Advanced Management

There is no ambiguity in saying that advanced management is a plan, ploy, position, pattern and perspective as it balances internal progressions of organizations with external factors. The overall strategic management of organizations is indivisible from strategic management of relationships, usually the accountability of the public relations or communication department.Strategic management rivets taking decisions and actions that resolve long-term organizational performance. The process comprises strategy formulation, completion, appraisal, and control. It underlines monitoring and assessing environmentally generated opportunities and restraints in light of organizational strengths and weaknesses.Essentially, advanced management is a vehicle for giving forward-looking leadership concerning the most essential issues of concern to an organization and its surroundings in a very determined, efficient, and valuable manner.At the heart of the progression is â€Å"the communal management of a strategic agenda that transforms as an organization's problems and opportunities transform. Effective advanced management is a core form of strategic management needs intensive, continuous, and collective concern of senior management† (Eadie and Stein bacher, 1985, p 425).The purpose of strategic management is to help formulate, implement, and evaluate cross-functional decisions in such a way as to assist the organization in achieving its long-term objectives. The strategic management process is seen as â€Å"an objective, logical and systematic approach for making major decisions in an organization† (David, 1997: 6) in which both analysis and intuition have a role to play.Another accepted perspective (Pearce and Robinson, 1997) emphasizes information flows through interrelated stages of analysis. It implies:The interconnectedness of all process components;The sequential character of strategy formulation and implementation;The necessity of ongoing feedback to asses s the success of strategies as they are implemented;The need to regard strategic management as a dynamic system (components of the process are constantly evolving; formal planning must â€Å"freeze† them to achieve its aims).http://www.ic.polyu.edu.hk/esh/KB/management_strategic/Koch(1999).pdf.Advanced management entails the configuration of a strategic management group to give leadership for the process. Characteristically, the framework of this group will comprise the C.E.O., top-line managers, and key executive staff members. In a small organization, for example, the strategic management group might comprise the mayor or the city manager and the heads of numerous operating departments.It is the responsibility of the advanced management team to give the configuration for developing and modernizing strategic plans and for guiding their realization in all areas. As advanced management is a continuous process, the strategic management group must meet on a usual basis to confer strategies, monitor development, evaluate efficiency, and generally sustain a shared focus on the strategic agenda.This comprises identifying newly promising strategic issues, estimate problems and opportunities as they develop, adapting strategies, and giving direction and control over completion plans to preceding the strategic agenda efficiently. Sporadically, it may consequence in the development of new strategic initiatives.The business environment has transformed drastically since the advent of internet. Business organizations have undertaken extreme restructuring by modifying their means of communication and synchronization of work activities. Internet has made it promise for companies to work on a real-time basis, whereby products and services are conveyed to the right place at the right time.Since then, internet has propagated and has undergone significant improvements. Costs have sustained to decline as these new technologies have emerged. A business not supported by a ne twork of computer systems (primary information technology) is more or less destined to fail, since it will be incapable to compete efficiently in today's complex and dynamic environment.Companies are not the only ones who have gained from advances in modern information technology. Consumers and interest groups have created strategic alliances and now capable to coordinate their activities as well as exchange ideas and thoughts through a number of database and network systems.For instance, owners of personal computers can subscribe to a computer network and without difficulty retrieve information on the products and corporations on line. Such information can also without problems be transmitted to other users.This huge use of internet by both consumers and companies affects, but the way business is run today. These consumer strategic alliances know no geographical limitations; oftentimes, they are global in nature, particularly among the industrialized nations.As companies can get in enormous profits from the better coordination, greater product elasticity, improved quality, leaner production, and more time-based competitiveness that internet offers, they also facades the threat that can come from these consumers' strategic alliances. For instance, corporations can no longer ignore consumer demands for constant product quality, reliability and respect for the environment, or timely delivery of services.As we move toward more and more advanced technologies, the labor force must be retrained. This training must not only expose workers to the technical matters adjoining the new process but also to the new focus of the organization.They have to be made responsive of the importance of advanced technology in improving work methods and in remaining competitive. Employee compulsion to the new process is imperative.Advanced technology by itself adds little or no value to an organization. There should be organizational as well as employee dedication to exploit the techno logy to the maximum. For instance, with ever-increasing use of computer-integrated manufacturing systems, and the stream of technical documentation that accompanies it, employees have to be skilled of recognizing the critical information at the right time.Once that information is recognized and properly interpreted, there must be an organizational dedication to use the information to make better decisions. Without this potential, the organization cannot take advantage from internet.Advanced management, therefore, will persist to be a critical factor in the survival of any organization. We sum up the influence of information technology on human resources as follows: ·Internet transforms the mode of communication and work processes. ·Custom or standardized operations are replaced with skilled and multi-skilled workers. An extremely trained labor force is desired to manage internet. ·Worker motivation and satisfaction might improve since workers are no longer restricted to routin e operations, enjoy management powers, and can contribute to developments in their work processes.Internet also has an impact on the organization itself, as follows: ·Organizational reformation is required. This reformation makes the organization flat. Decision-making powers are decentralized. ·Communications are better and the organization is capable to make timely responses to its environment. ·Introduction of new products and services is improved and varieties of products can be efficiently introduced and marketed by the organization. ·The organization is competent to improve its efficiency, quality, and competitiveness.Today's advanced technology can, conversely, easily become a basic technology. A rapid increase of internet also brings rapid obsolescence of earlier technologies. Policies concerning internet must not be static; they must keep evolving. Stalk (1988) points out that â€Å"competitive advantage is a persistently moving target . . . The best competitors, th e most thriving ones, know how to keep moving and always stay on the cutting edge.†

Behavioral Genetics Essay

When I’ve learned about Behavioral Genetics in Chapter 8, the first thing that came across my mind was the fantasy of having a twin. It’s crazy but it occupied my mind for quite some time. What if I had a twin? Would she be like me? I’ve always believed that identical twins share the same qualities and traits. So I surfed the net and came across Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS). Conducted at the University of Minnesota by competent researchers, it is by far the largest twin study in the US. One particular case of the MTFS caught my attention: ‘The Jim Twins Study’.  The twins were separated four weeks after birth to different adoptive parents who live 45 miles apart. Reunited 39 years later, the twins (both named Jim) find uncanny similarities. This incident, among many others, supports the theories of Behavioral Genetics. It couldn’t have been mere coincidence that the twins married twice, left love notes to their wives, and even suffered from migraine. Because they were raised in different adoptive families, it couldn’t have been the environment that shaped the Jim twins to have the same preferences and behavior, even ailments! Time magazine cites that in a study of 44 twins reared apart, â€Å"a high of 61% of what they call ‘social potency’ (a tendency toward leadership or dominance) is inherited† (Leo & Taylor, 1987). The biological aspect of the Jim twins’ personality has played a great part in the development of these resemblances. If I had a twin separated from me at birth, I’d like to think that she is compassionate and enjoys music and golf as well as I do. It’s in the genes, as they say. However, as much as I believe on Behavioral Genetics, I must also note that the environment also plays a central role in the development of personality. With regards to my own, it is a blend of nature and nurture. I want to be a nurse since I was a kid because I want to help people. I always thought it’s innate in me†¦that compassion for other people. But later on as I learned things in Psychology, it made me realize that it could have also been the environment I’m living in. I remember my mom taking in three extra homeless people into our household during the economy spiraled down. I am surrounded by loving and compassionate people. Another would be my love for golf and technology. My father does too, and I think he must have influenced me unconsciously to develop these preferences. Now I understand that yes, it might be the genes but likewise, it is the things that I see and observe in my everyday experiences that made the desire to help people a trait in me. Both nature and nurture have been working in me. I believe personality in general is a mix of both genes and environment. Meanwhile, there is this one particular line from Chapter 11 that I need to quote. It goes, â€Å"A joke is not funny when the forbidden impulse it disguises is not shared, or the disguise is insufficient. It is written technically but gives me a learning I will remember. Sometimes, when we joke about things, we have to make sure that the forbidden impulse must be known and shared by the listener because we might end up either sounding a loser or hurting the person concerned. I must also point out one last thing about the controversial Sigmund Freud. Sir Freud, as I’ve known him through researches and from the discussion in class, should be given due credit for his accomplishments in the field of Psychology. His theories may be controversial but there is no denying that these same thoughts helped shape, in one way or another, modern Psychology. We also have to understand that the controversy behind his sexually-oriented theories can be justified because the psychological problems of his time (early 20th century) mostly had association to sexuality. From what I’ve learned, apparently most patients who came to him had marital problems of infidelity and sex life. His encounters with these patients perhaps helped shape his theories. It would be very unfair to refer to him as an ‘ancient history well forgotten’. In fact, I find it surprisingly interesting to read about his theories that contradict some things I believe in because it opens me up to possibilities and good learning. I even think that the idea of using Freud’s theories and techniques in present day will be much useful and less controversial if there is more emphasis on the human personality rather than sexuality. The techniques of psychoanalysis, concepts of ego & id, and life & death drives, among many others are major contributions in the field of Psychology and no matter the controversies and all, we all should be thankful for Sir Freud.

