National Humanities Center. Foner, Eric. The Fiery Trial, Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2011. Walters, Ronald G.. The Antislavery Appeal, American Abolitionism after 1830.Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press. 1976.

Advertisements: How Do They Persuade Us Essay

Advertisements are part and parcel of our lives. Perhaps, they are one of the most decisive and, at the same time, imperceptible factors moulding and channelling our â€Å"purchasing habits,† so to speak. On the face of it, advertisements promote products and services; they create demand by dint of inducing and increasing consumption. Yet, the ways in which they convey their messages have a profound effect on all aspects of our lives: our happiness, our culture, family and interpersonal relations, business, stereotypes, wealth and status, individuality, and so forth. According to Leiss et al. (1990: 1), advertising is ‘a â€Å"privileged form of discourse†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, in that it can attract our attention, insinuating itself into our thought processes and carving out a niche in our lives. As we shall see, advertisements succeed in selling us a lot more than merely products; in fact, they contrive to reconstruct our relations to things and other people—in short, they interfere with our sense of identity, they equate us with things, and manipulate us. Williamson’s observation succinctly encapsulates their power: ‘Advertisements are selling us something else besides consumer goods: in providing us with a structure in which we, and those goods, are interchangeable, they are selling us ourselves’ (Williamson, 1978: 13). In the present study we are concerned with how advertisements, or rather ‘ad men’, to quote Packard (1957), persuade us to buy their products, and exploit our â€Å"hidden† needs—both processes taking place beneath our level of awareness. See more:  First Poem for You Essay In searching for more effective ways of persuading people to buy goods, a great many merchandisers or ‘probers’ (Packard, 1957) turned to psychologists in order to gain insights into the deepest recesses of the psyche and the factors that motivate people, and then to capitalise on their expectations and fears. Equipped with this knowledge, ad men nowadays exert a remarkable influence on people’s habits and conceptualisation of the world and themselves in relation to values—values which are, in great measure, determined by the marketplace. Packard (1957: 14), perhaps one of the most vehement critics of â€Å"the hidden persuaders† who have ensnared us by appealing to our unconscious or subconscious needs, eloquently captures the â€Å"state of the art†: The symbol manipulators and their research advisers have developed their depth view of us by sitting at the feet of psychiatrists and social scientists (particularly psychologists and sociologists) who have been hiring themselves out as ‘practical’ consultants or setting up their own research firms. These ‘motivation analysts’ have definitely become our shamans who, ‘having helped to inspire the fear of the devil [in us], [they offer] redemption’ (Bolinger, 1980: 2) by means of the products they sell. They are not only interested in moving their merchandise off the shelves; they are actually seeking out powerful communicative cues, ‘a discourse through and about objects’ (Leiss et al. , 1990), which will weld together people, products, and cultural models. In view of this, ‘we no longer buy oranges, we buy vitality. We do not buy just an auto, we buy prestige’ (Packard, 1957: 15). The sale of ‘self-images’ (ibid. ) is now the norm. Advertisements barely focus on products alone; it is the prospective buyers that they make â€Å"overtures† to—which is mirrored in the language used and in such features as the colours in the ad, its layout, and so on (we will consider some of these aspects in due course). As Ewen (1976, cited in Leiss et al. 1990: 23) notes, advertisers have effected a ‘self-conscious change in the psychic economy’ by inundating the marketplace with suggestions that consumers should buy goods in order to enter realms of experience previously unfamiliar to them. Gradually then, advertising has become a ‘highly organized and professional system of magical inducements and satisfactions’ (Williams, 1980 [1962], cited in Leiss et al. , 1990: 25) which can sell us emotional security, reassurance of wealth, ego-gratification, creative outlets, love objects, a sense of power and roots, and immortality (see Packard, 1957: 66-74 for further details). Many people would, at this juncture, hasten to defend advertising on the grounds that the consumer is a rational decision maker who avails herself of technology; advertising cannot create new needs but can only help increase or speed up consumption (Schudson, 1984, cited in Leiss et al. , 1990: 36); and without the help of advertising, consumers would have limited information about the products circulating around them. What they lose sight of, though, is the fact that ‘[w]e never relate to goods only for their plain utility; there is always a ymbolic aspect to our interactions with them’ (Leiss et al. , 1990: 45). Now that we have briefly outlined the â€Å"state of the art,† we move on to the actual study of advertisements and the ways in which they persuade us. There are many approaches to this end, but we will draw upon two: semiology, or the study of signs, and content analysis. Semiology, on the one hand, is concerned with the emergence and â€Å"movement† of meaning within the text and between the text and the world surrounding it. Content analysis, on the other, focuses on the surface meaning of an ad, detecting similarities and differences. Indisputably, the growing predominance of visuals in ads has resulted in a kind of ambiguity of meaning, which renders the interpretation of the message more complex and challenging. Earlier advertisements explicitly stated the message by describing the product and adducing arguments in its favour. In the 1920s, however, visuals were more frequently used, and these two, text and visual, became complementary. Still, in the 1960s, the text shifted away from describing the visual toward a more elaborate and mystic form, whereby it functioned as a â€Å"key† to the visual (Leiss et al. 1990: 199). Against this background of radical changes in the form and content of advertisements, the abovementioned approaches, semiology and content analysis, offer us an insight into the structures of ads and help throw light on the subtle elements, expectations and assumptions, with which they are imbued. Roland Barthes (1973, cited in Leiss et al. , 1990: 200-201), following Ferdinand De Saussure’s tradition, divides a sign into two components: the signifier and the signified. The signifier is the material object; the signified is its abstract meaning. Let us illustrate this with Barthe’s own example: Roses signify passion or love. If we analyse their â€Å"meaning,† we have three elements: the signifier—the roses; the signified—passion or love; and the sign—the â€Å"passionified roses† as a whole. Of course, there is nothing inherently â€Å"passionate† or â€Å"amorous† about roses; they are viewed as such within the context of western culture. In another culture, roses could signify something different, even the opposite of passion or love. Thus, any interpretation of advertisements from a semiotic perspective is bound up with cultural norms and values which may be at odds with those operating in different cultures or different systems of meaning. After all, the power of advertisements lies in, and appropriates, these very norms and values, with a view to reconstituting reality, while â€Å"tinging† it with an arcane suggestiveness and elusiveness. Drawing upon several advertisements, we will endeavour to probe into the ‘probers’’ minds, weaving the two approaches together. More specifically, we will focus on the rhetorical devices employed (e. . , metaphors, metonymy, jingles, etc. ), as well as the ways in which the text and the visual element prevail upon us to react, i. e. , to buy the product (e. g. , their proclivity for creating a problem, only to consign it to the â€Å"omnipotence† of the product, their spatial arrangement, etc. ). Unfortunately, an in-depth analysis is outside the remit of this study. Let us consider the following ad: A black Ford Zetec covers two pages in the magazine, while the text reads: â€Å"When the lorry in front loses its load, most drivers would find themselves losing control. Not if you’re driving the new 2. 0 litre Ford Focus Zetec ESP. One of the first cars in its class available with an Electronic Stability Program. ESP constantly assesses the angle you are steering against information received from sensors on the behaviour and direction of the car. By reducing engine power and braking individual wheels it helps you to maintain control and stability, allowing you to stay on track. It’s almost like it knows what to do before you do. So sit back, enjoy the ride and expect more. † And the motto just above the car is: â€Å"just steer. This common, albeit â€Å"catchy,† ad addresses the prospective buyer directly through the use of the pronoun you. What is more, the strategy it employs is that of creating a problem—or rather setting a scene familiar to many a driver (â€Å"When the lorry in front loses its load, most drivers would find themselves losing control. †) Only in the first sentence is there any mention of â€Å"most drivers†Ã¢â‚¬â€apparently in order to juxtapose them to you, the prospective buyer. â€Å"You† are not like â€Å"most drivers† because â€Å"you† are driving â€Å"the new 2. 0 litre Ford Focus Zetec ESP. Another device employed in the ad is the use of personification, as in â€Å"ESP constantly assesses†¦it helps you†¦It’s almost like it knows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The new Ford Focus is more of a jinee in a bottle waiting for you to rub it than merely a car. All â€Å"you† have to do is â€Å"sit back, enjoy the ride and expect more,† revelling in the security its omnipotence affords. Finally, the pun in â€Å"just steer,† referring to the actual steering of the vehicle and, only obliquely, to the idiom â€Å"to steer clear of,† consciously or unconsciously, dares us to pop into the car and drive, reminding us of our inability to resist the temptation vs. he omnipotence of the vehicle. As Williamson observes, ‘puns perform the correlating function seen in all ads, but in a way that begs to be deciphered†¦condensation draws together both the denoted and connoted meanings of the ad, therefore making a deterministic connection between them’ (Williamson, 1978: 87). Yet, not all ads are so straightforward and direct. Let us examine the following ad (found in Williamson, 1978: 25). The ad shows Catherine Deneuve’s face and a Chanel No 5 bottle. There is no text linking these two; they are simply juxtaposed. But are they really linked, in the first place? One could say that they are supposed to be linked, in terms of an assumption that they are inextricably related. This link, though, is arbitrary, drawing upon our knowledge of a glamorous world of films and magazines, which Deneuve has come to be associated with. Thus, in juxtaposing her face, which signifies beauty and glamour, with Chanel No 5, there is a â€Å"latent† transference of meaning from Deneuve’s face to the product, and back again. Not only is her face rendered an object that is summoned to â€Å"argue† in favour of the product, but it also depends on that product for the beauty and glamour ascribed to it. Here, the use of language is irrelevant, as the ad appropriates the relationship obtaining between signifier (Catherine Deneuve) and signified (glamour and beauty). In other ads, the visual, not only complements, but virtually transcends, the text, to convey a meaning which is not always easy to decipher. Consider the Gordon’s Gin ad, where there are two different photographs of a famous actor of the 1950s, the second one being obviously altered to the point where the actor is barely recognisable. On the left side of the first photo, there is a text in italics, reading: Gordon’s is made with the pick of the Tuscan Juniper. On the right side of the second photo, the text written in a regular typeface reads: â€Å"Other gins are made with what’s left. † Finally, at the bottom of the page, there is a Gordon’s Special Dry London Gin bottle in the middle of the sentence: â€Å"If you’re not drinking (bottle of Gin) what are you drinking? † Apparently, the significance of the ad resides in assumptions and values outside its ‘grammar’ (Williamson, 1978). First of all, the juxtaposition of the two photographs appropriates the general belief that a good photograph means good quality, which then invites the reader to make the connection between he quality of the first photograph with that of the product through the association of the text in italics with the first picture, and the regular text with the second. Furthermore, the thin typeface (i. e. , italics) stands in stark contrast to the regular text, as it is associated with glamour and prestige and arouses â€Å"elegant† feelings. So, the last sentence â€Å"If you’re not drinking (bottle of Gin) what are you drinking? † could easily be rephrased as: â€Å"If you’re not one of those who prefer our gin, then who are you? Once again, the product is â€Å"put on a pedestal,† while tinkering with our desire for approval, that is, suggesting to us that we will find our identity only if we indulge in it. In addition, the use of the calligram, i. e. , the picture of the bottle, instead of the words naming it, establishes the product as something that has a substance all its own, which is beyond words. As Williamson (1978: 91) has noted, the calligram playfully seeks to erase the oldest oppositions of our alphabetical civilisation: to show and to name; to figure and to speak; to reproduce and articulate; to look and to read†¦[It is a] double trap, an inevitable snare.

