Title Ix An Imperfect But Vital Tool Of Lgbt Students

Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972, are a specific set of laws that prohibit any entity that receives any kind of federal funding, regardless of how it’s received or whether they are Public or Private, from discriminating based upon sex. This can mean via Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or grants received via the Federal Government for building or renovations. It also forbids sexual harassment (Title). However, one question remains unanswered; â€Å"Does Title IX cover sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination?† Adele P. Kimmel is a Senior Attorney with Public Justice, based out of the Washington D.C. office. According to her profile on the Public Justice website, Kimmel is a â€Å"widely quoted authority on school bullying and Title IX issues† (Public). Her 2016 article in The Yale Law Journal, â€Å"Title IX: An Imperfect but Vital Tool of LGBT Students†, focuses strictly on how Title IX helps or doesn’t help individuals of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community in schools, whether it be in grade school or college. Throughout her article, Kimmel uses government resources, court documents, New York Times and organizations that are fighting for the rights of LGBT individuals all over the United States, such as Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and he Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN). In the introduction, Kimmel mentions Seth Walsh, a sixth grader who came out and experienced a dramatic change in his life from his peers, so much

Caffeine Inhibited Saccharomyces Cerevisiae s Dna Repair...

Caffeine inhibited Saccharomyces cerevisiae’s DNA repair system by disrupting its recombinational process post UV-irradiation Alexa Alana, Annie Cribb, Tommy Paranzino Biology 131- L8 ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae was tested for the effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the presence of caffeine to observe whether the drug would enhance or inhibit the DNA’s recombinational repair process after the yeast has experienced UV damage. We hypothesized that caffeine would obstruct the yeast’s DNA repair process by interrupting its recombinational process post UV-irradiation, and we predicted that increasing caffeine levels would decrease percent survival. By exposing the yeast to three different caffeine concentrations (0, 5, and 10 mM) at 1x104 microjoules/cm2 of UV irradiation, we measured the effects of caffeine dosage on DNA repair. We reported that an increase in the caffeine concentration level causes a decrease in the percent survival, supporting our hypothesis. Caffeine, therefore, can be perceived as a model compound in the nullification of DNA-damage checkpoints. Moreover, the inhibition of the recombinational repair process provides a molecular e xplanation for the reduction of DNA-damage checkpoint responses and for the increased UV-sensitivity of caffeine-treated yeast cells. INTRODUCTION Ultraviolet (UV) light is an intermediate source of energy that can damage cells. The DNA in cells is especially sensitive to UV irradiation. The rings of the