Critique of Centesimus Annus

I. Synopsis of the Pope's Encyclical Centesimus Annus, written by Pope John Paul II, commemorates and praises Pope Leo XIII's â€Å"Of New Things† (Rerum Novarum) written in 1891. Even after a hundred years, it still hasn't lost its vital influence. It is meant to honor the Church's â€Å"social doctrine† which had come from it. We should go through it once more so as to rediscover the wisdom behind the basic principles on how we should deal with the workers' condition. We should also look into the future to reawaken our responsibility, to proclaim the truth, and to communicate the life which is Christ. We should look at our own â€Å"new things† to bring forth in the Church's tradition, both â€Å"new† and â€Å"old† from the Lord's treasure. â€Å"Old† refers to defending the human person, protecting human dignity, building a more just society, and fighting injustice. â€Å"New† is analyzing recent history in order to understand the new requirements of evangelization. Chapter I – Characteristics of â€Å"Rerum Novarum† Towards the end of the last century, a new form of property had emerged – capital; and a new form of labor – labor for wages. Labor for wages was mainly profit- and efficiency-driven, rather giving high regard to the workers' sex, age or family situation. Human labor had become a commodity which could be freely bought and sold in the market, in accordance with the law of supply and demand. Workers were threatened by unemployment and lack of society security — leading to their starvation. Society has been divided into two classes. One promotes total economic freedom by appropriate laws while the other leans toward an organized and violent form of political and social structure. When people started to realize the injustice of the situation and a socialist revolution threatened to break out, Pope Leo XIII intervened by writing a document dealing with the systematic approach on the â€Å"condition of the workers†. Society was torn by the conflict between capital and labor — the worker question. The Pope wanted to restore peace, so he condemned class struggle. He formulated a doctrine regarding the Church's stand on specific human situations — both individual and communal, national and international. However, not all readily accepted the Church's right and duty in doing so. Many still believe that the Church should restrict itself to otherworldly salvation. The Pope's letter put the Church in a â€Å"citizenship status† amidst the changing realities of public life. The Church's social teaching is an essential part of the Christian message and there can be no genuine solution to the â€Å"social question† apart from the Gospel. Pope Leo XIII affirmed the dignity of work and the rights and dignity of workers, who work hard for self-preservation and for attaining their various needs. Work belongs to the vocation of every person by which one can realize oneself. Pope Leo XIII also stressed the right to â€Å"private property† — land ownership. Everyone has the right to possess things necessary for his and his family's development. Pope Leo XIII's letter affirms other undeniable rights such as the â€Å"natural human right† to form private or professional associations like trade unions. The Pope also acknowledges the limit on working hours, the right to legitimate rest, and the right of children and women to be treated differently with regard to the type and duration of work. He wrote of the right to a just wage that would be sufficient to support the worker and his family. This right cannot be left to the free consent of the parties. The Pope spoke of â€Å"distribute justice† whereby the public authority has the â€Å"strict duty† of providing for the workers' welfare, especially that of the poor because they have no other means apart from what they earn. He also affirms the right of the working class to fulfill their religious duties freely and avail of Sunday rest. Pope Leo XIII criticizes â€Å"socialism† and â€Å"liberalism.† Against socialism, he reaffirms the right to private property. As for liberalism, he states that the State should neither favor the rich nor neglect the poor. The defenseless and the poor have a claim to special consideration. The richer class can help itself while the poor have no resources of their own to do so and depend heavily on the State's assistance. This still applies today, with the new forms of poverty in the world. It does not depend on any ideology or political theory, but on the principle of solidarity, valid in the national and international order. Leo XIII calls it â€Å"friendship†, Pius XI calls it â€Å"social charity†; Paul VI, extending it even further, speaks of a â€Å"civilization of love.† In line with the Church's â€Å"preferential option for the poor,† Pope Leo XIII calls upon the State to intervene and remedy the condition of the poor. Though he does not expect the State to solve every social problem. The individual, family, and society should be protected by it and not be repressed by it. The point highlighted by Pope Leo XIII's encyclical and the Church's social doctrine is a correct view of the human person. God has imprinted man in his own image and likeness. Man's rights come from his dignity as a person, and not from the work he performs. Chapter II – Towards the â€Å"New Things† of Today The events of 1989 and 1990 proved that Pope Leo XIII's perception on the consequences of â€Å"real socialism† are accurate — that the worker would be the first to suffer, that it would distort the role of the state and create utter confusion in the community. Socialism considers the individual person as a mere molecule within the social organism to which he is completely subordinated. Man is no longer free to make a moral decision independently. This makes it difficult to realize his personal dignity and build a human community. The Christian vision is different: the social nature of a person is not totally fulfilled in the State, but is realized in various intermediary groups, beginning with the family and expands to include economic, social, political and cultural groups. Denial of God would mean complete disrespect for human dignity. The Pope does not intend to condemn every possible form of social conflict since such conflict is inevitable. However, Christians must take a stand in the â€Å"struggle for social justice.† He condemns â€Å"total war† — which has no respect for the dignity of others and of oneself. It attempts to dominate one's own side using any (and often reasonable) means to destroy the other side. Thus, class struggle in the Marxist sense and militarism have atheism and contempt for the human being as their common root. Rerum Novarum is against any form of State control that would reduce the citizen into a mere â€Å"cog† in the State machine. It is also opposed to a state that is not interested in the economic sector. The State has to determine the judicial framework to conduct economic affairs, so that the interests of one group do not overrule another. Society and the State should take the responsibility in protecting the workers against unemployment by establishing policies that would ensure the workers' balanced growth and full employment. They must protect the vulnerable immigrants and the marginalized from exploitation. â€Å"Humane† working hours and adequate leisure need to be guaranteed, along with the right to express one's own personality without sacrificing one's conscience or personal dignity. The State must try to achieve these goals in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. Indirectly by subsidiarity — by creating favorable conditions for the free exercise of economic activity; directly by solidarity — by defending the weakest and ensuring the necessary minimum support for the unemployed. The encyclical and the subsequent social teaching of the Church influenced numerous reforms in the years bridging the 19th and 20th centuries. Reforms were carried out partly by States and achieved through workers' movements which include Christians who established the producers', consumers', and credit cooperatives and promoted general education, professional training, and new forms of participation in the life of the workplace and society. Lack of respect for human dignity led to the tragic wars which ravaged Europe and the world between 1914 and 1945. Hatred and resentment built on injustices on the international level made these cruel wars possible. Though weapons have remained silent in Europe since 1945, true peace, which entails the removal of the causes of war and genuine reconciliation between people, has not yet been achieved. Half of Europe fell under a Communist dictatorship, while the other half is trying to defend itself. They use science and technology for creating instruments of war. Power alliances fought and caused enormous bloodshed in different places. Extremist groups got themselves armed; those in favor of peaceful solutions remained isolated or fell as victims. Following World War II, Third World countries became militarized. Terrorism spread and the whole world was threatened by an atomic war. Though new ideas about peace and war started to stir people's consciences, the threat of Communist totalitarianism distracted people's attention and provoked different responses. Some countries made a positive effort to rebuild a democratic society inspired by social justice. Others set up systems of â€Å"national security† opposing Marxism, but risked destroying the very freedom and values of the person for which they are defending. Another response came from the affluent/consumer society, which seeks to defeat Marxism by showing how a free market society can achieve a greater satisfaction of material human needs than Communism, while equally overlooking spiritual values. â€Å"Decolonization† became widespread. These countries, however remained in the hands of large foreign companies which are not committed to the development of the host country. They lack competent leadership that would be able to successfully integrate all tribal groups into genuine national communities. The horrors of the WWII and a lively sense of human rights led to the formation of the United Nations Organization. Deeper awareness on the rights of individuals and the rights of nations shifted the focus of the social question from the national to the international level. But UN has yet to establish effective means for resolving international conflicts. Chapter III – The Year 1989 In the 1980's, oppressive regimes fell in Latin America, Africa, and Asia mainly due to the violation of workers' rights — the oppressed working people recovered and rediscovered the principles of the Church's social teaching. A second factor in this crisis was due to the technical inefficiency of the economic system which spans violation in both cultural and national dimension. We can understand a human being more completely when we place him within the cultural context — through language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental life events. When these differences are overlooked, the culture and moral life of nations deteriorate. The main cause of this collapse was the reaction of the younger generations to the spiritual void brought by atheism. The youth did not find any sense of direction until they rediscovered the roots of their national culture and the person of Christ. Marxism promised to uproot the need for God from the human heart, throwing the heart into confusion. The struggle which led to the changes of 1989 were born of prayer. Humankind, created for freedom, bears the wound of original sin, which draws persons to evil and puts them in constant need of redemption. This shows that the human person tends towards good but is also capable of evil. We must not confuse political society with the Kingdom of God. It is only God who will do the Final Judgment. The Kingdom of God, being â€Å"in† the world without being â€Å"of† the world, throws a light on society, calling everyone, especially the laity, to infuse human reality with the Gospel. The Church encountered a workers' movement that had been partly under the