Thursday, October 31, 2019

Research paper on the secret society of the skulls Essay

Research paper on the secret society of the skulls - Essay Example that, the â€Å"Skull & Bones†, as it is more formally referred to, is a group of significant magnitude that, since the time of its creation, has left an indelible mark on different facets of the world around it. In light of this, the question becomes more about what impact(s) the group has had, rather than being about whether or not the group existed in the first place. Historically speaking, â€Å"The story of Skull and Bones begins in December of 1832. Upset (according to one account) by changes in the Phi Beta Kappa election process, a Yale senior named William Russell and a group of classmates decided to form the Eulogian Club as an American chapter of a German student organization. The club paid obeisance to Eulogia, the goddess of eloquence, who took her place in the pantheon upon the death of the orator Demosthenes, in 322 B.C., and who is said to have returned in a kind of Second Coming on the occasion of the societys inception. The Yale society fastened a picture of its symbol-- a skull and crossbones-- to the door of the chapel where it met. Today the number 322, recalling the date of Demosthenes death, appears on society stationery. The number has such mystical overtones that in 1967 a graduate student with no ties to Skull and Bones donated $322,000 to the society,† (Robbins, p.1). The financial contribution of its membership aft er graduation from Yale is something that is alluded to in the motion picture â€Å"The Skulls†, starring Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker. Having these men provide a portion of their estates to the greater trust fund of the society is something that has long been done by members since the beginning. With many college organizations offering membership to students who have a desire to become a part of something, the Skulls offer a particularly unique opportunity to those who are accepted as part of their fold. Before entrance into any group, it is commonplace for there to be an induction ceremony, so that the present

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Annotated Bibliography

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Annotated Bibliography Example in-reuptake inhibitors on (OCD) are adequate to deduce that a serotonin regulatory disorder is the most vital piece of the pathophysiology of OCD (2011). However, patients with OCD will require a high dosage of serotonin-reuptake inhibitor monotherapy. This may sometimes not be ample, and about half of patients are resistant to the treatment. The author states that previous studies indicate positive treatment reaction to dopaminergic antagonists. He infers that other neurotransmitter structures, like dopamine, are implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD. Evidence from Preclinical, neuroimaging and neurochemical researches demonstrates that the dopaminergic system is concerned in stirring up or infuriating indications pinpointing presence of OCD. The article reviews the dopaminergic system in OCD pathophysiology while reviewing the outcome of drugs that act on dopaminergic activity in OCD. Barrett PM, Farrell L, Pina AA, Peris TS, Piacentini J. (2008).Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. 237:131–155. In this article, the authors state that the development of fear habituation and disappearance are thought to be related to the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. This includes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The articles reports adjustments of auditory P50 suppression in human beings fear conditioning and extinction in fit control subjects. Furthermore, they report that P50 suppression in fear extinction is impaired in patients with OCD. The report explores investigations on the association between sensory gating and fear conditioning. Sensory gating mechanisms may be physiologically associated with fear conditioning, and OCD may involve abnormal sensory gating in fear extinction (Barret et al, 2008). Bloch, M. H., Williams, K and Pittenger, C. (2011). Glutamate abnormalities in obsessive

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Gattaca Film Synopsis and Analysis

Gattaca Film Synopsis and Analysis Gattaca is a film regarding not only the troubling implications of excessive gene therapy, but also how it could be used in a sort of dystopian society where your genetic profile divides you into different castes. This society is one in which enough money can buy you the ideal designer child not only free of genetic defects but also with superior physical attributes. The main character is one of the few people born without genetic tampering. He is not expected to live very long as he has a congenital heart defect, but he has a dream to become an astronaut, one which he can never attain. The sort of funny thing about this is that someone in his condition would be unable to become an astronaut today, not only due to his heart problems but also his myopia. Regardless he is subject to genetic discrimination, because he has these problems he is considered a low class citizen. Another character, named Jerome, is meant to have the best genetic profile ever created and is an all-star swimmer . Even though he has been designed to be the best, he only takes second in a swimming competition. This being too much to bear, of course, leads to him attempting suicide. He manages to only paralyze himself from the waist down. The main character Vincent is then able to buy his identity, by increasing his height, using contacts matching Jeromes eye color and also obtaining blood, urine and tissue samples to pass any genetic tests. Vincent is now an imposter, and although the legal ramifications would not be too extreme, if he was found out the social repercussions would be monumental. He is shirking all of the social mores set up by this society of genetic castes. He quickly obtains a job at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation through only a urine test, because his fake genes are so impressive. Vincent then proceeds to eventually achieve his goal of becoming an astronaut and leaves for Saturns moon, Titan. Jerome on the other had ends up committing suicide using an incinerator in his house, wearing his silver medal, as the rocket takes off. The irony of this whole movie is that Vincent who was seen as a second class citizen due to his genetic makeup was able to achieve his dreams through sheer determination and force of will. But, Jerome who had been groomed to be almost some sort of ubermensch, failed, despite his genetics. The thing that makes this movie really interesting and applicable today is that some of these genetic screening processes already exist today. And it doesnt seem entirely unfeasible that most if not all of these genetic therapy processes will be possible in the next ten to twenty years. Now I do not believe that our society will fall into the complete dystopia that was the case in the movie, but at the same time most people today are so vain that they would probably dump some money into genetically purifying their children. So although we may not fall into an absolute caste system based on genetics, certain parts of genetic screening could be applied to facets of our everyday lives that may have slightly malicious consequences. Imagine having to go through a genetic screening in order to apply for health insurance. If you had markers for too many genetic defects the insurance company may see you as an unnecessary risk and reject you. In which case how could you be expected to pay for all of your own medical expenses. If there is any blame to be assigned to anyone for the state of the society in the film, it is to the citizens in that society who allowed things to get so out of hand. I could see the government running propaganda campaigns attempting to make the genetic purity of the nation the way to a better tomorrow. But, the way that everyone would have had to have bought this idea and allow the government and the corporations to run away with such a concept is insane. Its not entirely unheard of though, in Nazi Germany genetic purity of the Arian race was paramount among everyone and the one extreme that the movie did not go to was that instead of just being discriminated against people who were seen with inferior genes were executed. Gattaca basically demonstrates a soft version of eugenics. Even though you are seen as having defective genes, you are still allowed to live, just not to the extent that the more genetically superior people are. I suppose that a lot of blame could be put on whoev er the insane person that was put into power who was trying to push these ideals, but then again in a republic the blame falls back on the people. The general message of Gattaca is that its not so much what your born into but how much youre willing to strive to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. So if policies like these do come into place hopefully people would see this as a cautionary tale. Like I said earlier, were probably not too far off from being able to completely genetically engineer a child, the strange thing about having a genetically engineered child is that, at that point is it even your child? Like sure you care for it and birthed it but, it carries none of your genes. It leads to a perversion of the prime directive of life, to carry on ones own genes. The other takeaway from the movie is that while genetic screening is not in and of itself evil, and is actually a major medical advancement that can lead to much healthier lives for people. But when taken in a direction such as it was taken in the film it can lead to discrimination and prejudice based off of things that are out of anyones control. As a cautionary tale Gattaca does evoke some ideas for what could be done to prevent such things from happening. It should be insured that all genetic screening information remain private, only between the medical professionals and the patients. Im pretty sure that there are laws already in place to prevent genetic information from becoming public. The popular genetic screening service 23andme used to give out medical information from genetic samples, including markers and health risk factors to people who requested screenings. This is no longer done, because it could involve a serious breach in confidentiality in addition to possibly unnecessarily scaring people into thinking they had something seriously wrong with them. Medical genetic screenings should only ever be done by medical personnel with the express purpose of helping the patient. Screening to see if your child is going to be the next Usain Bolt is not only not what the purpose of these screenings is or should be, but also is just unethical because of the standards that that child would be held to in life. Much like Jerome, who was meant to become the best and most athletic swimmer but only took second in the competition. Where normally second place is still an incredible achievement, in this scenario where the person is meant to be the best, second is seen as a failure. Gattaca is a story set not far into the future, and pretty soon it will be set in the present. Genetic screenings, while having their place in medicine can also be very volatile if their usage expands beyond that. Using genetic screening to get ahead of the ball, so to speak, on medical issues is a very valuable asset to doctors and patients alike. However, using someones genetics as a way to screen for a job or healthcare benefits or in any other fashion that impacts where their place is in society is not only scary but exceptionally unethical.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Cold War Book Review Essay -- essays research papers

Political and economic perspectives should not dominate the analysis of communist rule. Analysis of the social aspects and results of communist rule are necessary to achieve a full understanding of the effects of such government. Slavenka Drakulic produced How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed, an appealing work with this fresh social approach. This nonfiction work combines the author’s own recollections with the stories of other women of the Eastern Bloc. Drakulic, a renowned journalist and writer, utilizes her keen eye for detail and truth in this quest that shows how communism has devastating effects on the common citizen. She provides insight into the conditions of life for women within a communist system. Several points of view from those living under such a regime are documented in this collection of 19 essays. The author highlights the unimportant aspects of life and how they are important as symbols of recurring injustice under this communist regime in Eastern Europe. Her travels to Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and East Germany result in adequate research of several personalities and experiences. This extensive research abroad, coupled with Drakulic’s own background experiences, provides a solid groundwork for the author’s thesis. However, any amount of research cannot surmount to the experiences Drakulic faced growing up with the lifestyle that comes with communist rule. If she is discussing the perils of doing lau...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

If I Were President Essay

If I were president, I would focus on the central issue that will carry this country into the future: education. Education is the reason we are living in such an advanced time. We have touch screen, motion activated, voice command, and all these amazing things and all we have to thank is education. It has been our roots and rocks for years, and should be for many more to reach our high point. Education, although a long-term investment, will benefit this nation better than bailouts, mandatory health care coverage for children, investment in new energy sources, or the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Although it appears that there are more important, situations that the United States is facing now, the fact is that with an increase in education comes a decrease in these problems in the future. Without education, society will never understand the effects of drugs, the difference between religions, the importance of financial security for emergencies, the requirement for energy independence, or the need for health insurance. Education gives Americans higher wages, job flexibility and security, and growth in American ingenuity; however, education also gives one piece for prosperity that neither a government handout or an energy efficient car can bring, hope. One learns that with education come endless opportunities in all aspects. Throughout the world, education has brought hope for people. A chance for education brought hope to the young Afghan girl who finally learned to read. Education is one of few things that people can carry with them all their lives. Often times, what we learn in school, sticks with us for a long time to come. The need for Education can never be stressed enough! I believe that the more we are able to get children interested in getting their full education earlier in life, more people would be more successful. If we could have strongly educated teachers reaching out to kids and leading them down the path to the right education, I believe more of America would be successful. Had it not been for education, where do you think we’d be today? No phone, no internet, no electricity, no anything. We would live in a completely dead place. We would still be using men to carry stone, math to line pyramids up with the stars, leaves as clothes, and stick and stones to fight wars. I would stress education as much as possible because clearly, it was our past, it’s our present, and it will be out future!