Strategic Analysis SWOT Analysis of Starbucks Corporation Free Essays

string(66) " negative factors affecting the consumer† \(Cebrzynski, 2007\)\." INTRODUCTION Starbucks brand name is one of most admired famous global business in the world (Moore, 2006, p.7). Moreover, in terms of marketing, Starbucks always is the case study for discussing about it successful marketing and branding strategies. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Analysis SWOT Analysis of Starbucks Corporation or any similar topic only for you Order Now Because of the fall of the economy, it was forced to close 700 stores that were unable to make enough profit and cut thousands of jobs in America, UK, and Australia after a drop in sales in 2008. The brand was also facing the issue of their customers choosing a cheaper option over their higher coffee prices. Starbucks then was applauded for their handling of crisis situations. This report will apply relevant theory and practice of strategic marketing management to explore the situation, contributing factors and management of marketing strategies in the financial crisis sector, reflecting the happenings and identifying recommendations relevant to Starbucks International Coffee. OVERVIEW OF STARBUCKS COFFEE The Seattle-based Starbucks Corporation, which founded in 1971, is nowadays a multinational coffee and coffee house chain with over 15,000 stores in in all 50 states and 43 countries outside of the United States (Pham, 2008, p.8). Serving consumers everywhere (Moore, 2006, p.12.), the aim of Starbucks is to establish and leverage its powerhouse premium specialty coffee through rapid expansion of retail operations, new distribution channels and successful make it coffee a global product for millions customers. At Starbucks Coffee, the mission is â€Å"[†¦] to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time.† (Clampitt, 2009). Starbucks has been and always be proud of their commitment to maintaining quality, integrity, and great taste of coffee through the course of its growth and the high value placed on the employees/partners worldwide (LeFort, 2008) . Store Expansion Strategy of Starbucks Throughout the 1990s, Starbucks had started developed a â€Å"three-year geographic expansion strategy† (Clampitt, 2009) then Starbucks’ store launches grew more successful in revenue (Creamer, 2007). Not just selling the coffee, Starbucks’ model with opening new stores next to doors and inside shopping malls caused them to increase in value than all other competitors (Cebrzynski, 2007) In 2004, Starbucks announced to analysts that it had a very aggressive target to double its rate of expansion. Their stated goal was to grow to 15,000 stores in the US. According to the report in an article, Starbucks has more than 13,000 locations around the world, and has overstretched itself with the long-term goal of 40,000 stores worldwide (Woodward, 2007, Clark, 2008). Appendix 4, 5, 6 There is a raised question that whether it is a bad business decision for coffee chain Starbucks to expand its brand too quick. (Cebrzynski, 2007) is also suspicious that has Starbucks lost its â€Å"Starbucks experience† by growing that big(Business: Trouble brewing, 2007) FINANCIAL CRISIS AND â€Å"COMMODITIZATION† OF THE BRAND A crisis, according to (Brown, 2003) is â€Å"a decisive moment†, â€Å"a turning point†, â€Å"a time of great difficulty†, then marketing cannot possibly be in crisis. Mr Schultz, Starbucks’s CEO, saw the crisis coming. He had discovered the problem of their own development strategies: â€Å"Stores no longer have the experienced soul with the warm feeling of a neighbourhood store†. At the beginning of 2007, he did warned about the â€Å"commoditisation† of the brand that the expansion from 1,000 to more than 13,000 shops over the past ten years, in order to achieve the growth, development, has led to a series of decisions that make a watering down of the Starbucks experience. (Businessweek. 2007). The decline of Starbucks is the result of over expanding previous years, has been criticized by those who oppose globalization such as ( Klein, 2009): â€Å"Instead of opening giant stores on the outskirts of town, Starbucks chooses locations ri ght in the range of the inner area already full with all kinds of coffee house. This strategy relies heavily on the cost reduction by purchasing multiple quantities at wholesale prices like Wal-Mar, however, affected more by the competitors† The rapid growth has obviously caused Starbucks some problems. For the first time in its 37-year- history Starbucks lost customers and profits collapsed 97% (Jagger, 2008) during the fourth quarter of 2007 after the ubiquitous coffee chain was forced to absorb the effect of weakening demand. The footfall had declined in the UK, where it has two other big coffee retailer: Whitbread’s Costa and Caffe Nero as well, -$6.7 million after tax, compared with a $158 million profit for the same quarter last year. (Lee, 2008). Although company officials still do not believe growth is an issue (Cebrzynski, 2007), first time in five years, Starbucks was knocked out of first place in the coffee-and-doughnuts category by Dunkin’ Donuts (Creamer, 2007). And it was the biggest faller in the index by 7 points to 42 out of a possible 100. (Leroux, 2008) Issue Reasons As (Schindehutte et al., 2008) argues that â€Å"[†¦] something is clearly affecting the ability of firms and business units to sustain performance† ), suffering from a rough economy and its own strategic missteps, Starbucks had to admit their own mistakes, much of which is self-inflicted (Ignatius, 2010) In current economy, as a classic dilemma of any big business, while trying to expand, Starbucks not only have to deal with other factors like competitors and the mortgage crisis, they also competing with themselves. Size may have brought success to Starbucks, but it has also led to issues of brand depersonalisation. In the rush to open more stores, Starbucks is experiencing what all successful brands do when they move from being a small, niche firm to a global entity (Golding,2009). Moreover, there are some extra affections from the environment, such as: – The brand’s bottom line has been hit by the rising costs of raw materials. â€Å"[†¦] now Starbucks isn’t for some people† said Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks (Not enough froth Starbucks, 2008). Fancy Starbucks coffee has also struggled to compete with cut-price rivals such as McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, as these traditionally food-focused outlets have begun to sell their own premium and reasonable coffee offer (Clark, 2008). – As the financial crisis has spread to the real economy, â€Å"a perfect storm of negative factors affecting the consumer† (Cebrzynski, 2007). You read "Strategic Analysis SWOT Analysis of Starbucks Corporation" in category "Essay examples" The flagging economy and soaring gas prices are responsible too (Leroux, 2008). Consumers are worried of rising gas prices, energy bills, declining home values, the weak dollar, tighter credit, therefore giving hard consideration to how they spend their money. They even already scale back on restaurant dining that made restaurants are slowly creeping out of their thoughts. STRATEGIC MARKETING MANAGEMENT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS Crisis management is much more than coping with a crisis, it is identifying, studying, forecasting, stopping and avoiding crisis as well. (Clampitt, 2009) Continuous improvement and monitoring in business operation can detect and prevent an upcoming crisis (Rhee Valdez, 2009). Effective marketing can contribute to a firm’s growth through better anticipation of market opportunities, calibration of risks, a tighter linkage of technological possibilities with market concepts, and faster adjustment to shifting market needs and competitive moves. (Day, 2003) For their part, market-driving firms such as Starbucks is demonstrating how business model innovation results in sustainable advantage and superior long-term performance in a wide range of industries. (Schindehutte et al., 2008). When a crisis or disaster strikes, companies must analyze and choose from many strategic plans. One way they do this is by using a SWOT analysis – a strategic planning tool used to evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.The goal of a SWOT analysis is to identify key internal and external factors that affect the desired outcome.Strengths and weaknesses are internal to the company and include things like wage/benefits, corporate culture, leadership, marketing, and operations. Opportunities and threats are external to the company and include things like government regulations, competition, and economic and social forces. (Clampitt, 2009) The focus for the strategic management to understand the market and industry processes of Starbucks and must be able to integrate valid and reliable SWOT analysis so as to determine future strategies for business development and growth in the global market. SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis will provide enough awareness for the Starbucks and its business management and operations with regards to their strategic management implying relevant points for their resources as well as market approaches and processes in order to stay in shape and in control of their business environment. Applying a SWOT analysis to Starbucks global expansion strategy shows why they have been successful overcome the crisis. Appendix 7 The business strategy of Starbucks is identical to the corporate level strategy, focusing on coffee-related products as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world and maintenance of great environment for every staff member in its retail stores. Continual quality improvement is crucial to competitive success and the perfect symbol for the dilemma that faces world trade (Schindehutte et al., 2008). Therefore, it is typical to give the promises to improve service, reduce growth and expand marketing efforts for responding to a decline in customer traffic (Business: Trouble Brewing, 2007). Equally as important, company should not lose sight of their brand heritage (Cebrzynski, 2007).A long term business strategy built upon the hundreds of little things on a daily basis which is the key to customer relationships in the future (Cannon, 2002). Re-energizing Starbucks Process When a decline in customer traffic happens to any chains like Starbucks, it’s a signal that the company should re-examine their positions (Cebrzynski, 2007). It is the market that provides signals both to the entrepreneur and marketer regarding what value is needed, when it is needed, and how it should be delivered (Schindehutte et al., 2008). Starbucks needs to go back to its â€Å"roots† (Cebrzynski, 2007) and make its brand special again. Company brought back the original CEO, Howard Schultz to restore the company’s shine. Starbucks knows it needs to do something new (Skenazy, 2008). Re-structure: Back to basics Chairman Howard Schultz take back the reins from ousted CEO James Donald, not only closed 100 unspecified, underperforming locations with weak sales but also closed most stores across the US simultaneously in order to retrain to improve â€Å"customer experience† at American stores and to â€Å"get back to the core† (Creamer, 2007). Besides, Geoff Vuleta, CEO of New York innovation consultancy Fahrenheit 212, had a radical solution that open a chain of microstores devoted solely to making coffee. â€Å"No travel cups, no music, no machines, just amazing beans and a narrow range of the best-in-the-world coffee drinks,†, just moving brand back to the basics. Resource-led Strategy: Focus on service quality experience Everyone should know that nothing is better for a business than a satisfied customer who can talk to others about their experience with our service (Cannon, 2002). First of all, â€Å"Starbucks really needs to refocus on the luxury coffee experience; the smells, the soundsâ€Å". They also gained customers positive experience in stores by well-trained staffs who were knowledgeable about the company’s products, who eagerly communicated the company’s passion for coffee, and who had the skills and personality to deliver consistently pleasing customer service (What’s Brewing at Starbucks, 2011). Starbucks wanted to turn all Starbucks employees into partners, give them a chance to share in the success of the company and make clear the connection between their contributions and the company’s market value (Thompson Strickland, 2009). From its founding, Starbucks set out to be a â€Å"third place† to spend time, in addition to home and work.(Business: Trouble Brewing, 2007) To remedy that, the company plans to improve its service. Field managers will spend more time in the stores to make sure service really does get better, and new baristas will receive additional training. (Cebrzynski, 2007). New breakfast line, featuring a proprietary baked and chilled food program was unveiled in September. Howard Schultz said the smell of the sandwiches overpowered the aroma of coffee, one of the chain’s signature features (Jennings, 2008). Following the lead of other coffee chains, Starbucks will also be offering a customer loyalty card for the first time. (Ahmed Walsh, 2008) In an attempt to rvetain loyalty in the UK, Starbucks has introduced free coffee refills for anyone buying a hot drink and has ramped up its hitherto negligible marketing activity (Lee, 2008). Market-led Strategy: Reputation management can take a while for a bad reputation to hit your bottom line, or a good one to increase profit (Cannon, 2002). As word-of-mouth is a primary marketing tool, Brian Collins, chief creative officer of New York’s Collins design research firm, suggested company should better use its digital resources to learn the tastes of regular customers and reach target audience by creating social networking tools like Facebook or Twitter and blog page. They also used it both as a way to stay interacted, involved with their current customers and look for new ones. According to TNS Media Intelligence, Starbucks spent $40 million in the first nine months of 2007 (York, 2008), launched its first national TV campaign to defend its ownership of the coffee segment from encroachment by McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts and other chains (Cebrzynski, 2007). They also created the site â€Å"My Starbucks Idea† (http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/), which gives consumers the opportunity to post ideas, suggestions, to vote and discuss about what they want to see from Starbucks. If they gain support, these ideas may be chosen to carry out to change the company in its business process, product development, experience development, and store design.(Jarvis 2008) â€Å"Change will not happen overnight,† Mr. Schultz said. â€Å"It will evolve over time, but I ensure you a positive change will occur. I, along with our dedicated partners, will strive to exceed the expectations of our customers every day.† (York 2008) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE STRATEGY Some experts therefore believe its unbranded stores initiative is not only logical, but necessary. ‘It needs to focus on the inherent values of being local; it needs to employ local staff; it needs to be suitably different from Starbucks’ corporate image.†It is a phenomenally successful company that started off as a local brand but grew incredibly quickly,’ he says. ‘The brand was originally loved and respected by everyone, but the corporate world decided it had become too big.As the company expands, the culture and corporate strategy must be maintained for success (Jennings, 2008). For the recommendation, Starbucks should be able to sustain the company’s growth and make the business become strong global brand. What could Starbucks do to make its stores an even more elegant milieu that welcomes rewards and give surprises to customersWhat new products and new experiences could the company provide that would belong to and be associated with Starbu cksAnd how could Starbucks reach people who were not coffee drinkersStarbucks must continue the fixed-price purchase commitments in order to secure an adequate supply of quality green coffee beans and to limit its exposure to fluctuating coffee prices in upcoming periods. (ThompsonStickland, 2009) However, David Anderson, director of Cada Design Group, argues that most consumers don’t have issues with the brand. Consumers are looking for a home away from home, and ‘want it in an environment that isn’t so heavily corporate branded’. ‘They think customers are brand loyal or product loyal, but they are not. It comes down to convenience and providing a space people want to be in.’ ‘It wants to regain a community personality and the image of the neighbourhood coffee shop.(Golding, 2009) CONCLUSION Starbucks Coffee’s heyday was back when the corporation announced the business results in the first quarter this year reached U.S. $ 2.7 billion, with net profit of 242 million dollars (nearly 300% increase compared to same period in 2009). This is also the result of efforts to revive the brand had been likened to a giant. From the case of Starbucks, what is the lesson for businessBecause development needs, the business diversified products and services is perhaps natural. A long time, Starbucks has gone with their own race shop system extension. This group has become the pride of American business people. The market strategy of Starbucks is a classic lesson in the textbook business. More services they desire to acquire a lot of customers. In fact, they have plummeted, but in time to edit. So go in-depth development (product quality, service key) to get a solid foundation for expanding business. But do not be too ambitious expansion width, expansion, missing the core. Marketing once again demonstrated its magic to bring Starbucks back to the track. The results of consumer research shows that of Starbucks, the main indicators in the business achieved a high level of satisfaction over a year ago. Although Starbucks enjoyed success in the past few years, there are a few obstacles looming. Since the popularity of the coffee house idea has grown, some cities wish to issue regulations on the coffeehouses due to complaints of late night patrons becoming uncontrollable. In conclusion therefore, Starbucks was the only company with anything close to national market coverage. The company’s efforts to greatly increase its sphere of strategic interest via its joint ventures and the move to sell coffee in supermarkets that represents such ongoing drive in order to continually reinvent the way Starbucks operate its business. (Thompson Stickland, 2009) Amidst the environmental, social, and economic challenges and changes for Starbucks, its chairman, president, and chief executive officer, Howard Schultz, pledges â€Å"Even during this time of change for our company, one thing that will never change is our long-standing commitment to conducting business in a responsible and ethical manner. Going forward, we will only deepen our approach by continuing to integrate social and environmental responsibility in every aspect of our business.† With its various and numerous awards in â€Å"Best Business,† â€Å"Most Admired Company,† â€Å"100 Best Corporate Citizens,† to name a few, Starbucks is becoming one of the most respected brands in the world. (Clampitt, 2009) How to cite Strategic Analysis SWOT Analysis of Starbucks Corporation, Essay examples