Jextra Neighbourhood Case Analysis Essay

The Jextra Neighborhood case study is an evidence of the growing effort by Multi National Corporations to extend their operational base to take advantage of the increasing benefits associated with globalization. The case highlights the managerial capabilities and style of the Manager, Tom Chong; the cultural variations in the perception of business as an entity and its relationships with society, employee attitude to work ethics, and legal variables governing the operations of international corporations. The Malaysian system poses a socio-ethical dilemma especially with the giving and receipts of bribes by appointed employees as well as the exchange of favors (or request thereof) between government officials and businesses. How Should Tom Chong resolve the issue? Concerning the Mayor of Klang’s request, Chong must first assess his own degree of power and authority implied by his position as Country manager. The appointment of a country manager as part of the organizational hierarchy conforms to the management principle of authorization, which mandates equable authority and power to enable managers carry out assigned duties. Such authorities usually have limitations especially in situations where the action or inaction of the officer will affect corporate commitment financially or otherwise. Due to the value of financial capital involved, and the legality thereof, Chong should refer the request in a memo to his immediate boss with copies to corporate headquarters in line with the principle of communication, which encourages a forward-backward linkages and consultative approach to organizational decision-making processes. Even if the legal implications are favorable, the final decision made with regards to the mayor’s request must take into consideration the various business indices such as the time needed to break-even and recoup investment, potential market size, growth matrix and competitive threat for comparison with larger corporate goals. The original Jextra store plan did not consider the flyover road as a priority, which may help narrow the choice options to the school project. In addition, Malaysia law is silent over business contribution for social programs and there is wide example for the practice. If considered, Jextra could make the school financing process public and  transparent with payment made directly to a body appointed by the city administration that has oversight for contributions and disbursement, and controls for effective accountability. What Should Chong do, about the rumors about the bribery and kickbacks to the category manager (CM)? As the country manager, dealing with the bribery and kickback rumors by the CMs is within Ching’s administrative supervision and jurisdiction. In this case, the CMs are expected to be accountable to him and to carry out their duties according to the laid down procedures as dedicate in the Jextra Code of conduct. Chong should first have a close door meeting with Arif Alam and inform him about the information he has received about the activities of the CMs in general as well as the seriousness of its implications if anything should known. He should then recommit the CMs and all other employees to the Jextra Conduct Code (JCC) by running workshops for the staff. At the conclusion of the workshop, the CMs should make to sign an undertaking that expressly promise their commitment to the JCC. The workshop can made an annual event during which personnel from corporate or regional headquarters could be asked to attend for added importance Suppliers, individuals and organizations that do business with Jextra should also be educated about the Jextra CC from the first time a business relationship is established. Contractual agreement must have a section enforceable at law that details an understanding of the requirement for honest dealings devoid of bribery kickbacks and other corrupt practices to, from or by a Jextra employee during the period of the business relationship. The agreement should also make clear procedures for business engagement and the consequences for a breach including abandon and prosecution. Does the jextra Business Code of conduct help chong in resolving the issue? Jextra’s business conduct code does not seem helpful to the manager, Chong in resolving the bribery and kickback issues at the organization. In the first place, the document is settled in ‘cautions and admonitions’ instead of the inherent force of the law. What is more, there are no meaningful arrangements in the document. Besides, even though the code allows gifts and entertainment of ‘small/minimal’ value to guest and suppliers, there is no definite amount given either by department or rank/title such that, the value herein involved may be subjected to acceptable interpretations and variations from department to department and between individual employees. Such lack of  specificity exposes the manager Chong and limits the options available to him for dealing with personnel/employee conduct because of the likelihood that, employee may see his actions as ‘refer his own measures’ instead of company regulation. Are these the kind of issues that Chong should have anticipated as a country manager? As a manager of an international company, Chong should expect to encounter cultural variations or collisions in business and social relations in Malaysia. Local expectations and company ethical policies do sometime clash during the execution of business objectives. However, managers must advice staff to stick with the tried and tested laid down policies. Managers many recommend a review of policies in the face of strong objective evidence for alternative approaches. Such ethical pursuit may help the company in case of legal suits; solidify the managers observed integrity whiles setting a standard for change.