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Analysis Dangerous Corner

Theater is one of the best means of art and entertainment, which brings cultural enrichment. It uses live performers on stage to express different plays. From the times of its appearance theater has changed a lot. There were especially many transformations in modern times. The only genres seen in the theater of ancient times were tragedy and comedy, whereas nowadays there are lots of contemporary genres and styles. Even the types of theaters vary from classical to musical lines.People have always liked visiting theaters for relaxing, entertaining and just having a good time. Our country has lots of theaters to offer to its citizens. Everyone can find something suitable for their tastes. People who like dramas go to drama theatres, those who like musical plays can visit opera theaters, so there is always a choice where to go. The theater can be divided into two parts: one is the stage where actors perform their roles, the other is the hall where spectators sit. The hall and the stage are separated by a curtain and orchestra.Besides, every theater has a cloak-room and a restaurant. Theatres may vary a lot in sizes. Some can host only 50 people, and some are meant for thousands of spectators. For example, the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow can host about 2150 people. The other huge and world-famous theaters are Metropolitan Opera and Broadway Theater in New York, Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Theater La Scala in Italy, Covent Garden in London and several others.Richard Cumberland (19 February 1732 – 7 May 1811) was an English dramatist and civil servant. In 1771 his hit play The West Indian was first staged. During the American War of Independence he acted as a secret negotiator with Spain in an effort to secure a peace agreement between the two nations. He also edited a short-lived critical journal called The London Review (1809). His plays are often remembered for their sympathetic depiction of colonial characters and others generally considered to be margins of society. Calypso (1779)The Natural Son (1785), in which Major O'Flaherty who had already figured in The West-Indian, makes his reappearance The Country Attorney (1787) The Impostors (1789), a comedy of intrigue The School for Widows (1789) The Box-Lobby Challenge (1794), a protracted farce The Jew (1794), a drama, highly effective when the great German actor Theodor Dà ¶ring played â€Å"Sheva† The Wheel of Fortune (1795), in which John Philip Kemble found a celebrated part in the misanthropist Penruddock, who cannot forget but learns to forgive (a character declared by August von Kotzebue to have been stolen from his MenschenhBen Jonson (Benjamin Jonson /ˈdÊ’É’nsÉ™n/; c. 11 June 1572 – 6 August 1637) was a playwright, poet, and literary critic of the seventeenth century, whose artistry exerted a lasting impact upon English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours. He is best known for thesatirical plays Every Man in His Humour (159 8), Volpone, or The Foxe (1605), The Alchemist (1610), and Bartholomew Fayre: A Comedy (1614), and for his lyric poetry; he is generally regarded as the second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare, during the reign of James I.[1]The literary artist Ben Jonson was a classically-educated, well-read, and cultured man of the English Renaissance with an appetite for controversy (personal and political, artistic and intellectual) whose cultural influence was of unparalleled breadth upon the playwrights and the poets of theJacobean era (1603–1625) and of the Caroline era (1625–1642).[2][3] Plays[edit]A Tale of a Tub, comedy (c. 1596 revised? performed 1633; printed 1640) The Isle of Dogs, comedy (1597, with Thomas Nashe; lost) The Case is Altered, comedy (c. 1597–98; printed 1609), with Henry Porter and Anthony Munday? Every Man in His Humour, comedy (performed 1598; printed 1601) Every Man out of His Humour, comedy ( performed 1599; printed 1600 ) Cynthia's Revels (performed 1600; printed 1601)The Poetaster, comedy (performed 1601; printed 1602) Sejanus His Fall, tragedy (performed 1603; printed 1605) Eastward Ho, comedy (performed and printed 1605), a collaboration with John Marston and George Chapman Volpone, comedy (c. 1605–06; printed 1607) Epicoene, or the Silent Woman, comedy (performed 1609; printed 1616) The Alchemist, comedy (performed 1610; printed 1612) Catiline His Conspiracy, tragedy (performed and printed 1611) Bartholomew Fair, comedy (performed 31 October 1614; printed 1631) The Devil is an Ass, comedy (performed 1616; printed 1631) The Staple of News, comedy (performed Feb. 1626; printed 1631) The New Inn, or The Light Heart, comedy (licensed 19 January 1629; printed 1631) The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled, comedy (licensed 12 October 1632; printed 1641) The Sad Shepherd, pastoral (c. 1637, printed 1641), unfinished Mortimer his Fall, history (printed 1641), a fragmentAdolphe Philippe d'Ennery or Dennery (17 June 1811 – 25 January 1899) was a French Jewish dramatist and novelist. Contents [hide] 1 Biography 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksBiography Born in Paris, his real surname was Philippe. He obtained his first success in collaboration with Charles Desnoyer in Émile, ou le fils d'un pair de France (1831), a drama which was the first of a series of some two hundred pieces written alone or in collaboration with other dramatists. He died in Paris in 1899. Works[edit]Among the best of his works are Gaspard Hauser (1838) with Anicet Bourgeois; Les Bohà ©miens de Paris (1842) with Eugà ¨ne Grange; with Mallian, Marie-Jeanne, ou la femme du peuple (1845), in which Madame Dorval obtained a great success; La Case d'Oncle Tom (1853); and Les Deux Orphelines (1875), perhaps his best piece, with Eugà ¨ne Cormon. The story was adapted in 1921 by D.W. Griffith as the film Orphans of the Storm.He wrote the libretto for Gounod's Le tribut de Zamora (1881); with Lou is Gallet and Édouard Blau he composed the libretto to Massenet's Le Cid (1885); and, again in collaboration with Cormon, the librettos of Auber's operas, Le premier jour de bonheur (1868) and Reved'amour (1869). Other opera librettos include La rose de Terone (1840), Si j'à ©tais roi (1852), Le muletier de Tolà ¨de(1854) (on which Michael Balfe's The Rose of Castille (1857) was based), and À Clichy (1854) by Adolphe Adam, Massenet's early Don Cà ©sar de Bazan (1872) and Hervà ©'s La nuit aux soufflets(1884) He prepared for the stage Balzac's posthumous comedy Mercadet ou le faiseur, presented at the Thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre du Gymnase Marie Bell in 1851. Reversing the usual order of procedure, d'Ennery adapted some of his plays to the form of novels. Etan Cohen (born March 14, 1974) is an American screenwriter.Contents1 Life and career 2 Filmography 3 References 4 External linksLife and careerBorn in Israel to an Orthodox Jewish family,[1][2] Cohen grew up in Efrat and Sharon, Mas sachusetts. He graduated from the Maimonides School and Harvard College, where he wrote for theHarvard Lampoon. His first produced scripts, in 1995 and 1997, were for Beavis and Butthead, where he was credited as Ethan Cohen.[3] He has since written for other Mike Judge-directed projects, including King of the Hill from 2001 to 2005, and for the feature film Idiocracy in 2006. In the late 1990s he worked on two other television series – the animated Recess and the short lived It's Like You Know.After scripting Idiocracy he worked on the hit animated series, American Dad and wrote the episode, â€Å"Failure Is Not a Factory-Installed Option†. The American Dad minor character of the same name is named for him. In 2008, Cohen cowrote, along with Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux, the action-comedy film Tropic Thunder. He also wrote Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Columbia Pictures hired Etan Cohen to pen the script for Men in Black 3. Other projects he is currently writing incl ude feature films, Candy Land, The Fiance and Project A. On July 10, 2012 it was announced that Cohen is currently writing the script for Ghostbusters3.FilmographyBeavis and Butt-head (1995–1997) Recess (1999) It's Like, You Know (1999) King of the Hill (2001–2005) Idiocracy (2006) American Dad (2006) My Wife Is Retarded (2007) (also directed) Tropic Thunder (2008) Harvey Richards (2008) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) Men in Black 3 (2012)TravellingAlmost all people are fond of travelling. It is very interesting to see new places, another towns and countries. People may travel either for pleasure or on business. There are various means of travelling. For me there is nothing like travel by air; it is more comfortable, more convenient and, of course, far quicker than any other means. There is none of the dust and dirt of a railway or car journey, none of the trouble of changing from train to steamer and then to another train. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined.From the comfortable seat of a railway carriage you have a splendid view of the whole countryside. If you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining-car; and if a journey is a long one you can have a wonderful bed in a sleeper. Travelling by ship is also very popular now. It is very pleasant to feel the deck of the ship under the feet, to see the rise and fall of the waves, to feel the fresh sea wind blowing in the face and hear the cry of the seagulls. Many people like to travel by car. It is interesting too, because you can see many sights in a short time, you can stop when and where you like, you do not have to buy tickets or carry your suitcases. A very popular means of travelling is hiking. It is travelling on foot. Walking tours are very interesting. Hitch-hiking is a very popular method of travelling among young people. But it is not as popular in our country as abroad.TravellingModern life is impossible without travelling. Thousands of people travel ever y day either on business or for pleasure. They can travel by air, by rail, by sea or by road. Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too. Travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.Travelling by sea is very popular. Large ships and small river boats can visit foreign countries and differentplaces of interest within their own country. As for me, I prefer travelling by car. I think it’s very convenient. You needn’t reserve tour tickets. You needn’t carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish, and spend at any place as much t ime as you like. Every year my friend and I go somewhere to the South for holidays. The Black Sea is one of the most wonderful places which attracts holiday-makers all over the world.There are many rest-homes, sanatoriums and tourist camps there. But it is also possible to rent a room or a furnished house for a couple of weeks there. Sometimes, we can place ourselves in a tent on the sea shore enjoying fresh air and the sun all day long. As a rule, I make new friends there. In the day-time we play volleyball, tennis, swim in the warm water of the sea and sunbathe In the evening I like to sit on the beach watching the sea and enjoying the sunset. I’m fond of mountaineering. So I do a lot of climbing together with my friends. Time passes quickly and soon we have to make our way back. We return home sunburnt and full of impressions.Travelling People on our planet can't live without travelling now. Tourism has become a highly developed business. There are express trains, cars and jet-air liners all of that provide you with comfort and security. What choice to make? It's up to you to decide. There is a great variety of choice available for you. Those who live in the country like going to a big city, visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like acquired holiday by the sea or in the mountains.Most travelers carry a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them — the sights of a city, old churches, castles, mountains,  lakes, waterfalls, forests, trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy times they have had. If you travel for pleasure you would like all means to enjoy picturesque areas you are passing through, you would like to see the places of interest in the cities, towns and countries.Travelling gives us a good opportunity to see wonderful monuments, cultural and historic al places, to learn a lot about the history of the country you visit, about the world around us, to meet people of different nationalities, to learn a lot about their traditions, customs, culture. In other words, you will broaden your mind. Nowadays people travel not only for pleasure but also on business. You have to go to other countries to take part in different negotiations, to sign contacts, to participate in different exhibitions, in order to push the goods produced by your firm or company Ð ¾ Travelling on business helps you to get more information about achievements of other companies » which will make your own business more successful.There are a lot of means of travelling: by sea, by plane, by car, on foot. Tastes differ. That is why it is up to you to decide which means of travelling you would prefer. All means of travelling have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans. No wonder that one of the latest means of travelling is t ravelling by plane. It combines both comfort and speed and you will reach the place of destination very quickly. Before boarding the plane you must check in at the airport. You are required to have your baggage weighed. Each passenger is allowed 20 kilograms of baggage free of charge. But if your baggage is heavier you must pay an extra charge. Before the plane takes off the stewardess gives you all the information about the flight, the speed and altitude.She asks you to fasten the belts and not to smoke. She will take care of you during