Racism in O’Connor Essay Example For Students

Racism in O’Connor Essay In O’Connor’s â€Å"The Artificial Nigger† the essences of prejudice and degradation are captured to a great extent. Reality shows us with needless consistency people in a need to feel better about themselves only achieve it by being better than someone else. Therefore every opportunity at hand, including racism, is taken advantage as a form of gratification. Mr. Head, the grandfather, is an example of one of these people. He is in competition with seemingly everyone he encounters while in a day trip to the City. Racism is just one of the ways he utilizes to demean others while elevating his own self-image. O’Connor’s depiction of a Southern, and close-minded person goes into the extreme depths of what constitutes as well as produces an imprudent racist. Mr. Head, a self-proclaimed missionary, plans on taking his grandson, Nelson, to Atlanta city. Intending to introduce Nelson to the focal point of his racist teachings. However, Mr. Head’s su bconscious motives are to have Nelson believe his grandfather’s existence in his life is indispensable. He hopes Nelson dependency upon him increases. Doing so would not only make his own self feel superior but also satisfy his own dependency needs. He’s content with the thought that once Nelson has had the opportunity in experiencing the city. He will â€Å"be content to stay at home for the rest of his life†(251). His only comforting thoughts, as he laid to sleep before the day of the trip, were not of turning Nelson into a racist however, of â€Å"thinking how the boy would at last find out that he was not as smart as he thought he was†(251). Degrading anyone, including his own grandson, is another way by which Mr. Head can feel satisfied with himself. He welcomes and anticipates the point at which Nelson questions his own intelligence. Towards the beginning of the story Mr. Head belittles Nelson rationalizing once arriving in the city â€Å"he willâ €™ve been there twict†(250). Considering Atlanta was his place of birth Nelson believed it to be true. Logically Nelson made sense nevertheless, â€Å"Mr. Head had contradicted him† (250). Irony is first present here as Mr. Head continuously accuses Nelson of being ignorant, yet Mr. Head is the one displaying ignorance in every spoken. From the beginning of the story Mr. Head is seen as a character extremely selfish and only concerned with one self. O’Connor reveals Mr. Heads way of thinking to better understand his persona. Her characters are seemingly study cases and in reading thoughts we first begin to see personality disorders. Many such disorders are responsible for unreasoned thinking. I believe mental conditions are a definite underlying factor if not contributor to racial prejudices. Waiting for the train to stop for them, the day of the trip, Mr. Head secretly fears it will not do so, â€Å"which case, he knew Nelson would say, † I never thought no train would stop for you,†(252). The fears Mr. Head had experienced are not typically common within the emotionally stable rather by the antisocial. As soon as Mr. Head and Nelson walked down the aisle of the car train. He lacked respect for any around him. Although it was early morning and people were sleeping, Mr. Head’s volume awok e the passengers; he paid no attention to the rustling he caused by being rude. While en route to the city an event happens that portrays indefinitely the actions of someone, Mr. Head, with low self-worth. What took place in less than a minute revealed to Nelson what was behind all the hatred his grandfather had for Blacks. A group of three, tan-colored people proceeded down the aisle where Mr. Head and Nelson sat. Mr. Head then tells Nelson they were â€Å"niggers,† and immediately afterwards insults his intelligence. Mr. Head belittles Nelson simply because of the lack of recognition towards Blacks. I feel a student is only as good as his teacher. Mr. Head says his student, Nelson, is oblivious to how blacks appear, despite all of his years in learning. O’Connor develops in further detail Mr. Heads inhibitions. It’s obvious Mr. Head lacks parental, as well as teaching skills. I am aware O’Connor didn’t intend to apply any one theme to this story as well as any of her other works however, she clearly illustrated here how â€Å"Ignorance begets Ignorance.† Nelson â€Å"felt that the Negro had deliberately walked down the aisle in order to make a fool of him and he hated him with a fierce raw fresh hate†. He now understood why his grandfather disliked them. The foundation of Nelson’s hatred didn’t commence with the color of the people’s skin but with the feeling he was made a fool of. His grandfather’s insecurities are then put into practice with him along side what motivates racism behavior. What hopes we saw in Nelson to be distinct from his grandfather begin to deteriorate. .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 , .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .postImageUrl , .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 , .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:hover , .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:visited , .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:active { border:0!important; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:active , .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10 .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua7e93f1dc91b51844f3e095f82c8bc10:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Should Highschool Athletes Be Drug Tested EssayO’Connor’s usage of the word â€Å"ignorant† has ironic roots as well. In mid-century when this story, I believe, was written. The definition of â€Å"nigger† was closely related to the word ignorant, compared to how it defined today, which is a derogatory term. O’Connor’s various ways buy which she executes her intents are not, as always, clearly seen or can be easily stated. The relation between Mr. Head’s ignorant actions and the point he calls Nelson ignorant are aspects far too coincidental to ignore. In calling Nelson ignorant he is calling him what he so obviously detests and considers unworthy. Racism is another masked form to put people down to feel about them selves. It’s a shield to hide the truths about people with low self-esteem. Racists denounce entire cultures and regard them and below them. Mr. Head went as far as to place his grandson, a small version of Mr. Head, along side with â€Å"niggers†. He’s acknowledging the faults his grandson has right beside his own. The two are even liked to brothers. So in saying anything about Nelson person he’s saying it unto himself. His own culture’s shortcomings are becoming progressively evident to him. Mr. Head has the ill-mannered audacity to deny the child as his own. While in the city they had the misfortune of their way to the train station. After having been lost for hours they took a moment to rest. Nelson was extremely exhausted and fell asleep quikely. When Nelson awakened he was shocked to see no sign of his grandfather, who was hiding so to teach him a lesson. Nelson dashed off in a desperate search. Nelson ran into an elderly lady, most likely because he felt flustered as any child would to be separated from their caretaker. All of the woman’s groceries had scattered due to the impact the two experienced. When arriving at the scene Mr. Head not only failed to comfort his anxious child. But when told he would be the one held responsible for any medical bills subsequently. He simply replies â€Å"This is not my boy, I’ve never seen him before†. O’Connor again makes it clear Mr. Head is not a person whom can be regarded upon as being mentally justified. Even the woman whom Nelson ran into â€Å"dropped back, staring with horror, as if they were so repulsed by a man who would deny his own image†. He truth he was denying himself. Mr. Head does experience a revelation, which I think was more of O’Connor than a typical Mr. Head. â€Å"He stood appalled, judging himself with the thoroughness of God, while the action of mercy covered his pride like a flame and consumed it†. (270) Realizing wrongdoings are common, amending them is the concept that people tend to ignore. O’Connor undeniably inserted her renowned Christian epiphany. So Mr. Head, now faced with a choice, I believe chooses to ignore his enlightenment. His character throughout the story displayed ignorant, adolescent, frightful behaviors. I find it hard to believe him altering his manner. He’s acknowledged his dependency on Nelson and Nelson now is conforming to him. As they stood watching the train fade into the distance, he comments, â€Å"I’m glad I’ve went once, but I’ll never go back again†. (270) Nelson finally concedes to have experienced the city once, not twice as he adamantly claimed. Fo r Mr. Head choosing to do nothing is a choice in itself. â€Å"The Artificial Nigger† is a great story, which can be used to help better understand what sorts of underlining factors come into play when people have deep hatreds of distinct cultures. Not commonly can a racist attribute all his hate to the color of ones skin. There are almost always other issues, which can be linked back to low self worth. Such as if someone of a different race was promoted while another looked over. Those are such beginnings of racist thoughts and later actions.

Neurofibromatosis & Its Genetic Implications Essays -

Neurofibromatosis & Its Genetic Implications The National Institute of Health defines Neurofibromatoses as group genetic disorders that affects the development and growth of neural cell tissues. These disorders cause tumor growth in nerve tissues, skin changes, and in some cases bone deformities. Of the eight possible subtypes of Neurofibromatosis (NF) at least 85% are represented by NF Type 1, also known as von Recklinghausen or classic peripheral neurofibromatosis. It has a prevalence of about 1:4000 live births. An additional ten percent have NF Type 2, also known as acoustic or central neurofibromatosis and occurs in about 1:50,000 live births (Baskin 1). This paper will deal only with the more prevalent NF Type 1 and focus on the symptoms of the disease and biochemical aspects of the NF1 and the ethical implication of inherited genetic disorders. NF1 is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by multiple caf?-au-lait spots, numerous fibromas, and Lisch nodules. Most manifestations appear during childhood and early adult life. Clinical criteria for diagnosing the disease must include two or more of the following symptoms: (1) six or more caf?-au-lait spots larger that 5 mm in pre-pubescent individuals and greater than 15 mm is post-pubescent individuals, (2) two or more neurofibromas of any type or one plexiform neurofibroma, (3) axillary or inguinal freckling, (4) sphenoid bone dysplasia, (5) optic glioma, (6) Lisch nodules, and (7) a family history of NF1. Other manifestations include learning disabilities, epilepsy, mental retardation, scoliosis, gastrointestinal neurofibromas, pheochromacytomas, and renal artery stenosis (Goldman 2074). Caf?-au-lait spots are pigmented macules of giant melanin granules seen in the basal layer of the epidermis and are distinguished by the presence of more DOPA-positive melanocytes than surrounding skin and a smooth border and light brown color of the macules. Neurofibromas are hamartomatous, a mass of disorganized tissue indigenous to a particular site (Robbins 134), that are composed mostly of Schwann cells, but also contain fibroblasts, mast cells and macrophages. Plexiform neurofibromatoas, large, multilobe pendulous masses, are more deeply situated in large nerves, usually involve the limbs, and are associated with hypertrophy of underlying soft tissues and bones. Lisch nodules, or iris harmartomas, are the most common manifestation of NF1. They are dome shaped, elevated, avascular, melanocytic nodules of the iris with a smooth shape and some translucency (Baskin 1-3). Neurofibromatosis Type I is an autosomal dominant disorder without predilection for sex, race, or color. It shows with complete penetrance with highly variable expression. The gene is located on chromosome 17q and the gene encompasses around 350 kilobases (Goldman 2074). The gene codes for the protein neurofibromine which resembles certain proteins that inactivate oncogenes (Hulsebos 620); thus lacking neurofibromine can lead to an increased disposition to cancer. Although the disorder is inherited, the spontaneous mutation rate is between 2.4 and 4.3 x 10-5 (ncbl.nlm.nih.gov). A predominant paternal derivation suggests that the original mutation occurs in the mitotic divisions that take place during male gametogenesis but not during female gametogenesis. The NF1 gene can show a twelve kilobase deletion involving exons thirty-two through thirty-nine in some cases or a more severe deletion involving a 100 kilobase deletion from exon four near the five prime end of the gene to intron thirty-nine near the three prime end of the gene (nclb.nlm.nih.gov). There does not appear to be any correlation between particular genotypes and phenotypes (Goldman 2074). The sequence of the NF1 gene predicts 2,485 amino acids in the NF1 peptide. The peptide shows some similarity to human GTPase activating protein (GAP). This finding suggests that NF1 codes for a cytoplasmic GAP-like protein that interacts with proteins like the RAS gene product in the control of cell growth in. shows that the tumor suppressing activity of the NF1 protein negatively regulates p21 (RAS) and shows a ?positive? growth role for RAS activity in NF1 tumors. The NF1 gene product neurofibromine contains a GTPase activating protein known as NF1 GRD that downregulates RAS by stimulating intrinsic GTPase. Since RAS and GTP are major regulator molecules in cell growth and differentiation, mutant neurofibromines resulting from somatic mutations in the NF1 gene might interfere with the RAS signaling pathway and thus contribute to the development of tumors (ncbl.nlm.nih.gov). The probability of transmission of NF1 is 50% with each pregnancy,

