The Impact Of Eu Liberalisation Policy On The Uk Energy...

This essay will detail the impact of EU liberalisation policy on the UK energy industry and relate this to a previous sample of a group of suppliers. This essay will discuss industry supplier concentration, oligopoly and monopolistic competition, the EU competition commission and potential single markets which are not yet subject to scrutiny by the competition commission. Industry supplier concentration measures how many suppliers there are in a certain industry. The amount of firms in an industry will affect whether the firms are involved in an oligopoly, a monopolistic market or a perfectly competitive market. Concentration ratios can be used to measure how concentrated a certain industry is. The most common concentration ratio used is the four-firm concentration ratio which measures the output of the 4 largest firms in the market and gives that as a ratio of the overall industry sales. Another method of measuring concentration within an industry is by using the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI).This measurement is calculated by determining the market share of each firm, squaring each number then adding them together. If the number that is calculated is below 1000 it is considered to be of a low concentration and if it is above 1800 it is considered highly concentrated, however it can be between 0 (perfect competition) and 10,000 (pure monopoly). (MI CROECONOMICS 2007) In the sample, the suppliers will be measured by a HHI as to show market concentration. It would not beShow MoreRelatedAgricultural Trade Policies During The European Union2976 Words   |  12 Pages Agriculture has been one of the flagship areas of European collaboration since the early days of the European Community (EC). Agricultural trade policies in the European Union (EU) can be divided into roughly two parts: production support via the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and External Trade Barriers via tariffs and quotas set against non-member states. When the principles of the â€Å"Common Market† were decided in late 50s, France insisted on a system of agricultural subsidies as its price forRead MoreBangladeshs Trade Barriers in Global Perspective - a Comparative Analysis11770 Words   |  48 PagesA COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS References: A. B. Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Prà ©cis on Individual Joint Services Stuff Duties Manual 2003. INTRODUCTION Research Paper, for DSCSC 2008- 2009 course. â€Å"It is inconsistent to support a policy of low trade barriers. Either trade barriers are useful, then they cannot be high enough; or they are harmful, then they have to disappear completely.† - Ludwig von Mises, economist. 1. In most simplistic terms the Trade barrier/restrictiveness isRead MoreDevelopment and Globalisation Essay7740 Words   |  31 Pagesdifferent contexts whether it is social, economical, political etc. However generally development refers to an improvement in certain areas: †¢ Economic o An increase in the country’s economy with a shift from secondary to tertiary industry which becomes less dependent on FDI. †¢ Demographic o An increase in population and a more ageing population as standard of living increases. Birth rates and death rates drop as life expectancy increases. †¢ Social Read MorePrimary Sector of Economy17717 Words   |  71 Pagesmost important in less developed countries, and typically less important in industrial countries. The manufacturing industries that aggregate, pack, package, purify or process the raw materials close to the primary producers are normally considered part of this sector, especially if the raw material is unsuitable for sale or difficult to transport long distances.[1] Primary industry is a larger sector in developing countries; for instance, animal husbandry is more common in Africa than in Japan.[2]Read MoreNivea Presentation3606 Words   |  15 PagesUnemployment rate: (2007) 9.0%; (April 2009) 8.6%. Natural resources: Iron, hard coal, lignite, potash, natural gas. Agriculture (0.9% of GDP in 2007): Products--corn, wheat, potatoes, sugar, beets, barley, hops, viticulture, forestry, fisheries. Industry (26.0 % of GDP in 2007): Types--car-making; mechanical, electrical, and precision engineering; chemicals; environmental technology; optics; medical technology; biotech and genetic engineering; nanotechnology; aerospace; logistics. Trade (2007):Read MoreIron and Steel Industry11487 Words   |  46 Pagesto study the factors which affect the profitability of IRON AND STEEL industry, which is the most crucial element for the growth of any