the flight and will help you to get comfortable in your seat. Inside the cabins the air is always fresh and warm. During the flight you can take a nap or have a chat, you can read and relax. In some planes you can watch video or listen to the music. When the plane is landing or taking off you have an opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery and landscapes. While travelling by plane you fly past various villages and cities at the sight of which rea lize how majestic and tremendous our planet is. No doubt, travelling by air is the most convenient and comfortable means of travelling. But if you are airsick the flight may  seem not so nice to you. Unfortunately sometimes the flights are delayed because of unfavourable weather conditions, and one more inconvenience is jet-lag. Youth problemsYouth is a beautiful time. The faces of young people, the young souls and young love – everything is beautiful. We can describe all the amazing attractions of this only period in life, which is usually remembered during all lifetime, but many youngsters say that their life is followed by numerous troubles. Really, there is no life without problems, but we can’t make little account of youth problems. Unfortunately, most of the problems are connected with family relations. Moms and dads say that teenage rebels just growing up normal. Their parents said it, just as parents say it today. â€Å"Damn kids these days†. This phra se is the fad of the adults of all times.To my mind, each new generation of kids receives negative reviews because of two entwined social dynamics: surliness and rebellion in youth; fear and loathing by parents, whose youth has passed them by. It's called the generation gap, which pits the impertinence of youth against the attitudes of people over 30, who forget what a pain in the butt they were as kids. If you look at history, youth has always looked bad from the adult perspective. Sometimes it's because they don’t remember all the stupid, dangerous things they did as kids. Adults always tend to glorify their own past. It explains the reason why they often look down their noses at the next generations.Basically, what these critical adults are saying is, â€Å"why can't these kids be like us.† It is amazing, but every generation goes through this. I’m deeply convinced tat if some parents are ready to write off the next generation, they should remember how they b ehaved as young teenagers and recognize rebellion as a sign of growing up. But we should admit, there are some dangerous temptations of the youth and only parents can preserve their children from such social evil as alcohol, smoking and even early sex and killing oneself by using drugs. For example, the former Soviet Union admitted that it had over 200,000 drug addicts. Because of this the government opened several special hospitals for these addicts. There's a big anti-drugs campaign in the country's schools too. Usually drugs come from several places including Western Europe and Afghanistan.Also, some addicts use glue or steal medical drugs from hospitals. This problem is  closely connected with gang-violence. As well as gangs of punks, rockers and hippies, there are ultra conservative gangs, too. They want to stop â€Å"the dangerous† influence of teenage culture in our country. But actually they follow the ideas of nationalism and even fascism. One more acute problem fo r many young people is smoking. Millions of teenagers know it's bad for them, but they still do it. I think it is rather easy to withstand the influence of those who smoke. We should be simply strong enough to say â€Å"no†.Many people offer their way out. Some of them say that teenagers should not be let to the discos because of the danger of drugs; others say that young people should be given more money and more freedom, because everything that is forbidden astonishes. But in my opinion, one thing is clear: after decades of silence in the Soviet Union we face a lot of urgent problem, which should be solved as soon as it is possible. Youth ProblemsToday it is fashionable to speak about teenage broblems. A few years ago alcohol, fights, murders and other kinds of violence were more problems of adults rather than young people. But now, as official reports admit, violence, AIDS, drugs and alcohol are more and more associated with youngest. For many children from poor families v iolence, drinking problems and all that is associated with powerty becomes more and more real. The Government surveys show that every fifth teenager who was arrested for criminal actions, was younger that 14 and couldn't be sent to prison. Almost half of teenagers have an experience with drugs, alcohol and sex under age of 16.A lot of teenagers who have drug or alcohol addiction almost never believe that they are dependent. These things are often combined with family and school problems. What has gone wrong? Some specialists explain that the changes of our society, the system of our life force young people to choose their own lifestyle. On the one hand, our society agrees that 15-17-years old people are old enough to be responsible for what they do and gives them quite a lot of freedom and rights. On the other hand, most adults think that teenagers are too young to be taken seriously. This misunderstaning has produced many problems. Actually, a lot of teenagers say that their parent s let them do anything they want and are quite indifferent to their problems.Many teenagers get upset or depressed when they can't solve their problems. As a result, it makes them believe that there is only one way out – to stop  living and commit suicide. No doubt, the teens' problems will increase. And young people should feeel that they are cared about. Ð ¢Ã ¾Ã ¿Ã ¸Ã º Ð ¿Ã ¾ Ð °Ã ½Ã ³Ã »Ã ¸Ã ¹Ã' Ã ºÃ ¾Ã ¼Ã'Æ' ‘Problems of the youth' Youth is a very important period in the life of a human being. This is the time when a person discovers the world and tries to determine his place in the universe. Young people face a great deal of problems which are very important for them. They do not differ much from those that once their parents had to deal with. At the same time every generation is unique. The adults always say that young are not always what they were.Yong people of today don't directly accept the standards of their parents. They cannot accept the values of their â€Å"fathers†. It is one of the causes of the generation gap. The adults usually apply old standards to the new way of life. The majority of the young people don't want to live in the past. They have their own ideals. They want to make their own mistakes, rather, than to listen to the warning of their parents. Almost all parents don't understand their children. The next important problem concerns friendship. A person can and should have many friends. But at the same time there can be only one or two true friends. However, the young people always face the problem of getting on with people, especially, their class-mates. The problem of love is a key problem as well.There are a lot of different problems, which youth have to face. Relations between Ukraine and the European Union (EU) are currently shaped via the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), a foreign policy instrument of the EU designed for the countries it borders. The EU is seeking an increasingly clos e relationship with Ukraine, going beyond cooperation, to gradual economic integration and deepening of political cooperation.Ukraine is said to be a priority partner within the ENP.[1] In 2012, the EU signed deals on free trade and political association with Ukraine; however EU leaders have stated that these agreements will not be ratified unless Ukraine addresses concerns over a â€Å"stark deterioration of democracy and the rule of law†, including the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenkoand Yuriy Lutsenko in 2011 and 2012.[2][3][4][nb 1] On 25 February 2013, the EU set a three-month deadline for Ukraine to carry out the required changes to its justice and electoral systems in order to enable the formal signing of their agreements with the EU in Vilnius on 29 November 2013.Though Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych urged the parliament to adopt laws so that Ukraine would meet the  EU's criteria,[7][8][nb 2] all six motions on allowing Tymoshenko to receive medical treatment abroad were rejected by Ukraine's Parliament on 21 November 2013 and the same day a Ukrainian government decree suspended preparations for signing the association agreement, endangering the formal signing scheduled for a week later.[10][11] However, the same day Yanukovych stated â€Å"an alternative for European integration does not exist†.President Yanukovych still attended the 28–29 November 2013 EU summit in Vilnius, where the Association Agreement was originally planned to be signed, but the agreement was not signed. However, on 29 November 2013 President of the European Commission Josà © Manuel Barroso reiterated that EU's offer to Ukraine in terms of signing an Association Agreement remained on the table. The decision to put off signing the association agreement lead to massive, ongoing protests in Ukraine. Youth Organizations in Great BritainYouth and youth movement have become important factors in the life of the country. Numerous youth organizations have be en formed since the Second World War, uniting young people from all classes and sections of the population. There are about 60 youth organizations in Great Britain. Youth Council, which represents the youth of the country both nationally and internationally. All youth organizations can be divided into three large groups:1. non-political organizations; 2. youth organizations associated with political parties; 3. youth organizations controlled by religious bodies.The two largest non-political youth organizations are the associations of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. There are about 1300000 boys and girls in them. The membership is voluntary. The Scout Association was formed in 1908 by General Baden Powell. His idea was to train boys in mapping, signaling, knotting, first aid and all the skills that would arise from camping and outdoor activities. Most important of all for a Scout was to make a promise that he would do his best to do his duty to. God and the Queen, to help other p eople and to obey the Scout Law. The Boy Scouts had a left-handed handshake, a special badge and the motto â€Å"Be Prepared†.The Scout Law embraces â€Å"honour, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift and cleanliness in thought  and deed. The Scout movement was intended for boys from 11 to 14 (15), but in 1916 Baden Powell introduced a programme for younger people. He called them Wolf Cubs. They had special uniforms, badges, a special training system and the motto â€Å"Do your best!†. The Wolf Cub pack is based on Kipling's â€Å"Jungle Book† about learning to survive. The Girl Guides Association was founded by Baden Pawell in 1910. It's divided into three sections: Brownies (from 7.5 to 11), Guides (from 11 to 16), Rangers (from 16 to 21). The programme of training is planned to develop intelligence and practical skills including cookery, needlework, childcare.Like a Scout a Girl Guide must be a friend to animals. The Girl Guides Association has extensive interna tional links. There are some other non-political organizations: the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, the Woodcraft Folk, the Youth Hostels Association, the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Greenpeace. Youth Organization Greenpeace deals with most urgent ecological problems. It protests against nuclear weapon tests, sea and soil pollution, etc. Sport clubs are characteristic youth organizations in the UK. They unite people who are interested in baseball, football, golf, etc.There also exist interest clubs. You can attend any club: From theatre to bird-watching clubs. By the way, birdwatching clubs are very popular in Great Britain. There are several youth organizations associated with political parties. The Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (YCND) unites young people and organizes mass rallies and meetings, demonstrations, marches of protest, festivals. It co-operates with the National Union of Students. Religious young organizations and groups aim at helping to elderly people or working in hospitals.There are even groups where young people help released prisoners to start then life a-new. Religious organizations pay attention not only to the study of religious views but involve youth into such activities as music festivals and amateur theatre. As you see, all there organizations aim at preserving and strengthening the social and political system existing in the country. Many of them have done and still are doing useful work in providing leisure facilities for young English people.YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN GREAT BRITAINThere are numerous different youth organisations in Great Britain. Some are large and some are small, some nation-wide and some local. Probably the  largest are the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides Associations, and the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) and the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association), or simply â€Å"Y† for short. The Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides are for school-age teen-agers and the YMCA and the YWCA are for school leavers, college students, and young people who had already started working.Boy Scouts and Girl Guides have to do one good deed every day, to develop themselves mentally and physically. In summer they go camping in tents with everything done by young people themselves. At the YMCA and the YWCA more attention is paid to sport and different social events, such as outing in the country, dances, debates, amateur activities, etc.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Promoting Your Books With Pinterest