Free Essays on The History Of Coca-Cola

The History of Coca-Cola The Coca-Cola company started out as an insignificant one man business and over the last one hundred and ten years it has grown into one of the largest companies in the world. The first operator of the company was Dr. John Pemberton and the current operator is Roberto Goizueta. Without societies help, Coca-Cola could not have become over a 50 billion dollar business. Coca-Cola was invented by Dr. John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist. He concocted the formula in a three legged brass kettle in his backyard on May 8, 1886. He mixed a combination of lime, cinnamon, coca leaves, and the seeds of a Brazilian shrub to make the fabulous beverage(Things go better with Coke 14). Coca-Cola debuted in Atlanta’s largest pharmacy, Jacob’s Pharmacy, as a five cent non-carbonated beverage. Later on, the carbonated water was added to the syrup to make the beverage that we know today as Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola was originally used as a nerve and brain tonic and a medical elixir. Coca-Cola was named by Frank Robinson, one of Pemberton’s close friends, he also penned the famous Coca-Cola logo in unique script. Dr. John Pemberton sold a portion of the Coca-Cola company to Asa Candler, after Pemberton’s death the remainder was sold to Candler. Pemberton was forced to sell because he was in a state of poor health and was in debt. He had paid $76.96 for advertising, but he only made $50.00 in profits. Candler acquired the whole company for $2,300(Coca-Cola multiple pages). Candler achieved a lot during his time as owner of the company. On January 31, 1893, the famous Coca-Cola formula was patented. He also opened the first syrup manufacturing plant in 1884. His great achievement was large scale bottling of Coca-Cola in 1899. In 1915, The Root Glass Company made the contour bottle for the Coca-Cola company. Candler aggressively advertised Coca-Cola in newspapers and on billboards. In the newspapers, he would give aw... Free Essays on The History Of Coca-Cola Free Essays on The History Of Coca-Cola The History of Coca-Cola The Coca-Cola company started out as an insignificant one man business and over the last one hundred and ten years it has grown into one of the largest companies in the world. The first operator of the company was Dr. John Pemberton and the current operator is Roberto Goizueta. Without societies help, Coca-Cola could not have become over a 50 billion dollar business. Coca-Cola was invented by Dr. John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist. He concocted the formula in a three legged brass kettle in his backyard on May 8, 1886. He mixed a combination of lime, cinnamon, coca leaves, and the seeds of a Brazilian shrub to make the fabulous beverage(Things go better with Coke 14). Coca-Cola debuted in Atlanta’s largest pharmacy, Jacob’s Pharmacy, as a five cent non-carbonated beverage. Later on, the carbonated water was added to the syrup to make the beverage that we know today as Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola was originally used as a nerve and brain tonic and a medical elixir. Coca-Cola was named by Frank Robinson, one of Pemberton’s close friends, he also penned the famous Coca-Cola logo in unique script. Dr. John Pemberton sold a portion of the Coca-Cola company to Asa Candler, after Pemberton’s death the remainder was sold to Candler. Pemberton was forced to sell because he was in a state of poor health and was in debt. He had paid $76.96 for advertising, but he only made $50.00 in profits. Candler acquired the whole company for $2,300(Coca-Cola multiple pages). Candler achieved a lot during his time as owner of the company. On January 31, 1893, the famous Coca-Cola formula was patented. He also opened the first syrup manufacturing plant in 1884. His great achievement was large scale bottling of Coca-Cola in 1899. In 1915, The Root Glass Company made the contour bottle for the Coca-Cola company. Candler aggressively advertised Coca-Cola in newspapers and on billboards. In the newspapers, he would give aw...

Analytical View Of James Joyces Araby Essays - Araby, James Joyce

Analytical View Of James Joyces' Araby Essays - Araby, James Joyce Analytical View Of James Joyces' Araby # Goldstein ## Sara Goldstein Ernst Narrative Fiction 22 October 2000 An Analytical View of Araby Viewpoints from which stories are written are used to enhance the overall point a story is making. James Joyces Araby is no exception. Narrated by a young boy of about twelve or thirteen, it depicts his personal coming of age. The usage of a first person narration allows the reader to see things the way the boy sees them; be as innocent and wistful as he is, thus feeling the incredible intensity of his eventual realization. In addition to this coming of age theme, intricately woven throughout are hints to Joyces contemptuous view of Roman Catholicism, as well as many biblical allusions. Araby takes place around the turn of the century in Dublin, Ireland. At this time in history the Catholic Church had a great hold on the country. James Joyce held an immense dislike for the Roman Catholic Church and the strains it put forth, however these were not feelings that could be shared openly. Instead Joyce wrote about them in a symbolic fashion, using his writing as a tool to speak out. The opening paragraph of this story sets it up as one that will do just that. He states, ...it was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers School set the boys free, suggesting that their religion had imprisoned them. The former tenant of the boys house, a charitable priest, had died inside and left his money to institutions and his furniture to his sister. This could be a symbolic reference to the fall of Roman Catholicism; his house being the country of Ireland, the priest being the religion. It is also interesting to note that the priest passed on with a lot of money- basically a contradictory situation (though the narrator fails to question this due to his naivet. How would a priest end up with so much money? This is a possible stab at the hypocrisy and dishonesty of the church. Religion, as a whole comes up symbolically many times throughout the story. Joyce makes obvious reference to the Garden of Eden when describing the wild garden behind the house [which] contained a central apple tree. This is a parallel to a well known fall from grace, as the boy will soon experience. In addition, nearly all the boys thoughts of his silent admiration can be identified as religious references. Many of them happen to be sexual desires stifled by religion. The girl is most certainly used as a representation of the Virgin Mary. One night, before the bazaar, the boy watches out the window the brown clad figure cast by my imagination, touched discreetly by the lamplight at the curved neck, at the hand upon the railings and at the border below the dress. More specifically, when the uncle has not yet returned to take the boy to the bazaar, the aunt suggests that he put off the bazaar for this night of our lord. This night being Saturday, the service which is dedicated to veneration of Virgin Mary- sort of what he is doing by going to Araby for the girl. It is also interesting to note that there are multiple times when he refers to his infatuation in religious terms, such as her name coming to him in prayer, or her words playing him as if he were a harp. Due to strong religious obligations, sexuality was greatly repressed during the time of this story. This idea was vividly sketched in the paragraph which states All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring O love! O love! many times. The intense sexual undertones of this passage are unmistakable. It illustrates the boys confusion of religion and sexuality. A more straight forward example of sexual themes occurs when the girl and boy actually speak. Her obligations to her religion (the retreat) override her more sexual desires, while she releases her nervous sexual tension through twirling her silver bracelet around her arm. Furthermore, the boy seems to create a sexual image of the girl