developed or developing economy. It acts as backbone of human civilisation. It is a product of a large and technologically complex industry having strong forward and backward linkages in terms of material flows and income generation. With regards to Indian Economy it is one of the most energy intensive sectors. Increase in productivity can be achieved through cleanerRead MoreAirline and Virgin Atlantic Airways9278 Words   |  38 Pagescustomers, may it be from first or economy classes. Virgin Atlantic Airways aims to recreate the mystique of air travel through the amalgamation of one-of-a-kind in-flight luxuries with circus side-show. However, these features are imitated by various industry rivals. The airline is awarded by various institutions for its outstanding customer service. Customer service is undeniably perfected by most Virgin business ventures. By taking in -consideration the requirement to please customers, the airlineRead MoreForecasting Natural Gas Prices6624 Words   |  27 Pagescompetitive, natural gas prices will continue to be indexed to oil prices directly or indirectly. In a competitive market the reference prices are more volatile, but more transparent, such as, Henry Hub (HH) in the US and the National Balancing Point (NBP) in UK. Both buyers and sellers have a reasonable assurance that prices marked to HH or NBP are competitive. In sharp contrast, Table 1 Regional pipeline natural gas trade (bn cu m) Regions North America Europe Algeria Russian Federation Others 2004 121.78Read MoreWine Consumption Essay examples6888 Words   |  28 Pagesglobal business environment. a-1. Figure 12 wine consumption a-2. Top 10 wine consumers a-3. Changing in total wine consumption b. Discuss any market trends or developments that are relevant or may impact on the organisation 1-a. The organisations mission or vision A vision to establish a high quality wine facility, with boutique wines at a reasonable price, establishing long lasting customer businessRead MorePorter 5 Forces Analysis of Tourism in Dubai8687 Words   |  35 Pages Changing Trends of Tourism Industry in DubaiPresentation Transcript * 1. Changing Trends ofDubai Tourism Industry Pooja Kalloor Swapna Malekar * 2. Objective Dubai Tourism Ecosystem Perception of Dubai amongst Tourists Understand different types of Tourism - Business, Retail and others Challenges of Dubai as a Tourist destination * 3. Destination Dubai Safe Compact Connectivity Affordable Luxury Special Events Cruises * 4. Key Performance Indicators WEF’s Tamp;T Competitiveness

Colonization in A Peoples History of the United States 1492 to Book Report/Review

Essays on Colonization in A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn Book Report/Review The paper "Colonization in A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn" is an excellent example of a book review on history. The two chapters under discussion explain colonization: direct and indirect and of two different continents but by people from the same continent but who had different motives. The first chapter explains colonization of America (an indirect account of how it started) by Christopher Columbus. Columbus’ colonization on the Arawak was indirect and purely by accident but nevertheless he mistreated them (Zinn 19). The same chapter also provides examples of how other Europeans from different European countries also came to America after its discovery by Columbus and they started also colonizing the other Indians who were there mostly the Iroquois trying to change their ways of life and culture. They managed to disrupt their native culture leaving animosity behind (Johnston 29).Chapter though different is similar too. The colonization, in this case, is on the African countries happened in the same way where the Europeans wanted goods from Africa and they, therefore, enslaved them and brought back others as slaves with them and selling them in America to the white wealthy people to be their slaves and servants (Pickett and Dwayne 15).Those not taken as slaves were colonized. The Europeans in the different African countries used different methods to try and enlighten the African with their â€Å"superior† culture making them abandon their cultures and other traditions because they were not good enough including their education and religious beliefs.Discuss why the author chose the title of the chapter.The titles of the two chapters: â€Å"Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress† and â€Å"Drawing the Color Line† are in line with the explanations being provided within the chapter and they act as a sort of guideline of what the reader should expect is discussed within the chapters.