Promoting Your Books With Pinterest Pinterest, a social media site, initially was popular among crafters, homemakers and Do-It-Yourselfers. Its becoming a popular destination as authors search for additional marketing possibilities. Pinterest can drive traffic to an authors blog or website, increase reader awareness and generate book sales. PINTEREST Pinterest is a free site (www.pinterest.com) where users set up boards and pin things they like to their boards. Think having a wall full of   bulletin boards. Create as many boards as you desire – one or hundreds. Name them – Books to read, Gardens, Fun to wear, etc. If you see a post on the main page that you like, click the heart on the upper right. If you want to save it, click pin it on the upper left. A box opens up where you choose which board to pin it to. Follow people. For instance, type chopeclark in the search box and youll find Hopes Pinterest page. On the upper right, click follow. Its that easy. Dont forget add your Pinterest link in your signature block, on your website and on your blog posts. WHY PINTEREST? Pinterest has over 100 million users. An estimated 70 percent of users pin/click through each month. Some authors have reported that Pinterest generated traffic surpassed Google+ and Twitter. TO PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS Set up a board for each book, or each series. Add a description about your book on each board. Include relevant keywords to show up in searches. Include links to your web site, blog, and sales page. (Descriptions are limited 500 characters. Bitly.com shortens those lengthy Amazon links.) Add pins that complement your book. Good visual images have the best chances of getting repined. They recommend having at least five pins on each board. Add pins that reflect the time period of your book, the area its set in, food or clothing of the era, recipes, etc. For instance, on my Trail Angel Mama – hiking board, I added pins about the Pacific Crest Trail, Wrightwood, California (story location), and links to useful hiking pages. When I publish a blog, I pin to my board, which directs Pinterest users back to my blog. When you start a new project, create a new board. Add pictures and information from your research. If the WIP name changes, edit the boards name. This helps promote your book prior to publication. Author Susan Wittig Albert has several series: China Bayles, Darling Dahlias and the Robin Paige Victorian mysteries that she co-writes with her husband, along with several stand-alone historical fiction books. Shes an active Pinterest user: 127 boards, 2,000 pins, and 3,000 followers. See her Pinterest page here. https://www.pinterest.com/susanwalbert/ Another Pinterest author is J.F. Penn. She has 31 boards: one for each book, and one titled My Books. She has a A Day in the Life of a Writer board sharing snippets of her life.https://www.pinterest.com/jfpenn/ TIPS Pin things specific to your target audience. Is it useful or entertaining? Hot Pinterest topics are: Food, fashion, fitness, beauty, dà ©cor, travel, crafts, children and pets. Share pins with valuable content: Blog posts, images, videos, essays, stories, character profiles. Be steady and consistent with your pinning to maximize your exposure. Better to briefly pin several times a week instead of binge pinning once a month. Pin at peak viewing times: late afternoons, early evenings and weekends. Pin your own unique pins along with repining others in your theme. READ MORE HERE: 56 Ways to Market Your Business on Pinterest, copyblogger.com/pinterest-marketing/ Your Writer Platform has a blog with usable tips and links detailing how to accomplish the recommended tasks. yourwriterplatform.com/use-pinterest-to-market-book-and-author-brand/

Monday, October 21, 2019

Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change Review

Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change Review Introduction Organizations require workers to connect them with the widening array of coworkers, consultants, and the shared knowledge bases. This connection is important during the process of change and/or when preparing for it. It is crucial to note that it is impossible to implement any change without clear and precise communication.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change Review specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, communication encourages the development of a shared teamwork vision to minimize competition between workers. It contributes towards the development of knowledge learning and sharing culture, which is an important aspect for change and organizational continuity. This paper critically reviews an article by Smith Ian titled Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change with a particular focus on the theme of communication. Article Summary In the articl e, Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change, Ian (2005) discusses different roles that people play within organizations during a change process. His main purpose entails examining the significance of being equipped to welcome change, the strategy that people can adopt to implement a change, and the criteria that can be deployed to evaluate the change (Ian, 2005). In its findings, the article considers the attainment of change and its sustainability incredibly important for any organization. However, the issue of the role of communicate comes in when Ian (2005) declares people the success factors or hindrances to effective change. They need to be prepared for the change to make it possible. How can organizations achieve change preparedness? Ian (2005) responds to this question by claiming that people’s readiness for change can be achieved through creating the earnestness or requirement of change in them and ensuring that they feel and appreciate its meaning. This process involves releasing the status quo and creating an expressive stirrup in people. The goal is to create dissatisfaction with the status quo so that people can begin looking for different ways of reducing such disappointment with the current situation or status. In this process, Ian (2005) reveals how the communication of change is incredibly important. Critical Review Irrespective of the change strategies that organization adopts, Ian (2005) posits that planting the seed of change in an organization requires the establishment of a shared vision. The shared vision may originate from one individual, probably a leader, an organization’s employee, or a group of employees. To ensure that all other people embrace the idea of change, its communication is important.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ian (2005) supports this line of argument by adding that thr ough active revelation of discrepancies that exist between the present situation and the envisioned state, it becomes possible to build motivation and the readiness for change. A potential criticism is that Ian (2005) does not provide information on how this end can be achieved. However, he counters this gap by reckoning, â€Å"communicating the change messages and ensuring participation and involvement† (Ian, 2005, p.410) are the key factors to ensuring that people develop the desire for change.  Consistent with Ian’s (2005) school of thought, communication links the plans that leaders develop to enhance the success of an organization and the actual implementation process. Developing working strategies requires ardent communication at all hierarchical structures of an organization. Communication is vital since the implementation of new strategies often involves change (Williams Seaman, 2001). Poor communication often results in the resistance to change, especially where the persons who work in an organization consider the change a threat to their jobs and personal excellence. For instance, while personnel at the administrative centers may be fighting for the standardization of products that an organization produces to ease the supply chain and logistics challenges, employees at the departmental levels may be opposed to such an endeavor. This gap reveals why Ian (2005) says that people are either success factors or great hindrances to the change process. Despite Ian’s (2005) substantive arguments on the necessity of communication during a change, he does not demonstrate it using a particular case on how communication can frustrate or enhance the change process. For example, Barrett (2006) says that inadequate communication at the intra-organizational levels may result in different perceptions of brands that are availed in the market. This miscommunication minimizes the opportunities for channeling all organizational energies to the prof itable brands. The emphasis on areas that are critical in pushing for the acceptance of brands in the market requires leaders to communicate effectively on the organization’s positioning and sales targets.  Ian (2005) does not also explain who is supposed to communicate the desired change in an organization. The change may involve a modification of workers’ attitude or the alteration of work processes in the effort to support an organization’s competitive advantage (Williams Seaman, 2001). Effective leadership entails the communication of success strategies that touch on business objectives and goals (Barrett, 2006). Such communication should feature terms that employees can understand easily.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change Review specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In response, employees feel engaged and valued. Hence, they work collecti vely towards driving organizational success. In fact, many communication programs fail when they do not address precisely what employees, who are also the change implementers, need to know and/or do to enhance excellent organizational performance. Conclusion Ian (2005) should have considered leaders the communicators of the vision to the employees. Leaders who are capable of leading through change acknowledge the fact that communication can help to deliver tangible products. Issues such as improving consumer satisfaction, enhancing service delivery, and/or enhancing employee retention are all dependent on effective communication that the article addresses. Reference List Barrett, J. (2006). Leadership Communication. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Ian, S. (2005). Achieving Readiness for Organizational Change. Library Management, 26(6/7), 408-412. Williams, J., Seaman, E. (2001). Predicting change in management accounting systems: National culture and industry effects. Accounting, Organi zations and Society, 26(5), 443−460.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Cartilaginous Fish - Chondrichthyes - Profile