Important Quotes From Anne Franks Diary

Important Quotes From Anne Frank's Diary When Anne Frank turned 13 on June 12, 1942, she received a red-and-white checkered diary as a birthday present. For the next two years, Anne wrote in her diary, chronicling her move into the Secret Annex, her troubles with her mother, and her blossoming love for Peter (a boy also hiding in the annex). Her writing is extraordinary for many reasons. Certainly, it is one of the very few diaries salvaged from a young girl in hiding, but it also a very honest and revealing account of a young girl coming of age despite her surrounding circumstances. Ultimately, Anne Frank and her family were discovered by the Nazis and sent to concentration camps. Anne Frank died in Bergen-Belsen in March 1945 of typhus. Insightful Quotes From Anne Frank's Diary Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because Ive never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. (June 20, 1942)Ive learned one thing: you only really get to know a person after a fight. Only then can you judge their true character! (September 28, 1942)Sometimes I think God is trying to test me, both now and in the future. Ill have to become a good person on my own, without anyone to serve as a model or advise me, but itll make me stronger in the end. (October 30, 1943)I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young and know that Im free, and yet I cant let it show. Just imagine what would happen if all eight of us were to feel sorry for ourselves or walk around with the discontent clearly visible on our faces. Where would that get us? (December 24, 1943)Mother has said that she sees us more as frie nds than as daughters. Thats all very nice, of course, except that a friend cant take the place of a mother. I need my mother to set a good example and be a person I can respect, but in most matters, shes an example of what not to do. (January 6, 1944) Peter added, The Jews have been and always will be the chosen people! I answered, Just this once, I hope theyll be chosen for something good! (February 16, 1944)Riches, prestige, everything can be lost. But the happiness in your own heart can only be dimmed; it will always be there, as long as you live, to make you happy again. (February 23, 1944)I want friends, not admirers. People who respect me for my character and my deeds, not my flattering smile. The circle around me would be much smaller, but what does that matter, as long as theyre sincere? (March 7, 1944)Have my parents forgotten that they were young once? Apparently, they have. At any rate, they laugh at us when were serious, and theyre serious when were joking. (March 24, 1944)Im honest and tell people right to their faces what I think, even when its not very flattering. I want to be honest; I think it gets you further and also makes you feel better about yourself. (March 25, 1944)I dont want to live in vain like most peop le. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those Ive never met. I want to go on living even after my death! (April 5, 1944) Ive asked myself again and again whether it wouldnt have been better if we hadnt gone into hiding; if we were dead now and didnt have to go through this misery, especially so that the others could be spared the burden. But we all shrink from this thought. We still love life, we havent yet forgotten the voice of nature, and we keep hoping, hoping for . . . everything. (May 26, 1944)To be honest, I cant imagine how anyone could say Im weak and then stay that way. If you know that about yourself, why not fight it, why not develop your character? (July 6, 1944)We have many reasons to hope for great happiness, but . . . we have to earn it. And thats something you cant achieve by taking the easy way out. Earning happiness means doing good and working, not speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting, but only work gives you true satisfaction. (July 6, 1944)Its a wonder I havent abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still belie ve, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. (July 15, 1944)

Expand the report that will be send later. Focusing on training and Research Paper

Expand the report that will be send later. Focusing on training and development, staff turnover, reward and benefit as well as r - Research Paper Example The company achieved a 27% revenue growth over the three years ending in 2007 (Seeking Alpha 2011). This paper will evaluate whether the recruitment and selection, training and development, staff turnover, and reward and benefit policies of McDonalds are strategic or not. The paper will analyse if those policies have assisted the organisation to achieve its goals and objectives. Recruitment and selection The market success of any business largely depends on its product quality and service efficiency. It is clear that high quality products can be designed, produced, and delivered only if high quality people are employed. AsRioux and Bernthal (1999) point out, for any business like McDonalds offering customised services, efficiency in employee recruitment, selection, and retention is particularly vital to meet customer satisfaction and thereby promote market share growth. While analysing McDonald’s recruitment and selection policy with reference to related practices such as trai ning and development, staff turnover, and rewards and benefits, the policy seems strategic. ... 004, the company employed 43,491 people in its restaurants and they embraced 40,699 hourly paid workers, 2,292 managerial personnel, and 500 office staff. McDonald’s US franchisees employed further 25,000 people in 2004 (The Times 100, n.d). Most of the McDonald’s employees are paid based on an hour-rate system and those employees are referred to as crew members. In order to ensure the efficiency of employee recruitment and selection process, McDonalds’ management has specifically outlined skills and behaviours that an applicant should possess. According to this, â€Å"for each position there is a job description outlining typical duties and responsibilities and a person specification defining personal skills and competences.† (The Times 100, n.d). The McDonald’s recruitment policy makes its individual restaurants responsible for appointing adequate number of hourly-paid workers. The company’s Management Recruitment department coordinates all activities associated with the recruitment process (McDonald’s Restaurants Limited 2004). In order to recruit skilled and efficient hourly-paid employees, the organization follows some typical requirement approaches including advertising in restaurants, local job centres, career fairs, and other local facilities (The Times 100, n.d). Throughout the company history, it seems that McDonald’s management mainly uses advertising in restaurants technique to hire quality staff. The company believes that this recruitment policy would assist to find out quality workers from local people and/or friends of existing workers. The management collects applications from huge number of candidates and prepares a short list of applicants to be interviewed based on specific criteria. Over 60% of the McDonald’s crew members are aged 20

How has friendship changed because of the spread of social networking Essay

How has friendship changed because of the spread of social networking are these changes more positive than negative, or have they caused more harm than good - Essay Example When friends are connected through a social media site, it is easy to find out the whereabouts of one another. It is also easy to find out what the other people are up to over the weekends, upcoming events, relationships and their current location. One can have as much time on social media as they want since the only charges that apply are those of internet connections. Friendship has changed from physical meetings and contact, to the internet sites. This means that one does not have to go through the hustle of arranging for a meeting when all the information required can be communicated through web platforms. It is easier and convenient to communicate through social networking because it is done at the convenience of the two parties involved. This element is useful; however, friends lose touch with one another in terms of physical approach. There is no much effort placed in making eye to eye contact with friends. The physical boundary has become independent. Friendship has become casual (Farah web). Friendships and how individuals make friends has changed ever since the invention of social media. Individuals prefer to be in a virtual world where one cannot be known fully but only at the superficial level. Social media has the option of adding individuals as friends. However this definition of friend is an online one. The two people may not even know each other but are friends on Facebook because one of them added the other. This kind of friendship is only superficial and shallow and exists in the virtual world. The two people, who call themselves â€Å"friends†, have no real life experiences (Barett web). On the other hand, social media has led to mistrust and deception among individuals. Some people have put a vetting mechanism for all people who add others as friends to avoid misleading characters in the name of â€Å"friends†. Social media can lead to breaking of good relationships (Parrack). Information

Choose one advertising image (preferably fashion or interiors) and Speech Presentation

Choose one advertising image (preferably fashion interiors) and visually analyse it - Speech or Presentation Example The advert indicates the significance of having a classy travel bag. The inclusion of an older model and a younger one is to show that class has no limit of age. The Louis Vuitton brand wants to cut across all ages. Therefore, the marketting strategy is focussed on showing the importance and usability of the travel bags. The travel bags not only cater for the luggage carried but they also bring out the aspects of different classes and culture.The image tends to capture the quality of embracing a unique father daughter relationship that is enriched by the shared experience (Popsugar Fashion, 2008). Moreover the image illustrates Louis Vuitton heritage as being passed from one generation to the next. The irony depicted in most of LouisVuitton adverts is the use of poor countries to maret their brand. There are a couple of formal elements that can be viewed from the photograph. These are value, colour, forms and shape. Value is the amount of light that is in the given image(Barrett, 2000). In this case the amount of light is minimal as the image was shot in early evening. Contrast of white and black can be depicted from view. Colour used in the image especially the black and white theme is used to differentiate space, shape and forms based on the different shades of gray. Forms are illustrated by the various shapes adopted in the image such as the square images of the books and the stools. Finally, space around the area of the image shot is minimised to predict the way the image is viewed. The photographer creates a sense of balance as she harmoniously combines the value, forms, colour and space to bring out a well-structured photograph. The image is shot by Annie Leiboritz who is regarded to as a unique photographer. Her fashion photographs are quite beautiful and amazing. The style that is depicted from the image is that of modernism. A lot of aspects are incorporated when high end