dominance of Marxism for almost a century. Workers found their consciences, in their demand for justice and recognition of the dignity of work, in conformance to the Church's social teaching. The crisis of Marxism does not rid the world of the injustices on which it thrived. To those looking for a new theory, the Church offers her teaching, as well as her concrete commitment and material assistance in the struggle against marginalization and suffering. Beyond an impossible compromise between Marxism and Christianity, the Church reaffirms integral human liberation with consequences important for the countries of the Third World, searching for their own path to development. The second consequence concerns the European people. Many individual, social, regional and national injustices were committed during the Communism years; thus there is great risk that such conflicts would re-occur. We need to unite international structures that would mediate the conflicts between nations and reach for a peaceful settlement. A patient material and moral reconstruction is necessary. The fall of Marxism and the end of the world's division highlight our interdependence. Peace and prosperity belong to the whole human race and cannot be achieved if attained at the cost of other people and nations. The real post-war period had just begun in some countries in Europe. Their predicament was brought about by the tragic situation imposed upon them. The countries responsible for that situation owe them a debt in justice. This need should not diminish the willingness to sustain and assist the countries of the Third World, which often suffer even more. Priorities have to be redefined. Enormous resources could be mobilized by disarming the huge military machines built by East and West for conflict. These resources could become even more abundant if we found a way of resolving conflicts peacefully. A change of mentality is necessary — wherein the poor is no longer seen as a burden but instead as people seeking to share the right in enjoying material goods and make good use of their capacity for work so that we can create a just and prosperous world for all. Development must be understood as something fully human, not as something merely material. Its main purpose is the enhancement of everyone's capacity to respond to God's call. Recognition of the rights of the human conscience serves as the foundation of truly free political order. We must reaffirm this principle for the following reasons: some dictatorships have not yet been overcome; in the developed countries, the promotion of and demand for instant gratification devalue respect for human rights and values; and in some countries, new forms of religious fundamentalism deny minority groups their rights to know and live the truth. Chapter IV – Private Property and the Universal Destination of Material Goods The Church teaches that the possession of material goods is not an absolute right, and that there are certain limits to that right. Man should not consider material possessions as his own but as common to all. Private property also has a social function based on the law of the common purpose of goods. Access to work and land serves as the basis of every human society. In the past, the earth was the primary factor of wealth; today, the role of human work has become an important factor for producing nonmaterial and material wealth. Work â€Å"with† and â€Å"for† others depends largely on insight into the productivity of the earth and knowledge of our human needs. Today, the possession of know-how, technology, and skill have become as important as land. The wealth of industrialized nations is based more on the ownership of technology than on possession of natural resources. Another important source of wealth is the ability to foresee the needs of others and satisfy those needs. This often requires the cooperation of many people working towards a common goal. Skills in organizing, planning, timing, and management are also sources of wealth. The role of discipline, creativity, initiative, and entrepreneurial ability, is evident. This process reaffirms the stand of Christianity: next to the earth, humanity's principal resource is the person himself. Once the decisive factor of production was land; then it was capital; now it is the human being. Many are faced with the impossibility of acquiring the needed knowledge to take their place in the working world. They are exploited or marginalized and they cannot keep up with new forms of production and organization. In their quest for wealth, they flock towards Third World cities only to find that there is no room for them. Sometimes, there are even attempts to eliminate them through population control. Many others struggle to earn a bare minimum in inhumane conditions. Those cultivating land are excluded from land ownership and are practically slaves with no land, no material goods, no knowledge, no training. Some development programs have been set up, and the countries that managed to gain access to the international market in this way have suffered less from stagnation and recession than those who isolated themselves. Those who fail to keep up with the times — such as the elderly, the women, and the youth – are often marginalized. They are incapable of finding their place in society and are classified as part of the so-called Fourth World. The free market appears to be the most efficient tool for utilizing resources and responding to needs. But this holds true only for those who have the purchasing power and who those whose resources are marketable. Justice and truth demand that basic human needs should be met and that none should be left to die. The possibility of surviving and making a contribution to the common good is something which is due to the person as a person. In the Third World context, Pope Leo XIII's objectives are yet to be met. Trade unions and other worker's organizations find here a wide range of opportunities for commitment and effort for the sake of justice. It is right to speak of a struggle against an unjust economic system that does not uphold the priority of the human being over capital and land. The alternative to it is not a socialist system that leads to state capitalism, but a society with free work, enterprise, and participation that is in favor of a market which guarantees the basic needs of the whole society. Profit is a regulator of the life of a business but is not the sole indicator of a firm's condition. There are other equally important factors to be considered — such as human and moral factors. After the fall of â€Å"real socialism†, capitalism is not the only economic alternative left. Individuals and nations need the basic things to enable them to share in development. Stronger nations must assist weaker ones, weaker nations must use the opportunities offered. Foreign debts affect these efforts. The principle that debts should be paid remains, but should not be asked for at the cost of the hunger and at the price of unbearable sacrifice of the people. There is the need to lighten, defer, or even cancel the debts, to let people subsist and progress. In advanced economics, quality is more important than quantity — the quality of the goods to be produced and consumed, the quality of the services to be enjoyed, the quality of the environment and of life in general. Hence the phenomenon of consumerism arises. Appealing to human instinct only may create lifestyles and consumer attitudes that are damaging to spiritual and physical health. The educational and cultural formation of consumers and producers and of the mass media are urgently needed, as well as the intervention of public authority. An example of false consumption is drug abuse. This implies a serious malfunction in the social system, a destructive â€Å"reading† of human needs, and the idle filling of a spiritual void. Same is true with that of pornography and other exploitative consumerism. It is not wrong to want to improve our lives; it is wrong to seek a lifestyle which is presumably better when it is directed towards what one â€Å"has,† instead of what one â€Å"is.† Even the decision to invest in one way rather than another is a moral and cultural . Consumerism also raises the ecological issue. Humankind is consuming the resources of the earth and life in an excessive and disordered way, while neglecting the earth's own needs and God-given purpose. Humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations. Aside from the concern on the destruction of our natural environment and the threat of extinction of our various animal species, we must also safeguard the moral conditions of our â€Å"human ecology†. We must use earth with respect to the original good purpose of which it was given by God. Urbanization and work can give rise to â€Å"structures of sin†. Courage and patience would be needed to destroy such structures and replace them with more authentic forms of community life. The first and fundamental structure for a â€Å"human ecology† is the family, founded on marriage, in which the mutual gift of self as husband and wife creates an environment in which children can be born and develop their potentialities, become aware of their dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny. Too often life is considered to be a series of sensations rather than as something to be accomplished. The result is a lack of freedom to commit oneself to another person and to bring children into this world. This leads people to consider children as one of the many â€Å"things† which an individual can have or not have as they please. The family is sacred; it is the heart of the culture of life. The Church denounces the limitation, suppression or destruction of the sources life — including abortion, systematic anti-child-bearing campaigns, and chemical warfare. The State is responsible for defending and preserving the common goods such as natural and human environments. Relying on market forces alone will not suffice. Such mechanisms carry the risk of an â€Å"idolatry† of the market which ignores the existence of goods which are not just mere commodities. Marxism blamed capitalist societies for commercializing and alienating the human being. This censure is based on misconception of alienation — the remedy of which is collectivism, but this only further aggravated the situation. Alienation is still a reality in the West, because of consumerism, that does not help one appreciate one's authentic personhood and because of work, which shows interest only in profit, and none in the workers, considering them to be mere means. The way out of this deadlock is to reconsider the Christian vision of the human person and its â€Å"capacity for transcendence.† A human society is both alienated and alienating if its organization, production, and consumption make transcendence more difficult. A person who is concerned solely with possessing and enjoying and is no longer able to control his instincts and passions cannot be free, Obedience to the truth about God and humankind is the first condition of freedom. After the failure of Communism, should capitalism be the goal for Eastern Europe and the Third World? The answer is complex. If â€Å"capitalism† meant a market or free economy that recognizes the role of business, the market, private property, the resulting responsibility for the means of production, as well as free human creativity — then the answer is â€Å"yes.† If it meant a system in which economic, religious, and ethical freedom are denied, then the answer is â€Å"no.† Marxism failed, but marginalization and exploitation remain. The collapse of communism is not enough to change these conditions. A radically capitalist system might not even try to solve them. The Church has no models to offer as effective models only develop out of concrete situations. Instead, the Church offers its social teaching as an indispensable and ideal orientation. It insists on the right of workers to be respected and to be involved in the life of industrial enterprises so that, in a certain sense, they â€Å"work for themselves.