Cartilaginous Fish - Chondrichthyes - Profile Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes) are a group of vertebrates that includes sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras. Members of this group include the largest and most formidable marine predators alive today such as the great white shark and the tiger shark as well as large filter feeders such as the manta ray, whale shark and basking shark. Cartilaginous fishes have a skeleton that consists  of cartilage (in contrast to their cousins the bony fish, whose skeletons are made up of true bone). Cartilage is both tough and flexible and it  provides sufficient  structural support to enable cartilaginous fishes to grow to considerable size. The largest living cartilaginous fish is the  whale shark  (about 30 feet long and 10 tons). The largest known cartilaginous fish ever to have lived is  Megalodon  (about 70 feet long and 50-100 tons). Other large cartilaginous fish include the manta ray (about 30 feet long) and the basking shark (about 40 feet long and 19 tons). Small cartilaginous fishes include the short-nose electric ray (about 4 inches long and weighs 1 pound), the starry skate (about 30 inches long), the pale catshark (about 8 inches long) and the dwarf lantern shark (about 7 inches long). Cartilaginous fishes is that they have jaws, paired fins, paired nostrils and a two-chambered heart. They also  have tough skin that is covered with small  tooth-like scales called denticles. Denticles are similar to teeth in many ways. The core of a denticle consists of a  pulp cavity that receives blood flow for nourishment. The pulp cavity is capped with a cone-shaped layer of dentine. The denticle sits on top of a basal plate which overlies the dermis. Each denticle is covered with an enamel-like substance. Most cartilaginous fishes live in marine habitats all their lives, but a few species of sharks and rays live in freshwater during all or part of their lives. Cartilaginous fishes are carnivorous and most species feed on live prey. There are some species that feed on the remains of dead animals and still others that are filter feeders. Cartilaginous fishes first appear in the fossil record about 420 million years ago during the Devonian Period.  The earliest known cartilaginous fishes were ancient sharks that were descended from bony-skeleton placoderms. These primitive sharks are older than the dinosaurs. They swam in the world’s oceans 420 million years ago, 200 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared on land. Fossil evidence for sharks is plentiful but consists mostly of tiny remnants of the former fish- teeth, scales, fin spines, bits of calcified vertebra, fragments of cranium. Extensive skeletal remains of sharks are missing- cartilage does not fossilize like true bone. By piecing together the shark remains that do exist, scientists have uncovered a diverse and deep ancestry. Sharks of the past include ancient creatures such as Cladoselache and Ctenacanths. These early sharks were followed by Stethacanthus and Falcatus, creatures that lived during the Carboniferous Period, in a window of time referred to as the â€Å"Golden Age of Sharks†, when shark diversity blossomed to include 45 families. During the Jurassic Period, there was Hybodus, Mcmurdodus, Paleospinax and eventually the Neoselachians. The Jurassic Period also saw the emergence of the first batoids: the skates and rays. Later came the filter feeding sharks and rays, the hammerhead sharks, and the lamnoid sharks (great white shark, megamouth shark, basking shark, sandtiger, and others). Classification Cartilaginous fishes are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Cartilaginous Fishes Cartilaginous fishes are divided into the following basic groups: Sharks, rays, and skates (Elasmobranchii) - There are about 800 species of sharks, rays, and skates alive today. Members of this group are known as elasmobranchs.Chimaeras (Chimaeriformes) - There are about 50 species of chimaeras alive today. Members of this group are also known as ghost sharks, spooksharks, or rabbit fish.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Rise of E-Business in the Music Industry (I like this topic Term Paper

The Rise of E-Business in the Music Industry (I like this topic because Im a Musician) - Term Paper Example Management information systems store and organize data such that useful analysis can be done on it for the betterment of the respective e-business company. 1. Introduction The advent of computers has caused an effect on almost every walk of life. The technological advancement has created many opportunities in numerous fields, ranging from medicine to education, travel to business. The field of business has seen revolutionary changes that have made it more structured and accessible. The invention of e-commerce or e-business has given the organizations an excellent opportunity to access millions of consumers on the web. SearchCIO.com, (2010) explained that e-business can be defined as the conduct of business by means of the incorporation of technology; it also refers to the buying or selling of products and services on the internet. E-business has made its place in a diverse range of areas for example, book stores, hotel booking, airline tickets, movies and music etc. E-business has no t only provided convenience to the consumer but it has also generated new avenues for the organizations to earn profits since it tends to reach a greater market segment than the conventional mode of business. 2. Overview The 20th century witnessed the evolution of different types of formats of music. The long playing (LP) record albums were famous and adapted by people for many years. A gramophone was needed to play the records. Then, the music lovers saw the advent of cassettes that could be played in comparatively smaller players. The size of the cassettes was smaller than the records therefore it was considered to be more manageable by the people. Cassettes became the main source of revenue for the music companies between the 1970s and 1990s. Later in 1990s, the invention of compact discs (CDs) improved the quality of music and became a new source of income for the music companies. The quality of sound improved with the invention of the CD therefore that technology started gainin g more fame than cassettes. The advent of the 21st century brought an unexpected change for the music business. It was a new music format that did not depend on any physical device like a cassette or CD- MP3. MP3 format could be saved in any computing device thereby changing conventional form of music to digital music. 3. Negative side of Digital Music The concept of digital music took a negative turn in 1999 when a young man named Shawn Fanning created the platform of ‘Napster’. According to Greenfeld, Taylor and Thigpen (2000); Napster was a file sharing platform that allowed the users to share files amongst each other on the internet. Instant messaging and search options were some of the features that allowed the users to find their desired music on the web. This platform gave the users an opportunity to listen to music without any expense. It is due to this reason that Napster became very famous and starting harming the music companies to a great extent. It was a ce ntralized platform which became the reason for its downfall. Olsen (2003) provided the information that Universal Music Group and EMI filed a suit against Napster for the illegal downloads that were allowed under the respective technology. The website was shutdown in the early years of the 21st century and stopped piracy of digital music. This was a big step for the music label companies as they were able to put a stop to a huge

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Human Population Explosion on a Finite Planet Essay

The Human Population Explosion on a Finite Planet - Essay Example The exponential growth of the world’s population is a fact that is undisputed by many scholars concerned with the ecological support the world can comfortably offer, which has created a growing concern about whether the world can eventually support future generations given that the population has shown no signs of declining (Hauser, 1979). Currently, the world’s population stands at more than 7 billion and it is expected to hit a higher record because the populations in the developing world are still growing at very high rates since people their people have not been exposed to family control methods that are, currently being used in the developed world. One of the reasons that have contributed to this is the lack of education that has led to higher levels of illiteracy. Therefore, it is, undoubtedly the world’s population would hit the expected 9 billion mark by 2050 (Meyer & Turner, 1992). Safety has become a major challenge today due to human encroachment on unsafe areas that have often led to the loss of life and property. For instance, human beings have encroached areas prone to floodplains and tsunamis, and this has caused a number of loss of lives whenever catastrophes have struck. Most of these areas, which were 30 years ago sparsely populated have now registered a high number of people due to human encroachment (Hauser, 1979). Moreover, because land has become a scarce resource people have now moved to occupy lands that were formerly being used for agriculture. All these has been attributed lar to population explosion, which has seen many people moving to urban areas due to rural-urban migration. This has reduced the population that was actively engaged in farming and thus leading to the food shortage in some parts of the world (Bouvier & Bertrand, 1999).