Why Are Some States Promoting Asian Values So Energetically essays

Why Are Some States Promoting Asian Values So Energetically essays Human Rights and democracy have always created controversy and this can be said to be true in the face of the emergence of the Asian Values discourse. In order to discover why certain states are furthering these types of values we must firstly consider what constitutes Asian Values, secondly the reasons for their popularity amongst their proponents and finally the validity of their arguments. Mauzy writes, "to be sure, there is no single pan-Asian view or set of values, there is no uniform ideology, and there is no single cultural system". Indeed, in view of the diverse nature of the Asian continent it would be unrealistic to suggest all Asians prioritise the same virtues. However, the post-Cold War period has seen the states of the South Eastern region of Asia, especially Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, advance a common batch of specifically Asian Values. It is these values upon which government policies have been based and approaches to Human Rights have been justified Evans. The nature of the Asian Values espoused by the South East Asian states is similar to that of the conservative 'Victorian values' or 'protestant ethic' evident in Western society a hundred years ago. Mauzy. Indeed, the main values held here include respect for authority, deference to societal interest, emphasis on duty, consensual politics and the centrality of the family in social relations .Evans. Thus implying the prioritisation of community interest and basic duties over individual rights. As Christie and Roy suggest, "in East Asia it is often asserted that their cultures protect the community at the expense of restricting the freedoms of the individual, while the West takes the opposite approach". Furthermore, the necessity of a strong state is paramount in the Asian view. The 1993 Bangkok Declaration emphasised the notion of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of a state, whilst overlooking the role of the state as a protector of...

Colombian Trade Treaty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Colombian Trade Treaty - Essay Example Moreover, the market will also be expanded and consequently will competitiveness in general U.S businesses due to the large market created. Considering the fact that the United States account for most of the imports that Colombia receives, elimination of tariffs and other barriers to U.S exports will be advantageous to the U.S. because there will be less spending in regard to customs duty. The U.S. shall also in be a position to increase the number of goods it exports that will have a significant increase in the American jobs created. This is because increase in jobs will be as a result of increased market and increased demand for goods (â€Å"Benefits of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement† 1). Furthermore, American investors will have an opportunity to be protected from unfair practices and treatment in Colombia. This means that, American investors will have an open and level field to conduct their business, and also have a neutral means to settle any disputes that occur as a result of investing. In addition, those (American investors) taking part in procurement business have a guarantee to be treated fairly and in a nondiscriminatory manner when it comes to providing services and products to government agencies and public service (‘Benefits of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement† 3). As a result of having a free trade agreement, the long term economic benefits towards the U.S. will be in excesses because trade between Colombia and itself accounts for less than 1% of the total trade. Thus, scraping tariffs for imports from Colombia will be more of a way to find market for its surplus and financial benefits. Colombia stands to lose a lot despite the other gains made from the trade agreement. The agreement sets an unfair trade relationship with its basis on rules undermining the wellbeing of its people. This is because farmers remain worried that they will be driven out of business and more into poverty, due to imports of cheap goods

ART HISTORY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ART HISTORY - Assignment Example Through the friendship, the affiliates of Kino sculpture were reassured of free enterprise on the either side of the borderland. More so, the proponents so the sculpture of Kino as the reminder of modernization that will encourage economic development and prosperity through the removal of discrimination. Paradoxically, those who opposed it so took it as a poignant reminder of discrimination that was prominent at his time (Widdifiied 212). On the other hand, the Villa sculpture was also received with both hospitable and hostile response. The proponents of the Villa sculpture perceived it as a source of inspiration for the continued pursuit of justice and equality as he did in his time of struggle with impartiality. Widdifiied, the mission that Villa came up with in Christianity that helped many through faith are among sweet memory the sculpture invokes (220). Those that opposed the sculpture were a reminder of the sad regional history of those days. To them, a sculpture was evocative of the struggle that the two regions have

My Cyber Identity-Blog Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My Cyber Identity-Blog - Essay Example Edelson (2005) describes it in simple words as "just" a browser interface to web site publishing. Blogs are used by different sections of the society for different purposes. While the perceived benefits are many, so are the threats and risks to the society and its people. Mehan (2006) refers to the blogsphere world as colorful and varied as the animal world. There is an evolutionary struggle for supremacy amongst bloggers. A blog is ranked by the number of hits it receives and the number of outbound link that it has. Mehan clarifies that there are all levels of bloggers – ranging from those that have entered the world of bloggers and up to the founding fathers. To some blogging is merely a hobby but for many blogging can translate into very big business. There are some who blog almost everyday and they are able to attract advertisers or even product endorsement offers. There are different sites that offer tools to assist in meaningful blogging. For instance, Site Meter offers a free, basic hit count and link log in exchange for posting a logo-link to their website. And if this was not enough, there are software tools that boost the blog’s hit count. There is also an exchange program where people surf other blogs in exchange for others v isiting their blogs. It is now a part of the elite culture followed by the upper middle class – to read blogs. This is evident from the fact that many corporations have their own blogs. The marketing departments benefit too from such blogs. Rauchway (2007) reports in The New Republic that blogging have helped to marginalize scholarly Internet discourse. Blogging has helped a doctoral candidate Scott Eric Kaufman, to develop for himself a much higher profile. When he posted a chapter of his dissertation and sought advice, he received 66 commentaries from people of different disciplines. Blogging produces a truly better debate, opines another blogger but its practitioners do not