† The relationship between private property and the universal destination of material wealth has to be reestablished. By means of his work a person commits himself, not only for his own sake but also for others and with others — their families, communities, nations, and, ultimately for all humanity. They collaborate with suppliers and customers in a continuously expanding chain of solidarity. Ownership is just if it serves a useful work; it is unjust when it is used to hinder others, or to break the solidarity among workers to gain profit. The obligation to earn one's bread presumes the right to do so. A society that denies this right cannot be justified, nor can it attain social peace. Chapter V – State and Culture Pope Leo XIII speaks of organizing a society whereby there is a balance of these three powers- legislative, executive, and judicial. Marxist-Leninism contradicted this by saying that people who have more knowledge than others should rule others in an absolute way. Totalitarianism rejected the authority of the Church and attempts to destroy her. By defending its own freedom, the Church also defended the human person. The Church values democracy and cannot encourage the formation of narrow ruling groups that would use the power of the State for their own intentions. Authentic democracy requires a State ruled by law, true education and formation, participation and shared responsibility. Democracy does not mean that there is no ultimate truth. The Church is aware of the danger of fanaticism and fundamentalism. Christian truth is not an ideology; it knows that human life is realized in history, and it always respects human freedom. Freedom attains its full development only by accepting the truth. The democratic ideal prevails today, so does the attention to human rights. That is why, we must stress the importance of these rights: the right to life, that of a child to develop in the mother's womb from the moment of conception, to live in a united family, to education, to work and support oneself and one's dependents, to establish a family freely, to have and to rear children, to live in the truth of one's faith. Not all these rights are being respected though, even in countries practicing democracy. Sometimes certain demands are not met for narrow opportunistic, electoral, or financial reasons. This leads to distrust and apathy and inability to see any issue within the framework of a coherent vision of the common good. Market economy cannot be run in an institutional, juridical, or political vacuum: the State has its role to play, guaranteeing personal freedom, a stable currency, and efficient public services. Lack of stability, corruption, improper ways of growing rich, and speculation hinder development and social order. The State has to intervene when monopolies hinder development; it can substitute its own services when certain sectors of business are too weak to render the services needed for the common good. Those interventions should only be brief so as to avoid removing from society and business tasks that belong to them. The â€Å"principle of subsidiarity† must be respected: â€Å"A community of a higher order should not interfere with the life of a community of a lower order, taking over its functions.† In case of need it should, rather, support the smaller community and help to coordinate its activity with activities in the rest of society for the sake of the common good. Not doing this leads to a loss of human energy, an increase of bureaucratic agencies, and an increase in costs. The Church has always been present and active among the needy, offering them material assistance in ways that neither humiliate nor reduce them to mere objects of assistance. To overcome today's individualistic mentality, a concrete commitment to solidarity and charity is necessary and this should begin in the family. The State should create social policies with family as their main focus — to assist the family with adequate resources for bringing up their children and looking after the elderly, thus strengthening the relations between generations. The culture of a nation is born, generation after generation, from the open search from truth. The heritage of values have always been challenged by the young — not in order to destroy or reject it, but to make it more real, relevant, and personal. When a culture becomes inward-looking, disregarding the truth about man, it is heading for its end. The first and foremost task for the adequate formation of a culture happens within a person's heart. Building one's own future depends on the understanding a person has of himself and of his own destiny. The Church contributes at this level to true culture, promoting peace, preaching how creation is placed in human hands to make it fruitful and more perfect, preaching how the Son of God saved and united us, making us responsible for all of mankind. Pope Benedict XV and his successors recognize the negative impact of war on people's lives and repeated the cry: â€Å"War, never again!†. Just as personal revenge has given way to the rule of law within states, so has the time come for a similar step to be taken at an international level, not forgetting that at the root of war and conflict there are usually serious grievances. Another name for peace is development. Together we are responsible for avoiding war; together we are responsible for promoting development. It should be possible to organize at an international level the kind of solid economy that is possible in an individual society. The poor-whether individuals or nations- need to be provided realistic opportunities. This calls for a concerted worldwide effort to promote development which may mean important changes in established lifestyles, limiting waste of environmental and human resources. It also means utilizing the new and spiritual responses of peoples who today are at the margin of the international community, thus enriching the family of nations. Chapter VI – The Human Being Is the Way of the Church The Church is not interested in imposing her own vision. Her sole purpose has been care and responsibility for the human person who has been entrusted to her by Christ. The human sciences and philosophy are helpful in explaining how this concrete person is involved in a complex network of relationships within modern times. Faith reveals our real identity. That is why the Church concerns itself with the rights of the individual, the working class, the family and education, the duties of the State, the ordering of national and international society, economic life, culture, war and peace, and respect for human life from conception till death. The Church receives â€Å"the meaning of the person† from Divine Revelation. The theological dimension is needed both for interpreting and solving present-day problems in human society. This is in contrast with both the â€Å"atheistic† solution, which deprives humankind of one of its basic dimensions and to permissive and consumerist solutions. In the Church's viewpoint, the social message of the Gospel must not be treated as a â€Å"theory† but rather a basis for action. Through time, this message has gained more credibility because of its logic and consistency. Love for others, and especially for the poor, is made concrete by promoting justice. It is not a matter of giving from one's own surplus, but of helping the entire people. This requires a change of lifestyle, a reorientation of ourselves and our organizations toward the whole of the human family. Today we are facing â€Å"globalization† of the economy which can create unusual opportunities for greater prosperity. It asks for effective international agencies to coordinate the powerful nations and take into account the weaker ones- which even the most powerful state on earth would not be able to do on its own. The gift of grace is needed, a newness that is experience by following Jesus. Faith not only helps people to find solutions; it makes even situations of suffering humanly bearable, so that in these situations people will not become lost or forget their dignity and vocation. The Church's social teaching should begin a practical and scientific dialogue at the crossroads where it meets the world as it is. Solving serious national and international problems in the world calls for specific ethical and religious values. This encyclical, while looking at the past, is directed towards the future. The intention is to prepare us for that moment, with God's help. II. What does the Pope's message mean to me By looking back at history, we can derive lots of valuable lessons and learn from our own mistakes as well as from the mistakes of others. In this new encyclical, the Holy Father provides us with reasons to hope in a modern society which would obey the Church' s social teachings. The Pope also gives us new reasons and motivation to further evangelize the world. In Centesimus Annus, two classes of society have been identified — one of which exercises total economic freedom by appropriate laws, and the other makes use of an organized and violent form of political and social structure. Pope Leo XIII criticizes â€Å"socialism† and â€Å"liberalism.† Against socialism, he reaffirms the right to private property. As for liberalism, he states that the state should neither favor the rich nor neglect the poor. The defenseless and the poor have a claim to special consideration. The State should exercise a â€Å"preferential option for the poor†. I think the best way would be something in between socialism and liberalism. This refers to exercising political intervention in market structures. The framework is such that in a free-market economic system, competition is allowed, but state intervention should come should the control of the market be deemed necessary for the benefit of the common good, i.e. provide the greatest utility for all. I agree with Pope John Paul II that the new source of economic wealth is no longer â€Å"land† nor â€Å"capital†. It is a combination of new skills and talents. These skills include the knowledge of new technologies, entrepreneurship, foreseeing and meeting others' needs, organizing, planning, and management. Such talents need be polished through discipline, creativity, initiative, and courage. With regards to Human Work, it can only be understood from a â€Å"personalist† point of view — through the exercise of man's free will and intellect. This brings dignity to work. Pope Leo XIII writes about the condition of workers: dignity of work, dignity of workers, right to private property, right to form private associations, limit on working hours, right to legitimate rest, right of children and women to fair treatment based on their capabilities, right to a just wage, distributive justice, and the right to fulfill religious duties freely It is true that man's rights come from his dignity as a person, and not from the work he performs. Work belongs to the vocation of every person by which one can realize oneself. It doesn't matter what type of work we perform as long as we do them with pride and conviction. On Family, I agree that it is the heart of the culture of life. The family is the real sanctuary of life. It is the fundamental structure for â€Å"human ecology†. It is from our family that we first learned of ideas about truth and goodness, what it means to love and be loved, and what it means to be a person. On Solidarity, it is a moral expression of our interdependence. It reminds us that we are one family regardless of race, nationality, and economic power. Pope Leo XIII also emphasized the value of quality of quantity. I think this argument is valid. It is of no use for a person to acquire so many goods if he cannot enjoy them for long because of their poor quality. It is of no meaning for a person to live for a very long time if his life is of no quality – he doesn't use it to his fullest to enhance his personal growth and the growth of his neighbors. Indeed, this encyclical has shared to us so many insights which are worth reflecting and applying to our daily lives. We must make the most of the teachings which our Church leaders has diligently compiled through time.