Military Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Military - Essay Example advanced capabilities, the need of an amphibious force has come under media scrutiny in the recent times because a full-fledged amphibious operation has not been conducted ever since the end of World War 2 (only small scale operations have been conducted). Additionally, the cost of maintaining an amphibious force is also very high (Mullen, 2008). However, the amphibious force provides some specific advantages to the military power, given the volatile relationship that the United States has with several nations across the globe. This study takes a look at some of the reasons because of which United States still needs the capability to conduct amphibious operations. Most of the operations that are conducted in the modern day are of a joint nature, where all the branches of the military collaborate to achieve the mission. In any joint operation, the presence of an amphibious force provides a certain edge (Forbes, 2012). For instance, because of the advancement in technology related to military aircrafts and artillery, most countries anticipate air-raids and ground operations and therefore, do not pay enough attention to protects it littoral area (area which is near to the shore of a water body). Such areas are often only protected by a small coast card and small navy units deployed in certain points. In such cases, an amphibious attack can prove to be successful because the hostile nation will not be able to defend the littoral region against the strong and powerful amphibious attack of the US military. Even if the littoral area is defended by the forces, the amphibious force has the capacity to respond in a rapid manner and this provides the military with a strong forward presence (Speller and Christopher, 2001). One of the main tactics of a joint operation is to disperse the forces so that the hostile military is not able to focus on one particular region and respond in a strong manner. In such a scenario, the amphibious force proves to be a strong point

Critically evaluate the PESTLE and SWOT tools and discuss when it Assignment

Critically evaluate the PESTLE and SWOT tools and discuss when it would be appropriate for a strategic HRBP to them. Support you - Assignment Example It will also discuss another relevant theory with regard to its application in HR field. PESTLE/PEST PESTLE/PEST analysis explores different external macro-environmental situations such as political, economical, social, and technological factors in which the firm operates (PEST analysis). In other words, the PEST analysis is an overall environmental scan so as to assess opportunities and threats in the external environment. PEST analysis is a widely adopted concept and it has large number of applications as listed below; Business planning: this tool gives accurate information to management regarding targets toward the development of new products. Marketing planning: it also improves marketing planning process by providing valuable elements in a situation analysis phase. SWOT is the acronym of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a globally accepted concept that explores internal organizational factors such as strengths and weaknesses and external environmental fac tors such as opportunities and threats of a project. The SWOT analysis provides beneficial information whether a firm’s resources and potentials fit with the competitive environment in which it operates (SWOT analysis). Main applications of this concept are discussed below Strengths such as patents, reputation, and strong brand name; and weaknesses like poor brand name and high cost structure can be identified. Arrival of new technologies and withdrawal of regulations are some of the opportunities to a business whereas trade barriers and introduction of substitute products are threats. SWOT analysis focuses on these issues also. In addition, there are a lot of advantages and disadvantages to both techniques. Firstly, both these methods are easy to understand and simple to operate. PEST tool is very effective for assessing external changes in the case of multinational companies. The SWOT analysis is suggestible to achieve organizational mission while PEST analysis brings a cle ar picture of business’ external environment. A SWOT analysis can be performed by anyone who has adequate information regarding the day to day operation of the business and the market; hence it is a cost effective method. At the same time, a PEST analysis develops strategic thinking and clearly points out the threats to a business. Similarly, PEST tool would assist the organization to avert future difficulties. Although the simplicity of SWOT analysis is beneficial for a firm to reduce related expenses, it also eliminates the possibility of a critical presentation. Since the SWOT analysis does not assess the degree of threats and opportunities, the results obtained from this method require further research in order to get a comprehensive picture. The rapid changing nature of society raises many difficulties to PEST analysis in anticipating future developments. According to Haughey, PEST analysis tends to rely on assumption and therefore, it would minimise the accuracy of outc omes. In the opinion of Rabin (1999), Organisational downsizing is a management strategy that aims to focus more on the business activities by reshaping the firm’s structure into a smaller size. By downsizing the organisation, the management can terminate employees with poor performance; and it is possible to maintain a group of potential workers. The SWOT and PEST analyses greatly contribute to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Customer satisfaction of fast food services in kuwait a survy study Essay - 1

Customer satisfaction of fast food services in kuwait a survy study - Essay Example Through the collaboration of Japanese scientists, engineers, governmental officials, and policy makers, along with the works of Deming and Juran, the Japanese developed a management philosophy that later entitled Total Quality Management (TQM) (Walton 1986; Powel 1995). In fact, the concept of quality has evolved from basic manufacturing and engineering-related activities to a philosophy that encompasses all organizational activities and processes. What today is defined as TQM has its origin in the ideas of quality gurus (Deming, Juran, Crosby, Feigenbaum, Ishikawa) whose primary goals were customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. Despite the number of articles and studies, TQM is an ambiguous concept (Dean & Bowen 1994). The differences between the various frameworks proposed by quality experts and scholars have contributed to the ambiguity of TQM definition, concepts, and constructs. Differences are due to the fact that different people have different understanding of the term â€Å"quality,† and, in that regard, the way they define quality may result in different constructs and models for TQM. This chapter presents a review of the total quality management and customer satisfaction literature. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a clear picture of total quality management, its components, and definition as well as overall customer satisfaction. The concept of TQM is explored within a global context and then expounded upon by offering operational definition as well as dealing with the subject within the context of customer satisfaction in the fast food industry. The concept of TQM has the same vagueness as the definition of â€Å"quality.† As Reed et al. (1996) indicated, there is no consensus on the definition for TQM. TQM definitions vary based on the approach taken towards quality. Flynn et al. (1994) defined TQM as: â€Å"An integrated approach to achieving and sustaining high quality output, focusing on the maintenance and

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Hinduism & Jainism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hinduism & Jainism - Essay Example In Jainism, no practices of food are offered to God or the divine. Consequently, Hindus give offerings of gift and materialistic needs for the divine. Rituals and traditions of sacrifices also differ in both religions. Since Hinduism is more focused on sacrifice, the focus of sacrificing animals is prevalent in Hinduism. In Jainism, this form of practice is refuted and discouraged. As mentioned above, the theory of salvation and afterlife is quite essential in both religions. While the Hindus believe that only God can truly achieve salvation, Jainism insists that humans are the only creation that can reach that level of state. Karma is another focal point that differentiates the two religions. Salvation is another crucial concept in which both religions tend to have differences. Hindus believe that Gods can only achieve salvation. However, the Jainas consider this privilege of human beings only. While Hindus regard Karma as an invisible power, Jainas think that it is something that c omes from â€Å"within.† Clearly, both religions share many similarities but also possess many

Customer satisfaction of fast food services in kuwait a survy study Essay - 1

Customer satisfaction of fast food services in kuwait a survy study - Essay Example Through the collaboration of Japanese scientists, engineers, governmental officials, and policy makers, along with the works of Deming and Juran, the Japanese developed a management philosophy that later entitled Total Quality Management (TQM) (Walton 1986; Powel 1995). In fact, the concept of quality has evolved from basic manufacturing and engineering-related activities to a philosophy that encompasses all organizational activities and processes. What today is defined as TQM has its origin in the ideas of quality gurus (Deming, Juran, Crosby, Feigenbaum, Ishikawa) whose primary goals were customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. Despite the number of articles and studies, TQM is an ambiguous concept (Dean & Bowen 1994). The differences between the various frameworks proposed by quality experts and scholars have contributed to the ambiguity of TQM definition, concepts, and constructs. Differences are due to the fact that different people have different understanding of the term â€Å"quality,† and, in that regard, the way they define quality may result in different constructs and models for TQM. This chapter presents a review of the total quality management and customer satisfaction literature. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a clear picture of total quality management, its components, and definition as well as overall customer satisfaction. The concept of TQM is explored within a global context and then expounded upon by offering operational definition as well as dealing with the subject within the context of customer satisfaction in the fast food industry. The concept of TQM has the same vagueness as the definition of â€Å"quality.† As Reed et al. (1996) indicated, there is no consensus on the definition for TQM. TQM definitions vary based on the approach taken towards quality. Flynn et al. (1994) defined TQM as: â€Å"An integrated approach to achieving and sustaining high quality output, focusing on the maintenance and

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Policy of Containment Essay Example for Free

