Monday, September 30, 2019
Jfk Inaugural Address Essay
John F. Kennedys Inaugural Speech Rhetorical Analysis. On January 20th of 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his inaugural speech in front of thousands, while millions were watching on television. He was sworn into office as the thirty fifth president of the United States of America. In his speech, JFK uses rhetorical analysis to persuade the audience, which was filled with a lot of different ethnicities. First, John F. Kennedy uses ethos in his speech.Because he gave his speech in the cold, on an icy day says a lot about him as a person, better yet a president. He delivered his speech in the cold, on a very icy day, the speech couldââ¬â¢ve been postponed but he decided otherwise, which shows that he is willing do to whatever for his country. He also uses ethos by mentioning God. By mentioning God and explaining that God is important in his life, he is making himself seem trustable and relatable. He relates more to the Christ based community by mentioning his faith.Because it was extremely cold outside, he made his speech short. His speech was short but it wasnââ¬â¢t ineffective. By his speech being short because of the weather, that also helps establish ethos because it shows that he cared about the audience. Also in this speech, JFK uses a lot of emotion (pathos). He tells his audience that they will have a say so in the country. He used pathos by making the audience believe that they have a role in this country.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Disruption in Attachment
Attachments can often be disrupted between an infant and its primary caregiver and these particular children can find themselves growing up and developing outside the traditional family environment. Thus not forming attachments can have serious impacts on the development of the infant. Disruptions to attachments can take place due to the lack of physical and emotional attachment (Privation) and separation from the primary caregiver. In disruption of attachments there are long-term and short-term effects of separation.In short-term effects of separation, the infants are likely to respond to the separation from their primary attachment figure with a behaviour pattern in three stages; Protest, Despair and Detachment. Robertson and Bowlby investigated the effects of infants separated from their mothers and found that the distress felt by the infants fell into three categories (PDD). Conversely other researchers such as Barrett have argued that the childs initial response to separation is actually the effort to cope with the feelings produced due to separation.Protest is the beginning, when the child starts to cry, scream and protest with rage when the parent leaves them. The infant at this point will try to cling on to the parent and will reject all attempts by others to try and pick them up. Despair, is when the infants anger seems to have calmed down although they may still feel a little upset, the infant will lose interest in the environment around him and will again reject attempts by other people to console the infant.Lastly there is detachment, at this point if the separation has continued the infant will have started to engage with other people but may still seem cautious, they will also reject the caregiver on reunion and engage with signs of anger. The reaction to short-term was shown by Robertsonââ¬â¢s in their study of 17 months old John who was placed in a residential nursery for nine days, where he was neither mothered by the nurses nor protected fr om other children who attacked him, eventually he became very distressed and at reunion with his mother he rejected her.A few long-term effect of separation are; separation anxiety, extreme clinginess (the child will try their best to stay with the primary caregiver as much as possible, wherever they may go), detachment (the child will refuse any physical love such as being hugged, this may be to prevent the primary caregiver from leaving next time), the child will also be more demanding of their attachment figure. On the other hand not all children respond the same ay to separation, some infants may become more stressed or less distressed than others, factors that affect the childââ¬â¢s response are: the age of the child, the type of attachment they share with their primary caregiver, the gender of the child, with whom the child is left with and the quality of care they receive, the infants experience of previous separations. Schaffer and Callender studied the behaviour of 76 ba bies aged between 3 and 51 weeks of age.Their findings where that the seven months showed little clinging and upsetting behaviour however between 12 and 18 months of age the strength of the infants response had increased primarily due to the fact that they may have developed the idea that their primary attachment figure always returns. A securely attached child has a higher chance of coping with separation than an insecure-ambivalent type. Lastly, boys seem to react more strongly to separation than girls.A small number of children experience privation, which is the lack of any attachment at all in their early childhood development. The two types of studies carried out in order to inform us about the severe effects of privation are; case studies of infants who have been brought up in very bad conditions where they were also unable to form any attachments, and the studies of children who have been raised in institutionalised care.Koluchova reported a case study of twin boys who were b orn in Czechoslovakia and brought up in care soon after their mother had died and their father and step-mother had inhumanely treated them, they were severely malnourished, when they were discovered they had no speech and they were also beaten and starved in an unheated cellar away from human activity, this caused them extreme health conditions. They were later adopted by two sisters and gained average intelligence, they attended a mainstream school and there early damage had been repaired with no cognitive issues.Case studies can raise a major ethical issue of making the children who were involved feel as if they were just part of a psychological experiment and were used merely as objects of research, later on in life. Case studies may not always appear accurate, because digging up the past of the participants and concluding from case study research may not always be accurate. However in natural experiment this issue is overcome foe example: Tizard and Hodges study of the long-term effects of emotional privation.Institutionalisation refers to the various behavioural patterns of children who have been raised in institutions, orphanages and childrenââ¬â¢s care homes. Tizard and Hodges carried out a natural experiment where 65 children were brought up in a childrenââ¬â¢s home until they were four. For this period of time the children and staff were prohibited from forming attachments with one another, only so the children would not get upset if the person left. Due to the lack of attachment the children did not show fear of strangers, they ran to any adult that entered and cried when they left.This behaviour pattern is known as a disinhibited attachment. When the babies were restored, adopted or remained in the childrenââ¬â¢s home they were given (participants, teachers, peers, parents etc. ) assessments to complete via questionnaires or interviews. Tizard and Hodges found that the adopted group formed stronger bonds with their parents than the restored infants. This may have been because the restored children felt neglected. The restored children also had worse relationship with their siblings.Nonetheless, all three groups formed very weak peer to peer relationships. The study uses a range of research methods to collect information which is very beneficial for a final conclusion. One major disadvantage of a longitudinal study is the problem of participant attrition, and this was also a problem for Tizard and Hodges research. Ethical issues involved high sensitivity when it came to family relationships and the researchers had to make sure they were extremely cautious during the follow up interviews.They also had to make sure that the participants were in no pressure to continue with the research. In spite of the severe effects of institutionalisation and privation, if infants are removed at six months such as the Romanian orphans (Rutter et al study) tend to make better developmental progress. Children are able to recover from the se only if they are placed under a loving and caring environment after institutionalisation/ privation and they need an opportunity to form a strong bond with an adult who provides them with sufficient attention.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Growth and Poverty Reduction in China, India and Mongolia Essay
Growth and Poverty Reduction in China, India and Mongolia - Essay Example Although Mongolia's growth is rather modest in comparison, it did register a 7.5% growth rate in 2006 due to an increase in copper prices and in the volume of gold production. China is now second only to the US in per capita purchasing power (PPP) and is projected to surpass it within a decade. It is also projected to become the world's largest economy by 2025. (Economic Strategy Institute) Third. Their concrete experience and lessons learned in the relation between rapid growth and poverty alleviation. Recent economic developments have freed millions of Chinese, Mongolians and Indians from the poverty trap, but hundreds of millions more continue to be impoverished. In many cases growth only increases the gap between the poor and the "newly rich," and between coastal cities and farming communities. China's poor have been especially hit by the privatization of many erstwhile state enterprises and consequences such as the loss of jobs, security of tenure, and other benefits. Fourth. Their long history of interaction and currently changing relations. India and China, and China and Mongolia share common borders; 2,800 kilometers long in the first case, and 1,900 kilometers in the latter. (CIA) Border related hostilities erupted into the 1962 China-India Border War. It was only in 2005, 43 years later, that the two countries forged an agreement for what was called a strategic partnership that could pave the way into a total resolution of border issues and fruitful cooperation. (US AID) Relations between China and Mongolia have also improved recently. In the past, Mongolia's fears of annexation by China and its close relations with the Soviet Union (now the Russian federation) blocked such efforts. Relations between the two countries have improved in the past two decades and by 1994, they had concluded a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. (Rossabi) II. Do Higher Growth Rates Ensure Less Poverty and More Equality The research paper will focus on the relationship between growth and poverty eradication. It will also touch on the interaction between economic growth and observance of political rights in China, India and Mongolia, though to a lesser degree. This is the thesis. Rapid double-digit economic growth has not and does not automatically guarantee prosperity and economic equality. This is illustrated by the experience of China, India and Mongolia. In fact, in too many cases, economic growth has been and is still achieved at the expense of the basic economic and political rights of particular sectors and areas. The responsibility of any and all governments is to develop the specific policies and programs, structures and mechanisms, and clear yardsticks that will ensure not only economic growth, but just as important, the realization of the economic and political rights of each and every citizen. III. Resources for Poverty Alleviation India and China are large and populous countries with resources in the form of their population, work force, land, minerals, infrastructure, technology, and other natural and man made reserves. (CIA) Mongolia's population of 2.5 million is exceedingly small
Friday, September 27, 2019
Stress management as an enabler of high performance ( Chapter 7) Essay
Stress management as an enabler of high performance ( Chapter 7) - Essay Example Just what the famous adage quotes, ââ¬Å"Stressed is just desserts spelled backwardsâ⬠. The effect of stress to a person would depend on how it was looked about and dealt with. This discussion will center in stress management relevant to organizational leaders dealing with insecurities and uncertainties brought about by major changes required in this highly globalized world. According to the book, ââ¬Å"Stress Management as an Enabler of High Performanceâ⬠, Individuals go through two-stage process when faced with a potentially stressful situation. First, is primary appraisal wherein they assess the relevance, significance and implications of the event. Second, is seconday appraisal when they assess what if anything can be done about the situation and their ability to cope. Kriegal and Kriegal (1984) identified a combination of skills and attitudes needed by leaders to attain high performance under any external pressure. These are: confidence, commitment, and control. First, the individual must believe first in his capacity as a person. Then, he needs to put his heart into what he is doing and as much as possible, enjoy the task. Lastly, focus on the factors that is within his control and use it to his benefit. These factors are interrelated and if done properly, would have a synergy effect towards a positive end goal. In the same book, ââ¬Å"Stress Management as an Enabler of High Performanceâ⬠, three ââ¬Ëworldsââ¬â¢ was discussed. These ââ¬Ëworldsââ¬â¢ could used to analyze why a certain individual reacted positively or negatively into stress. First is the inner ââ¬Ëworldââ¬â¢ that deals with the thoughts and feelings of the person. This is about how he sees himself ââ¬Ëinternallyââ¬â¢. Second is the outer ââ¬Ëworldââ¬â¢ which is basically how the person sees and projects himself and his capacity to the outside world. This deals about how he wanted