Tesco Descriptionin Strategy Free Essays

Tesco is one of the organizations who have good corporate level strategy to analyze and deal with potential risk. In the case study of Tesco, they tend to expand their Asian market through alliances with the local retailers. The managements believe that this strategy can lead a good development in current resources and competence. We will write a custom essay sample on Tesco Descriptionin Strategy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The type of goods, services and environment demanded by consumers indicate the culture of the country and it can predict their consequent attitudes and beliefs. By entering into joint ventures, Tesco can know more about the local knowledge from their partners and improve their supply chain, product development and stores operations skills to deliver a better shopping experiences and environment to customers. Social culture play an important role in business growth rate, the managements of Tesco realize it and develop strategy to cope with it. Tesco also mentioned that the success of partnerships can depend on three main factors, which are sustainability, acceptability and feasibility. Sustainability can refer as whether the strategy addresses the situation under the operating of company. The acceptability is related to the expected outcomes, level of risk and the reaction of stakeholder. Feasibility is focus on the abilities and resources that are needed when carry out the strategy. Another corporate strategy that implemented by Tesco is diversification. According to Johnson and Scholes (2003), they believe that when the business environment change, it is necessary for an organization to create new products and services in order to consolidate their market (as cited in Ivory Research, 2009). The top managements of Tesco have to take this strategy seriously, because changing not only can strengthen their competence but also can make thing worst. Diversification need to implement in the right way and right time. For the case of Tesco, they are trying to design different store formats from other hypermarket. This will be the uniqueness of Tesco in that country because it will fulfill the needs of customer that cannot get from other hypermarket. Besides that, the management of technological innovation is highly involved in strategic decision making. Tesco have to minimize their internal weaknesses and strengthen internal superiority. How to cite Tesco Descriptionin Strategy, Papers

Models and Theories for Dropbox Inc

Question: Discuss about the Report of Models and Theories for Dropbox Inc. Answer: Models and Theories for a Lean Startup Business To understand what models and theories that can be applied to a business practicing lean startup, an analysis on a company that has already applied the concept would be ideal. Dropbox Inc., is a company that provides file hosting service through an application called the Dropbox. Dropbox creates a folder on ones desktop and anything dropped in this folder is available across all the devices used by the user (Ko, 2015). The company has developed a website and also a mobile app for the same. The reason to choose Dropbox Inc., as an ideal scenario is that the concept of lean startup was applied by this company at a very early stage rather than migrating from an existing model. Lean startup comes up with a concept were you Build-Measure-Learn (Blank, 2013). The concept is that instead of just building a prototype or a concept case and testing it, a much innovative approach is adopted which involves continuous learning. This approach ensures that the startup understands its customers demand and builds the product iteratively rather than investing in a complete product and failing after launch (Ghezzi, 2015). The Lean Manufacturing Theory Lean Startup concept itself has its roots from lean manufacturing where using any resource for any goal other than adding value to the end product is considered as waste (Gndz, 2015). Eliminating this waste is the core of the lean startup business. The theory of lean manufacturing made sure that production is neither excess nor low but in tune with the current customer needs. The Build Measure Learn concept that is the heart of Lean startup. Here an idea is built into a code and a measure is made about the data being manipulated and stored and learning if the code used is correctly functioning (Eisenmann, 2012). Dropbox Inc., has used this theory by implementing the code and releasing it to its early customers to use and help the company understand what the product lacks rather than building a final product and launching it (Drago, 2012). Holacratic Organization Model For a lean startup to be successful the organizational structure of the company is key. The organizational structure of a company determines how various processes are carried out in the organization. Decision making process, the number of approvals required, etc., all depend on the structure of the organization. In case of a lean startup implementation, the organization should be able to make quick decisions and change dynamically with the customer needs. They need to be able to adopt to the new requirements recognized and get rid of the old assumptions made. This kind of an environment requires a strong team structure to realize