Policy of Containment Essay Americans believe that if Franklin D. Roosevelt would have lived longer, that he would have been able to stem the tide of tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. His successor lacked greatly the Talent of FDR. The new president, who was more comfortable with machine politicians than with polished New Dealers, liked to talk tough and act defiantly. Truman complained that the U.S. Negotiations had been a one way street just ten days after he took office. He then vowed to not baby the Soviet no longer. A crisis in the Mediterranean prompted President Truman to show his colors. On February 21, 1947, amid a civil war in Greece, Great Britain informed the U.S. State Department that it could no longer afford to prop up the anti-Communist government there and announced its intention to withdraw all aid. Truman concluded, Greece, Turkey, and perhaps the entire oil-rich Middle East would fall under Soviet control, without U.S. Intervention. On March 12, 1947, the President made his argument before Congress in bold terms: At the present moment in world history, nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished be free institutionsand freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed on the majority And the suppression of personal freedoms. Never mentioning the Soviet Union by name, he appealed for all-out resistance to a certain ideology wherever it appeared in the world. The preservation of peace and the freedom of all Americans depended, the president insisted, on containing communism. Congress approved a $400 million appropriation in aid for Greece and Turkey, which helped the monarchy and right-wing military crush the rebel movement. Trumans victory buoyed his popularity for the upcoming 1948 election. It also helped to generate popular support for a campaign against communism, both at home and abroad. The significance of what became known as the Truman Doctrine far outlasted  the events in the Mediterranean: the United States had declared its right to intervene to save other nations from communism. As early as February 1946, foreign-policy adviser George F. Kennan had sent an 8,000-word long telegram to the State Department insisting that Soviet fanaticism made cooperation impossible. The USSR intended to extend its realm not by military means alone, he explained, but by subversion within free nations. The Truman Doctrine described the differences between the United States and the Soviet Union as absolute and irreconcilable, as an ideological breach that resonated far beyond foreign policy. It was now the responsibility of the United States, Truman insisted to safeguard the Free World by diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military means. He had, in sum, fused anti communism and internationalism into an aggressive foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine complemented the European Recovery Program, commonly known as the Marshall Plan. On June 5, 1947 the plan was introduced in a commencement speech at Harvard University by secretary of state and former army chief of staff George C. Marshall. The plan sought to reduce hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos and to restore the confidence of the European people in the economic future of their own countries and of Europe as a whole. Although Marshall added that our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine, the plan that bore his name additionally aimed to turn back both socialist and Communist electoral bids for power in northern and western Europe while promoting democracy through an economic renewal. The most successful postwar U.S. Diplomatic venture, the Marshall Plan supplemented the Bretton Woods agreements by further improving the climate for a viable capitalist economy, in western Europe and in effect bringing recipients of aid into a bilateral agreement with the United States. Western Europe nations, seventeen in all, ratified the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which reduced commercial barriers among member nations and opened all to U.S. Trade and investment. The plan was costly to Americans, in its initial year taking 12 percent of the federal budget, but effective. Industrial production in the European nations covered by the plan rose by  200 percent between 1947 and 1952. Although deflationary programs cut wages and increased unemployment, profits soared and the standard of living improved. Supplemented by a multimedia propaganda campaign, the Marshall Plan introduced many Europeans to American consumer goods and lifestyles. The Marshall Plan drove a deeper wedge between the United States and the Soviet Union. Stalin was invited to participate but he denounced the plan for what it was, an American scheme to rebuild Germany and to incorporate it into and anti-Soviet bloc that encompassed all western Europe. The president readily acknowledged that the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine were two halves of the same walnut. The policy of containment depended on the ability of the United States to back up its commitments through military means, and Truman invested his faith in the U.S. Monopoly of atomic weapons. The U.S began to build atomic stockpiles and to conduct tests on the Bikini Islands in the Pacific. By 1950, as a scientific adviser observed, the U.S. Has a stockpile capable of somewhat more than reproducing World War II in a single day. The U.S. Military analysts estimated it would take the Soviet Union three to ten years to produce an atomic bomb. In August 1949, the Soviet Union proved them wrong by testing its own atomic bomb. There is only one thing worse than one nation having the atomic bomb, Noble prize-winning scientist Harold C. Urey said, thats two nations having it. The United States and Soviet Union were now firmly locked into the Cold War. The nuclear arms race imperiled their futures, diverted their economies, and fostered fears of impending doom. Prospects for global peace had dissipated, and despite the Allied victory in World War II, the world had again divided into hostile camps.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Casa Bianchi | Switzerland Architecture

Casa Bianchi | Switzerland Architecture Located at the foot of the San Giorgio Mountain, in the Mendrisio district of Switzerland, Casa Bianchi (1971-3) at Riva San Vitale stands apart from the beautiful natural landscape of this fishing town. Occupying 220 square metres of an 850 square metre site, the concrete block tower resembles a fortress in its relative isolation above Lake Lagona; cold but yet familiar in its modern form. Built on a hillside, the main access to this family house is curiously through its top floor. This square vertically extruded building seems fortress-like in that it does not interact with its surroundings but rather observes them. However, a connection is established between hillside and home by an 18 metre long red metal bridge which provides the main access to the house; reinforcing its stronghold appearance. The bridge pierces the heart of the home through the fifth floor where a studio and a terrace are to be found. Private views are offered from both these spaces, together detaching the viewer from the world, and directly creating a rapport between the two. The feeling, when crossing the bridge towards the house, is of entering into the landscape, and ones eyes extend beyond to the church of Melano, at the other side of the lake.'[i] Mario Botta (b. Switzerland 1943) designed this house shortly after graduating for his close friends Carlo and Leontina Bianchi. This was Bottas second project for the couple; the first was the refurbishment of a flat in the village of Genestrerio, Switzerland. The brief for the residence at Riva San Vitale was similar in that a low budget home was required for a couple with two children. Botta himself strongly believed in a house being designed for its particular environment hence the distinctive appearance employed by the home. According to Arnardà ³ttir, Halldà ³ra and Sà ¡nchez Merina, Javier, the land along the small road where the Bianchi site ends had been suffering from haphazard development during the last century. Botta opposed the tendancy to treat architecture as a commodity and so it was his intention from the very beginning to propose a house that would mark the limit of the careless expansion of the village as means of protecting the woods. Due in part to his protest, shortly after the completion of the house, new regulations declared no further construction could be approved in the area and so, for this reason the tower house now stands alone in its protected landscape. The greatest influences on the work of Mario Botta came in the form the renowned brutalist architects Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, both of whom he briefly collaborated with in the sixties. Brutalism was a movement conceived from modernist architecture that thrived in the wake of World War II due to economically depressed states requiring low-cost construction and design. Characterisd by its stark, monolithic forms, brutalism comprised of unembellished exteriors and often block-like geometric forms. Undoubtedly the Bianchi house is a true example of brutalist architecture but Botta himself is most commonly referred to as a neo-rationalist architect, belonging to the Ticense school. Neo Rationalism was an Italian movement of great repute in 1960s and 1970s. Seeking to redefine architectural form through the rational mergence of its components, neo Rationalism dismissed the sentiment that technology is the only way forward in architecture. Instead they looked to the past and were inspired by the architectural forms that were once abundant. Botta looked to the Ticinese movement of which he was one of the foremost figures when designing the Riva San Vitale residence. The Ticinese school was comprised of a group of Swiss architects who promoted a greater appreciation for the significance of historical style, both socially and culturally. Roccolo houses, or bird hunting towers once typified the Ticino region and it is from these buildings that Botta took inspiration when designing the load bearing concrete brick tower house. These buildings were raised over the trees as traces of human marks Later, although many of them were destroyed, some were converted into weekend houses. It was precisely this combination of astonishing nature and basic construction which gave a special quality to the area.[ii] Bottas intentions in utilising this form were however very different ; The house stands at a respectful distance from the hillside, infringing upon the land only as much as is necessary. The vertical manner ensures the house does not lose importance when compared with the lofty mountains as its backdrop and by doing so answered his friends wishes of enjoying both the views of the lake above the trees and by having strong contact with the ground. Stevens Curl, James described Bottas buildings to have; clear, powerful geometries and display fine craftsmanship. For instance, the house at Riva San Vitale is monumental, and has deep and powerful voids in the elevations'[iii] The house is open plan and yet still private, organized around a mostly enclosed central open newel staircase and offers a selection of different views of the region from each living space. In turn, the stairs section off the house and so act as a divider, creating privacy. From the bridge, the floor to be found when descending the staircase is the private one of Carlo and Leontina themselves. Through being positioned thus, the couple are essentially the gatekeepers to their own home. So long as they are on their floor, no one can leave or enter through the front without their knowledge. Botta has created for them an intimate space comprising a bedroom, bathroom, dressing room and even a lake view balcony. The second floor of the home was designed for family living. The children have their own twin bedroom and bathroom and there is also a study which serves as a balcony, overlooking the kitchen-dining room. The duplex nature of the house allows for interaction between the different floors, making it more social, but there are still private quarters to be found on each level giving a range in atmosphere not only across the different floors, but in each room also. A dining room can also be found on the first floor and the basement consists of a laundry room, storage spaces and a garage which are clearly intended for family use only. Botta arranged the house so that the service areas occupy a similar vertical position with the bathrooms on the second and third floors and the laundry room in the basement. This way, plumbing the house would be more cost effective as certain pipes such as those for drainage would run through the building and it would also save space. The only part of the house to require a separate system would be the kitchen which occupies a different part of the first floor. It is in this part of the house that we assume Botta has considered his clients spacial requirements the priority. The basement consists of a laundry room, storage spaces and a garage which are clearly intended for family use only. The social centre of the house can be found on the first floor where there is a living room in addition to the kitchen -dining room. Guests to the house would be required to walk across the bridge and down into the public region of the house. Standing at the bottom of a slope, with such depths and fortification within the property, the Bianchi house feels like an upside down castle. The simple design and allows for as much light as possible to enter the home without compromising the privacy of the family. Increasing commercialization by those seen as having betrayed architecture, a return to academic theories propounded by Quatremà ¨re de Quincy and others was proposed. A good example of realized works is Grassis student residences, Chieti (1976), which drew on proposals by Weinbrenner (1808). Bibliography Surname, First Name (or initials if you do not know the first name). Date. Title (in italics). Place of publication: Publisher. Arnardà ³ttir, Halldà ³ra Sà ¡nchez Merina, Javier. 2005. A family house at Riva San Vitale by Mario Botta. Available from: http://storiesofhouses.blogspot.com/2005/07/family-house-at-riva-san-vitale-by.html (Accessed th October 2009) FDHA, Federal Department of Home Affairs. Mario Botta. 2009 Available from: http://www.bundesmuseen.ch/cdn/00127/00203/index.html?lang=en Stevens Curl, James. 2000. A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Safety and Long-term Effectiveness of the Atkins Diet :: Health Nutrition Diet Exercise Essays