Point of View 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Point of View 2 - Essay Example On the few days he wasn’t busy, there had always been something else to do or to think about. It was just as any other day when Dad introduced Heidi, she looked so young next to my Nana. Shortly thereafter I heard Dad and Nana argue. He informed me that I would be living with Heidi from now on and Heidi would be my new mother. I got so excited and sad at the same time, not wanting to leave my dear old nana. â€Å"But nana who would take care of you?† I cried. â€Å"Don’t worry, I’ll be all right. I’m sure you’ll come to visit me often.† And just like that I was off to a new life. Heidi is not at all like her nana. I knew that she resents having me around. I often asked when I was going to have a little sister or a little brother to play with and Heidi always answers with a swift look with searing eyes. Everyday I have to make sure I don’t get in her way especially when she has her friends around. My only solace is my room or the garden in the backyard where I play with my dolls and run along with butterflies and other insects. I like animals too. My father once bought me a goldfish but it died. I wanted to give it a proper burial in the garden but when my stepmom found Goldie, she just flushed it in the toilet. I never got mad at her, I figured, she’s the closest I could have for a family now that Dad’s always away. School days are the best. It was a way for me to get out of the house.

Analysis of the Marketing Strategy of Apple Inc Dissertation

Analysis of the Marketing Strategy of Apple Inc - Dissertation Example The death of Jobs in 2011 has left Apple’s stakeholders, its many avid followers, and the business community in a state of uncertainty about the company’s future and its ability to sustain continuous innovation as it had under Jobs. The dissertation aimed to examine the marketing strategy and related systems that are responsible for the success of Apple, Inc. since 1997. The objectives included an assessment of the fundamental changes in Apple under Steve Jobs, the marketing systems and corporate strategy supporting its most successful products, the analysis of Apple’s competitive strategy compared with that of Microsoft, its longest running and most important competitor, and an analysis of the likely prospects of the firm moving forward. A review of academic literature was undertaken on market strategy and the related topics of strategic management and planning competitive strategy, innovation management and change management. Its purpose was to explore theoretical frameworks which may support an analysis of Apple’s case relating to these topics and market strategy in particular. The theories aided in the assessment of the secondary data gathered from reports and online sources dealing with Apple’s market performance in the period 1997 to 2011, with particular attention given to the market success of the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad in the period 2005 to 2011. Attention was focused on corporate strategy, specifically the Digital Lifestyle vision of Jobs which gave rise to the Digital Hub strategy in its innovation management. ... Steve Jobs provided the foresight, the inspiration and the motive force behind Apple’s recent successes, and there is every indication that given the leadership style of the new CEO Tim Cook that balances corporate and innovative strategies, Apple will continue to be successful into the future. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Chapter 1: Introduction 6 1.1 Background of Study 6 1.2 Steve Jobs & the Apple Story 7 1.3 Marketing & Strategy at Apple 8 1.4 Industry Dynamics 9 1.5 Research Aim 9 1.6 Motivation for this Research 10 1.7 Scope and Delimitation 10 Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature 11 2.1 Overview 11 2.2 Strategic Management 11 2.4.1 SWOT 13 2.4.2 PESTEL 14 2.3 Marketing Strategy 14 2.4 Competitive Strategy 18 2.5 Change Management 20 2.6 Innovation Management 23 2.7 Synthesis 26 Chapter 3: Research Methodology 28 3.1 Overview 28 3.2 Research Approach 28 3.3 Data Collection & Analysis 29 3.4 Research Validity and Reliability. 30 3.5 Limitations of the research methodol ogy 31 Chapter 4: Results and Analysis of Results 32 4.1 Overview 32 4.2 Fundamental changes undertaken by Steve Jobs, 1997-2005 32 4.3 Marketing systems and corporate strategy, 2005 to present 35 4.4 Discussion of Marketing strategy, Innovation management, and Change management 38 4.5 Competitor analysis of Apple vs. Microsoft 41 4.6 Future implications of the existing strategy of Apple 46 Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations 50 5.1 Overview 50 5.2 Summary of findings 50 5.3 Conclusion 52 5.4 Recommendations 53 5.5 Directions for future research 54 Bibliography 56 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Background of Study The year 2009 was marked by of one of America and the world's worst financial crises, which became known as the Credit Crunch or the Global Financial

Internal Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Internal Marketing - Essay Example The firm developed Interact suite of resources, which is a range of digital content, and tools used by teachers so as to conveniently utilize existing course material designed for students aged 11 to adult. The Interact Resources and Tools include the following: ("XSIQ" 2005) These are digital sources that can be loaded onto school servers, intranets or loaded onto instructors' notebooks. To create a conducive learning environment for learners, the digital courses offered features 3-D models, animations, videos, revision activities and quizzes. These were designed in line with a variety of national and international standards for students. The Interact Subjects cover varied key learning areas such as Sciences, Mathematics, English and Literature, Core Humanities, Information Technology, Health and Physical Education and Business Studies. The Course Creator is a tool used for editing to help teachers build digital lessons, lesson series or work units. With this program, educators are enabled to create, manipulate and publish multimedia enhanced learning materials. Moreover, teachers can revise or design new lessons based on their own materials or third party materials in a manner they deem appropriate. The company released the Interact digital education product suite in Australia in 2000. ... The company released the Interact digital education product suite in Australia in 2000. Not long after, the contents were subsequently released in the United States and United Kingdom and currently utilized in both American and British educational institutions. XSIQ has signed agreements with the Software Express, one of the largest education resellers in the US, for the exclusive CD ROM distribution in North America; and Ramesys, one of the UK's largest education solution providers for exclusive representation in the UK. XSIQ Web-Content Developer Company For : MR.____ Senior Manager From : PLACE NAME HERE Business Analyst Date : September 8, 2005 Re : Export Opportunity in the Middle East Proposal Summary XSIQ is operating in the industry of e-learning, a term referring to the use of networked multimedia technology to support learning and covers myriad scenarios and tools for enhancing and supporting teaching and learning process ("Business Ready Branch for Education" 2004). With the technological advancements, education is no longer bound by time and place and homes can become the after-hours classroom ("From Technology Adoption to Educational Innovation" 2001). Although the concept of schooling is generally bound by the cultural beliefs about conventional teaching methods where student-teacher relationship dominates popular view of proper schooling (Cuban 1993), the adoption of new technologies in educational institutions has become a common practice particularly in nations who believes in the importance of education as a tool for progress. Given the perceived saturation in the domestic market of the company's product and service offerings, it is imperative

History of Conde Naste Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

History of Conde Naste - Essay Example Here, in this paper a well known company named Conde Nast’s marketing strategies and business model is to be discussed so as to analyze its market position. This paper helps in identifying the strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats of the company, particularly in dealing with changing market environment, competition and digital development as business models. The founder of Conde Nast Publication (CNP) was Conde Montrose Nast. This company was established in the year 1907 by him, which is now a part of the Advanced Publication. It is also a renowned name in the industry of journalism and magazine of America along with other developed countries as well. Now-a-days this magazine empire is owned by Si Newhouse Jr. and goes by the name of Conde Nast. With over 30 prestigious magazines under its umbrella, including the titles of Fairchild Publications, the organization is one of the best known magazine conglomerates in the world. The company is particularly well known for its fashion magazines. The organization has also established a mark for its impressive headquarters and well designed cafeteria (Conde Nast, â€Å"Conde Nast home†). Conde Nast is the parent company to some of the globally renowned glossy magazines. It incorporates every specialized magazine, straddling topics as diverse as sports, architecture, gourmet cuisine, travel, literature, fashion, social life and observations, home decoration and popular culture. By the 1990s, the organization accommodated more than thirteen high profile magazines including Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Street and Smiths Sports Group, Interest in House & Garden, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Brides, Self, Gentlemens Quarterly, Gourmet, Bon Appà ©tit, Condà © Nasts Traveller, Details, and Allure. It even developed a plan of introducing online internet based publications and magazines. Earlier, in 1909 the famous magazine Vogue

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

International Business - Essay Example After achieving huge success level in domestic market leading companies wish to do business practices across the domestic border in order to maximize profit, its market share, core competency and goodwill. These are all tangible and intangible assets of a company. The company chooses internationalization process in order to take the advantages of advanced technology, potential marketplace and favorable economical factors of international market. The internationalization process and the reason of adopting the process can be identified by several business models. Demand and supply led drivers will help to identify the advantages of customer and supplier relationship management for the international market orientation and the difference of these two drivers will help to identify the impacts on business practices for a company. Followed by this the Eclectic theory of internationalization will help to analyze the different categorized advantages that will help international business pract ices. Next the Uppsala model will help to find the business activities of a company in a foreign market. Last but not the least the product life cycle tool will help the company to develop their product internationally considering different aspects of product life cycle. The objective of the study is to find the reason for internationalization of a company and evaluation of several international business tools. Demand and Supply Led Drivers In order to adopting international business process companies need to understand about the demand led drivers and supply led drivers. The basic purpose to reinforce this demand and supply drivers is the gaining knowledge of companies about the demand chain management and supply chain management in international market. The difference of demand led driver and the supply led driver in specific international market is based on importance. The supply led drivers is the degree that focus on consumers and this driver gives importance on efficiency of s ervice. Here the company management consider about cost-led and supreme level of customer service. The risk of this supply-led driver is that the target customers may be aggregated. Therefore the link between customer and supplier relationship management may be hampered. Demand led drivers hold the broader vision of relationship management. This driver integrates both of the customer and supplier relationship management. The need of demand led driver is to allocate required resources for thy international operation (Porter, 2011, p.115). It is kind of a push strategy which influences both the customer and suppliers. Supply led driver is more of a pull business aspect. It may affect the target customers different brand loyalty and orientation. Eclectic Theory Eclectic theory of internationalization is the economics theory based on the theory of transaction costs. The idea behind the application of eclectic theory in internationalization process is to understand the economic approache s in international competitive business market. The fundamental forms of international market such as Licensing, FDI, and Export can be distinguished by this theory (Cantwell and Narula, 2012, p.71). Before entering in international market the three categories of advantages in internationalization process of this theory such as ownership advantages, internationalization advantages and location advantages need to be identified by the company. If the company has ownership advantages such as knowledge about the international target market, employees’ international language skill, appropriate products, information about import permission and huge contacts can help the company to do the Licensing in