Democracy and Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy and Economy - Essay Example ( Reginald Chua (2000)) .Democracy do have its cons which hinders the path of development in one way or another for example in the country where literacy rates are very low , where the cast system are very much prevalent , people are emotional there the very basic foundation of democracy, the right of people to elect their representative to govern them is massively distorted , the people there usually are unaware of their own rights and their usage so in those countries only corrupt people come in democracy and use it only for their own self interest and people's development is totally ignored. Well if any authoritarian country's administration make sure the right of people are well protected and assure their personal , professional and economical growth, maintain good standard of living for its inhabitants, provide them with basic facilities of life, provide them with employment then the development of the country is inveterate. The living example of it is China and Singapore. Hans F.Sennholz (2007) stated "The most startling progress over the last two decades has been in China which labors under and authoritarian regime". The world poorest democratic states are also as much democratic as the wealthier states but the difference lies in governance (Hans 2007). The key point of this statement is that development is not correlated to democracy that much than it is related to the governance of the country. Some of the countries which has been liberated in early twentieth century like Australia in 1901and New Zealand in 1947 they had government institutes running previously with much of an ideology and legal methods so after freedom they didn't have to work from scratch but those countries which were deprive of such institutions and... The researcher of this essay states that if we look to the meaning of development then according to American heritage Dictionary of English Language (2006) it is define as â€Å"A progression from simpler or lower to a more advance, mature or complex form of state or stage† it is also define as â€Å"act of developing â€Å". Development also have some key indicators which help the economist to access the development rate of the country some of them are per capita income, literacy rate, unemployment rate, standard of living, availability of basic facilities like electricity and gas etc. Democracy in this dictionary is define as â€Å"government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system†. The researcher then focuses on the analysis of the Asia’s democracies, such as India and Philippines, that are less progressive than the other au thoritarian government, such as China or North Korea. Summing up the discussion the researcher can say one thing with utmost authentication and that is the factor that matter much more than democracy or no democracy is the leader, along with his/her leadership qualities, social culture and pressure economic policies and rule of law, if these factors and may other major and minor factors of economy are being effectively implemented and foster into positive direction then the development is 100% bound to come else nothing can guarantee development what so ever.

Campaign Measurables Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Campaign Measurables - Coursework Example The measure for the profitability is through an increased Return on Investment (ROI) and in marketing terms- Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI). There are several differences between GRPs and IMPs. To begin with, GRPs is the frequency or the number of times an advertising campaign reaches its target audience. It measures the impact of the advertising campaign on its audience. The real measure of the impact is through the sales that a particular advertising campaign is able to make in relation to a given product. GRP is a percentage that results from the multiplication of the reached target audience and the exposure frequency. On the other hand, (IMPs) represent the exposure of a particular advertisement or commercial to persons within the target audience (Tellis, 21). It is measured in terms of cost incurred to reach a thousand people; Cost per Thousand (CPM) or the cost incurred to reach a certain percentage of the audience; Cost per Point (CPP). The measure chosen by advertisers when pitching to clients is significant for the success of a campaign. It needs to be consistent with the annual goals of a campaign. This enables prior preparation in relation to the costs and the number of leads required for a campaign. Advertisers consider the ability of a given measure to hit the specific goals set (Tellis, 45). For instance, in the high profitability goals, the preferred measure needs to deliver a high Return on Investment in consideration of the overall budget. The chosen measure needs to focus on several prospects that ensure the achievement of optimum results. For instance, is should ensure a cost effective program through the conduction of a cost-benefit analysis. The benefits incurred when pitching to clients, needs to outweigh the costs incurred. Acquisition rate is a measure of the increase or growth in sales from a given

Egyptian Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Egyptian Revolution - Essay Example As in the case of many other Islamic dictators in the Arab world, Gadhafi was also trying to extend his regime as much as possible citing religious reasons. He ruled with iron fist and had no hesitation in executing the opponents. â€Å"Many in Libya still remember how Gaddafi used to execute those who opposed him — or those he felt had opposed him — and would leave their bodies hanging from nooses for days as a warning† (Abdulrahim). In fact Gaddafi killed many innocent people even during Ramadan period. Gaddafi had less belief in Islamic principles even though he appeared as a strong believer. Even though Libya is blessed with immense oil resources, the living conditions of majority of the Libyans were pathetic. In fact Gadhafi was looting the wealth of Libya. It is believed that Gadhafi had huge bank deposits in overseas countries. In any case Gadhafi met with the ultimate destiny of many of the similar dictators in the past. This paper explains the impact of economic, political and cultural factors might have on the outcome of the Libyan revolution. It should be noted that Libya is blessed with immense amount of oil stock as in the case of Iraq. Iraq is already under the control of America and a control over Libya will definitely help America to solve their energy problems up to certain extents. That is why America supported and assisted Libyan revolution wholeheartedly. Although many people in Libya live in poverty and in poor conditions, Libya is not a poor country. Not only does it have vast oil reserves, it also produces the best quality oil in the world, perfect for refining petroleum that allows goods to be transported from one place to another all over the world. The resources can be used to provide the Libyan poor and workers with better pay, services, living and working conditions, when under Gadaffi, Libya’s wealth went towards the

Campaign Measurables Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Campaign Measurables - Coursework Example The measure for the profitability is through an increased Return on Investment (ROI) and in marketing terms- Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI). There are several differences between GRPs and IMPs. To begin with, GRPs is the frequency or the number of times an advertising campaign reaches its target audience. It measures the impact of the advertising campaign on its audience. The real measure of the impact is through the sales that a particular advertising campaign is able to make in relation to a given product. GRP is a percentage that results from the multiplication of the reached target audience and the exposure frequency. On the other hand, (IMPs) represent the exposure of a particular advertisement or commercial to persons within the target audience (Tellis, 21). It is measured in terms of cost incurred to reach a thousand people; Cost per Thousand (CPM) or the cost incurred to reach a certain percentage of the audience; Cost per Point (CPP). The measure chosen by advertisers when pitching to clients is significant for the success of a campaign. It needs to be consistent with the annual goals of a campaign. This enables prior preparation in relation to the costs and the number of leads required for a campaign. Advertisers consider the ability of a given measure to hit the specific goals set (Tellis, 45). For instance, in the high profitability goals, the preferred measure needs to deliver a high Return on Investment in consideration of the overall budget. The chosen measure needs to focus on several prospects that ensure the achievement of optimum results. For instance, is should ensure a cost effective program through the conduction of a cost-benefit analysis. The benefits incurred when pitching to clients, needs to outweigh the costs incurred. Acquisition rate is a measure of the increase or growth in sales from a given

Event Study - Using Econometrics Research Paper

Event Study - Using Econometrics - Research Paper Example (1996), who studied the relationship between dividend announcements and earnings, both of which appear simultaneously. As such, in practice, investment analysts who analyze long-term economic prospects are to be expected to inquire about information related to top management as well as changes in corporate strategy among other issues that are believed to have an impact on the company’s earnings (Denis, 1990; Marsh, 1993). These considerations are also very important in share trading decisions. One of the most anticipated types of regular returns on stocks are dividends. These are payments made by firms to their shareholders as a compensation for their capital. If dividend policy is frequently adjusted, then the variation in the stock prices would be expected to remain high. Variation in share prices occurs due to recurrent investors’ reactions ahead of important announcement by the companies, dividends announcement being among them. Such announcements are floated throug h the stock exchanges as well as made through annual reports for the purpose of reaching the investors. Nevertheless, some companies release crucial information through the press release even before they publish them in the annual reports, if the need arises. Furthermore, there are other mediums that transmit information to the investors in effect changing the prices of the stocks. Some of the announcement that may influence prices of shares include new product launch, management changeover, changes of government policies, starting and shutting down of projects, mergers and acquisitions, political changes, downsizing of firms, as well as the announcement of dividend, which is the focus of this study. The prices of stocks tend to change immediately the news hinting about these changes is received by the investors. The relevance of dividend announcements is a subject of considerable interest for many researchers in the field of finance. This subject has ignited considerable controvers y, considering the impact dividends announcement have before and after their announcement. This study builds upon different dividend literature by looking at the impact of dividend announcements for a multiple of firms that are listed in UK stock markets. The study will use an event study approach to examine abnormal returns for a total of 50 firms, which is potentially caused by the announcement of dividends for 21 days spreading between July 2012 and August 2012. The results indicate that the announcement of dividends that is accompanied with good news is received positively by investors; hence, more rate of increase of abnormal returns are experienced after the announcement. The results of this study also indicate that firms should be more prudent when making dividend policies as they have significant economic implications. This paper looks at the reactions of markets following a blend of dividend announcement by companies from the UK. These announcements are pointers that are or iginated by the managers of different companies in conditions of economic uncertainty, a scenario that is accompanied by varied investors interpretations and informational asymmetry. This study will be in accordance with the principles adopted in any empirical studies that investigate the impacts of share prices in relation to changes in dividends (for example, Charest 1978; Eades et al., 1985). Literature Review From the study of Ghosh and Woolridge (1988), it has been established that markets can