Benefits Of TV For Children

Benefits Of TV For Children Television viewing is an unavoidable part of the current modern culture. Most people depend on their televisions for news, education, weather, culture and sports. Under parental supervision and limited viewing time, television can provide numerous benefits. If you want to discover the benefits of TV for children continue reading below. Develops analytical skills Through asking questions and determining what may happen in a certain program enables children to learn how to think, predict and solve problems. This also makes television viewing an active experience and enables them to develop analytical skills that will be of benefit for a long time to come. In addition, television time can be considered like a learningexperience where the children can discuss programs and compare shows or characters. Positive influence Kids are largely influenced by the people and things they watch on television, particularly other children. This can either have a positive or negative effect on them. Recently, childrens TV programs have started to promote some positive topics like environmental awareness and healthy living. As children see their beloved characters making good choices, they will also be influenced to perform similar actions. LONDON Television, when appropriately managed and supervised, can be a positive influence in a childs life, and its impact is likely to be improved through the use of a digital TV recorder, according to a report by top psychologist Dr Tanya Byron In the report, Children and Television today, commissioned by Freeview, the clinical psychologist applies the term Viewtrition to the support that should be available when it comes to managing kids TV experiences. Despite the negativity often associated with children watching TV, eight out of 10 parents questioned believed it has a positive effect on their childs development, including helping them to expand their imagination (63%) and broaden vocabulary (60%). The research also shows that 50% of parents said having a digital TV recorder has revolutionised their childs viewing in a positive way, and parents recognise that having one, makes it easier to control and plan what their child watches around busy family routines. Byron said: I, too, believe that television has a positive role to play in a childs development, but it does need to be monitored and managed responsibly. Each parent knows their child best and the Freeview Viewtrition Guide is about giving parents information and advice that they can then adapt and use to help provide their children a balanced TV diet. Other key findings include 66% of parents identifying the positive effect TV is having on their childs numeracy and musical skills. The research includes surveys with 1,880 parents of children aged between two and 11, courtesy of Mumsnet.com. Television does, in fact, have a positive influence on children, because it is quite educational. Theres no denying that television has a potentially damaging influence on children in teenage and college years, if it leads to sedentary lifestyles. But, in early years, it can really help. Educational programming, like Sesame Street and related shows, can help teach kids letters, numbers and important concepts that will help them thrive and take care of themselves later in life. Also, much of childrens programming can help stimulate and develop their imaginations, leading them to lives of creativity. I believe that television can have a positive influence on children, when the parents are involved. There are several educational programs on television today, including Sesame Street and Super Why, that do teach children numbers, letters and other subjects. When a parent is able to sit with a child and use these shows as a teaching tool, then children can benefit positively from the use of television. Positive Effects Of TV On Children Preschoolers can learn the alphabets, colors and numbers from television. Children can get information on wildlife and expand their knowledge with quiz contests and others games on TV. With television, children can keep a track of the latest happenings and the current events. Television comes across as an excellent form of entertainment for kids, in the form of cartoons and kids programs. Learningopportunities If there is a subject your kid enjoys, it is highly likely there is an entertaining and educating movie or TV show that explores that subject in depth. Actually, you may be amazed to find that most children love and watch educational TV programs aimed at grown-ups. For instance,nature and documentary shows are not only entertaining, but they are also very educational for children. Furthermore, through watching television shows, children can discover animals, things or places that they could not have seen otherwise.Nonetheless, children should not watch too much television, instead they should engage in active things such as sports and other hobbies. Excessive TV watching can cause weight problems like obesity and also affect the intellectual skills of children. Educational and Informative With cable channels such as Discover, National Geographic and the History Channels, watching TV can be as educational as going to school. Plus, how many times have you learned something while watching a regular TV series? If it werent for all the police and lawyer shows on TV, would anybody other than lawyers know what Miranda rights were? Where kids are concerned, TV and movies get a bad rap, but with healthy viewing habitsand parental supervision, limited screen time can be a positive experience for children. Here some ways children can benefit from watching TV and movies: TV can help kids learn about a variety of subjects. If theres a subject your child enjoys, more likely than not, there is a TV show, movie, or educational DVD that explores the subject in detail. You might be even be surprised to find out how many kids watch and love educational shows aimed at adults. Rachael Ray, for example has a huge following among kids and tweens, and herprimetime show often features kids in the kitchen. Childrens shows, whether they bill themselves as educational or not, may offer opportunities to spark learning. For instance, was your child wowed by the Red Eyed Tree Frog on Go, Diego, Go!? Go online to look at pictures and read about the frog. In this way, kids are able to see how fun learning can be and establish a habit of finding out more when things interest them. Documentary and nature shows are also entertaining and educational for kids. A great example: Meerkat Manor, on the Animal Planet, makes a soap opera out of meerkat life and has kids hooked on the drama. Through media, kids can explore places, animals, or things that they couldnt see otherwise. Most kids are not able to visit the rain forest or see a giraffe in the wild, but many have seen these things on TV. Thankfully, educationally minded producers have given us many shows and movies that allow viewers to see amazing footage ofnature, animals, society, and other peoples. Kids and adults alike can learn from this type of media and gain a greater appreciation for our world and the animals and other people who inhabit it. TV shows can inspire kids to try new activities and engage in unplugged learning. When kids see their favorite characters engaged in fun learning games, they want to play too. Kids also like learning activities more if they involve beloved characters. Preschoolers shows are especially effective for generating ideas for learning activities and using characters to motivate kids. If you have a child who loves Blues Clues, for example, you can create clues and a riddle for them to solve at home, or challenge your child to create the riddle and clues. Or, turn a regular activity into a challenge and encourage your child to solve it like the Super Sleuths do. TV and movies can motivate kids to read books. Of the new movies that are released each year, you can bet that several of them are based on books. Parents can challenge kids to read a book with the promise of going to the theater or renting the movie when they finish it. Or, kids may see a movie and like it so much that they decide to read the book. Discuss the differences between the book and the movie to help kids develop thinking skills. Kids can build analytical skills by discussing media. What do you think will happen next? Who did it? What will the result be? What could that character have done instead? Asking these types of questions as you co-viewwith your children will help them learn to think, problem solve, and predict, making TV viewing a more active experience. More important than just memorizing facts, developing thinking skills will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Also, remember those compare/contrast tests in school? You can help prepare kids for this type of literary thinking by discussing programs with them. Compare and contrast characters or shows. Who is the main character? Describe the plot. What was the setting and main idea? What was the conflict and how was it resolved? Use TV time to help kids practice for all those essay tests, and they might find that talking about this stuff can be interesting and fun! Parents can use TV to help kids learn the truth about advertising. Advertising may be annoying, but it does present yet another opportunity to develop kids thinking skills. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, young children may not even know the difference between programs and commercials. They are just soaking it all in and applying it to their reality. As a parent, you can explain the purpose of advertising to your kids and alert them to any deceptive tactics. Allow them to analyze the methods used by advertisers to sell a product. Good role models and examples on TV can positively influence kids. Children are influenced by people they see on television, especially other kids. Obviously, this can have a negative result, but it can be positive too. Lately, kids TV shows have begun promoting some positive agendas such as healthy living andenvironmental awareness. As kids see their favorite characters making positive choices, they will be influenced in a good way. Parents can also point out positive traits that characters display and thereby spark valuable family discussions. Daniel Anderson, a prominent researcher on the subject, sums up the situation with children and media perfectly stating, I hope the broader impact of my research will increase awareness at many levels so that we can be cognizant of both the promise and the peril of what we are doing. Media truly can have a positive effect on children, but it is up to the parents, caregivers and educators in their lives to ensure that kids viewing experiences are enriching and not damaging. http://kidstvmovies.about.com/od/healthytvhabits/a/tvgoodforkids.htm

The Beer Game :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

The Beer Game To see how decisions at one part of a supply chain effect the overall performance of a system, we ran a simulation called the beer game. The supply chain consists of a retailer who orders from a distributor who orders from a wholesaler who orders from a factory. At the beginning of each period, each stage of the chain orders upstream and receives the order shipped out to them two periods ago (the order they placed 4 periods ago) unless the next stage upstream is backlogged. All orders are eventually filled when inventory becomes available. The holding cost specified for each location are (in $/keg.period): factory: 0.25, distribution center: 0.50, warehouse: 0.75, and factory: 1.00. Additionally, the penalty cost for a shortage is zero for all stages except the retail stores where the penalty cost is estimated to be $10.00 per keg/period. After trying many different strategies, the best policy I was able to come up with had a total cost of $122.00. This was achieved using choice 4, the base-stock policy. This policy re-orders a specified amount, less inventory on hand and pipeline inventory. The player specifies the base stock quantity for the retailer, warehouse, distributor, and factory. When this policy was used at each point in the supply chain, the lowest cost strategy was achieved. Location Base Stock Amount Cost Retail 300 101.55 Warehouse 210 10.21 Distributor 210 7.70 Factory 150 3.41 Total 122.87 Because the retail store encounters such a high penalty for shortages, it is best to keep them well stocked. They also have the highest holding â€Å"overage†cost, but at $1.00 it is only 1/10 of the shortage â€Å"underage†cost. If the â€Å"overage† and â€Å"underage† costs were equal it would make sense to always order enough to anticipate having the mean (50) on hand. This policy is not optimal however, when it costs the retailer more for a shortage than for excess.