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Lesson plan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Lesson plan - Case Study Example Day 1 With the use of a self-regulated strategy, the tutor should let Rodney draft a sentence that will be based on what he is interested. This sentence will not be corrected immediately, but instead used as a specimen for spelling, punctuation, and oral usage. In this phase, Rodney is being given the freedom to choose what he loves and feels comfortable with; thus, helping create a conducive atmosphere that builds his confidence in the tutor. This will reduce shyness and encourage him to participate fully. This falls under the first guideline of the UDL where a studentââ¬â¢s perception is taken into consideration, and with Rodney being a computer fan and one who is used to having his freedom. His freedom will still be maintained and his perception of things from such an angle considered. Therefore, the first day will act as an introduction day to simple writing and reading where the student is only exposed to what he is used to as he is prepared to be introduced to a new strange environment in terms of vocabulary. Day 2 For proper understanding to be obtained on any given written material; a reader must be fluent, which is necessary for the second day. This can only be achieved by having Rodney read a given portion of a book continuously to help him become conversant with the words in writing, how they are pronounced, and their meaning. Using Thunder Rose as the material, introduce the first six pages then stop and ask Rodney what he thinks has happened in the story and tell him to write it down in his T-chart (Read Write Think, paragraph, 11). Deal with the six pages that day and note if with conversancy, Rodney is able to regain confidence and thus improve on his self-esteem where he will then be able to read out aloud before his fellow classmates. Marzanoââ¬â¢s Strategies The objectives can only be achieved if one utilizes Marzanoââ¬â¢s strategy of Reinforcing Effort & Providing Recognition. This is simply because the strategy will make Rodney feel appreciated, and for a child whose parents are never around recognition is something that he will receive with much joy (Resourcefortechers.pbworks.com, pg. 15). Therefore, the strategy will help improve his reading skills not to mention help boost interaction between him and his tutor thus ensuring that his participation is high. He will be given prizes and praised when he shows progress and development; the prizes would include; Free stationeries Candies Computer games As a tutor one can also utilize the Non-linguistic representation where the student can try and act out some of his writings (Resourcefortechers.pbworks.com, pg. 19). For example, if it is a sentence he uses actions and body movements to get the point across or does as the given character in the story he read is said to do and this will help improve his memory of that given reading. This type of strategy is of great use to every student, no matter the reading and writing ability since it helps the brain improve on remembering that activity. UDL Guidelines The two strategies aim at improving self-esteem and participation, to achieve the objectives, this engagement must be present. This is to say that the tutor knowing that Rodney likes spending time alone and not socializing, he or she can improve this situation by coming up with activities that promote socializing and engaging with friends be it through a game or just sharing a story during the afternoon session. Therefore, such a tutor will be utilizing the 3rd guideline under UDL that talks of recruiting interest and sustaining
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
ANT 250I MOD 3 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
ANT 250I MOD 3 SLP - Essay Example The most common muscular dystrophy is Duchenneââ¬â¢s muscular dystrophy ââ¬â a disease found predominantly in males and diagnosed in a period between 2 and 6 years. It afflicts as approximately 1 out of every 3, 500 births (Emery 687). DMD (abbreviation for Duchenneââ¬â¢s muscular dystrophy) is a result of muscle fibers degeneration and atrophy brought about by the absence/lack of dystrophin, a protein which is responsible for maintaining muscle fibers intact. Specifically, the loss-of-function mutations found in dystrophin are accountable for the disease. Dystrophinââ¬â¢s function is to encode a specific protein - 427-kD protein. The latter is located below the sarcolemma. Dystrophin, in alliance with the associated proteins, called dystroglycan and the sarcoglycans, takes part in a mechanically powerful link which can be traced from the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton that underlies it (Rybakova et al 1209). Total or partial deficiency of dystrophin ruins the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (abbreviated as DGC), which means that cytoskeleton present in the muscle fibers is no longer linked to the matrix (Hoffman, Brown, and Kunkel, 919). Hence, no dystrophin leads to the DGC complex functional impairment, while the mechanical stress accompanying with contraction results in the degeneration or atrophy of skeletal muscle fibers, impairment of movements, plus muscle-wasting. It finally leads to the death of the afflicted male kids which is a result of respiratory or cardiac failure, or both (Rando 1575, Petrof et al 3710). According to Engwal & Wewer, the existing dystrophin deficiency found in skeletal, as well as cardiac muscles, leads to the fact that several secondary processes start activating. Among them one may find inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, and extracellular matrix degradation, which badly affect the DMD progression (Engwal & Wewer 1579). Boys diagnosed with
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Domestic Partner Benefits for American Corporations Research Paper
Domestic Partner Benefits for American Corporations - Research Paper Example Despite that fact that this concept contribute positively towards creating a positive attitude on the labor force, this issue has led to numerous debates with many corporate stakeholders wondering whether benefits should be given to domestic partnerships or not. This paper will bring into perspective this issue by arguing for and against domestic partner benefits of employees and later provides its own opinion. The phrase domestic partner benefits could most probably be taken to refer to employee benefit programs offered to non-married couples the same or even similar benefits as those provided to the married couples. It is worth noting that domestic partner benefits can be categorised into two; same sex and opposite sex partners. According to Woodlink, 36) it is therefore upon the employer to decide which category to give the benefits. It has been observed that due to the escalating number of employers, majority of the corporations have extended the benefits to homosexuals, lesbians, bisexual as well as transgender employees and their families. It is imperative to define who domestic partners are. These are two individuals who have been in an intimate relationship for a long time and in addition to this, are financially and emotionally interdependent. However, the employers are at liberty to define who a domestic partner is. Additionally, employers wishing to implement a domestic partner plan need to create an accurate definition of what a suitable domestic partner should have. To mention but a few of these element: the partners must have attained the age of eighteen years, neither of the partner should be related by blood closer than permitted by state for marriage. In addition to this, the partners must share an intimate relationship and the relationship must be exclusive. It is worth noting that documentation of proof of a domestic partner relationship may take a number of forms. It is left to the liberty of the employer to determine what is most suitable. Some get contented with their domestic partners signing a written statement of their relationship while others just require a proof of some financial relationship for instance a joint lease or mortgage. Village Voice newspaper is said to be the first private company to provide domestic partnership benefits in 1982. By 1985, the cities of Berkeley, West Hollywood and California State followed suit. And since then, both private and public corporations have embraced this program. As a matter of fact, it was said that by 2006, most of the Fortune 500 largest American corporation provide health insurance for domestic partners of their employees. The corporate employers offer a variety of domestic partner benefits in terms of packages. These packages are either soft or hard benefits also referred to as low-cost and high-cost benefits. Majority of the American corporations offer the low-cost benefits to their domestic partners. These may include among others; sick leave, access to a corporation facilities, permission to attend both company and personal functions and relocation expenses. Other than this there are the high-cost benefits that some corporate employers offer to their employees. This may include benefits such as health and medical insurance among others (Quizterson, 78-82). Federal Defense of Marriage Act
Monday, September 23, 2019
Global issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1
Global issues - Assignment Example It is apparent that the cityââ¬â¢s culture upholds the challenges faced by the disadvantaged and unfortunate children as necessary to the creation of happiness, a practice despised by the enlightened individuals who resolve to find solace in an unknown destiny. 3. Annie Dillardââ¬â¢s narration of seeing as a factor born to an individualââ¬â¢s verbalization in calling for attention is presumably an ideal illusion (231). Arguably, a person is capable of idealizing the occurrence of an event after realizing the apparent need to pay attention. Therefore, an individual acquires information from seeing and communicating the importance of an event to his brain for the mind to relay additional impulses that will increase the level of attention. 4. Annie Dillardââ¬â¢s narration provokes the perception that the human eye is different from a camera in various aspects. For example, the eye depends on a personââ¬â¢s conscience to conceptualize the events and communicate them to his brain for memorization while a camera depends on the userââ¬â¢s intention to capture and process an occurrence through the device (235). The similarity depicted between a camera and an eye is evident in the visualization and attentiveness provided in capturing a distinct
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Classical Music Criticism and Judgment Essay Example for Free