Gestalt Learning Theory Essay Example for Free

Gestalt Learning Theory Essay Doing my research on learning and instruction in complex simulation-based learning environments, I experienced a large difference in how learners reacted to my learning material (Kluge, in press, 2004). Complex technical simulations involve the placement of the learner into a realistic computer simulated situation or technical scenario which puts control back into the learner’s hands. The contextual content of simulations allows the learner to â€Å"learn by doing. † Although my primary purpose was in improving research methods and testing procedures for evaluating learning results of simulation-based learning, the different reaction of our participants were so obvious that we took a closer look. I had two different groups participating in my learning experiments: students from an engineering department at the University, mostly in their 3rd semester, and apprentices from vocational training programs in mechanics and electronics of several companies near the University area in their 3rd year of vocational training. Most of the students worked very intensively and concentrated on solving these complex simulation tasks whereas apprentices became easily frustrated and bored. Although my first research purpose was not in investigating the differences between these groups, colleagues and practitioners showed their interest and encouraged me to look especially at that difference. Practitioners especially hoped to find explanations why apprentices sometimes are less enthusiastic about simulation learning although it is said to be motivating for their perception. Therefore, in this dissertation I address the difference in the effectiveness of using simulation intervention program based on a Gestalt learning theory. Moreover, to find out if the program improves either or both the quality and speed of the learning process of students enrolled in a highly technical training program. This dissertation focuses on using simulation based learning environments in vocational training program. In this chapter, the experimental methodology and instruments are described, results presented and finally discussed. As mentioned above, my primary purpose when I started to investigate learning and simulation based on Gestalt learning theory was focused on improving the research methodology and test material (see Kluge, in press, 2004) for experimenting with simulation-based learning environments. But observing the subjects’ reactions to the learning and testing material the question arose whether there might be a difference in the quality of and speed of the learning process of students involved in my study. Research Design: A 3-factor 2 ? 2 ? 2 factorial control-group-design was performed (factor 1: â€Å"Simulation complexity†: ColorSim 5 vs ColorSim 7; factor 2: â€Å"support method†: GES vs. DI-GES; factor 3: target group, see Table 2). Two hundred and fifteen mostly male students (16% female) in eight groups (separated into four experimental and four control groups) participated in the main study. The control group served as a treatment check for the learning phase and to demonstrate whether subjects acquired any knowledge within the learning-phase. While the experimental groups filled in the knowledge test at the end of the experiment (after the learning and the transfer tasks), the control groups filled in the knowledge test directly after the learning phase. I did not want to give the knowledge test to the experimental group after the learning phase because of its sensitivity to testing-effects. I assumed that learners who did not acquire the relevant knowledge in the learning phase could acquire useful knowledge by taking the knowledge test, which could have led to a better transfer performance which is not due to the learning method but caused by learning from taking the knowledge test. The procedure subjects had to follow included a learning phase in which they explored the structure of the simulation aiming at knowledge acquisition. After the learning phase, subjects first had to fill in the four-item questionnaire on self-efficacy before they performed 18 transfer tasks. The transfer tasks were separated into two blocks (consisting of nine control tasks each) by a 30-minute break. In four experimental groups (EG), 117 students and apprentices performed the learning phase (28 female participants), the 18 control tasks and the knowledge test. As said before, the knowledge test was applied at the end because of its sensitivity to additional learning effects caused by filling in the knowledge test. In four control groups (CG), 98 students and apprentices performed the knowledge test directly after the learning phase, without working on the transfer task (four female participants). The EGs took about 2-2. 5 hours and the CG about 1. 5 hours to finish the experiment. Both groups (EGs and CGs) were asked to take notes during the learning phase. Subjects were randomly assigned to the EGs and CGs, nonetheless ensuring that the same number of students and apprentices were in each group. The Simulation-Based Learning Environment The computer-based simulation ColorSim, which we had developed for our experimental research previously, was used in two different variants. The simulation is based on the work by Funke (1993) and simulates a small chemical plant to produce colors for later subsequent processing and treatment such as dyeing fabrics. The task is to produce a given amount of colors in a predefined number of steps (nine steps). To avoid the uncontrolled influence of prior knowledge, the structure of the plant simulation cannot be derived from prior knowledge of a certain domain, but has to be learned by all subjects. ColorSim contains three endogenous variables (termed green, black, and yellow) and three exogenous variables (termed x, y, and z ). Figure 1 illustrates the ColorSim screen. Subjects control the simulation step by step (in contrast to a real time running continuous control). The predefined goal states of each color have to be reached by step nine. Subjects enter values for x, y, and z within the range of 0-100. There is no time limit for the transfer tasks. During the transfer tasks, the subjects have to reach defined system states for green (e. g. , 500), black (e. g. , 990), and yellow (e. g. , 125) and/or try to keep the variable values as close as possible to the values defined as goal states. Subjects are instructed to reach the defined system states at the end of a multi-step process of nine steps. The task for the subjects was first to explore or learn about the simulated system (to find out the causal links between the system variables), and then to control the endogenous variables by means of the exogenous variables with respect to a set of given goal states. With respect to the empirical evidence of Funke (2001) and Strau? (1995), the theoretical concept for the variation in complexity is based on Woods’ (1986) theoretical arguments that complexity depends on an increasing number of relations between a stable number of (in this case six) variables (three input, three output: for details of the construction rational and empirical evidence see Kluge, 2004, and Kluge, in press, see Table 1). To meet reliability requirements, subjects had to complete several trials in the transfer task. For each of the 18 control tasks a predefined correct solution exists, to which the subjects’ solutions could be compared. In addition, knowledge acquisition and knowledge application phases were separated. The procedure for the development of a valid and reliable knowledge test is described in the next section. Different methods have been developed to provide learners with support to effectively learn from using simulations. De Jong and van Joolingen (1998) categorize these into five groups: 1. Direct access to domain knowledge, which means that learners should know something about the field or subject beforehand, if discovery learning is to be fruitful. 2. Support for hypothesis generation, which means learners are offered elements of hypotheses that they have to assemble themselves. 3. Support for the design of experiments, e. g. , by providing hints like â€Å"It is wise to vary only one variable at a time† 4. Support for making predictions, e. g. , by giving learners a graphic tool in which they can draw a curve that gives predictions at three levels of precision: as numerical data, as a drawn graph, and as an area in which the graph would be located. 5. Support for regulative learning processes: e. g. , by introducing model progression, which means that the model is introduced gradually, and by providing planning support, which means freeing learners from the necessity of making decisions and thus helping them to manage the learning process. In addition, regulative processes can be supported by leading the learner through different stages, like â€Å"Before doing the experiment . . . ,† â€Å"Now do the experiment,† â€Å"After doing the experiment. . . .† Altogether, empirical findings and theoretical assumptions have so far led to the conclusion that experiential learning needs additional support to enhance knowledge acquisition and transfer. Target Population and Participant Selection: In the introductory part, I mentioned that there were two sub groups in the sample which I see as different target groups for using simulation-based learning environments. Subjects were for the most part recruited from the technical departments of a Technical University (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronics, Information Technology as well as apprentices from the vocational training programs in mechanics