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 42

Leadership - Essay Example This kind of leader does not involve the employees in decision making and rather decisions are made at the top and followed by the employees. McGregor categorized second kind of leaders as leaders who follow theory Y. These leaders are those who believe that employees are interested in working. These leaders empower their employees and provide them with the responsibility as well as the authority to make decisions and implement them in order to complete tasks (Jewell et al., 1994). Unlike leaders who follow Theory X, these leaders do not believe in excessive supervisor of the followers and believe that followers should have the freedom to work on their own. Due to empowerment as well as lower level of supervision, followers feel motivated to work on their own and they solve problems as well as perform tasks in a creative manner. The leadership style that James Cain of Water Brands Group follows is open-minded leadership style. This leadership style is based on McGregor’s leadership theory called theory Y. McGregor proposed that, leaders who follow theory Y leadership tend to empower employees. Similarly, Cain who follows an open-minded leadership style provides empowerment to his followers and employees (Pandit, 2005). He does not believe in making decisions on his own. Instead Cain involves his employees in the decision making process by carefully listening to them and then involving their ideas in the making decisions and solving problems faced by the organization. Theory Y states that employees are naturally interested in working and are ready to take responsibility. Cain is following theory Y because he believes that the people working for him and his followers are the assets of his organizations. This means that he has immense trust in the followers and is quite confident about their knowledge, skills and abilities. Due to this

The Effect of Ingestion of Beverages or Meal That Contains Research Paper

The Effect of Ingestion of Beverages or Meal That Contains Electrolytes Prior to Exercise - Research Paper Example Commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and chicken noodle soup were used in the study. The purpose of the article is well defined and the study population includes both men and women as the participant’s hence eliminating gender bias and the response of both men and women towards intake of electrolytes prior to exercise would be determined. The introduction explains the importance of pre-exercise hydration status and states that this aspect is mostly neglected in the guidelines set by the American College of Sports Medicine. The authors believe that body fluid balance will greatly aid in the performance and endurance levels. It further states that research carried out using consumption of water alone has not yielded any beneficial result and it only increased urine output during exercise. The authors of the present study have ascertained, after conducting laboratory investigation, that intake of high sodium containing beverage or meal before exercise speeds up the recovery of plasma volume and also increase water retention within the body by decreasing urinary output. The article also cites previous research studies in which consumption of electrolyte containing beverages, especially those rich in sodium, both before and after exercising have improved body fluid balance and also aided in preventing excessive water loss through urine. However previous studies had not related water intake with the consumption of sodium-rich beverages. The present study proposed to determine that fluid balance could be maintained by increasing the ad libitum water intake and reducing water loss through urine upon consumption of sodium-rich beverages and meals before exercise. It hypothesized that consumption of chicken noodle soup 45 minutes before exercise would improve fluid balance by increasing water intake and reducing urine output while no considerable improvement was expected after consumption of water alone and carbohydrate-electrolyte beverages. The authors also expected the responses in both men and women to be similar. The population sampling and methods to be used have not been elaborated in the introduction.

PROSTITUTION -this is for health ethics and law in Canada class Essay

PROSTITUTION -this is for health ethics and law in Canada class - Essay Example This theory fits very well with the argument supporting it, as it teaches that individuals have a duty and a responsibility of acting accordingly regardless of the consequences that will precede their actions (Longworth, 2010). The utilitarian ethical theory states that the choice that yields the greatest benefit to a majority of persons is the choice that is ethically correct. It places the locus of what is wrong and right solely on the outcome of choosing ones interest actions taking into account other peoples interest. The theory is against prostitution law in an effort of reducing suffering or negatives outcomes to the society. The principle based theory focuses on main principles of ethics such as respecting the person’s autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence practice. Thus, it calls for unethical stoppage of prostitution to protect human dignity (Irvine, Osborne, Shariff & Sneiderman, 2013). The ethics of care theory, on the contrary, is in support of prostitution. From the theory, it is important to understand the various degrees of dependence of each individual, as it is essential to consider different situations in an effort to safeguarding and promoting the specific interest of the victims involved. Many individuals see sex work as unethical yet for them; it is a source of live food, and they cannot survive without. This has been supported by moral relativism source of morality that is concerned with the moral judgment’s differences across different cultures. It acknowledges that individuals in one way will disagree about what is ethically moral, but nobody emerges objectively wrong or right (Fisher, 2013). According to subjectivism source of morality, subjectivism is according to the truth condition of utterance that â€Å"prostitution is wrong† from the moral human standard. Thus, it disapproves of the act subjecting it to be morally unethical practicing it. From objectivism based on authority source of

Investment Property Essay Example for Free

Investment Property Essay The objective of this Standard is to prescribe the accounting treatment for investment property and related disclosure requirements. Investment property is property (land or a building—or part of a building—or both) held (by the owner or by the lessee under a finance lease) to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both, rather than for: (a) use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes; or (b) sale in the ordinary course of business. A property interest that is held by a lessee under an operating lease may be classified and accounted for as investment property provided that: (a) the rest of the definition of investment property is met; (b) the operating lease is accounted for as if it were a finance lease in accordance with IAS 17 Leases; and (c) the lessee uses the fair value model set out in this Standard for the asset recognised. Investment property shall be recognised as an asset when, and only when: (a) it is probable that the future economic benefits that are associated with the investment property will flow to the entity; and (b) the cost of the investment property can be measured reliably. An investment property shall be measured initially at its cost. Transaction costs shall be included in the initial measurement. The initial cost of a property interest held under a lease and classified as an investment property shall be as prescribed for a finance lease by paragraph 20 of IAS 17, ie the asset shall be recognised at the lower of the fair value of the property and the present value of the minimum lease payments. An equivalent amount shall be recognised as a liability in accordance with that same paragraph. The Standard permits entities to choose either: (a) a fair value model, under which an investment property is measured, after initial measurement, at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss; or (b) a cost model. The cost model is specified in IAS 16 and requires an investment property to be measured after initial measurement at depreciated cost (less any accumulated impairment losses). An entity that chooses the cost model discloses the fair value of its investment property. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. An investment property shall be derecognised (eliminated from the statement of financial position) on disposal or when the investment property is permanently withdrawn from use and no future economic benefits are expected from its disposal. Gains or losses arising from the retirement or disposal of investment property shall be determined as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and shall be recognised in profit or loss (unless IAS 17 requires otherwise on a sale and leaseback) in the period of the retirement or disposal.