Probation and Parole: Good or Bad Alternatives to Incarceration Essay

The crime problem is ever before the eyes of the society, and the financial and human costs of attempts to deal with it are the focus of much attention not only from the criminal justice system; it is of hot interest in the media, during public and parliamentary debates (Tonry â€Å"Punishment Policies† 6). Political lead ¬ers, no less than ordinary citizens, are concerned about the hardship and jeopardy that prison life inflicts on criminal offenders, yet they are justifi ¬ably fearful of the consequences for society if criminals are not incarcerated (Geerken & Hayes 552). This ambivalence pervades the central question that the probation/parole system seeks to answer: how can prisoners be released to supervised liv ¬ing in the community without endangering society? As permanent reformation of criminal justice system is on in the U. S. , reformers’ passions and persistence continue unabated. In every state and the federal system, calls are made for sentencing guidelines, mandatory penalties, and â€Å"three-strikes† laws; for more use of community penalties; for crime reduction through deterrence and incapacitation; and for crime reduction through treatment and prevention (Tonry â€Å"Sentencing Matters† 103). Such focus on the issue of alternatives to imprisonment of offenders signifies great importance of the question of efficacy of existing parole/probation system. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which parole and probation resolve the problem of declining crime rates and accomplish two-fold task: ensuring smooth adjustment of ex-prisoner/convict to society, while at the same time protecting society. Toward this end we will consider the essence of parole and probation, examine how their effectiveness is evaluated, analyze statistics on the recidivism rates for those on probation and parole, explore factors influencing such rates, and make a conclusion. According to estimations, any given year during last few decades about 4 million offenders in the U. S. are on state or federal probation or parole (Roberts & Stalans 34). It means they are liberated from prison and allowed to stay under surveillance among the rest of the society while they accommodate to life in the free community. Probation and parole are similar in being substitutes for impris ¬onment. Probation offers full-fledged diversion, especially for offenders not previously exposed to incarceration, while parole short ¬ens the exposure to imprisonment (Petersilia 566). Probation is a treatment program in which final action in an adjudicated offender’s case is suspended, so that he remains at liberty, subject to conditions imposed by or for a court, under supervision and guidance of a probation worker. The word â€Å"probation† derives from Latin, its root meaning being â€Å"a period of proving or trial† (Tonry â€Å"Punishment Policies† 7). Probation program is designed to facilitate the social readjustment of offenders. The program rests upon the court’s power to suspend sentence. The probation period is served in the community rather than in a correctional institution. Should the probationer seriously breaches the conditions imposed, probation may be revoked, in which case the court will invoke the appropriate penalty (Petersilia 567). The word â€Å"parole† stems from French, meaning â€Å"promise†. Probably the term was first used in a correctional context in 1847, by Samuel G. Howe, the Boston penal reformer (Champion 163). Like probation, parole is a treatment program. But the parolee, unlike the probationer, has served part of a term in a correctional institution. His release is conditional, contingent upon satisfactory behavior. He is under supervision and treatment by a person trained in parole work (Petersilia 563). Both approaches are less costly to administer than the prisons because full surveillance and provision of basic needs for life are not necessary and be ¬cause human services in the community as those accessible to all residents can become available. To differing degrees, the two approaches contribute to preserving family ties, when such ties exist, and enable willing offenders to provide economic support for dependents (Tonry â€Å"Punishment Policies† 9). The return of convicted offenders to the community under supervision is authorized with some degree of official optimism that the selected individuals will undertake positive behavioral change either because of their self-correction or the influence of benign community forces (Geerken & Hayes 554). A common gauge of probation/parole effectiveness is recidivism of parolees and probationers (Allen 5). Some of them are returned to prison or changed to a different treatment program, depending upon whether they violate conditions of their probation/parole or commit new crimes and are convicted of them. With the rapid growth of community corrections, a greater variety of treatment programs exist to accommodate clients’ needs. Thus, for instance, eligible parolees may be permitted to participate in work or educational release options. Other parolees may be allowed weekend visits with their families. Yet others may be placed in halfway houses where they can readjust to community living from the more highly regimented prison environment (Champion 169). Statistics shows that in the U. S. around 2,000 community correctional programs are functioning, and a number of them are sponsored by the state. Many of the states’ probation and parole agencies currently experience an excessive caseload. For instance, in California and New York often the caseload per one agency officer amounts to 400 clients, although in countryside it is about 25 clients (Petersilia 574). This, unsurprisingly, leads to lowering efficacy of probation/parole programs. Thus, according to various estimations, just no more than 62% of parolees and probationers successfully accomplish their probation/parole period. Empirical studies demonstrate that two thirds of them perpetrate new offences within the period of three years after their sentence completing (Allen 4). Moreover, those on probation/parole often commit grave crimes such as murders; many are under court orders to undergo a course of medical treatment for their alcohol/drug addiction. About 300 thousand probationers are registered in the list of probation/parole agencies as absconders which means, actually, they are just hiding and ignore criminal justice system (Petersilia 571). Scholars exploring the topic of probation/parole effectiveness on the basis of empirical evidence often admit that parole surveillance has been shown to produce an unsatis ¬factory human relationship without proven effect (Tonry â€Å"Sentencing Matters† 132). Thus, as they argue, parole revocation, influenced by bureaucratic considerations, is an unfair process. Parole assistance, impaired by its linkage with surveillance and revocation, may do some good, but there is little evidence to this effect (Champion 173). But because release, surveillance, and assistance are late interventions in a person’s criminal history, parole can be only partially blamed or credited for outcomes – principally the degree of recidivism – that have a complex of causes (Roberts & Stalans 42). So, it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of probation and parole by themselves. Nevertheless, any evaluation must begin by reviewing the goals of probation and parole. The first and most frequently cited of both are to protect society and to help the person committed offence as it was mentioned above. This means protecting society from crime and helping the probationer/parolee toward a crime-free life, in short, to reduce criminal behavior. No one could quarrel with this goal, but efforts to achieve it are based on the theories of incapacitation and rehabilitation, with their consequent difficulties and costs: preventive incarceration of prisoners who might not return to crime and the errors, waste motion, and false hopes of treatment programs (Geerken & Hayes 551). It is evident, that the most effective community protection is that which results from change within the offender, so that he/she no longer wants to aggress against society. But statistics cited above confirms how difficult is to implement those theories into practice to achieve such inner transformation of ex-offender. In his tough and straight-out article George Allen, governor of Virginia, regards pretty high recidivism rates in the U. S. as a direct result of light sentencing policy and application of probation and parole programs (5). Surveys of public opinion demonstrate that majority in the society agree with such view. Thus, four out of five Americans acknowledge that they would be more likely to vote for a political candidate who advocated harsher sentencing (Roberts & Stalans 31). Allen argues that â€Å"3 out of every 4 violent crimes – murder, armed robbery, rape, assault – are [†¦] committed by repeat offenders†, that is why his administration abolished parole, established the principle of â€Å"truth-in-sentencing†, and amplified by a factor of five the amount of time that violent criminals in fact stay in prison (4). Allen advocates that the only perfect crime-prevention method is incarceration, and argues that measures undertaken by his administration resulted in noticeable decline in all categories of recidivism in Virginia, which for the period of 10 years could prevent about 26 thousand violent offences and save more than $2. 7 billion indirect costs for the state (6). So, as our study revealed, the issue of effectiveness of probation/parole system and its assessment is a very complex one, especially controversial question being effectiveness of existing treatment programs within this system. Approximately two-thirds of all criminal offenders are recidivists. Parole boards are not perfect in their decision-making, and frequently, offenders are released short of serving their full sentences only to commit new crimes within months of being paroled. Much uncertainty of purpose and practice in the decision-making of probation departments and parole boards, waste motion in supervision of probationers/parolees, injus ¬tice in methods of revoking parole, and inadequacy in the provision of community rehabilitative assistance are the issues to be resolved by policy makers in criminal justice system. Hence, advocates of harsher sentencing seem to have some rationality when they argue that violent offenders have to know that the state will not tolerate their crimes, and they will stay in jail for full sentence terms. They ascertain that would be the surer way to protect the citizens from community’s most dangerous members. But, at the same time, effectiveness of existing probation and parole treatment programs could be enhanced which would raise positive results of them in lowering recidivism rates. The measures to improve probation/parole system could include provision of adequate funding (which allow developing comprehensive community-based rehabilitation and intervention programs), ensuring effective management (e. g. educing caseload per probation/parole officer), and elaboration of reliable instruments for assessment of offenders’ risk and needs during decision-making on probation and parole releases. Finally, it seems that if community would be much more involved in helping ex-offenders to adjust to their life at liberty, they would be less willing to commit further crimes. If above-listed would be attained, probation/parole system would undertake the functions of assessment, diagnosis, monitoring, and quality control of interventions while currently it plays the role of just alternative punishment.

ALI Surname Meaning, Origin and Family History

ALI Surname Meaning, Origin and Family History The Ali surname derived from the Arabic root Ê•-l-w, which literally means high, elevated, or exalted. The Ali surname is especially common in Arab countries and the rest of the Muslim world. Surname Origin:  Arabic Famous People with the ALI  Surname Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay)  - American athlete, boxer and philanthropistLaila Ali  -  athlete, boxer and television personality; daughter of Muhammad AliTatyana Ali - American actress, model and RB singerImtiaz Ali  Ã‚  -  Indian film director and writer Where Is the ALI Surname Most Common? According to surname distribution from  Forebears, Ali is the 38th most common surname in the world- found most prevalently in India where over 1.1 million people bear the name. The Ali surname is among the ten most common last names in Bahrain (1st), the Maldives (2nd), Trinidad and Tobago (2nd), Sudan (3rd), Tanzania (7th), Algeria (7th), Chad (8th), Fiji (9th) and India (9th). Surname maps from  WorldNames PublicProfiler  also show the Ali surname as especially common in India, but does not include data from most Arab countries. Other regions where the Ali surname is fairly common include Kosovo and several regions of England (South East, West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire and Humberside. Genealogy Resources for the Surname ALI Ali Family Genealogy Forum: This free message board is focused on descendants of Ali  ancestors around the world. Search or browse the archives for your Ali ancestors, or join the group and post your own Ali family query.FamilySearch - ALI  Genealogy: Explore over 1  million results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Ali surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.GeneaNet - Ali  Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Ali  surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries. Resources and Further Reading Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Word Choice Tortuous vs. Torturous - Proofread My Paper

Word Choice Tortuous vs. Torturous - Proofread My Paper Word Choice: Tortuous vs. Torturous The way that language evolves is fascinating to word nerds like us, especially how different words develop from the same origins. â€Å"Tortuous† and â€Å"torturous,† for example, can both be traced back to the Latin term torquÄ“re, which means â€Å"to twist.† This shared root is why these words are similarly spelled. However, â€Å"tortuous† and â€Å"torturous† also have importantly distinct meanings, so you need to know how each is used. Tortuous (Twisting or Complicated) The literal meaning of â€Å"tortuous† is fairly close to its Latin origins, since it means â€Å"full of twists.† We might use this term to describe a long and twisting route, for instance: They followed the tortuous road up the mountain. Are we nearly there yet?(Photo: Srdjan Marincic/wikimedia) However, â€Å"tortuous† can also mean â€Å"excessively complicated,† such as in the following: It was difficult to follow his tortuous speech and the audience left the hall confused. The important thing to remember is that â€Å"tortuous† mean â€Å"twisting† or â€Å"complicated.† Torturous (Involving Torture or Suffering) â€Å"Torture† refers to inflicting pain as punishment or to gain information (e.g., â€Å"the confession was given under torture†). It can also mean â€Å"extreme pain or suffering.† The term â€Å"torturous† therefore means â€Å"related to or involving torture†: Prolonged solitary confinement is considered a torturous punishment. More generally, we sometimes use â€Å"torturous† to describe something that is very unpleasant: Professor Jones’ lectures were torturously dull. These uses might seem a long way from the root of â€Å"twist,† but they make more sense if you imagine someone writhing and twisting in pain while being tortured! Were not sure whats happening here, but it definitely looks torturous. Tortuous or Torturous? â€Å"Tortuous† and â€Å"torturous† are often confused because something â€Å"tortuous† (i.e., complicated) could also be considered â€Å"torturous† (i.e., unpleasant). For example: G. W. F. Hegel’s tortuous writing is torturous to read. Possibly not a fun-loving dude. Nevertheless, since these terms have very distinct meanings when used literally, you should always make sure you’ve picked the right word for what you’re describing. Remember: Tortuous = Twisting or complicated Torturous = Involving torture or suffering

Pick one of three topics about Modern Europe history Essay

Pick one of three topics about Modern Europe history - Essay Example The French revolution took place within the period 1789 and 1799 in Europe history and is the most active politically and socially with upheavals. The participants majorly included country liberals and radicals with a common agenda to take the country to the next governance stage (Voices from the battle of the Somme, 1990). In my view, the events shaped the history of Europe positively and brought into the minds of many people demand democracies and republican as opposed to theocracies and absolute monarchies. The revolution was full of warlike activities and global conflicts, which stretched the Caribbean towards the Middle East. It marked an imperative change phase for the entire Europe continent (sieyes, 1998). The unity among citizens of a nation and the spirit to fight for a country was evident in the Napoleonic war where Emperor Napoleon in the French empire led to marked series of coveted conflicts against many powers and coalitions in the continent Europe. The European armies were the immediate reformed agents from the war. The use of mass conscription was the major idea adopted across the Europe nation played by the Napoleon armies. It strengthened the governance of French across most Europe nations. It is recorded that out of a total more than 50 battles; Napoleon only lost less than 10 battles (Walter, 1992). Other leaders have regarded the determination in the mind of the ruler as paramount in many nations when they rely upon military defense. Marking the end of the rule was the waterloo defeat. Arms and battles do not safeguard countries in my view better yet the events under the rule helped to strengthen belief and attachment to their countries by fighting for it. The unification of Italy and Germany was probably the foundation of modern nationalism. The year 1848 was a rest from the upheavals that swept across Europe where the liberals and nationalists who participated in the events took a new turn by