banks :: essays research papers

If much of contemporary literary theory emphasizes the cultural production of class, race, and gender in American fiction, contemporary fiction that utilizes the resources of narrative minimalism to explore issues of cultural division - fiction by such writers as Raymond Carver, Toni Morrison, Susan Minot, and Russell Banks - increasingly provides the context for critical debate. The refusal to elaborate plot or to use plot to suggest a narrator who controls interpretation, becomes itself a strategy that allows the reader to observe clearly the boundaries between the story's minimal plot and the way the socially produced narratives invoked by the story enforce cultural division. If we conceive of narrative as the establishment, for the reader, of a network of expectations within a frame of contingency, then perhaps no expectation is more fundamental than that of intelligible action@ the progression of story through chronological time, which we commonly refer to as plot. In a world w here the possibilities of plot express unattainable desires on the part of a narrative's characters, however, the reader's desire for a resolution of plot into meaning is thwarted, and the resultant anxiety the reader feels underscores his or her complicity with the frustrations and incoherencies of the characters, lives. These incoherencies resist sentimental assimilation into the reader's aesthetic imagination. The resultant daydreams and wish-fulfilling fantasies display, as Fredric Jameson argues, the otherwise inconceivable link between history and desire (182). Russell Banks's Black Man and White Woman in Dark Green Rowboat" presents precisely such an evasive narrative, one whose very evasion establishes a dialogic relationship between the reader and a cast of characters whose lives display the wreckage of the larger cultural narratives that marginalize them. In effect, Banks's minimalism accentuates the missing cultural narratives that have written the characters into th e margins. "Black Man and White Woman" does, of course, present things that happen. The story opens with an apparently random variety of people who live in a trailerpark commencing their days. The reader is not immediately aware that the black man and the white woman are the focus of the story. They gradually emerge from the narrative background, and the story follows them as they row onto the lake, converse laconically, and row home. The sense of nothing happening is created in the context of their desire, both their physical desire for each other and their desire to construct plots that might provide a meaningful structure to their lives.

Companies Should Research Health Care Products For Use in Developing Na

Companies Should Research Health Care Products For Use in Developing Nations The industry of medical research and product development is an expensive and risky business in which the rate of failure far outweighs the likelihood of success (Glaxo). Only the largest companies can afford to invest large amounts of time and capital in projects that seem to have little chance of striking research gold--a drug that is effective, safe, and marketable for a profit. This creates an obvious problem: what incentives exist that would encourage companies to make a commitment to the development and distribution of products that are not likely to produce great returns, namely medicines that would be used mainly in third world countries? Are these companies morally obligated to earmark at least some of their profits to pursue such projects? What responsibilities do the governments of developing nations have to their citizens in providing and improving health care? Some of the most urgent current health issues in developing countries are the threats posed by drug-resistant TB and malaria, Hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, meningococcal meningitis, and typhoid fever (Alameda). Vaccines are available for all of the above infections except TB and malaria, but separate injections are required for each, some require follow-ups, and each injection costs as much as $75 (Alameda). This is an expense that is obviously not practical for most rural citizens in Africa and Southeast Asia, some of the areas where these diseases are most prevalent (Glaxo). No relief effort to date has the resources to make widespread distribution of these vaccines possible or practical. The very beginning of the battle is making products that will greatly increase the health o... ...of companies with the resources who would enjoy the benefits. In addition, it is obvious that the US on an international scale benefits from such efforts, and thus our government should be willing to support or conduct such research when necessary. Works Cited: Alameda Travel Vaccination Center. About the Vaccines: Alameda Travel Vaccination Center. http: www.netcantina.com/travelmed/homepage/.htm (6 March 1997). Belden, Peter. US Agency for International Development. Letter to the author. 8 March 1997. Glaxo Wellcome Inc. "A Timely, Two-Sided Attack on Malaria", Glaxo Wellcome Noticeboard, Glaxo Wellcome Research Centres. Glaxo Wellcome http://www.glaxowellcome.co.uk/netscape/world [contains links to all articles] (6 March 1997). Smallpox. Encyclopedia Britannica. vol. 10, 1994 ed. p. 887-8. Ryan, Dr. Thomas E. Physician. Letter to the author. 8 Mar 1997.

Education and its effect on Life

Geting instruction is one of the most critical facets of a individuals life. It should be seen every bit critical as the air we breathe. The root to keeping a strong wisdom and being an extraordinary individual is larning. â€Å" Without instruction, you ‘re non traveling anyplace in this universe † is a celebrated quotation mark by Malcolm X. His quotation mark reiterates that the competitory universe makes it indispensable for us to hold a proper instruction since it will function as our arm to suppress the universe. Education will assist a individual grow as an person because a extremely knowing individual will hold a better clasp on managing any job that comes his or her manner. Literacy is the foundation of what we are as persons. Every determination we make, every bit good as our idea procedure, is the footing of what we know. Deriving cognition gives us pleasance every bit good as encouragements our morale. Education should be portion of everyone ‘s life bec ause it is one of the most cherished ownerships a individual could of all time hold since that can open doors and ease the tract for future accomplishment and economic successes. However, many Americans are faced with many hurdlings along the manner that they need to get the better of. One of the hurdlings that we encounter with instruction is the manner school is perceived by people. Americans have lost their desire to larn ; really frequently we hear phrases like, â€Å" school is tiring † or â€Å" school is a batch of work, † among pupils. Children in school today would much prefer to be someplace else. These pupils would instead be out with their friends or cavort around their place or anyplace but be in school. Now, when in school, they fail to retrieve the chief ground why they are at that place. Thus, many pupils avoid school and sometimes do non trouble oneself to demo up at all. Harmonizing to the U. S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, for every twenty nine seconds, another pupil bails out on school. This comes to over one million American high school pupils ‘ retreating from school every twelvemonth. The deficiency of motive and household values, every bit good as pupil duty, has created this crisis in the instruction system. In add-on, deficient support of schools along with quality instructors that are retiring are some of the jobs we encounter in the instruction system. In some parts of the United States, there is a deficiency of equal entree to stuffs for reading and composing due to budget restraints. In Allen D. Kanner ‘s article, â€Å" Today ‘s Class Brought to You ByaˆÂ ¦ † he mentioned that with the babe boomers retiring, and a high turnover among new pedagogues, who are ordered to give direction on topics they are non decently trained for, are doing hard schoolroom state of affairss ( 280 ) . Similarly, Governor Jerry Brown ‘s statement last January 11 pointed out that K-12 instruction has ‘borne the brunt ‘ of the province ‘s budget cuts with more than $ 18 billion in cuts over the last three old ages. This resulted in larger category sizes, plans are cut, and over 30,000 pedagogues were laid away. These pedagogues are genuinely valuable to our c ommunity since they supply our kids with the information and the know-how that they can work with to better their fate and the fate of the whole existence. As a pupil, I have suffered the effects of ternary digit fee additions and the deficiency of available categories offered. The high cost of instruction has put the load non merely on the pupils, and many of their parents, but pedagogues, every bit good. Another major determiner that is partially responsible to the rational problems of Americans is poorness. Poverty is considered to be a serious at-risk factor, with more of the state ‘s kids confronting this quandary. Other determiners that may set these juvenile at-risk are unreliable vicinities, immature nonreader parents, unemployment along with deficient educational background. The phrase, â€Å" at-risk, † describes those kids, who are without a uncertainty, will neglect whether at school or life as a whole when sing their single state of affairss. In my experience while turning up, I noticed that pupils, who passed the fifth class and discontinue school to back up their household financially, are making a big uneducated labour force. Unfortunately, hapless households are more concerned with the basic necessities in life such as money and nutrient, instead than books to assist their head grow. Without money and resources needed, kids will go on to turn up to go anot her statistic of poorness. However, the fluctuation in the quality of instruction should non be dependent upon the wealth or deficiency thereof. Helping those destitute pupils will raise the degree of instruction available to them which in bend will let them to acquire a better paying occupation to better back up their households. On the other manus, it could be argued that Americans are non in serious rational problem because of the impact that engineering is making in our instruction system. If we take a expression at the history of instruction for the past 1000s of old ages, we may merely conceive of how personal computing machines could hold impacted the educational system. When proficient cognition and right acquisition constructions are combined, proficient cognition will construct up their scholastic accomplishment. One manner that proficient cognition can assist pupils larn is by maintaining more pupils interested in the capable affair for longer periods of clip. Teenss and their parents believe that entree to the Internet improves the societal life and academic work of adolescents. For them, the usage of the Internet, for case, plays a cardinal function in their bonding with their friends, their households and their schools. Many younger people today are hooked to computing machines and advanced engin eering. This captivation may maintain them at a computing machine terminus larning about some topic instead than staying interested in a book or a talk. Technology in the instruction system has shaped the pupils and pedagogues in several practical techniques, among other things ocular field trips, proving tips, teacher resources, category web sites, and lesson programs. Adoption of engineering in schoolrooms should be foreseen as an plus instead than as a liability. Furthermore, state-of-the-art engineering must be available at schools in destitute vicinities since engineering can assist better their instruction system. Therefore, the significance of larning should ne'er be taken for granted. For illustration, an attention-getting definition of instruction in Wikipedia provinces, â€Å" Education encompasses both the instruction and acquisition of cognition, proper behavior, and proficient competence. † The higher the instruction a individual has, the greater opportunities of that individual set downing a better-paying occupation. With instruction, a individual can hold a successful life. It can supply people with information and cognition for acquiring a occupation and pursing their dreams. â€Å" Knowledge is power † says the famed painter Francis Bacon. Although, knowledge entirely is non plenty for person to win in life ; a individual should besides hold the accomplishments to be a leader, to be extremely educated and ne'er leave at the sight of a job. Educated people are looked upon for counsel. Education is besides your manner to your success. An ideal instruction will non be pos sible if one of these three constituents is losing ; they are: parents, pedagogues and pupils. The pupil, the parent, and the pedagogue should ever cabal to develop and set up a unflawed academic program. I genuinely believe that my success is dependent on the picks that I make in life and the people that influence me turning up.