their goal (Van, 2014). A Holacratic Organization model is the most apt model that can be used by the organization following the lean start up. Also known as boss-less organization model the structure allows distributed decision making giving every individual the opportunity to suggest and work to their full capacity (Robertson, 2015). Keeping the concept of micromanagement completely at bay, the holocratic model ensures that the distance between the CEO and the employees is minimum (Robertson, 2015). This model would do wonders in a lean startup with a small workforce where decisions are made department wise rather than based on the power hierarchy (Mller, 2012). Dropbox Inc., has around 100 employees and currently adopt the flat organization structure. Lean startup comes up with a concept were you Build-Measure-Learn. The concept is that instead of just building a prototype or a concept case and testing it, a much innovative approach is adopted which involves continuous learning. The holocracy model can hence be easily implemented to ensure that the lean start up structure is intact. Lean Canvas Lean Canvas is an adoption of the business model canvas by Alexander Osterwalder with a modern twist. As the name itself suggests the lean canvas is closely associated with lean startup and integrates easily into a lean startup business (Maurya, 2012). The model is entrepreneur-focused business plan focusing on the current problem, the solutions for the same, the key metrics to measure and the competitive advantages that the company has to overcome the problem. The lean canvas model concentrates on the way timeline has an effect on the revenue generated by the company which is one the primary goals for any startup (Bjrk, 2013. Lean canvas makes sure that before developing a product and using up all the financial and technical resources, the organization developing the product understands the need of the product. In simple words, customers would not buy a product they dont need. The product developed has to add some value to the customers life in one way or another or the chances of t he product being successful drastically reduces (Yeoman, 2014). Problem: The problem is crux of the product being developed. Dropbox Inc., used a good amount of time to understand what the new generation of internet users need. The need for large files across different devices has been increasing continuously given the easy integration of devices. Customers need a platform where their files are available where ever they are. With the invention of cloud computing Dropbox Inc., saw that their idea is actually feasible. The problem to be able to have files available across all devices of a customer and the ease with which the same can be shared has become their core. Solution: Cloud computing has become the center of the solution developed by Dropbox Inc. Rather than saving files on physical servers and making it difficult to move them across several platforms, Dropbox Inc., have come up with a simple solution by storing the files in cloud. The solution was not implemented at a go. As lean startup is used, the company initially developed a beta version that was available to a few early customers who could use this product and let the company know what they like and dislike. The feedback was then taken into consideration, and the flaws were discovered and worked on and then a new version of the product was released for the customers to test. Several cycles of this produced the current day Dropbox. Key Metrics: it is important to understand the metrics on which the success of the product is decided. It is not the revenue but rather the answer to the simple question Id the product useful to customers? Answering this question through standardize metrics can help the developers know if the product is reaching the goal of innovation and fulfilling the need in the current market. With Dropbox the key metrics where the upload speed, download speed, storage capacity, sync capability and ease of use. Competitive Advantage: Why would a customer buy a product that has a hundred alternatives at a cheaper price with the same functionality? A product developed has to be either new, or cheap or have advanced functionalities than the rest of the competitors for the customers to choose it. Discovering the competitive advantage can help in developing a product around it (Nobel, 2013). File sharing application were relatively new in 2011. That meant that Dropbox has an amazing idea but also had no predecessor to learn from. Hence the lean startup was implemented. Lean startup business that follow a lean canvas business model are likely successful as the concentration is shifted to focusing on one issue and finding the solution of the same through iterative product cycles that meet key metrics with the help of the competitive advantage. The theory of customer decision making The sales of a product does not depend on the decision made by the seller. It depends on the decision made by the customer. The seller has to find a way to help the customer make the decision. For lean startups the iterative product cycle is only successful when the organization is able to identify flaws in their current build and learn from them and then come up with a product that has better functionalities. The best way to do so