Economic Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic Analysis - Research Paper Example of iPad in India, among the various variant of countertrade the company may need to employ the switch trading which refers to the practice where one company sells its products to another company on the condition that it buys other products from another country (Levy, 2009). This is favorable as the Apple Company could hire an iphone application developer from Indian i.e. hire iPad App developer Company. India investment on research and development grew from 0.8% GNP in 2007 to 0.96 in 2010. This has had an impact on the overall improvement in the research sector. The ipad may need to employ buyback which comes about when a company builds a plant in a different country or offers other services like training and provides equipments to that other country and agrees to take a portion of the plant’s yield as a partial payment for the contract (Kelly, 1988). Since independence, India has relied on foreign aid to finance some of its economic developments though it has been trying to be as self reliant as possible. Going back to history, the World Bank in 1958 organized the Aid-to-India syndicate which comprised of the World Bank and thirteen other countries i.e. Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and United States, Belgium, Britain and Denmark (Phull, 2007). Conjointly, the European nations have contributed a significant amount of aid to India. In the late 1950’s and 1960’s India received aids from the United States which accounted for 8 percent of all financial aids to India (Phull, 2007). India has a large population size, and the labor force comprises of two extremes from a large number of illiterate workers to a sizeable number of literate workers with professionalism in science, engineering and capable of working anywhere (Mazumda, 2008). Over the last two decades, the number of people in labor force grew by approximately 50 percent, and the unemployment rate has reduced from 8.3 percent to 6 percent from 1983

MICRO PORTFOLIO TASK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

MICRO PORTFOLIO TASK - Essay Example The six large producers have equal share of market demand and they have successfully threatened the entry of other firms in the industry. According to the viewpoint of the researcher, the firms in the above market are in an Oligopolistic market structure. In this type of a market structure, there are two to ten sellers in the industry. The price and output decisions undertaken by each firm is on the basis of strategic behaviour. In this type of a market structure, each of the above six firms have the power to influence the market demand. This means that each firm undertakes the decision about the prices and the quantity of output to be produced on the basis of the assumption of the business decisions undertaken by the other potential rivals in the market. However, it would be interesting to note that degree competition in the above mentioned Oligopolistic market is zero. The six large firms in the above case are enjoying equal market share and hence, equal profit. This means that the firms have undertaken the decision of Cartel in the Oligopolistic market structure. ... However, on the whole, the market demand curve is downward (Manne, 2012). Figure 1: Profit of Each Firm (Source: McEachern, 2012) The above graph shows the equal profit shared by each of the firm. Cartel in the Oligopolistic market structure which occurs when the nature of the product sold by each of the firm is less differentiated. In the above case, all the firms are engaged in the production of less differentiated cereals. The Herfindahl index is the index that measures the size of each of the firms in a particular industry and comments on the level of existing competition in there. It is calculated by the sum of the squares of the market shares by each of the firm in the industry. An increase in the value of the index indicates a fall in the level of competition on the industry and a rise in the level of market power. The value of Herfindahl index for the above concerned case: Where, N= number of firms on total. So, i = 1 to 16 (6 large and 10 small). S =market share of each firm . H= (0.152+0.152+0.152+0.152+0.152+0.152) + (0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012+0.012) = 0.136 (13.6%) The value of the Herfindahl index for the above market (13.6) indicates a high degree of market concentration among the six large firms. Under such a situation if the market shares of any of the six large firms decrease or increase then the value of the index would be increasing substantially. This is the reason for which the firms in the industry have adopted the decision of Cartel in the market (Riley, 2012). (c) It has been analyzed that the level of concentration among the firms in the above industry is high. Only six firms in the industry have occupied about 90% of the aggregate market share. On

Literature Review on Lime Essay Example for Free

Literature Review on Lime Essay LIME Grenada Ltd is a well established company that has been in operation since 1989 on the island of Grenada. Currently, LIME Grenada serves a customer base of over 109,000 residents, excluding the large number of visitors to its shores. This company has a significant role to play in bringing the telecommunication services to the nationals of Grenada. They are referred to as the market leader in fixed-line services and broadband services in the state of Grenada. As a result, this company has the competitive advantage of offering the widest range of broadband and fixed-line services. With one competitor namely DIGICEL, LIME Grenada operates as one of the leading providers of mobile technology and as such, facilitates an important aspect on the path towards globalisation. â€Å"Mobile communications have fundamentally changed the way in which we are able to live our lives. The way we work, the way we play, the very way in which we communicate have all changed since the advent of the mobile phone† (Cable Wireless Communications Plc. 010). This company, competing strongly with its market challenger DIGICEL, offers a wide choice of quality, leading-edge mobile devices including the latest blackberry, Samsung galaxy and much more of the latest gadgets used in data and voice services to ensure that nationals of Grenada is on the same level with the rest of world. In terms of fixed-line services, LIME Grenada stands strong since they are the sole provider of this service which facilitates the quick and easy communication amongst nationals themselves and the rest of the world. With the provision of broadband services via fibre-optic submarine cable and satellite system, LIME Grenada proves be very valuable in the transformation of various means of conducting activities. In the education sector, LIME Grenada facilitates E-learning through the provision of internet or broadband services. Students are no longer confined to the walls of a classroom since LIME Grenada makes it possible for persons to pursue education through distant learning via the internet. Individuals are now able to access, interact and share information without the physical classroom. Importantly, this company allows easy access to a wide choice of sources of information for educational purposes to enhance learning and teaching. Added to this, is the implementation of videoconference connectivity to link campuses on the island and thus, allow access to a wider range of programmes to all individuals. This was not possible many years ago, however, with the assistance of LIME Grenada this has become a reality. The education sector is therefore transforming in this rapidly evolving digital society as Grenadians are now privileged to capture and utilize various educational opportunities. In Grenada’s domestic business sector, there is an increasing use of the internet, a key factor propelling ICT use, for conducting business transactions. In the banking sector, LIME Grenada makes available the opportunity for banking institutions to provide 24-hour online services to their customers. Persons can visit the various websites and access their accounts to conduct and view transactions. Among the many companies are Grenada Cooperative Bank, Republic Bank Grenada Ltd and First Caribbean International Bank. Furthermore, individuals and businesses can also conduct electronic commerce (e-commerce) via the internet. One such example of this is Carriasoap. com where numerous electronic, household, office and even party supplies are sold over the internet. Besides the aforementioned, LIME Grenada also provides employment opportunities in the business sector as the company endeavour to meet the needs of its market. In the not too distant future, there is high anticipation for the potential use of the broadband services provided by LIME Grenada to include E-taxation services through the Electronic Governance Regional Infrastructure Project (E-GRIP) within the country. This would comprise persons registering online and obtaining a tax identification number, taxpayers filing their monthly and annual returns online and taxpayers paying their taxes online thereby avoiding long lines. With the introduction of this system, the Inland Revenue Division will provide 24 hour online services to all taxpayers (Mitchell, Keith C. 2013). There is also the potential for development of an ICT knowledge park, the provision of WI-FI service in public buildings such as Government offices, schools, hospitals and police stations, which has already begun as stipulated by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell in his budget presentation in March of this year. With this, the importance of the telecommunication sector in Grenada is certainly visible. With proper measures in place the telecommunications sector is bound to encourage technology transfer across the globe which results in improved productivity in all sectors and increased standard of living. On the contrary, there are many hurdles that may be faced by LIME Grenada Ltd in the telecommunication sector. With globalisation, competition among mobile operators is inevitable. In Grenada, this is evident with the establishment of DIGICEL, a company offering mobile services to nationals of the country. This has ended LIME Grenada’s monopoly in that aspect and increased the potential for the penetration of other mobile service providers. Although competition amongst companies results in low costs and continuity in bridging the digital divide, LIME Grenada has to critically improve services in order to effectively compete with its rivals. This company has to look critically at the services they can offer and at the pricing strategies they can use so as to counteract the hindrances or threats that new competitors present. They have to effectively monitor their competitor’s strategies and develop many ways to counteract their plans and tactics to gain customers. Another hurdle that LIME Grenada may be faced with is the ability to speedily obtain updated technological and communication infrastructure and to modify operations. As with many other developing countries in the Caribbean region, lack of resources, particularly financial and qualified human resources, may also significantly hamper their development process. The telecommunication sector in Grenada is not alone in facing challenges on the path towards rapid growth and expansion via the globalisation process. According to Hylton, Shallon (2012), in Jamaica the challenges encountered with the provisions of telecommunication services vary in nature. Despite the many employment opportunities, there still remains a shortage of trained and highly qualified workers in the field. There is also the problem of cybercrime ranging from software conspiracy, the spreading of software viruses, software hacking and phishing. In Barbados, the high cost of the underlying transport network is creating a drag on the economy. Service firms are keen on liberalization of telecommunications services. Hotels, tour operators and travel services recognize the need for a state-of-the-art network infrastructure for local and international clients. Banks, insurance firms and retailers are heavy data users that require economically priced telecommunications services to be competitive.. Service companies are already at a disadvantage in the lending market due to regional loan practices that fail to recognize intellectual property and soft assets as a basis for working capital. Barbadian service firms advocate telecommunications reform to lower the cost of communications (Schmid, Linda. 2013). Overall, in previous years, people could not communicate across the world or interact without barriers, delays or difficulty (Hylton, Shallon. 012. p. 3). Currently, the new digital and mobile technologies along with the internet services offered by LIME Grenada allow persons to operate as if the world has no boundaries. Grenada in undertaking the liberalisation of its telecommunication market enhances its competitive position and economic growth and improvements in many sectors. Though there are challenges, the benefits outweigh them signif icantly. The literature exploring the significance and impact of telecommunication in this globalising world is quite extensive. Jeniffer Mohammed in Caribbean Studies– An Interdisciplinary Approach (2007) provides a critical insight into information on globalisation and information and communication technologies (ICT’s) which has guided this research thus far. Mohammed stated, â€Å"What a truly globalized world is about is one where there is a ‘level playing field’, where, for instance, everybody can benefit from the trade in technology. This has been happening with cell phones. From the nomadic people of the Sahara to Caribbean people in shanty towns to fishermen going about their trade, almost everyone uses cell phones to communicate. This is an example of something that has been truly globalized and gives us a good understanding about what globalization as a process is really about. It is not that those groups of people are necessarily communicating globally, but the use of the cell phones is a global phenomenon touching all income groups†. (p. 270). â€Å"Digital technologies, the internet and cell phones truly operate as if the world has no border†¦This is the logical meaning of – globalisation – whether applied to trade, finance flows or communication- for some commodity to be equally available to all, anywhere, as if the nation- state did not exist†(p. 70). Moretti, Marco (n. d), in his writing in Globalisation of Mobile and Wireless Communication: Today and in 2020 (2010) stated â€Å"what is happening to the mobile communication market is a good example of positive globalization: in few years mobile phones have spread all around the world becoming a low-cost tool capable of providing wireless connectivity almost everywhere†(p. 19). â€Å"Mobile communications, thanks to the effect of a globalized process of development, are probably one of the most effective means to close the digital divide†. p. 23). The World Bank in their June 2012 publication stated â€Å"Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have great promise to reduce poverty, increase productivity, boost economic growth, and improve accountability and governance. That promise only grew when ICTs underwent a revolution in the 2000s. Nearly 5 billion people in developing countries now use mobile phones, up from 200 million at the last decade‘s st art, and the number of Internet users has risen 10-fold. People across the globe do much more than chat and play games. They learn where best to fish and what market to sell their produce in. They trace cattle from pastures to supermarkets. They report illegal logging and misuses of local budget. They pay bills, send money back home, and receive cash transfers. They do business on mobile phones. They use ICTs to prevent violence against women—and community radio to empower them. They get state-of-the-art schooling online. Governments can use ICTs to transform public service delivery across sectors—health, education, social protection, justice, agriculture, water, energy, and transport—both central and local. ICTs offer an opportunity to revolutionize public service management by capturing information efficiently in shared databases accessible to all government agencies (such as a national database of electronic identification of citizens). ICTs help governments to simplify administrative procedures and share services (such as citizen authentication and payment systems). And governments can pool resources, reduce costs, adopt common standards for information exchanges, and perform government functions more efficiently (with faster response time and fewer errors)† (The World Bank. 2012).