Classical Music Criticism and Judgment Essay Classical music is one kind of the art music from various style of music. On Oxford Dictionary give the meaning of classical music as serious music following long-established principles rather than a folk, jazz, or popular tradition, and even give more specifically meaning by the period of music(since the music has 6 periods; middle age, renaissance, baroque, classic, romantic and contemporary) that classical music is the music written in the European tradition during a period lasting approximately from 1750 to 1830, when forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata were standardized. How do we judge the classical music, and what is the musical value of classical music? I think this is the hard thing to critics about the good or bad of the things that we call it as one kind of art. We could analyze music by their elements such as the musical form, the harmony, the rhythm, orchestration, register of that piece etc. But also the problems is everyone has different taste and also some have the same taste too such as one composer love the way dominant chord run to sub median chord and then resolve to dominant again then end with tonic chord but another one like the way to begin the phrase with sub median then dominant for two bars to extend the dominant longer (could call it as dominant prolongation) until tonic in the last bar. The question is what is the best chord progression of those two ideas? , and how do we judge what is the best chord progression? And interesting question is how do we judge that one piece copy from any other pieces? Another example is if we judge one of the phrases in symphony no. 9 by Beethoven ââ¬Å"Ode to Joyâ⬠as the best phrase that compound with many good melodies, best chord progression and orchestration and great idea to add choir to that movement but there is also a question that who judge that this phrase is the best. How do they judge? , and what is the material that they use to judge this kind of classical music to make it the best of Beethovenââ¬â¢s pieces? The Best music in all kind of area not only includes by best music by creativity composers but also has to have best performers that can perform the best performances too. In classical music the performers have to do analyze and interpretation the music that they will perform, have to know the period of that music so they could play as the style of each period, have to practice in the right way to gain more techniques to their muscles to control their musical instrument, have to perform as natural as possible like they are speaking, eating or walking. The best performers have to bring all emotions and energy from the music that is just a music note on the paper to touch their audiencesââ¬â¢ heart. The problems are what is the best performance? , and how do we judge the performance? As a classical guitarist I used to compete in one competition. All juries have to fill in the form for all competitors there topics are Technique, Dynamics, Balancing, Precision and Rhythm, Style and Expression, and Stage Performance. Maybe those topics could judge the best performance but the problem I could see was one song that I performed called Marleyââ¬â¢s Ghost by Andrew York the main part of first section was the melody on the bass line. One of jury wrote on the Balancing blog that I played too loud but another on said I played too soft so I got the question that who is correct? This could show that it is hard to judge the best performance. It is depend on what do you like? What is your feeling? What are the things that you used to experiences. At last the way we critic and judge classical music could be judge from both quality of pieces and the quality of performance. The performers should know the aesthetic of composers who composed the songs that they will perform so they can perform in the way right way from performersââ¬â¢ interpretation. And definitely the listeners will judge it by their experience and feeling.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Political campaigns Essay Example for Free
Political campaigns Essay Political campaigns also provide much to reflect and think upon. They are also vastly entertaining particularly as the gloves come out and opposing parties start to play for keeps. Campaign ads are a powerful tool to cast yourself in a specific way, like trustworthy, honourable, and ready to get things done. However they can also be used to make your opponent look foolish, incompetent etc. A well written and developed add can be very affective no matter the content but some ads just go above and beyond. My favourite political add from 2006 was the Western for Bill Richardson for Governor. This ad is a particular favourite not for who was running but for the creativity of the ad. What is more American than a western? The commercial is quintessentially American. Sheriffs are naturally portrayed as being honest, trustworthy, brave, ready to right wrongs, ready to fight. Just by portraying Bill Richardson as the sheriff all of these virtues are implied without having to even mention them. It is a great parallel that some of Richardsonââ¬â¢s accomplishments mesh with traditional sheriff duties such as jailing of violent criminals. Not only is the western traditional and symbolic but the humour that is displayed at the end just adds to the campaign. It shows that Richardson is not afraid to have fun and laugh at himself a bit. After all what sheriff would walk into a saloon and ask for milk. In the old days that would be the beginning of a fight right then and there. This commercial was particularly well done. It told an interesting story particularly in pictures and it played to Richardsonââ¬â¢s strengths. It is a traditional campaign move to attack your opponents and display them in a negative like but I appreciate how Richardson keeps the focus on himself. After all if you are trying to promote yourself the best way is to show your strengths. Someone will display the oppositionââ¬â¢s weakness; it always happens so why not try to have some fun. This political add looked like a lot of fun and I am sure Richardson had a lot of fun making it.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Corporate Social Responsibility A Strategy For Inclusive Development Business Essay
Corporate Social Responsibility A Strategy For Inclusive Development Business Essay Events around the world over the last few decades have emphasized the need for corporate entities, their stakeholders, governments and international organizations to take the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility seriously. Incidents such as the explosion at the Union Carbide Bhopal, India in 1984, the oil spillage at Prince William Sound, Alaska USA in 1989, a few corporate scandals; for example the Mirror Group UK 1991, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) 1991, UK, Polly Peck 1992, UK, Enron USA 2001, World Com USA 2002, Parmal at Italy 2003 remain fresh and indelible in our minds. Issues such as rampant poverty, climate change and global warming, human rights abuses, terrorism and the globalization of the world economy also affect how corporate entities conduct their operational practices. These operational practices consequently impinge on how corporate entities perceive their responsibilities to societies; and in turn societies expectations from corporate ent ities have increased. Societies give license to businesses to operate and consequently businesses have to serve society not only by creating wealth, but also by contributing to social needs and social expectations towards society. The current state of world affairs, calls for development that is inclusive. This paper delves upon issues such as the need for inclusiveness in development, the role of business in the contemporary society and its association with inclusive development, the Governments contribution towards CSR facilitation and the promotion of CSR by the corporate sector as a strategy for Inclusive Development. Inclusive Development Many people end up being excluded from the mainstream society; the reasons may be varied like gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation disability or the deprivation of basic human rights. This exclusion has resulted in making poverty and inequality a global challenge today, affecting nearly all countries of the world. The World Bank estimates for the year 2008 indicate that approximately 3 billion people or 45% of the global population is living below the international poverty line ($1-2 a day). If inflation is taken into account global poverty is on the rise. Poverty is a vicious cycle and the poor or unfortunate are in a way trapped in this cycle.à They lack access to good nutrition, health care and decent living conditions face barriers to education, employment and public services and are thus denied a dignified human existence. à Economic growth is an important factor in reducing poverty and generating the resources necessary for human development and environmental protection. The past fifty years have seen unprecedented global economic growth. This growth evidently has failed to bring about an overall development to societies across the world. The challenges discussed so far underscore the need for Inclusive development, anà emerging concept that recognizes diversity as fundamental to sustainable socio-economic and human development, based upon the notion that every human being can and should contribute to the development process where isolated policies be replaced by integrated strategy benefiting individuals and societies as a whole.à It is only right then that economic growth and development today is revisited by all actors in the society instrumental in generating this development. In order to structure such a strategy, all projects related toà education, health promotion, environmental and social protection need to consider those trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty. Development that is Inclusive reduces poverty where all groups of people contribute to creating opportunities, share the benefits of development and participate in decision-making. United Nations Development Programs human development approach complements Inclusive development as it integrates the standards and principles of human rights: participation, non-discrimination and accountability for all social and environmental concerns. Sustainability and Inclusive Development Sustainable practices encourage conserving, mitigating waste and enhancing our resource bases by gradually changing the ways in which we use natural resources available to us for industrial and personal consumption and the technologies we choose and the way we apply them. Nations strive to meet the basic requirements of their people for employment, food, energy, water and sanitation. To achieve this sustainably, there is need to balance economic, environmental and social goals so that prosperity is ensured not only for the current but future generations as well. Poverty eradication is an integral part of the goal of an environmental strategy for the world. The concepts of a shared planet, global citizenship, spaceship earth cannot be restricted to environmental issues alone. They apply equally to the shared and inter-linked responsibilities of environmental protection and human development. Restoring natural systems and improving natural resource management practices at the grassroots level are central to a strategy to eliminate poverty. It can be inferred that sustainable development is a precondition to achieving inclusive development. Role Of Business Corporate Houses have become powerful institutions on the planet in the last 50 years. Businesses have emerged stronger and more powerful when compared with Nation states. Willis Harman notes that the dominant institution in any society needs to take responsibility for the whole as the church did in the days of the Holy Roman Empire. The expectations from Business are indicating reflections of a demand for change. Business has been asked to be Inclusive and not just merit based; maximal and not just legal; to be ahead of law and not just run with it; to be consultative rather than just procedural; to meet global standards and not just local ones. In short, a large part of social responsibility is expected to be taken by corporate houses and therefore the concept Corporate Social Responsibility has emerged over time. Inclusive Development is to be shaped by various factors, such as; the functional definition of inclusive development, interventions that enhance governance and promote effective institutions, sound economic policies, and cultural and socio-economic considerations in policymaking and implementation. Inclusive development is an effective tool for overcoming social exclusion, combating poverty and ensuring social and economic sustainability, i.e. all sections of the society benefit out of such initiatives. Governance, trade, technology and financing practices determine social justice and protection of the rights of the underprivileged. It involves all actors in the society the government, businesses, public and private sector institutions, civil society or communities themselves. CSR as a strategic tool by companies with collaborative support of the above mentioned actors can and has become one of the important drivers to promote overall human development ensuring environmental protection. Such development is sustainable and leads to Inclusive Growth. CSR Models Today we have innumerable examples of Companies where Inclusive Development has been the guiding principle for Business in the long run. A few International names include Coca Cola, Starbucks, Johnson Johnson and Microsoft. In the Indian scenario we can begin with the legendry Tatas followed by Infosys, ITC, Bharti, Mahindra Mahindra, Wipro and many others. Initiatives of a few companies are covered underneath. The Tata Group Pioneers in the area of CSR in India, the TATA group has always played an active role in nation building and socio-economic development. Over the years, the Tata philosophy to Give back what you get has been followed by all their enterprises across India. Be it relief measures, rural development, health care, education, art and culture, they have been very forthcoming. As a result every year, the Tata Groups contribution to society has been phenomenal. Tatas spent Rupees 1 billion on 8 community development and social services projects during the fiscal 2001-02-the highest by any corporate house in India. ITC ITC partnered the Indian farmer for almost a century. They are now engaged in elevating this partnership to a new paradigm by leveraging information technology through its trail blazing e-Choupal initiative. Figure 1 : An ITC E- Chaupal In June 2000, ITCs Agri-Business Division conceived E-Choupal ( Figure 1) as a more efficient supply chain aimed at delivering value to its customers around the world on a sustainable basis. The model has been specifically designed to tackle the challenges