Weaknesses Of The Ecological Footprint Environmental Sciences Essay

Weaknesses Of The Ecological Footprint Environmental Sciences Essay flourishing at a yearly rate of 4. Contribution of the industry in the economy has become a global trend. However, as the tourist industry flourishes, those activities have also resulted into environmental impact issues, such as traffic congestion, over- exploitation of natural resources, and issues created by inappropriate tourist behaviors. Apart from the effects on human, natural, and culture heritages, these create a lot of pollution (Wu, 2003). With the constant rise of environmental protection philosophies, green consumption is slowly from being a mere concept into real action. The hotel and restaurant industries, above all, are closely related to environmental protection (Kuo, 2000). It is truly said that the continued growth of development is having an extensive and different ecological impacts. The urban that are being expanded are including the agricultural land and established the ecosystems, reducing the local bio-productivity and biodiversity while there has been an incr ease in the level of demand for resources and other ecological services by the rising populations. Ecological Footprint has been co-originated by Professor William Rees and Dr. Mathis Waskernagel. The Ecological Footprint is embedded in the reality that all renewable resources arrive from the earth. It accounts for the flows of energy and converts these into the matching land/water area necessary for nature to support these flows. The Ecological Footprint is defined as the area of productive land and water ecosystems required to produce the resources that the population consumes and assimilate the wastes that the population produces, wherever on Earth the land and water is located. It compares actual throughput of renewable resources in relation to what is yearly renewed. Ecological Footprint looks at the total quantity of global hectares that are necessary to hold a particular population. The Footprints of individual nations vary considerably.The Ecological Footprint is a resource accounting tool that measures the human demand on the Earth. By calculating a persons Ecological Footprint, it shows whether he is living within the ecological budget or whether he is overwhelming n atures resources faster than the planet can renew them. We can choose to live on a depleted planet or we can choose to live on a rich, biologically diverse, more stable planet proposes Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, co-creator of the Ecological Footprint. Strengths of the Ecological Footprint: It has an immediate intuitive appeal It is being used worldwide in a variety of settings. It addresses national, municipal, regional and individual footprint. It is used as a policy tool It is used as an indicator Weaknesses of the Ecological Footprint: It is not a precise measure of ecological sustainability It underestimates the impact of individual actions on the biosphere It provides limited information about most of the non-renewable resources. It allows only universal types of bioproductive areas to be recognized (forests, cropland) It does not account for all human impacts on the environment. Opportunities of the Ecological Footprint: Efforts are being done so as to standardize the Footprint. It will increase the usefulness of this sustainability indicator. It will be used for different projects. Critically assess Ecological Footprint with other existing environmental tools: The Ecological Footprint is based on the concepts of capacity and the precautionary principle which though out without their critics (Kooten and Bulte, 2000), are commonly accepted in the field of ecological impact assessment (Rees, 1996). Its methodology is grounded in the physical measures of the ecological limits and the environmental impacts of the human activity and it provides a theoretical foundation for the evaluation and comparison. Essential in the metric is an interpretation of the goal of the ecological sustainability that is to live within the bio-productive capacity of the earth. The tool that is being used is clearly focused on the ecological sustainability and with its creator acknowledging there is an additional need for the social assessment frameworks (Wackernagel and Yount, 2000). Thus, the Ecological Footprint is not proposed as a complete measure of sustainability. Rather, it is presented as a tool captures the main global ecological concerns within its metric w hich reflect a crucial precondition for the sustainability- living within the ecological limits of the earth (Wackernagel and Rees, 1996). The inventors of the Ecological Footprint have put more emphasis on various potential uses for the tool. Since this tool has been developed, the use of the tool has spread quickly into a different range of applications. Its use now has been expanded from global and national accounts, such as the WWFs Living Planet Reports (WWF, 2006) to the regional, city and local area scales. With respect to urban planning and development, Wackernagel and Yount (2000, p. 34) define the Ecological Footprint as a powerful tool for comparing the ecological demand of design options such as housing densities, transportation systems or infrastructure development. They say that: urban design has a significant impact on peoples consuming behavior. It influences not only how they shop, but also how they move around, what kind of houses they live in and what kind of urban infrastructure services they acquire. In another study, according to Muniz and Galindo (2005), they use the footprint analysis of travel-to-work behavior in Barcelona so as to conclude that urban form has a clear effect on the travel behavior which is greater that the socio-economic factors for example the average family income, and however that compact city policies that include the public transport and a mix of populations and activities resulting in a lower transport Ecological Footprints. With growing concerns on the environment, there are several international agencies which are using environmental data/information and indicators to evaluate current conditions and trends to provide information on the state of the environment. There are other environmental tools that exist. EIA- Environmental Impact Assessment: It is a process with a set of procedures. It is an assessment which helps decision-makers. It is a project that causes minimal degradation of environmental resources. It is a planning tool that is viewed as an integral component of sound decision-making. It also helps to identify, evaluate and mitigate the impacts caused by developments. Sustainability Assessment Tools for Residential Estates In order to decrease the ecological impact of urban development, it is important to make changes to the urban form and to the urban development practices. This process of change needs tools that can understand the ecological sustainability in the context of urban development that is it must be able to achieve the aims and targets, facilitate change in the practice and measure the progress that is being done gradually. EF- Ecological Footprint: It accounts for the use of the planets renewable resources. Its application includes analysis of policy, benchmarking performance, education and awareness raising and scenario development. As a policy tool, the ecological footprint is still in its infancy. Businesses are vital associates in delivering both the social and environmental scope of sustainable development. As organizations, they both meet the demand for goods and services essential to improve quality of life and, in the process, impact on the environment either directly or indirectly through their use of natural resources and their creation of wastes. One issue for businesses wishing to benefit from better environmental and social performance is the lack of consistent and credible methodologies to compute monitor and communicate evolution. latest years have seen a rise in companies using environmental management systems but few of these take life cycle approach and report for flow of material and energy. An amount of approaches are obtainable to businesses wishing to evaluate the environmental impact of their products or services. The matter of how much utilization is sustainable is also one that require to be addresses. Ecological footprint Analysis exclusively approaches the problem of sustainability by reference to the overall carrying capacity of the world at the same time , it also link to the individual behavior to organizational, regional and global. There are many tools which measure environmental progress and consumption of resources, such as the ISO 14000, the Environmental policies and measures (EPM), the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), I-O, SPI, the LCIA, and the Environmental Management System (EMS). Critically assess EF with other existing environmental tools Ecological footprint is an approximate of the amount of space on the earth that a person uses in order to survive using obtainable technology. This space includes biologically productive land and water area that produces the resources devoted by that person such as food, water, energy, clothing, and building materials. It also comprises the quantity of land and water necessary to incorporate the waste generated by that person. In line with the management consultancy mantra that to manage something effectively you need to be able to measure it, the metrics of sustainability have become progressively important in the policy world, as governments, NGOs and others attempt to identify whether their strategies and policies are indeed beginning to have an impact. This metric turn has encouraged support for existing measurement techniques such as environmental audits, environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments and state of the environment reporting, while unchecking a range of new techniques for measuring environmental impacts. These approaches range from sustainability evaluation to more fundamental ideas such as Ecological Footprints. Both new and older techniques for measuring sustainability push for policy saliency, each with its own intellectual justifications, supporters and critics, and in most cases, people whose income or professional standing in some part derive from their adoption and, equally important, local adaptation. The key players in the new metrics industry include those in consultancies of various kinds, universities, NGOs and government departments. We do not mean to assign base motives to any of those involved, since most are strongly committed to developing approaches that help shift behavior patterns in ways intended to bring about environmental improvements. We do, however, want to argue that there is more at stake here than who measures sustainability best; underlying the competition for how to measure sustainability is an ethical debate about what it is that needs to be measured, why and how. In terms of environmental problems, for instance, there is always basic political and scienti ¬Ã‚ c biases in choosing which problem merits most research money attention in different contexts. For instance there are other measuring tools which are used like: Environmental Policies and Management (EPM) This is used by government or other authorities to implement their environmental policies. That is, it focuses on problems arising from human impact on the environment which retroacts onto human society by having a negative impact on human values such as good health or the clean and green environment. Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) An  environmental impact assessment  (EIA) is an assessment of the probable positive or negative impact that a planned project may have on the environment, jointly consisting of the  environmental, social and economic aspects. The reason of the evaluation is to make sure that decision makers consider the resulting environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project.   EIA is one type of tools, which may assist the sustainable development of a country. According to (Fitzpatrick,2003 and Sinchair,2009), they said that the EIA is focused on the implementation of preventive means and due to the fact that the aim of the EIA is the identification of possible risks and effects as early as possible. The EIA gives an opportunity to take into consideration the potential effects of the designed activity and thus it consider the other alternatives in the project implementation form various perspectives. Hence, this is done by identifying the potential environmental, social and health aspects of the planned activity (Glasson et al., 2005). Advantages of EIA Disadvantages of EIA Simple to use It is difficult to change and it is open to poor judgment by decision-makers It is flexible It is complex and ambiguous Allows for good judgment It is slow and costly It can improve It can lose flexibility Environmental assessment is a systematic procedure that is designed to identify, examine and assess the environmental effects of a particular product or an activity. The aim of this procedure is to spot any foreseeable unpleasant impacts throughout the life cycle of a product. Environmental Assessment allows an effective combination of environmental considerations and public concerns into the decision making. The environmental assessment tools are divided into four sections namely: Life Cycle Assessment Environmental Risk Assessment Life Cycle Cost Eco-efficiency Environmental Protection Act (EPA) This act is to provide for the safety and supervision of the environmental assets of Mauritius so that their ability to sustain the society and its development remains unchanged and to raise agreement between quality of life, environmental defense and sustainable development for the present and future generations; more exclusively to offer for the legal framework and the tool to defend the natural environment, to plan for environmental management and to direct the inter-relations of environmental issues, and to guarantee the proper implementation of governmental policies and application provisions necessary for the security of human health and the environment of Mauritius. The model consist of six parts: Food, energy, textile, paper, waste, and construction land. Various resource or energy consumption items are converted into biologically productive land areas. There are six basic types of biologically productive land: Cropland, grazing land, forestland, construction land, fossil energy resource land, and water (marine) area. The ratio between the consumption of a certain type of goods and the yield per unit of such goods on a certain type of land is the biologically productive land area required for that type of land. Multiply the figure by the corresponding equivalent factor, and we have the required area for this type of land under local or international standards. Wherein: EFi: represents the ecological footprint of a certain category, normally expressed in units of global hectares (ghm2). Qi: represents the total consumption of a certain type of goods, normally expressed in units of kilograms (kg) or tons (t). Pi: represents the world average yield of this type of goods, normally expressed in units of kilograms/hectare (kg/hm2). Ei: is the equivalent factor for the type of the land which produces this type of goods. And, the value of the coefficient varies with land type.

The Causes Of The Civil War Essay -- essays research papers

"The tragic ‘fireball in the night’ imagined by Jefferson had finally rung. The Missouri Compromise had failed. Proslavery and antislavery civilians clashed in the streets and took up arms. Thousands of Northerners were willing to die for their beliefs. The Civil War had begun. The states were at war with each other." This dividing battle between the North and the South was unavoidable. The Civil War was caused by economic, political and moral problems. It all started by an alarming increase in a need for cotton, which triggered the building of a barrier between two territories in a growing nation. New Machinery was changing the textile industry in New England and Britain. These mills needed more and more cotton, creating a new demand in the south. For this trade with Europe, after 1812, raw cotton accounted for one-third all cotton exports of the United States. By 1830, it increased to half. Cotton quickly became a big money-making cash crop for the South and North economy alike. But the demand also revived the need for slaves. The plantations had to be worked, and blacks were a cheap, efficient way to get the cotton picked. To make their jobs easier, Eli Whitney took advantage of the new idea, and invented the cotton gin(short for engine). It rapidly cleaned the seeds from the short, sticky fibers of upland cotton, the variety that grew all over the South. The process was simple: a roller carried raw cotton along wooden slats. Sharp metal teeth thrust through the slats and quickly pulled the fibers from the seeds. In 1794, he obtained a patent. Whitney still earned little because it was simple enough for manufacturers to copy. Even though the machine made attaining cotton faster, slaves were still pushed to work harder and produce more. Blacks under captivity certainly led a harsh, unfair life. But that is where the white southerners believed blacks belonged. Northerners knew better. Harriet Beecher-Stowe, a female, black abolitionist was aware of these conditions. She wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was published in 1852, and described the incredible cruelty and horrors of slavery. Stowe wanted to "write something that would make the whole nation feel what an accursed thing slavery is." Her novel became widely popular, and within a year, readers had bought 300,000 copies. Wherever it went, it ... ...opular sovereignty was also put into effect. This act gave the voters, in each territory, the right to decide whether to become a free state or a slave state. Together, they rendered the Missouri Compromise meaningless. As the South’s dependence on slavery increased between 1790 and 1860, the gap between the Southern cotton economy and industrial economy of the North widened. The opposing goals and needs of the North and South created a deeper conflict- a conflict that eventually lead to war. Basically, the North fought to keep the union together, and give black slaves freedom, while the South fought for their lifestyle, homes, and to keep things together economically. The northerners had high moral issues while the Southerners wanted to keep their plantations and cotton production. They weren’t willing to give up there slaves. There were too many conflicts between the two territories, so they fought to resolve them. John Brown, a vengeful abolitionist put it best, "the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away, but with blood". The north won the war, and ties were broken. The barrier they had started to build so long ago finally crumbled.