is to ask the customers what they want, rather than guess what the customers need. Pre-sales marketing and constant customer feedback can help the organization identified what more the customer would need. The theory of customer decision making helps one understand how the customer decides on a product and the analysis can be used as an advantage (Solomon, 2013). This plays a pivotal role in lean startup as the business has to have a clear vision to focus on and the vision can only be derived when you are able to steer the customer decision in the favor of the organization. The five main steps in the customer decision making are Problem Recognition: The reason a customer needs a product is when a requirement is not fulfilled. The internet has connected people all over the world giving them access to immense knowledge at fingertips. The concept of sharing knowledge has become a core element of networking. Sharing small bytes of data could be easily done using simple applications such as e-mails but transferring huge amounts of data was tedious. One usually had to be break the data into smaller packets or store the data in devices such as pend drives and CDs and physically take them across. This was a tedious process. The Dropbox Inc., identified this and developed a share folder using cloud computing and have given a beta version to the customers as the process of build in lean startup Information Search: The customer searched for applications that would resolve these issues. Since cloud computing was new, very few customer opted for this technology. However, Dropbox has been recognized at an early stage itself as they followed lean startup and have introduced a product for a customers to try out Evaluation of Alternatives: The customers searched for alternatives for cloud computing. Again the major advantage with lean startup is that the organization produces in iterative cycles rather than a finished product. With very few alternatives and the instant availability of a beta Dropbox, Dropbox Inc., has seen an increase in the number of customers using Dropbox Purchase: In lean startup the customer has to provide a feedback to understand if the metrics have been met. For this the initial product is sold at a cheaper price to help the customer be a part of the feedback team (Owens, 2014). Post purchase feedback: For a lean startup business post purchase feedback is the key. The customers review is the most crucial element as the iterative product cycle starts only after learning what needs to be changed based on these reviews. What the customer wants is identified through the customer feedback and helps the organization understand if the product being developed is on the right track. The measure and learn part of a lean startup product comes into play here. The organization can check based on the reviews how many of the predefined metrics have been achieved by the current product. The negative feedback helps in learning what the product lacks. The next iterative cycle will produce a product that corrects these function and adds the suggestions by customers if any (Hart, 2012). Note that changes suggested have to be feasible. The needs of a customer are never ending. Hence a clear decision has to be made on what feedback has to be chosen and what needs to be left out. The organization structure plays a pivotal role in making these decisions. Dropbox Inc. had 75,000 users who provided high quality feedback on their product through vote boxes highlighting the points they liked and disliked in their minimum viable product. Assimilation-Contrast Theory In a lean startup, feedback from a customer plays the most crucial role in determining the metrics achieved and the things to be learnt. Hence it is apparent that a clear understanding of the feedback is required. Usually most of the companies that take up lean startup involve a set of potential customers for black box testing. The reason to do the same is that the product has to be ultimately used by these customers. Making the end consumers determine the pros and cons of the product is the best way to ensure that the product does not fail after its large scale launch. Assimilation Contrast theory is a customer satisfaction theory proposed by Sherman and Fazio on the behavior of customers and how their satisfaction and dissatisfaction with a product can be exaggerated. It is normal that as a human being when a product works exactly as expected or much lesser than expected the reaction of a customer may be exaggerated (Singh, 2015). Say a customer expected a cloud storage space of 300 GB per user and sees that each used is given only 2GB storage space, the customer might report the application as extremely dissatisfactory ad their expectation are higher than the current possible storage. Due to the expectations of the customers it may be difficult to get a perfect feedback from them. Hence the assimilation contrast theory states that if the performance of a product is within the customer acceptance level with a little discrepancy, the same would be over looked by the customer or if the performance of the product falls below the customer acceptance level contrast prevails and the discrepancy may be exaggerated (Huang, 2015). Understanding this theory helps a lean startup business in filtering the feedback received (Croll, 2013). Dropbox Inc., has used an extremely intelligent approach after a detailed understanding of this theory. The company initially took in only 5000 customers even before launching the product. They prepared a 90 second video describing the services they intended to provide and why people should pay them. This video provided a look of their minimum viable product along with an explanation of what to expect from the product and how the file sharing need of a customer are fulfilled. This first video have set the expectations of its customers so that an achievable customer acceptance level is set. Also a basic feedback was taken. Making the end consumers determine the pros and cons of the product is the best way to ensure that the product does not fail after its large scale launch. To understand whether or not to go ahead with the product development and learn the new features that could be added to the product, a second MVP video featuring the additional functionalities has been released to 75000 customers. These customers were asked to view the first MVP video to set their acceptance level. After understanding the second MVP video the customers were asked to drop comments using a vote box. This ensured that every customer dropped a comment on a pre-decided features. Also the customers were given an additional comments field for further inputs. The vote box ensured that the customers have not exaggerated or undermined the performance of the product or has not overlooked the discrepancies, since the vote box consisted of through questionnaire. Based on the feedback received, additional features have been added, old features have been discarded and basic features were ensured. The iterative process started again with a new high level MVP and so on till the product was ready for a large scale launch. The company still continues with its vote box and have also adopted several online marketing techniques to receive a variety of feedbacks (Gehrich, 2012). References Bjrk, J., Ljungblad, J. and Bosch, J., 2013. Lean Product Development in Early Stage Startups. In IW-LCSP@ ICSOB (pp. 19-32). Blank, S., 2013. Why the lean start-up changes everything. Harvard business review, 91(5), pp.63-72. Bosch, J., Olsson, H.H., Bjrk, J. and Ljungblad, J., 2013. The early stage software startup development model: A framework for operationalizing lean principles in software startups. In Lean Enterprise Software and Systems (pp. 1-15). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Croll, A. and Yoskovitz, B., 2013. Lean Analytics: Use Data to Build a Better Startup Faster. " O'Reilly Media, Inc.". Drago, I., Mellia, M., M Munafo, M., Sperotto, A., Sadre, R. and Pras, A., 2012, November. Inside dropbox: understanding personal cloud storage services. In Proceedings of the 2012 ACM conference on Internet measurement conference (pp. 481-494). ACM. Eisenmann, T.R., Ries, E. and Dillard, S., 2012. Hypothesis-driven entrepreneurship: The lean startup. Harvard Business School Entrepreneurial Management Case, (812-095). Gehrich, G., 2012. Build It Like A Startup: Lean Product Innovation. Greg Gehrich. Ghezzi, A., Cavallaro, A., Rangone, A. and Balocco, R., 2015. A Comparative Study on the Impact of Business Model Design Lean Startup Approach versus Traditional Business Plan on Mobile Startups Performance. In ICEIS (3) (pp. 196-203). Gndz, M., 2015. Value Stream Performance Measurement in Lean Manufacturing Business. International Business and Management, 10(3), pp.40-47. Hart, M.A., 2012. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses Eric Ries. New York: Crown Business, 2011. 320 pages. US $26.00. Huang, Z. and Washington, M., 2015. Assimilation or Contrast? Status Inequality, Judgment of Product Quality, and Product Choices in Markets. Organization Science, 26(6), pp.1752-1768. Ko, A.C. and Zaw, W.T., 2015. Digital Forensic Investigation of Dropbox Cloud Storage Service. Network Security and Communication Engineering (Ed: Kennis Chan), CRC Press: ngiltere, pp.147-150. Maurya, A., 2012. Why Lean Canvas vs Business Model Canvas. Available in: https://practicetrumpstheory. com/why-lean-canvas. Mller, R.M. and Thoring, K., 2012. Design thinking vs. lean startup: A comparison of two user-driven innovation strategies. Leading Through Design, 151. Nobel, C., 2013. Teaching a'Lean Startup'Strategy. Harvard Business School. Owens, T. and Fernandez, O., 2014. The lean enterprise: how corporations can innovate like startups. John Wiley Sons. Robertson, B.J., 2015. Holacracy: The new management system for a rapidly changing world. Macmillan. Robertson, B.J., 2015. Holacracy: The revolutionary management system that abolishes hierarchy. Penguin UK. Singh, J. and Widing II, R.E., 2015. A theoretical model for understanding satisfaction/dissatisfaction outcomes of complaint responses. In Proceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 62-66). Springer International Publishing. Solomon, M.R., Russell-Bennett, R. and Previte, J., 2013. Consumer behaviour: Buying, having, being. Pearson Australia. Van de Kamp, P., 2014. HolacracyA radical approach to organizational design. Elements of the software design processInfluences on project success and failure. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam. Yeoman, R. and Moskovitz, D., 2014. Social Lean Canvas.