posed by the unique features of Indian agriculture, characterized by fragmented farms, weak infrastructure and the involvement of numerous intermediaries, among others. E-Choupal also unshackles the potential of Indian farmer who has been trapped in a vicious cycle of low risk taking ability > low investment > low productivity > weak market orientation > low value addition > low margin > low risk taking ability. It makes the farmer and the Indian agri-business sector globally uncompetitive, despite rich abundant natural resources. Such a market-led business model can enhance the competitiveness of Indian agriculture and trigger a virtuous cycle of higher productivity, higher incomes, enlarged capacity for farmer risk management, larger investments and higher quality and productivity. Infosys Infosys, Mr. Narayan Murthy has been at the forefront to champion the role of good corporation He said we should look for public good and private good will automatically come. In March 1996 the Infosys Foundation was created in the state of Karnataka operating in the areas of health care, social rehabilitation and rural uplift, education, arts and culture. Since then, this foundation has spread to the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerela, Orrisa and Punjab. The foundation receives 1.5 % of the company after tax profits. In line with its stakeholder driven approach the allocation of funds is based on a participatory process. Since 2004, Infosys has embarked on a series of initiatives to consolidate and formalize its academic relationships worldwide under the umbrella of a program called the AcE ie Academic Entente. Through case study writing, participation in academic conferences and university events, research collaborations, hosting study trips to Infosys development centres and running the instep Global Internship program, the company communicates with important stakeholders in the academia promoting meaningful development. Starbucks Starbucks, a leading example of Environmental Sustainability has outlined a bold global environmental strategy that will help achieve a meaningful reduction in the companys environmental footprint. Starbucks has identified climate change as a key priority for the company and is in the third year of implementing its climate change strategy. The company has committed to significant renewable energy purchases for its stores and has also focused on ways to improve energy efficiency through store design. Starbucks also believes it has a role to play in consumer education and awareness, and is beginning to engage its supply chain partners on climate related issues such as renewable energy. In 2005, The Starbucks Emerging Issues Council, (a group 18 senior Starbucks executives) prioritized climate change as a key issue for the company in response to the environmental threats facing coffee growing communities. The council is also involved in determining what further measures are needed for the company to proactively and responsibly address the issue of climate change in a leadership capacity. The Starbucks three year climate change mitigation strategy includes the following steps to reduce the companys emissions: Purchasing renewable energy Focusing on energy conservation measures Educating and advocating the need for collaborative action Figure 2: A Starbucks Plantation The Starbucks three year climate change mitigation strategy includes the following steps to reduce the companys emissions: Purchasing renewable energy Focusing on energy conservation measures Educating and advocating the need for collaborative action As a responsible company, Starbucks is open and honest about the successes and challenges they face. Their Global Responsibility Reports give a clear picture of the progress theyve made in the areas of ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and community involvement. Coca Cola Established in 1886, The CocaCola Company operates in more than 200 countries and markets nearly 500 brands. They are a global business that operates on a local scale in every community where they do business. The CocaCola system operates in the context of a broader value cycle: They work with others to source ingredients, create packaging, sell products, recover and reuse packaging materials and replenish the water used. Managing sustainability through a complex business cycle can be challenging, however collaborating closely with our business partners, communities and consumers, they seek to ensure environmental and social responsibility and are working to encourage consumers to recycle the packaging materials associated with their products. Global Sustainability select goals and targets for Coca Cola include: Active Healthy living, Energy management, Climate protection, Community, Sustainable packaging and Water stewardship. It is evident that a new paradigm for innovation is emerging: a partnership between private enterprise and public interest that produces profitable and sustainable change. Companies are moving beyond corporate social responsibility to corporate social innovation. Traditionally companies viewed the social sector as a dumping ground for spare cash, obsolete equipment and tired executives. This mindset could not create lasting change. Community needs are now viewed as opportunities to develop ideas and business technologies leading to both business and community payoffs. Government as a CSR facilitator Inclusive development requires that planning and interventions are state-led, with indispensable but ancillary engagement by the private sector and other stakeholders. CSR has not evolved separately from the public policy. Many governments have actively participated in encouraging corporations to voluntarily assume greater responsibility of the social/environmental aspects of their business policies by way of seeking to harness various market mechanisms to promote CSR. They have been promoted by various National governments, the European Union and several Inter-Governmental Organizations most notably the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is interesting to note the shift in the motivations of governments for encouraging CSR. For almost three decades now it has been associated with addressing corporate governance deficits but more recently improving corporate policies with respect to issues like social cohesion, national competitiveness and environmental stability have been emphasized. The interest of the Governments is not only to encourage CSR initiatives but also to build CSR capacity. Shift is also being witnessed from endorsing and facilitating CSR by corporate to including partnering and mandating CSR through soft legislation. In advanced capitalist countries governments are playing extensive roles in a variety of initiatives to encourage CSR. The last decade has seen developments of newer roles and relationships between Governments and corporations. The UK Government has created a ministerial portfolio of CSR; corporations have created forms of self reporting and self regulation for instance The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) ; NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Amnesty International, to name but just two have entered partnerships with corporations to help them improve environmental and social practices. There is evidence of substantial growth in the number of ethical or social mutual funds as well. In India, The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued CSR Voluntary Guidelines in 2009 for the Private Sector, to help encourage business entities formulate a CSR policy, guide its strategic planning and provide a roadmap for its CSR initiatives which are an integral part of the overall business policy and aligned with its business goals. The policy is expected to be framed with the participation of various level executives and approved by the Board. The Ministry of Corporate affairs has urged all companies to create a separate fund for their CSR activities in the interest of greater transparency. The recommendation is a part of Voluntary guidelines for companies especially those listed on the stock market. Core Elements of the Policy Guidelines include: Care for all Stakeholders: The companies should respect the interests of, and be responsive towards all stakeholders, shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, project affected people, society at large etc. and create value for all of them. Ethical functioning: Their governance systems should be underpinned by Ethics, Transparency and Accountability. They should not engage in business practices that are abusive, unfair, corrupt or anti-competitive. Respect for Workers Rights and Welfare: Companies should provide a workplace environment that is safe, hygienic and humane and which upholds the dignity of employees. They should provide all employees with access to training and development of necessary skills for career advancement, on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. Respect for Human Rights: Companies should respect human rights for all and avoid complicity with human rights abuses by them or by third party. Respect for Environment: Companies should take measures to check and prevent pollution; recycle, manage and reduce waste, should manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Activities for Social and Inclusive Development: Depending upon their core competency and business interest, companies are expected to undertake activities for economic and social development of communities and geographical areas, particularly in the vicinity of their operations for disadvantaged population. The CSR policy of the business entity is also expected to provide for an Implementation strategy that includes identification of projects/activities, setting measurable physical targets with timeframe, organizational mechanism and responsibilities, time schedules and monitoring. The Implementation Guidelines: *Companies may partner with local authorities, business associations and civil society/non-government organizations. *Companies should allocate specific amount in their budgets for CSR activities. *To share experiences and network with other organizations the company should engage with well established and recognized program/platforms which encourage responsible business practices and CSR activities. *The companies should disseminate information on CSR policy, activities and progress in a structured manner to all their stakeholders and the public at large through their website, annual reports, and other communication media. In addition to the Voluntary Guidelines another Government initiative if materialized, would lead to a situation where Corporate Social Responsibility for a state-owned firm may no more be just a photo opportunity for its chairman but would involve people-centric projects to be funded by 2-5 per cent of the companys net profits. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) is in the final stage of preparing guidelines for the Central Public Sector enterprises (CPSE s) to take up important CSR projects. The proposal, cleared by the Committee of Secretaries is awaiting approval by Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Ministry. It proposes a contribution of 3-5 % for enterprises with net profits of up to Rs 100 crore. Those earning net profit of more than Rs 100 crore may be asked to contribute up to two per cent of the amount. The Government has taken a very firm step and its regularization may see tangible impact on CSR initiatives undertaken by the companies. The CSR would inherit dimensions apart from traditional welfare related CSR practices like organizing blood donation camps charity events and the like. The CPSEs would be obliged to take up specific projects to help people affected directly or indirectly by their businesses. It would be the Companys primary obligation, to recycle part of their profits in order to help the society. While several CPSEs provide funds for CSR projects, it is not obligatory in nature so far. The guidelines would provide for measurement of the CSR. These obligations would be set in the Memorandum of Understanding, which sets targets for an individual CPSE. The performance evaluation of the companies would also have CSR performance as one of the parameters of overall performance of the company. The CSR Credits system that was proposed recently by the Corporate Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid is a way forward where soft legislation will gradually facilitate CSR integration into the very core of corporate strategy. Mr. Khurshid believes that charity is rewarded in tax exemptions and other benefits however CSR remains unrewarded. Reiterating the idea of making CSR quantifiable he has urged corporate to debate the possibility of establishing a CSR exchange to deal in CSR Credits. Through the CSR exchange mechanism, companies would be able to trade in CSR credits, akin to trading in carbon credits. This is to be done through certification for their CSR activities by a government body. The credits could then be traded in a CSR credit exchange. The system translates into a situation where a company yet to engage in CSR may be able to compensate it through purchasing CSR credits from company that has already earned them. This would be quite similar to carbon credits where a polluting entity has to buy carbon credits from companies that have earned them through environment-friendly activities. In addition to this another issue under consideration is the conflict of interest where a company produces consumer products that are deemed harmful to consumption and health. Shri Khurshid said If there is a business that is inherently destructive and unwholesome, a way has to be found to offset the negativity of that business. The Governments are using CSR to complement Government policies in order to promote Inclusive Development. This system reflects new forms of Governance in which Governments employ a much richer and subtler array of mechanisms to affect business behavior rather than employing enforcement. The use of policies that endorse, facilitate and partner with firms is further characteristic of a new governance paradigm which emphasizes norms, networks, incentives and volunteerism. Government participation in promoting CSR may be an anathema to the business world as it may conjure up visions of control and constraints to operate competitively in a global world but positive though incipient signs of change are visible as we trace the evolution. CSR-Business Society Interface The phrase Corporate Social Responsibility originates with H. Bowen, who wrote Social Responsibility of Businessmen in 1953. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is used to describe businesses integration of social and environmental issues into decisions, goals, and operations. Other terms used in the CSR context are: Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability, Corporate Citizenship, Ethical Business Practices, Social/Environmental Responsibility, Triple Bottom Line and Environmental and Social Stewardship. The basic questions at the heart of CSR are as old as business itself, such as what is business for? What contribution does it make to society? Its rise to prominence however has not been a smooth one, as the concept has been frequently discredited, written off, marginalized or simply overlooked in favor of new or supposedly better ways of conceptualizing the business and society interface. Archie Carroll has provided an interesting overview of some of the prominent CSR Definitions. Milton Friedman (1970) contends that social responsibility of the firm is to increase its profit, Keith Davis (1973) supported the view that CSR requires consideration of issues beyond the narrow economic, technical, and legal requirements of the firm. Definition concepts in the Oxford Handbook range from CSR as an obligation to respond to the externalities created by market action to CSR as a discretionary spending in furtherance of an explicit measurable social objective consistent with relevant social norms and laws and CSR as an additional political responsibility to contribute to the development and proper working of global governance. Defining CSR is therefore not just a technical exercise but also a normative one in setting out what corporates should be responsible in society or an ideological one describing how the political economy of society should be organized to restrain corporate power. CSR is still a developing field of research as also Lockett et al concluded from a decade long study of CSR literature that CSR knowledge could best be described as in a continuing state of emergence. To sum up Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can most comprehensibly be called an approach through which companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. The relative ambiguities regarding the definition and clear identity of CSR as an area of academic enquiry is also reflected in the institutional infrastructure of CSR, most notably in the Journals where CSR research is published, the societies and conferences which facilitate scholarly debate, and institutionalization of CSR as a field of academic teaching. The table below lists the Journals in the field of CSR. It can be noted that none of the CSR Journals have CSR as a title. Table 1: CSR Journals Journal Name Formation Date Editor Base Business Society (Sage) 1960 USA Business Society Review(Blackwell) 1972 USA Journal of Business Ethics ( Springer) 1982 Canada Business Ethics Quarterly(Society of Business Ethics) 1991 USA Business Ethics: A European Review ( Blackwell) 1991 UK Corporate Governance:International Journal of Business in Society(Emerald 2001 UK Journal of Corporate Citizenship (Greenleaf) 2001 UK Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management 2002 China CSR Evolution: The concept of CSR has long and wide ranging history, it is mostly the product of the 20th century especially since the 1950s. It was referred more as social responsibility (SR) than CSR for many years. Patrick Murphy in the University of Michigan Business Review, 1978 states that the period before 1950s was the philanthropic era in which companies donated to charities. Between 1953 and 67 was the awareness era during which there was more recognition of the overall responsibility of business and its involvement in community affairs. The period between 1968 -73 was termed the issue era in which companies began to focus on specific issues such as urban decay, racial discrimination and pollution problems. Finally the responsiveness era 1974-2008 and continuing beyond, companies began taking serious management and organizational actions to address CSR related issues. CSR Theories: Various CSR Theories have taken shape over time the most comprehensive are compiled by Garriga and Mele (2004) mentioning precisely four theories about the responsibilities of Business in Society: Corporate Social Performance Theory, Shareholder Value Theory, Stakeholder Theory, Corporate Citizenship Theory. Corporate Social Performance Theory has its roots in Sociology. It has evolved from several previous notions and approaches. It is a configuration in the business organization of principles of social responsibility, processes of response to social requirements and policies, programs and tangible results that reflect the companys relations with society, (Wood 1991). Archie Carroll (1979) was the first to introduce the concept of Corporate Social Performance. He made a synthesis of the basic principle of social responsibility. Carroll suggested that the entire range of obligations that business has to society must embody economic, legal, ethical and discretionary (philanthropic) categories. In 1991, Carroll first included them in a Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility, as shown in Figure3. Figure 3: CSR Pyramid The four classes reflect that the history of business suggests an early emphasis on the economic and then legal aspects and a later concern for the ethical and discretionary aspects. It was suggested that, although the components are not mutually exclusive, it helps the manager to see that the different types of obligations are in a constant tension with one another. More recently, Schwartz Carroll have proposed an alternative approach on three core domains (economic, legal and ethical) and a Venn model frame work. The Venn framework yields seven categories resulting from the overlap of three core domains. Wartick Cochran extended the Carroll approach suggesting that corporate social involvement rests on principles of social responsibility, process of social responsiveness, and the policy of issues management. In recent times more and more corporations are being proactive in publishing reports on economic social and environmental performance. The Global reporting initiative has become more and more popular as have certifications or reports, such as the UN Global Compact, AA1000, SA 80000 and others . All of this introduces more complexity into the corporate social performance models but in essence, the conceptual foundations remain unalterable. Shareholder Value Theory is based on Economic Theory. It is also referred as Fiduciary Capitalism and holds that the only social responsibility of business is making profits and as a supreme goal, increasing the economic value of the company for its stakeholders. In the 1960s and 70s there was a debate between Friedman and others who defended the business enterprise as being responsible only for making as much profit as possible, in contrast scholars including David and others argued that corporations had power and power entails responsibility, therefore corporations had responsibilities beyond economic and legal. Friedmans position was clearly against that of the concept of social responsibility. Theodor Levitt, (once the editor of HBR) wrote about the dangers of corporate social responsibility. In his words Corporate welfare makes good sense if it makes good economic sense, and not infrequently it does. But if something does not make economic sense, sentiment or idealism ought not to let it in the door Since then some economists have argued that the market, instead of managers, should have control over allocation of resources
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Navigating Interstitial Spaces Essays -- Democracy American Tocquevill
Navigating Interstitial Spaces ââ¬Å"[T]he law permits the Americans to do what they please.â⬠Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America The protection of virtue, I submit, requires an understanding of interstitial spacesââ¬âspaces where formalist adherence to rules and laws does not suffice to adequately promote virtue. Recognition of these spaces spawned agent morality and Aristotleââ¬â¢s practical wisdom. Fascination with these spaces fueled Alexis de Tocquevilleââ¬â¢s inquiry into American religious, familial and political mores in Democracy in America. Though Americaââ¬â¢s formal, codified laws of the 1830s granted ââ¬Å"dangerous freedomâ⬠to the individual, Americans managed to navigate interstitial spaces with assiduous virtue. This discussion will briefly connect threads from Aristotleââ¬â¢s Ethics, Platoââ¬â¢s Republic, and Periclesââ¬â¢ funeral oration to preface a more extensive examination of Tocquevilleââ¬â¢s careful study of the institutions which reinforced virtue within Americaââ¬â¢s interstitial spaces. The conclusion will examine and evaluate the doctrine of â⬠Å"self-interest rightly understoodâ⬠as the sole guarantor of virtue in the United States. Aristotle, one of the forefathers of agent morality, understood that universal and formalist rules alone could not sustain virtue. Practical wisdom, ââ¬Å"a truth-attaining intellectual quality concerned with doing and with the things that are good for human beingsâ⬠allows the moral agent to operate virtuously in a context-specific way. ââ¬Å"[I]t is not possible,â⬠Aristotle writes, ââ¬Å"without practical wisdom to be really good morally.â⬠Obedience to fixed rules cannot govern action ââ¬Å"to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, for the right reason, and in the right way.â⬠In order to cultiv... ...ticipation correlate directly with the correct practice of ââ¬Å"self-interest rightly understoodâ⬠and we accept both Michael Sandelââ¬â¢s thesis about the rise of the ââ¬Å"voluntarist selfâ⬠and Robert Putnamââ¬â¢s thesis describing the decline of American social and political capitalââ¬âthen a gloomy picture emerges about the sustainability of virtue in the hands of enlightened self-interest alone. Without guidance in a wide expanse of interstitial space, it is easy to slip through the cracks. Words Cited Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Mitchell, Joshua. The Fragility of Freedom. Plato. The Republic. Putnam. Bowling Alone. Sandel, Michael. Democracyââ¬â¢s Discontents. Thucydides. The History of thte Peloponnesian War. ââ¬Å"Periclesââ¬â¢ Funeral Oration.â⬠Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Frankenstein Movie To Book Essay -- essays research papers
How can we think of Frankenstein and ignore the film classic of 1931? Yet the celebrated film does not follow the novel by Mary Shelley. Although the scene of a futuristic laboratory entrances movie audiences with the mad Dr. Frankenstein and his faithful assistant Igor, the scene is derived from twentieth century imaginations and interests, not the novel itself. For good reason, the novelist chose not to begin her story with the chilling event of the dreary night in November. Instead of a major event, the book opens with a series of letters from Robert Walton. It is not his want for the voyage of discovery, but his obsession with fame, that drives him to the unknown in hopes of being credited with expanding mankind's knowledge and control of the universe. Similarly, Victor Frankenstein is drawn to the mysteries of experiments with the unknown. Early in his education he read about alchemists and early natural philosophers and becomes so impressed with the power of electricity that he makes it his mission to harness it to procure manââ¬â¢s place among the gods. But unlike the familiar films, no faithful Igor helped him rob graves or assisted him in an extravagant, futuristic laboratory. In the novel Frankenstein tells no one of his experiments and worked alone. Specifics concerning the actual experiment are omitted; no account of the actual process of locating, obtaining, and transporting body parts appears in the novel. It just says that he is made up of dead body parts. In t...