Duty and Change in Melville’s Bartleby Essay -- Philosophy, Rousseau

Natural philosophers of every century of human existence have asked what we owe to each other, society or government. In The Origin of Civil Society, Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that the only natural form of duty is to one’s family, and all other obligations are based on agreement (57). Henry David Thoreau, in 1849, wrote in Resistance to Civil Government (sometimes known as Civil Disobedience), â€Å"it is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support† (143). This sort of conflict, which has accompanied all men at the great changes in society, is what drives conflict in Herman Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener. Melville, like the Byzantine architects, crafts a work of art that studies a microcosm of the macrocosm. That is to say, by looking at the relationship between two people, Melville is able to explore the larger context around them, specifically the radical change of society in the mid-19th century. Like Thoreau, Bartleby’s famous word, â€Å"I would prefer not to,† send a shockwave through contemporary expectations and give rise to how a person approaches a situation. Bartleby and Thoreau are both transcendentalists, and look to return to a Rousseauian state of nature. They have both arrived there after a journey of self-examination – most definitely in Thoreau’s case, and most probably in Bartleby’s – and their non-conformist attitudes raise questions of what is expected of people with regard to their duty to society and each other. Bartleby in particular makes the nameless... ...say that Bartleby did nothing, but passive resistance is a powerful tool, whereby laws have been changed and governments have topped. Thoreau wrote â€Å"[a] man has not everything to do, but something; and because he cannot do everything, it is not necessary that he should do something wrong [emphasis in original]† (145). Bartleby, by following in the transcendentalist’s footsteps, does nothing, and makes a profound statement by it. Perhaps it was fated that Bartleby must die in the manner he did. After all, the narrator consulted the eminent pre-destination theologians Priestley and Edwards, and admits to believing that Bartleby’s presence â€Å"had been all predestinated from eternity† and that â€Å"it was not for a mere mortal like [the narrator] to fathom† (167). Accepting the idea that Bartleby is a microcosm of the macrocosm, this would imply that change is inevitable.

Transcultural Nursing Essay -- Health, Nursing

Understanding and implementing culturally competent and culturally congruent care are the key factors for effective and excellent nursing care (Srivastava, 2007). However, health care provider’s roles and responsibilities in meeting health care needs of the clients in consideration to cultural perspective and diversity are getting more challenging and complicated due to increased number of people from a group of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, which, in turn requires health care providers to acknowledge and understand variations of cultural healthcare beliefs, values and practices. Transcultural nursing is essential in the process of nursing care because of the different factors, which includes increasing diversity and multicultural identities, emergent use of health care equipment that occasionally dispute the cultural ethics and beliefs of the clients and a rise in feminism and gender issues (Andrews & Boyle, 2008). Maier-Lorentz (2008) states that the fundamental aspect of healthcare is transcultural nursing since culturally competent nursing care help guarantee patient satisfactions and health beneficial outcome. According to the Royal College of Nursing (2009), providing care with respect to health and illness based on the expectations of the people’s values, beliefs and practices corresponding with culture is the focal point of transcultural care. Influenced by the principles and theories of transcultural nursing, the author defines transcultural nursing as a discipline of culturally care for individuals, families, groups and communities representing different cultural lifestyle, values, habits, life process, beliefs and practices. Furthermore, the author believes that the aims of transcultural nursing are to ... ...attain cultural competence and provide adequate cultural care, healthcare provider should develop the desire to achieve congruent care, be aware to any personal biases and prejudices, acknowledge and support other person’s cultural belief and practices, avoid stereotyping and cultural imposition and most importantly identify and overcome the barriers to effective assessment and intervention. Understanding one’s own culture, being supportive, appreciative and sensitive to other culture and differences are the key factors to achieve cultural competence. The author recommends that aside from being focused to care provider’s cultural competency and cultural assessment, transcultural nursing theories and concepts also needs to develop ways on how to avoid cultural negligence, overcome personal biases and resolve cultural barriers that may affect quality nursing care.

Extra Classes

Extra classes a waste of time and resources SOME schools extend schooling time to hold extra classes. The schools think that this will guarantee straight A’s students. I do not think so. After-school hours are for students to play games, join some social events or other beneficial activities. And the school holiday is a very crucial time for students because they can rest and indulge in their favourite pastimes like reading, playing outdoor games, travelling, etc, which they would not otherwise have the time for. All these activities are beneficial to them as they are in their growing years.Malaysia is a tropical country with a hot and humid climate and it is not conducive for students and teachers alike to study and teach in the hot afternoon. Extra classes are normally an extension of school hours, which make it very uncomfortable, and coupled with their tiredness make these lessons a waste of time and resources for both teachers and students. One thing about extra classes i s that control and supervision by the school authorities tend to be lax. And because of this, students often flout school rules by playing truant and bringing mobile phones to class.This then defeats the whole purpose of having tuition classes! So why have tuition classes? It is a waste of time and resources to parents and the school authorities, not to mention the desired end-results. Students should be committed to their studies when in school. Schools should develop each student’s talents according to his or her potential. That will effectively nurture students. Extra classes burdening and unnecessary? EF International Academy www. ef. com/academy More parents are sending their children, aged between 7 and 10, for private tuition.They cite competitive school environment, crowded classrooms and changing standards of language as reasons. But there are also perceptions that extra tuition places unnecessary stress on the child, writes Rozanna Latiff SHARON Lieu, a 36-year-old mother of three, sends her eldest daughter, aged 8, for Mathematics and English tuition twice a week. Even though Lieu does not believe that primary school children should be attending tuition classes, her daughter's struggle to catch up with her classmates had forced the matter. â€Å"In school, her class is so big that the teachers don't have time to help the few who cannot follow the lessons. Some have even told the students, ‘Ask your tuition teacher' when the child says they can't understand. † Lieu said she had little time to teach her daughter on her own as she was often busy with work and taking care of her younger children. â€Å"I wish that I did not have to send her for tuition, but it is the only way she will be able to keep up. â€Å"I think many parents feel the same way, especially as schools have become more competitive. † School authorities and parent groups generally agree that sending children under 10 years old for private tuition was unneces sary.Some, such as the National Collaborative Parent-Teacher Associations of Malaysia president Associate Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ali Hasan, believe that sending pupils for tuition too early could even be detrimental to their social development. â€Å"Children should be allowed time to play and learn at their own pace. â€Å"Putting too much pressure on them to succeed academically at an early age means that there will be less time for them to learn to socialise or communicate effectively with others. â€Å"Stress can also affect them emotionally. â€Å"Ali said the most important part of early education was learning the basic skills of reading, writing and counting, which weaker students can master under the education ministry's learning and numeracy (Linus) remedial programme. He said tuition should be a measure of last resort when the student is truly struggling with schoolwork. â€Å"It is crucial that they learn to read and count by Year Three. â€Å"But apart from that, paren ts should just let children be children. † Nevertheless, the Education Ministry believes that there is little to stop parents from sending their children to tuition outside school hours. Ultimately, it is the parents choice. â€Å"I'm not saying it is healthy, but parents just want the best for their children. â€Å"If they believe tuition is the way to go, then there is nothing to stop them,† deputy education minister Dr Puad Zarkashi said. Puad, however, remained sceptical on whether private tuition centres offered the best education for children. â€Å"The best kind of tuition allows the child to study one-on-one with the teacher. â€Å"But most centres usually have several students to one teacher. Some centres even crowd up to 40 students in one class. So, I don't believe they make much of a difference.Read more: Extra classes burdening and unnecessary? – Top News – New Straits Times http://www. nst. com. my/top-news/extra-classes-burdening-and-unne cessary-1. 52841#ixzz2IFQypuPW [pic]About EF Founded in 1965, EF Education First is the world's largest private education company. We offer language education for students and professionals in more than 50 countries. [pic]EF Research Unit at University of Cambridge EF has established a Research Unit at the University of Cambridge Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics to collaborate on fundamentally improving the way students learn English. EF International AcademyAdmissions Office Haldenstrasse 4 Luzern 6006 Switzerland Tel: +41 41 417 46 31 [pic]EF International Academy in New York, Oxford and Torbay are IB world schools. [pic]The EF schools in London, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, Brighton and Bournemouth are accredited by the British Council. [pic]The EF school in Torbay is accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education [pic]The EF school in New York is a member of the American Association of Intensive English Programs. [ pic]EF International Academy schools are accredited by the University of Cambridge International Examinations Centre.