Literacy Plan Essay

As I am starting to learn the basics of how to become an effective teacher, I am learning what type of teacher I am and what type of teacher I want to be. Growing up, aspiring to be a teacher, I never thought teachers had to learn how to do some methods I have seen. For example, teachers always knew how to capture the students’ attention again after the children would get off task. I thought this skill came naturally to teachers and I would obtain it with time. On my adventure of this learning process of becoming a teacher, I have learned this skill is something you learn how to do and there are many other skills to learn along the way. These skills and methods come from multiple studies and research done by theorists over the decades. Learning all these theories at first was overwhelming, but over time I got a grasp on the basics of just a few theorists and their theories. There are so many researchers that have put their opinions out in the open for teachers to take into account and work from. There is Vygotsky, Cambourne, Holdaway, Piaget, Skinner, and Dewey just to name a few! After acquiring this basic knowledge of some theories, I have come to realize that there is one theorist’s methods I agree with the most when it comes to teaching literacy. This theorist is Brian Cambourne. Cambourne is an educational anthropologist from Australia who has emphasized his research in literacy learning. He has come up with many conditions pertaining to literacy learning. His theory compliments my beliefs the best, compared to the other theories I have learned about. I believe in having students experience different types of literature. This process allows students to become familiar with different ways of writing, and how to say things in many different ways. This also gives them a chance to figure out what style of language they like best and grasp an idea of what type of literacy come easiest to them. When students understand more types of literacy, it vastly opens up their range of vocabulary that can only benefit them in the future. This condition of students exploring all types of literacy is what Cambourne calls immersion and I find it to be a step that does not seem to be obvious to children. I feel students do not know when they are looking at different types of literacy. I believe in making an effort in explaining what type of material the students are reading from, rather than just handing them something and telling them to read it. This is the reason why I believe demonstration is the next big important process. Demonstration is a very important step in my eyes for literacy learning. Demonstration is modeling literate behaviors, formally and informally (Cambourne). I personally am a visual learner and prefer to have the teacher model what I am going to do before I have to employ it on my own. When a model was not available to me, I would become stressed and overwhelmed with this feeling of not knowing what I am doing. I do not want my students to become frustrated when they are reading and writing; I want them to enjoy it and be excited about it. Therefore, when I become a teacher, I especially want to practice Cambourne’s condition of demonstration by having a whole group lesson in order to formally demonstrate for my students. This can be done while the students are at their desks, but I believe having this process done in a carpet area reminds students that what I, the teacher, am about to say is important to hear. Also, I believe in the saying, â€Å"monkey see, monkey do. † Therefore, I believe a teacher should always speak proper grammar, self-correct, and demonstrate reading strategies at all times in front of the children because they are going to mimic what they hear and see the most by the adults in their lives. After a demonstration is complete, I believe an expectation of what the students should know is built. Cambourne believes this condition of expectation is that the students â€Å"get the message†. I believe that if a teacher’s demonstration was done correctly, the students will know that information and the teacher can expect them to know it. Not only does expectation build, but I believe the responsibility the student has for knowing what him/herself can accomplish grows. This process of being responsible for their own learning, I believe, does not come naturally. I think the teacher must allow these students to take on these responsibilities themselves. For example, if a teacher never lets a student choose their own book, that student will never gain the responsibility of knowing what books are right for him or her or learn how to pick the right kind of book for him or her. Learners will choose what they will explore intellectually as they go through literate behaviors (Cambourne). Once students have become aware of the skills that are being demonstrated to them, I believe the next important step is allowing students time to practice what they have learned. Cambourne calls this condition employment. I am a strong believer in â€Å"practice makes perfect†. I understand that nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement. So maybe â€Å"practice provides improvement† is a better quote to go by. A learner will never become better at what they are learning if it is not practiced. With students practicing what they have learned, mistakes happen. This condition is what Cambourne calls approximation. I believe it is a good thing to let the learners make mistakes as they are exploring literacy because they will only learn from it! I know that when I become a teacher, I want to stress that making mistakes is okay and will benefit anyone because they will only learn from it. I could even purposely make mistakes in order to model self-correction as well. But learners will only understand their mistake when feedback is given in a timely fashion. Coming to Alverno, I have probably received the most feedback I ever have here compared to the rest of my educational career. I have come to firmly believe that feedback provides new knowledge for learners because it brings another perspective into their personal work. My feelings about feedback correspond with Cambourne’s condition called response. He believes this feedback should come from someone with more knowledge, such as a teacher. I want to make sure I conference with each of my students, individually, in order to look over what they have been working with and provide timely, appropriate feedback. I feel these conferences build a student’s confidence by being told what they are doing well, and they get to understand what kind of mistakes they are making in order to fix them and grow. After reading over Cambourne’s theory, there was nothing I could not agree with. I remember while I was reading it, all I could say was, â€Å"yes, yes, and yes! † I do have to say developing my philosophy about literacy learning was a challenge. I feel like I am still developing my philosophy, but I have a grasp on my basic beliefs for my future teaching career. I know what kind of teacher I would like to be and when reading Cambourne’s theory I could picture myself doing each condition and feeling proud by teaching literacy in such a way.