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Bachelors Capstome in Management
The project and the team that I have chosen for the job is that of a manufacturing business producing children's toys. When one is to evaluate such a business it is important to look upon to the management team for the business. The management team would include with it a number of professionals. One of the most important of such management teams would particularly be the consultants and the advisors for the company.The consultants or the management of the company would be one of those people whose main job and responsibility is to conduct market research effectively and then look upon how the current market demand can be fulfilled by the manufacturing firms. Apart from this team of the management may also include with them the management accountants. These accountants may also perform the roles of the financial analysts and they actively seek to look upon at the business and the current position of the firm to identify and evaluate the possible prospects from the various products th at the company usually has.In addition to this, the team may also have with it the production technicians or those individuals who are directly responsible towards managing the entire production line and how any possible slowdowns in the process of production can be amended and improved accordingly. Team Concepts and Group Dynamics: It is important to note that an effective team work is phenomenal for this team in order to produce promising output. As a result a great deal of care is taken in order to ensure that the team members have good relations with each other.One of the ways the team concepts are always and continuously strengthened is by reiterating it to the members as to how important it is for the team members to collaborate with each other. In addition to this, there can be a variety of activities outside the workplace which could also be conducted and which may prove really very helpful for the group members to strengthen and recognize their efforts as a team. Perhaps th ere could be outings arranged where the team management could meet up for movies or so to build good relations amongst the team members (Reeve, 2008).Apart form this; the team that has been chosen for the particular tasks tends to share a set of common values or norms. Perhaps the one reason why this sharing of the norms tends to happen is because the team chosen belongs to similar class background. In other words, since it is the management team, most of the people working within the team tend to be those having white collar highly professional jobs and are often paid more. As a result they belong to the same social class and as a result have similar backgrounds.This also implies that they often tend to think along the same lines and this makes decision among and approval much easier than it otherwise may be. Advantages: One of the most important advantages that the team would have is that there is a greater understanding between the managing team which will then collaborate easily and conveniently amongst itself. Also there may be proper rules and norms which would be clearly established. This may make simple tasks more easily and quickly to being carried out.For instance, the technical department head would have a direct contact with the head of marketing and therefore any problem with the product or changes needed could be easily communicated. Apart form this; working with such a cooperative team would make work less tiring and annoying. Rather it would make working more motivating. It is also likely that the team would be willing to take up more challenging tasks and to fulfill them with due hard work especially because they are so motivated and like working together as a team (Moore, 2004). Disadvantages:However, there may be a number of problems associated with having a strong collaborating team. One of it may be the fact that any outsider may feel it to being very difficult with adjusting with the team. Moreover, since the group already has norms estab lishing new ones may particularly be very difficult. Moreover, new ideas and creativity may also not very well be appreciated. I addition to this, there may also be some problems with group loafing whereby peplum may spend more time socializing and less time working on the job (Rae, 2007). Communication Network and Organization Culture:It is important to note that since the group may be tightly knit there may be a more dire need to adopt formal needs of communications. This is particularly important also because informal communicational network in such a group may mean that things might get out of hand. Thus it may be4 better to adopt and explain to the team a proper network which needs to be followed for the firm process to be effective. moreover, there may be a need for a somewhat flexible form of leadership mostly with the leader filling the role of a mere facilitator and the group members contributing in.this may also imply that the organizational structure would be more informa l but then a certain deal of care ought to be taken to insure that a certain degree of formality within the organization is maintained (Thomas, 2009). Strike Issue: Since the labor is unsatisfied and has been on strike the best option to adopt in this case may be to talk and try and placate and fulfill the demands as much as possible. Since half the labor hired has been laid off it might get helpful if the remaining one of the labor is paid a greater compensation. This may lead them to have an incentive to work harder.At this point in time it is also important to convince the labor, perhaps by allowing profit sharing from the amount of output obtained as a greater incentive to work harder. Apart form this; there may be a number of techniques which may help to increase their loyalty. Perhaps one of the many can also be greater job security and fringe benefits. Reference: Reeve J (2008). Understanding Motivation and Emotion, Wiley Thomas K (2009). Intrinsic Motivation at Work, Berret Koehler Publishers Rae, D (2007). Entrepreneurship: from opportunity to action, Palgrave Moore, G (2004). Inside the Tornado, Harper Paperbacks
Monday, September 16, 2019
Recruitment Of A Star Essay
In the case study of ââ¬Å"Recruitment of a starâ⬠there are four candidates for the job offered by Stephen Conner. They are Gerald Baum, David Hughes, Sonia Meetha and Seth Horkum. Among all, my choice is Seth Horkum. There were several positive aspect which made him my first option such as his time management (being at interview before the schedule), his prior experience with PowerChip company (Upcoming client for RSH), his long term commitment (15 years of service @ Jefferson Brothers) which allows dependency and loyalty. With all the above aspects and the intelligence he exhibited in the interview makes him the best fit for the job. What problems does Stephen Conner face? When Stephen let Peter go, the biggest problem was to find the right replacement at the earliest. So the time was the key factor because it was the time when they were in need of a senior analyst to get started with the new client (PowerChip Company). Apart from that, he was facing a lot of concerns from the senior executives of the organization about his decision of letting Peter go. In fact they were more upset with his decision of making Rina who was an assistant to peter and joined the organization just 3 years ago as a substitute for Peter. What should Peterââ¬â¢s replacement look like, and which of the candidates best fits this description? (Page 4) Peter was extremely intelligent and his analytical skills were superior. So if one has to replace Peter must be of the same cadre and fit into the same shoe. He was always and achiever and go getter. His priorities were time management, resource management and competency at work. So to find the best replacement, there must be ano ther Peter with the similar skill set and attitude. So at this juncture, Seth and Sonia are the best fit because Seth is punctual, ambitious and if opportunity given, he can rank up to the higher position with his intellectual, technical and analytical skills. On the other hand, Sonia is also a very hard working. Even though she is working in a boutique, her performance since past three years has grown over and her clients also believes that she is a true up-and-comer and could become one of the best analyst on the wall street if given a better platform Put yourself in the place of each of the five candidates (include Rina),à what should each person highlight during the interview process? How could each person differentiate him or herself from the other candidates? Gerald Baum: The highlights of Geraldââ¬â¢s personality are that he is not only the star analyst in semiconductor industry but in past he was a lead analyst in electronics and electrical connectors industry as well. At Gotz and Loeb which is a specialized firm with an emphasis in technology industry has given an enormous opportunity to Gerald to grow as an analyst and also gain industry knowledge. David Hughes: The well seasoned aged David Hughes is also one of the candidate for the peterââ¬â¢s position. While working for big firms like Spenserââ¬â¢s and company, David got opportunity to tune into the global market and gain the best industry experience. Also learned writing business plans, progress reports and even year end reviews. Sonia Meetha: She is the candidate with both sales and technical skills. She is an excellent writer. Being a techno-managerial graduate and having dual experience of working both in engineering and sales team has gave her an edge over the other interviewees. Seth Horkum: He is a very promising analyst with a prior experience working with RSH future client PowerChip company and also have close contacts in that company. He has not just accessible and responsive for the clients but also gave long hours for the organization to fulfill the task which other analyst couldnââ¬â¢t do. Rina Shea: The most convincing point for her is the association she is having with the company and also her recent experience of assisting Peter. She is an excellent writer and had learned a lot of other skills from Peter which got her into the list of candidates to be considered for the senior analyst position. Analyze the selection processes being used. What are the strengths and weaknesses, and how could any weaknesses be mitigated? The process adopted by Stephen to select the replacement for Peter was pre-screening followed by a Face to Face Interview session with the Candidates. Strength: Past employment history Punctuality of the interviewees Soft Skills / Communication skills Technical Skills Personality Traits Weakness: I Do not see any weakness in the interview process adopted by Stephen (pre-screening and Face to Face). In fact it gave him an edge over just reading their profiles and listening to the word of mouth during pre-screening. How would the organizational entry and socialization process differ between Rina and one of the other candidates if chosen? SWOT for Rina Shea: Strength : Being junior to Peter, she had a good understanding of all the work that Peter undertook. With an association of over three years at the firm, she is well versed with the company culture and values. She has exceptional writing skills. Weakness: Rina is lesser experienced compare to other senior candidates She must be assertive while presenting her reports Rina must learn/ Enhance Decision making skills. She depends on other senior analysts for advices and suggestions most of the time Opportunities : Being familiar with the company, Rina would not need an induction and familiarization sessions. Threats: The vast experience that other candidates bringing to the table. If chosen, The other candidates shall grow up the ladder faster and better than Rina At times, she may be emotionally disturbed because of temporary promotion and again going back to the same assistant job which may result in losing confidence, loyalty and responsiveness.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Mobile Phones In Schools