Top Marks For The Best Employee Awards Management Essay

Top Marks For The Best Employee Awards Management Essay Nowadays an increasing number of organizations employ Best Employee Awards as a means to motivate their employees, and managers believe that best employee awards could encourage employees to reach their goals or accomplish their tasks in an efficient manner. In fact, as the saying every coin has two sides goes, top marks for the best employee awards has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore it is crucial for managers to make full use of the benefits of this kind of motivation while avoiding its negatives. This essay is separated into three parts. The first part shows the structure of the essay while the second part focuses on analyzing the benefits and problems of top marks for the best employee awards. At the same time, views from relevant literature and the examples from the case are used to support the points of the essay. The conclusion of this essay can be found in the last part where several useful suggestions are given for operation of organizations. 2. Analyses and Discussion 2. 1 The scheme of Top Marks for the best employee awards and the motivations of using it The Top Marks for the Best Employee Awards is a method of staff motivation and an annual performance evaluation method. It gives managers a chance to recognize the employees who produce the best-qualify work during month or year of evaluation. Usually organizations will evaluate the best employees according to their performances and then award them with bonus, trips, promotion and so on (Murray, 1982). The purpose is to encourage desirable behaviors by spotlighting role models, so that every employee could set a goal to be the best employee. Consequently, organizations could obtain augmentation in productivity and profitability by rewarding and keeping their top performances. 2.2 Advantages of using Best Employee Awards as staff motivators Different organizations set up different awards; however, these various methods will lead to different effects and results of staff motivation. Hence it is really important for organizations to make right use of staff motivators such as best employee awards. According to the literature reviewed and the case, the advantages of using this scheme are summarized as follows: First of all, best employee awards can generate fierce competition between individuals or teams of employees within an organization. While only a few employees could receive awards based on their individual performance, all the other employees usually would regard those awards owners as role models to inspire themselves and to work harder. (Lloyd, 2009). Needless to say, it is a strong staff motivator. As the case mentioned, Mr. Devine takes the best employee awards as a part of an overall strategy to identify who top performers are so that all the employees try their best to improve their performances. Without the competition, the organization will decrease its productivity and profitability. Secondly, intelligently designed incentives can be a boon to companies that seek to retain excellent employees for the long term. Lucrative awards, whether these are in the form of stock or bonuses, make it worthwhile for employees to stay at their firm, even if a salary offer from a competitor is more attractive (Grote, 2005). Incentives can also make employees feel as if their hard work is appreciated and recognized, thus reflecting well on their managers and the company as a whole. Those persons receiving the awards in the organization will become more loyal and respect the value of the organization. As a result, they will put all their energy into work to contribute the organization. Thirdly, by using positive reinforcement to motivate employees, a manager may build a good relationship with his employee, which fosters a sense of trust (Lindner, 1998). In a good manager-subordinate relationship, employees may feel respected and comfortable in their working environment. Providing rewards, both tangible and in the form of praise, can make employees happier. Happier employees often perform better at work. Just as the example of the case mentioned, Stephen Carella was a team leader at Kwik-Fit Financial Services and he set the best employee awards as a goal at the start of the year. He said the best employee awards was a great incentive and motivated him to do his best at work. According to him, when he was rewarded the great cash prize, it was the best moment of his life. Such rewards could make employees more royal to their organizations and they may regard the organizations as their homes, which, in turn, will benefit the organizations. 2.3 Disadvantages of using Best Employee Awards as staff motivators Although there are so many advantages of Best Employee Awards, we should see the other side of it, the disadvantages of it can be concluded as follows: First of all, employee resentment will be a serious problem in the organization. Because best employee awards can only be awarded to few persons, then some employees who think they work harder than award winners will feel unfair (Kerslake, 2002). In other words, in a perfect scenario, where the employees who work the hardest always reap the most rewards, incentives pose little problem. But no companies operate in an ideal world and thus incentives can breed resentment and discord among teams and employees. So like the example in the case mentioned: its very important that staff believe you have chosen the right person; its vital for the credibility of the scheme. It would be a disaster if the prize is awarded to the wrong people. At the same time, Best Employee Awards will lead to poor teamwork because individual incentive schemes by definition encourage individual rather than team effort (Clemmer, (2004). Some employee will focuses on their personal performance but pay less attentio n to the cooperation of team as well as the whole companys interest. Moreover, while its easy to quantify a salesmans performance, it is harder to quantify a staff writers contribution to the department, even if the writer is adding just as much value to the company. That can cause those under an incentive scheme to feel unappreciated as well as lead to the case of the recipients of unfair treatment. Therefore, using negative enforcement as a form of motivation could cause employees to become dissatisfied with their jobs. Unhappy workers typically produce less quality work, become sluggish or fail entirely to meet deadlines (Podmoroff, 2005). So how to make appropriate rewards troubles all the managers. Good rewards could encourage employees but inappropriate rewards may not. In the case, the salesman was awarded Best Employee but felt embarrassment because of the poor prize. As a result, the most excellent employee left the company. Thirdly, even though the organization executes the ideal scheme of rewards, for the best employee, applying too much motivation or offering too many rewards can also have a negative effect. Employees can become over-confident and they may feel that they are the bosses favorite workers, even if they start to slack off on their projects or test the limits of their working relationship with their supervisors (Messmer, 2001). Best Employee Awards may create reluctance to exert  the  expected level  of  effort: workers may believe that management will progressively increase  the  performance targets required to trigger  the  same bonus payment (Smith, 2004). They may therefore be reluctant to carry on at  the  incentives level  of  performance they have achieved, on  the  grounds that this will only result in higher targets that will make  the  bonus more difficult to obtain. 2.4 Recommendations The analysis of Best Employee Awards will help us to make full use of the staff motivation. As to how to deliver powerful praise and rewards in the organization rightly, there are three primary factors that determine  the  effectiveness of Best Employee Awards. The first one is right time.  Managers should deliver praise and awards at the right time, letting employees feel proud about the awards rather than feel ashamed. If award winners feel ashamed, then such awards would go the opposite way just as the two examples in the case. The second recommendation is right person. Managers are supposed to choose the most excellent employees to award (Bruce, 1998). Then, the right persons will be role models of the organization. If not, other employers will be unsatisfied with the awards so that the staff motivation would fail. The organization should give the prize which is what the employees really want. That way the employees will feel that they are valued by the company and will get motivated. The third one is right praise.  We all know that how you say something is as important as what you say.  The  same principle applies in staff motivation. Praising with energy and enthusiasm is more powerful than being stoical about it. In other words, managers should use high praise to reinforce staff motivation. For example, the general praise such as Good job! contributes very little to its effectiveness. The  more enthusiastically supervisors deliver their praise,  the  more impact it has. Regardless of the level of enthusiasm, it is critical that supervisors deliver  the  feedback sincerely. Managers should never leave their  employees  with the  possible notion that the praise is not sincere. 3. Conclusion This essay discusses the positives and negatives of Best Employee Awards, which is a popular method employed by managers to motivate their staff. It first outlines the basic scheme of Top Marks for the best employee awards and then look at the advantages of using Best Employee Awards as staff motivators in three ways. What Follows is the coins of such means of motivation. Finally three practical recommendations are given to avoid those possible drawbacks of using Best Employee Awards.