Low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet, may not be the best choice for weight loss due to long-term ineffectiveness, potentially negative side effects and a lack of long-term research. Ever since the recent popularization of the Atkins diet researchers have been trying to prove Dr. Atkins’ claims and determine whether or not the diet is safe. The current body of research available on dieting supports a diet low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates with an emphasis on calorie reduction. Studies have also shown a strong link between diets high in fat and both increased cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease. The Atkins diet is the opposite of what has generally been recommended; it requires the reduction of carbohydrates to 5% or less of total calories leaving fat and protein to make up the rest. The high fat and low-carbohydrate content of this diet goes against most diet research, has potentially harmful side effects and there is insufficient e vidence to judge the long-term effectiveness of the Atkins diet. The long-term effectiveness can be determined by the ability of dieters to lose and maintain weight loss with few negative side effects. Weight maintenance is as important as weight loss to long-term health. One nutritionist said, â€Å"the American public needs to be told that diets are not followed for 8 days, 8 weeks, or 8 months, but rather form the basis of everyday food choices throughout their life† (Blackthorn). The Atkins diet may act more as a quick fix without really offering a long-term solution. Preliminary studies show that the Atkins diet is unable to maintain weight loss. While low-carbohydrate diets do initially cause weight loss, most dieters begin to regain weight after six months. One study showed that, after 12 months, dieters following the Atkins diet had regained over 30% of weight that they had lost in the first six months on the diet, dropping from 7% cumulative body weight loss at six months to 4.4% cumulative body weight loss at 12 months. This weight gain may in part be due to the difficulty dieters have in following the dietary recommendations, but if the Atkins diet cannot help dieters keep the weight off than it is no better than any other diet we have and the side effects may be worse.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea :: essays research papers

After decoding a scrap of paper he found in an old book, Professor Hardwigg decides to take a journey. A "Journey to the Center of the Earth" that the paper says is possible. Brushing aside the concerns of his nephew Harry about the temperature of the earth's interior, the professor makes Harry come with him on the journey. They gather the needed supplies and depart two days later for Mt. Sneffels in Iceland, the point through which they can gain access to the core of the earth. With the Icelander Hans as their guide, the party undertakes the rugged journey up to the mountain, stopping to rest along the way at the homes of Icelanders. Through these people, they learn much about the culture. Once they reach the mountain, the three descend into the crater and after several days figure out which of three shafts is the one through which they can make their journey. Aided by Hans' s knowledge of how to use ropes, they travel downward more than a mile during the first day. The Professor explains that they are now at sea level and he real journey is just beginning. At the bottom of the shaft, they come upon four crossed paths that they can follow and the Professor quickly chooses one. After several days of trekking in search of water, they must retrace their steps because the path dead-ends. Finally returning to the place of the four crossed paths, Harry collapses and thinks they will return to the surface. Although the Professor shows concern for Harry, he asks for one more day to find water before they abandon the journey. They select a different route and soon discover water. Days later they find a well-like shaft through which they descend to twenty-one miles below the surface of the earth. Continuing to descend rapidly, Harry goes ahead of the others and soon finds himself alone. In desperation he retraces his steps but becomes hopelessly lost. It is only after much suffering four days later that Harry is reunited with his uncle. As Harry is recovering he hears the sound of waves and thinks he sees light. In act, the three have arrived at what they name the Central Sea, a vast underground body of water. At this point, scientific wonders appear regularly. Exploring the area around the sea, the travelers find what looks like a forest but are actually forty-foot mushrooms.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Biology Class Xi Chapter Essay

The description of living organisms including human beings began much later in human history. Societies which indulged in anthropocentric view of biology could register limited progress in biological knowledge. Systematic and monumental description of life forms brought in, out of necessity, detailed systems of identification, nomenclature and classification. The biggest spin off of such studies was the recognition of the sharing of similarities among living organisms both horizontally and vertically. That all present day living organisms are related to each other and also to all organisms that ever lived on this earth, was a revelation which humbled man and led to cultural movements for conservation of biodiversity. In the following chapters of this unit, you will get a description, including classification, of animals and plants from a taxonomist’s perspective. Born on 5 July 1904, in Kempten, Germany, the Harvard University evolutionary biologist who has been called ‘The Darwin of the 20th century’, was one of the 100 greatest scientists of all time. Mayr joined Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 1953 and retired in 1975, assuming the title Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology Emeritus. Throughout his nearly 80-year career, his research spanned ornithology, taxonomy, zoogeography, evolution, systematics, and the history and philosophy of biology. He almost single-handedly made the origin of species diversity the central question of evolutionary biology that it is today. He also pioneered the currently accepted definition of a biological species.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Motivation as an Important Aspect of Human Resource Management

Motivation is a vital aspect in functioning of every organization. It refers to the forces that arouse enthusiasm and persistence to pursue a certain course of action for accomplishing organizational goals. Nowadays, there are numerous motivation theories that human resource managers use in order to encourage high work performance. Generally, there are two types of rewards in motivation.The first is intrinsic rewards, which is the satisfaction a person receives in the process of performing a particular action. For example, a person selling educational materials may get an intrinsic award of helping children read well. The other type of rewards is extrinsic, which are the rewards that are generally given by another person, typically a manager and include promotion and pay increases. For instance, some person that does not get pleasure from doing his/her job may be motivated by an extrinsic reward of high payment.Good human resource managers usually strive to help people achieve both e xtrinsic and intrinsic rewards, far as it has been proven that most talented and innovative employees are usually motivated not only by rewards such as benefits and money but also with the satisfaction from the work they do. To create an environment that is rich in opportunity, challenge and reward managers need to implement one of the manager’s theories. The three types of motivation theories include: content theories, process and reinforcement theories.Content theories usually stress the understanding of human needs and how they can be satisfied in the workplace. Thus, if a human resource manager realizes worker’s needs, the organization’s rewards system can be designed to meet them and reinforce employees for directing energies and priorities toward attainment of organizational goals. One of the content theories is the hierarchy of needs theory developed by Abraham Maslow. This theory suggests that people are motivated by five categories of needs- physiologic al, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization-that exist in a hierarchical order.Self-actualization which is on the top of the hierarchy may include: opportunities for training, advancement, growth and creativity. Esteem needs generate: recognition, high status and increased responsibilities. While, belongingness needs may comprise: work groups, clients, coworkers and supervisors. Safety needs include safe work, fringe benefits and job security. Finally, at the bottom of the hierarchy there are physiological needs which are heat, air and base salary. According to the theory low-order needs must be satisfied before higher-order needs are activated.The other content theory is ERG theory that resembles a modified Maslow’s theory. It identifies three categories of needs: 1. Existence needs- needs for physical well-being. 2. Relatedness needs- need for satisfactory relationships with others. 3. Growth needs- developing human potential and the desire for personal growth and increased competence. One psychologist suggested that nowadays the need to have fun at work needs to be added to this theory, far as it can relieve stress and enable people to feel that their personal lives are not totally separated from their work lives.There his also a two-factor content theory, created by Frederick Herzberg. After interviewing hundreds of workers he came to conclusion that two separate dimensions contribute to an employee’s behavior at work. The first are hygiene factors, which are factors that involve the presence or absence of job dissatisfiers such as working conditions, pay, company policies, and interpersonal relationships. The second set of factors is motivators, which include achievement, recognition, responsibility and opportunity for growth.Thus, on one hand providing hygiene factors will eliminate employee dissatisfaction, and on the other motivators will promote high satisfaction and performance. Process theories, unlike content theories fo cus more on determining how workers act to meet their needs and if those choices are successful. There are two basic process theories: equity theory and expectancy theory. Equity theory focuses on individual’s perceptions of how fairly they are treated relative to others. If people perceive their compensation as equal to what others receive for similar contributions they will believe that their treatment is fair and equitable.Equity is measured by ratio of outputs and inputs. Inputs include: education, experience, effort and ability, while the outputs generate pay, recognition, benefits and promotion. Thus, for example if some employee discovers that he/she is getting more money than people who contribute the same inputs to the company, he/she may feel the need to correct the inequity by working harder, getting more education or considering lower pay. Expectancy theory is a process theory that suggests that motivation depends on individual’s expectations about their ab ility to erform tasks and receive desired rewards. For instance, if the company creates an incentive program which would be used in areas such as distribution, where employees are recognized for accomplishment in safety, productivity and attendance it can appear rather effective. The other type of theories is reinforcement theory. It is a motivation theory based on the relationship between a given behavior and its consequences. For instance a company implementing a reinforcement theory may reward salespeople for the kinds of behaviors that keep sales and profits rising.If people in this company don’t perform, they don’t get paid. However, they can reap huge economic rewards for high performance. A good example of a country, where different companies use different motivation theories in their human resource management is Ukraine. Analyzing the variety of company’s in Ukraine it can be seen that most large company’s functioning on the territory of our count ry are either subsidiaries of foreign company’s or some multinational/transnational corporations.Surely, those companies placed in our country use mostly some content theories that provide workers with bonuses, opportunities for training, growth and team buildings, which can be some trips paid-for by the company, in order to create a sense of team in the company’s staff. An example of such companies would be Celenia, Kraft Foods, BMS Consulting, etc. Those companies, like many others of their kind use content theories that incorporate many useable tools for managers.As for local Ukrainian company’s that are based soly in Ukraine, they usually might offer some fringe benefits which is a good motivation tool. However, hrm managers in those companies rarely use the system of bonuses, increased payments, or some incentive programs. Mostly, the motivation is associated with fear of loosing the job or getting reduced payment if the organizational goals are not complet ed. It resembles a reinforcement theory of management, where employees are suggested a certain type of behavior and if they do or do not pursue it, certain consequences follow.There are companies that give their workers so-called â€Å"black balls† on every project they did not complete or that was not done on time and if the worker gets more than 5 balls he/she is out of the job. From my point of view, this type of motivation has a lot of shortcomings and it should be substituted by some content theory of management. Far as this type of human resource management, doesn't correspond to ethical norms of a democratic society. Thus, motivation is an important aspect in human resource management. Nowadays, human resource managers have an option of selecting out of numerous management theories.They include content, process and reinforcement theories. Content theories like hierarchy of needs theory or ERG theory focus on understanding and satisfying human needs at work. Process the ories on the other hand, focus on employee’s choices of action to accomplish company’s goals and determining if those choices are correct. While, reinforcement theory focuses on what consequences follow if the workers do or do not follow the given behavior. Choice of an appropriate motivation theory is a significant step to company’s success.