Mobile Phones in Schools Recently read Frances Child's news article and personally I couldn't be any more outraged than am now, with her choice of words. Yes she's identified an issue with today's generation, but the way in which she puts this across is exaggerating the truth. Find it hard to believe how such a poorly written article managed to get published in this day and age, without being rectified. One statement which really jumped out at me, as being bias is ââ¬Å"Very few teachers, especially female teachers, want to physically grapple a student, to confiscate their mobile phonesâ⬠.This statement couldn't be much further than the truth! In my school, if a pupil is caught on their mobile phone, the teacher will simply ask for their phone and nine times out of ten they'll hand it over without hesitation. On the rare occasion of them refusing to hand it over the teacher would email SALT, and the problem is resolved in a matter Of minutes. I noticed that all of the examples which she used in her article are very rare occurrences. Personally I have never experienced such horrific reactions to a teacher wanting to take someone's phone.Of course they do append, but they're very uncommon. There's always some people who just love to cause havoc for attention in every school, whether its bunking lessons, play fighting, or in this case refusing to hand over their mobile phones. However Child's suggests the majority of students are belligerent which is not the case. Child's opens her article with the following statement, ââ¬Å"Mobile phones are a poison in our schools but don't blame the teachers ââ¬â Blame the parents! I literally cannot believe how such a bias statement can be used in this day and age. Teachers are not entirely to blame, but some do not help he cause, by not following the basic protocol of confiscating phones at first sight. As well as this teachers are responsible for enforcing the rules and the students are expected to follow them. Th en again parents can be seen to be partly to blame; this is because they're buying their son/daughters smart (addictive) phones. I agree some parents may not be supportive of the school but they aren't solely to blame.I personally believe that students are most at blame, at 1 1-18 years old they're more than old enough to be able to decide when and where to use their phones. ââ¬Å"Porn is gloated over in class with little tempt to disguise what is happening. Sometimes a phone is openly passed around. It's unpleasant and embarrassing. â⬠Frances Child's claiming that porn is constantly being watched during class has shocked me! In my five years at secondary school have not once witnessed such explicit material being shared among students.Although some schools may be different, what gives her the right to assume all students are as bad as each other? Really could go on all day, mentioning all of the reasons why this article is a disgrace, however I'm certain this is more than en ough evidence to express to you my utter most disgust at this article. My solution to this problem Of mobile phones in the classroom is to make punishments stricter than they are now. As well as confiscation, schools could introduce more physical punishments such as litter picking etcâ⬠¦Parents should be informed of this problem also, so they can do their bit to help resolve it. Banning mobiles all together just creates other problems, how will teenagers contact home in an emergency? Clearly Frances Child's hasn't thought of thatâ⬠¦ Writing to Inform or Argue Some people love school, yet others hate every single second of it. Either way, they have absolutely no say in whether they go to school, or stay at home playing computer games. So at the end of the day, why not just let it be and get some Gases out of the whole process?Don't get me wrong, some people try their very hardest throughout their time at school, but then there are the troublemakersâ⬠¦ Most badly behaved s tudents end up with a poor set of grades, which means that they'll struggle to find a decent, well paid job. A recent survey found out that 83% of people who have been suspended or excluded from school end up with either no job or a poorly paid job when hey turn eighteen, and even more concerning is that 77% of those people surveyed regret misbehaving in school. What a waste of over ten years Of your life!All of those lessons wasted messing about all for attention, or even just to be considered ââ¬Ëcool'. It's a well known fact that a lot of out of work youths end up in gangs. Not only is this one of the easiest ways to get on the wrong side of the law, it can also lead to serious injury or even death before their early twenties. However if they weren't disruptive at school they'd have a decent job, and would not even be in a gang in the first place. A lot of people say, ââ¬ËWhat is the point in trying hard when I know I cannot achieve high grades? I find this to be a very poo r excuse as most modern day jobs in the tertiary employment sector don't require high grades, just a good work ethic and attitude towards the workplace. It's only really the top end jobs that require a high amount of intelligence in order to fulfill their specification/ quota. One thing that really annoys me about badly behaved students is how they look down on clever students in such a way that they try their utmost best to try and intimidate them. They go around in their groups approaching he clever pupils, and often saying something on the lines of ââ¬ËYou're a Geek. Ores this as jealousy towards the high grades in which the clever students are achieving. Before I started writing this article, I spent a bit of time researching how the poor behavior of certain students reflects on those who want/like to learn.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Integrated Marketing Communications Essay
Answer1: The Vocalpoint program launched by P&G was a well sought out mean to market the products by using the word of mouth marketing strategy. Inclusion of the mothers from around the country was a cunning decision made by the managers at P&G the reason for this being was that mothers are the ones who usually purchase the products for the household or domestic use so convincing them and then make them work in marketing the new offering so an immaculate move by the management of P&G. Another benefit which P&G gained by devising this Vocalpoint program was that, housewives are hard to target as they do not use technology that often, rather they spend a big part of their leisure time in gossiping with their friends hence the best possible way to market the offerings to them was by this word of mouth publicity. P&G earned pretty much short term and long term benefits by applying this strategy; the most outstanding one was that launching this program helped the firm in increasing the sales by a considerable extent which obviously is the sole aim of launching any marketing campaign. In addition to this external clients of P&G also earned huge profits by using this program and so as a result P&G got its share in the profits, this amount was as higher as 1 million USD. The job of the R&D department got less hectic as it was able to get the desired feedback on the latest products; this was helpful for it in making changes to the existing products and also to the ones which are undergoing the process of development. One of the long term benefits which came to P&Gââ¬â¢s way as a result of this program was that it got a solid loyal customer base on which it can capitalize in the forthcoming years. The ââ¬Ëconnect and developâ⬠program of P&G also got immense support as a result of this program and the marketing intelligence of the company overall increased. Better customer relationship management is also one aspect of the Vocalpoint program which was advantageous for the firm because it helped the managers in comprehending the consumerââ¬â¢s mindset and thus forecasting the consumersââ¬â¢ behavior became easily. The customers on the other hand became increasingly brand loyal to the company as they were getting tailor made products for themselves because P&G was able to understand their latent and covert needs in an adept manner like no one else was doing. The overall impact of this project on the position of the firm was immaculate as it was a win-win situation for the company; the managers were getting the ins and outs of the target market in no time whatsoever so the overall time consumed in the processes of product development got reduced. This decrease in the overall product development time acted as a competitive advantage for the managers as they were able to deliver the market with the products it wanted in much lesser time than the competitors. Another addition was that the managers at the firm were getting customer generated feedback on the latest products and that too in negligible time so this enabled them to alter their strategies if needed be; the consumer on the other hand were liking this as they were getting tailor-made products for their usage (Sirgy 1998). Answer2: Analyzing from the business perspective one has to say that the programs such as Vocalpoint and Tremor must go on as they are beneficial for the businesses in the longer run and same is the case with P&G. Having said that one has to admit that these projects and programs are certainly not the ones, which are based on the ethical principles and norms laid by the society. In my opinion there are various ethical issues which are present in such kind of WoM programs. The first and the foremost being is that the person to whom the offering is being marketed is unaware of the reality he is perceiving the interaction as a social one but in general the other person is acting as a sales person for a specific firm. My objection regarding this is that if a person is being marketed something then he must have prior knowledge of this. For me there is a thin line between marketing and deceiving and this difference has to be understood by the firms and the marketing managers; if there are ample ethical ways of marketing then what is the point in using the deceptive means? Another issue in my opinion is that by hiring or deploying WoM marketers the managers are making the society increasingly materialistic even the sacred relationships like friendship etc are being used just as an asset and even that without the other person being aware of this all. Objectifying the society is one thing which to me is intolerable and as this eventually ruins the whole basic structure of the civilization which really is denting in terms of the future perspectives. Considering the Tremor program I can firmly state that this was one project on which I have serious reservations; the reason for this being is that P&G was using minors (children under 18 years ) to market its products; this is one ridiculous way of marketing. The reason for this is that this is the age where the person learns the most, from its society and surroundings and if the society is indulged in inducing the materialistic thoughts in kids then this will be injurious for the entire social setup; this is the stage at which the children must be taught how to honor and value the relationships but such deceptive marketing projects destroys the whole brought up of a child. One legal issue which too arises as a result of the inclusion of minors in the marketing programs is that these kids are underage legally so they cannot be made a part of any marketing project without the prior consent of their guardians (Malachowski 2001); this is one thing which was completely neglected by the managers at P&G and hence they violated the rules and regulations laid by the government. In the Tremor programs the minors were not allowed to tell the reality to the person to which they are interacting this is something which is immoral and to me for this the firm has to be penalized; can we teach our younger generations to indulge into immoral activities just for the sake of money? This is a million dollar question which has to be answered by the managers at P&G. The Tremor program targeted the minors too which is also an unethical way of making business the reason for this is that the underage people are immature hence they cannot make decisions for themselves (Malachowski 2001); influencing a buyerââ¬â¢s decision by using rational marketing ploys is a justifiable act but making the kids addict by using deceptive means and backdoor channels has to be abandoned as this certainly is not favorable for the social composition. In sum commercialization of human relationships is one thing which must be stopped by the marketing managers if someone is indulging in WoM marketing of a firm then he should disclose his affiliation as this is beneficial for the society; involving money in the activities of daily life will hurt the society in the longer run. In the Vocalpoint program the managers at P&G were looking to select the mothers which are more social; the main reason behind this move was that, as mother is the most sacred and trustworthy relationship in this universe so mothers enjoy a unique position in the society; using their social stature for the marketing purposes was an unreasonable attempt. Answer 3:à The value of WoM is immense in the present global marketing scenario, the primary reason for this is that due to the increase in the globalization the nature of the competition has increased exponentially and so to do business and earn profits a firm has to market itââ¬â¢s offering to the target buyers. With the increase in the intensity of competition and technology the media of marketing have too increased and thus in such an overall marketing environment WoM publicity is something which is of great significance (Bothma 2003). Direct marketing and interactive marketing have always been profitable ways of interacting and influencing the consumers the reason behind this is that first of all these means are less expensive than the other marketing tactics (Tuckwell 2004). In addition to this the marketers get to know more about the ins and outs of the buyerââ¬â¢s black box; as known that these are the two methods which are an integral part of the IMC mix hence applying them together makes it easier for the marketers to timely comprehend the latent and covert needs of the buyers and thus they can make the necessary changes to the offerings and strategies. WoM advocacy is beneficial in the present scenario because it enables the marketers to interact with the customers and hence they can obtain the customer generated feedback regarding their products in addition to this, as there is no such middle channel involved in between the marketer and the buyer (as the WoM marketer is a part of the company) so it becomes easier to get the message of the consumer. The firms once get the timely feedback can make suitable adjustments and alterations in the product designs, strategies etc and in this way eventually WoM publicity acts as a source of competitive advantage for the company in this era of fierce competition. After understanding the consumer psyche if need be, then suitable sales promotions can be launched which are an essential component of the overall IMC mix (Blakeman 2009) The holistic marketing concept has to be applied as per the book because consumer centricity is something plays a vital role in the overall growth of the firm. Establishing long term business relations with the buyers is only possible if the market is provided with what is demanded by it. The nature of the relationship between the firm and its related publics should be exceptional, as this affects the performance of the company in the longer run WoM publicity is one thing which helps in building stronger relationships between the publics and the company (Baker 2001).
Friday, September 13, 2019
A Raisin in the Sun Essay -- Character Analysis, Walter
Big Walter had lots of values for his race and worked very hard for those values to ensure happiness for his family. The American dream was a dim reality because of the harsh working conditions of Chicago blacks in the 1920ââ¬â¢s (Mââ¬â¢baye 175). This is how mama sees Big Walter, as a courageous man who fought all his life to secure a happy future for his family. As Mââ¬â¢baye states, ââ¬Å"Big Walterââ¬â¢s life was a constant struggle against a personal sorrow and a hostile economic and social world that discriminated against himâ⬠(175). Big Walter has the most dignity for his family and his actual dream is the happiness of his family. Mama always mentions Big Walter in the story every time Walter or Beneatha does something that she thinks is wrong. Mama says that Big Walter hated domestic jobs and that farming and sick peopleââ¬âthen go be a nurse like other womenââ¬âor just get married and be quietâ⬠(Hansberry 38). The value of every dream is crucial to every member of the Younger family because of the effect it has them, but it is the family dream to own a house that hold them together. At the end of the story, Mama convinced Walter that buying the house was important for the family because the thought of living in the apartment for the rest of their lives was unbearable. Big Walter had to fight and was struggling to achieve his dream of buying a house, which ended up becoming the families dream. Walterââ¬â¢s dream interfered with Beneathaââ¬â¢s dream, and the families dream. This had a major impact on everyoneââ¬â¢s life, especially after Walter lost the money. In the end, the Younger family was all happy about Walterââ¬â¢s decision. That is the Younger family American dream.
Aging Theories Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Aging Theories - Assignment Example The medical implication of old age is despair and unease resulting to high vulnerability to diseases (Miller 2009). Effectiveness of medication is achieved when individuals accept their health situations. It is implicit that the desperation that comes with old age lowers the resolve to live and disengages the unconvinced older individuals from the society (Alexander 2009). The trickledown effect of failure to accept the signs of old age exacerbates the susceptibility to infections. Nursing advice importantly empowers the old to remain socially active and engaged within the societal activities. Aging is a state of mind when individuals become nostalgic of their past, become less economically productive and disengaged from the active societal activities. The interplay of age determinants results in increased desperation and hopelessness. Hopelessness and desperation results in the survival battle for at old age due to the inescapability of death (Alexander 2009). The administration of medication to the aging individuals has to serve to re-engage the old with the society and at the same time alleviate their ailments. Dual practice of nursing involving the social reunion of the disengaged aged patients and the psychological support to foster the effectiveness of medication causes a challenge to the nursing
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Phonological Aspects of English Teaching and Learning #2 Research Paper
Phonological Aspects of English Teaching and Learning #2 - Research Paper Example As the number of non-native English speakers rises due to globalization, there is a growing interest in phonology as the original language, which is fundamentally Standard English, has undergone some modifications (Mohammed and Alzughaibi, 2012). The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the phonological aspects of teaching and learning English by Arabic students who are not native English speakers. The several variants of English make it a wide area of research. Most ESL (English as a second language) teachers agree on the necessity of teaching explicit pronunciation in language courses (Montrul, 2010). While confidence in pronunciation facilitates the learnersââ¬â¢ interactions with native speakers and improves their linguistic development, poor pronunciation masks good language skills and condemns learners to less academic, social, and professional advancement than they deserve (Clark, Yallop & Fletcher, 2007). When learners interact more with native speakers, they will greatly improve their pronunciation, but their hindrance stems from the fact that such interactional skills do not come naturally. As Kavaliauskiene (2009) points out, foreign language is influenced by their mother tongue and learners analyze and digest the information they receive from the perspective of their mother tongue first and then the new foreign language. Acknowledging this observation, it can also be said that the Arabic L1 phonological system can either facilitate or interfere with the learning of the L2 English phonological system. More specifically, it can be demonstrated that Arab learners insert vowels unintentionally in the onset and coda of some English syllables. For example, the syllable structures in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) did not allow clusters of the type CCC initially as English language did. So, as a result, the Arabic learners of English will insert the high front short
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
The Ocean in Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
The Ocean in Crisis - Research Paper Example In some places like arid desert where fresh water is not readily available, ocean water serves as a lifeline for societies who can decrease its salt content to a safe level. Humanityââ¬â¢s dependence on the oceans is not a recent development, but has existed for thousands of years, ever since man first realized that he could master the resources that the ocean has to offer. Humans are not beyond that basic dependence on regulation and equilibrium in how they interact with the vast oceans of earth. Unfortunately, much of this equilibrium between the health of oceans and the health of civilizations has disappeared in the last century, with the rise of grave threats to the worldââ¬â¢s seas. Problems such as acidification, climate change, pollution, and overfishing have resulted in the need for civilizations to rethink how they exploit the oceans to support necessary institutions. Of course, the existence of these threats is not always clear, so the purpose of this paper is to eluc idate some of the inevitable dangers humans pose to the oceans and how those dangers can be reversed. Acidification Acidification is a process of decreasing the pH level of some substanceââ¬âin this case, earthââ¬â¢s oceans. The process of acidification is occurring at a faster rate because of higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Because levels of carbon dioxide in the earthââ¬â¢s atmosphere remain relatively stable, the excess carbon dioxide is taken up by the oceans (Raven and Falkowski). Dissolved carbon dioxide produces acids such as carbonic acid and bicarbonate. A lower pH has the effect of making ocean waters more acidic, which means most importantly that oceanic calcifying organisms such as corals, crustaceans, echinoderms, mollusks, foraminifera, and others will be vulnerable to the negative effects of a more acidic ocean. Fundamental disruptions to the ecosystems of these organisms that lie at the bottom of the oceanââ¬â¢s food chain will have pr ofound, and most likely irreversible, influences life in the ocean (Nienhuis, Palmer and Harley 10). Keith Sherwood and Craig Idso argue against those who claim ocean acidification poses a significant problem to earthââ¬â¢s largest ecosystem based on a review by Hendriks et al., published in 2010. According to the report, warnings that ocean acidification poses a significant long-term threat to marine biodiversity are based on theoretical models that do not account for numerous biological phenomena and are not supported by empirical observation. According to Sherwood and Idso, biological processes are capable of homeostasis against significant changes in pH levels within the range predicted during the 21st century. However, the essential contradiction here is that the conclusion being offered by Sherwood and Idso is based on the same theoretical models that they claim are not supported by empirical observation earlier; that is, ââ¬Å"the range predicted during the 21st centuryâ ⬠is a prediction based on a theoretical model of how acid levels in the bulk waters of the oceans will change. A major problem Sherwood and Idso do not address is whether predictions about acid level increases are actually reliable when by their own admission, Sherwood and Idso do not think so. Perhaps acid levels will rise much more than predicted, which would call into the question their conclusion that homeostasis can make up the difference. Climate Change Climate change and ocean acidificati
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