Nutrition Facts of Healthy and Unhealthy free essay sample

The Restaurant I have picked for my Healthy meal is McDonalds. I have picked the Cesar salad with grilled chicken topped with Cesar dressing and a large unsweetened Ice tea. In my meal it contains calories, calories fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, protein, vitamin a, vitamin c, calcium and iron. Over all the meal is healthy and will meet my daily amount needed. However The Vitamin A may be too low. A total needed to consume per day is 5,000. In this meal there is only 160 grams of vitamin a consumed.Vitamin A helps your eyesight, bones, ability to produce offspring, immunity and how your cells divide and differentiate. Vitamin an also affects the condition of your skin, hair and teeth. Although the sodium level is less than the daily maximum this is high in sodium. A daily maximum of intake of sodium is 2200 mg. Excessive consumption can stop proper absorption of nutrients and disrupt body functions. We will write a custom essay sample on Nutrition Facts of Healthy and Unhealthy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The body needs some sodium to help regulate the amount of water in the body and for muscles to work correctly.It also is needed to help the nervous system to send signals between the brain and muscles. Excess intake of sodium in the daily diet may lead to Hypertension (High blood pressure) and obesity which, in turn, may lead to a host of dietary diseases. It is well known that excess sodium leads to hypertension. The link between high blood pressure, also known as the silent killer, and heart disease is well established. Heart disease is one of the most likely causes of death in the USA. After my research just because something appears to be healthy it does no necessarily mean that it is.

Racism essays

Racism essays The United States have always been plagued with racism, whether racial, gender or class discriminations. In the wake of September eleventh, racial prejudices have become increasingly prevalent. Racial tensions have been stirred by these horrific acts and human nature has prevailed. There is always a need to blame others for one's troubles and naturally towards the group related to the problem. This increasing tension can be seen from the entire country to our own schools. Even though America represents an ideal life, racism and prejudices still lie in subtle forms that effect our daily lives. Americans like to see themselves as law-abiding citizens who uphold American ideals. One of the most fundamental ideals American represents is the "everyone is created equal and free." It could be a perfect world if this were so, however people often discriminate in subtle ways. Even though America prides itself on it's cultural diversity, people are not very accepting personally. For example, of all the marriages in the United States, only 21.6% are interracial. (US Census Bureau) People personally do not like to assimilate themselves outside of their race. People believe that it is morally wrong and society shuns upon it. Interracial couples or "mixed" children are often ostracized from society because they don't truly belong to a mainstream race, either black or white. Parents do not ant their children to date outside of their race because they feel it would be socially wrong. These adults are not truly racist against blacks, yet they show their prejudice in a subtle way by disa pproving interracial relationships. Throughout America's history, there has always been a gap between Caucasians and colored people. Slavery and the civil rights movements best show how there is a deep wedge between people. Colored people were frowned upon in our history and there always was a racial tension, even in today's advan ...

Soviet Bloc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Soviet Bloc - Essay Example From World War II (WWII), there arise an imposed domestic revolution in Yugoslavia which emerged as a new socialist order that promised something profoundly new to those who lived under it in the form of social equality. However, the Eastern Europe side after emerging from WWII could have the opportunity to represent a greater break with the past than the promise that the elite class or the powerful would be considered low, that those who had been nothing. Even in member states that were economically developed and followed democracy like Czechoslovakia, this embodied a thrust toward egalitarianism and in response Hungary and Poland, given their traditional elitist social orders and yawning gaps between gentry and mass, it meant no less than transformation of the very bases and premises of society. The Soviet elite was a ruling group that could be clearly defined in context with the Western society where there were competing hierarchies based on wealth, political power, professional status, and religious authority. Mawdsley & White (2000) points out that in a society of the Soviet block, it was the regime itself that chose through the appointments system for the people who occupied the highest-ranking positions in government, in the economy, and in public life (Mawdsley & White, 2000: vi). It was clear that those who were chosen as the elite class were also members of the party bodies through which this form of domination was exercised. The main point that arises here is that to what extent according to Soviet block societies were seen as pyramids to answer a question that even for the Soviet case about how far from the vertex the defining line of the elite should be drawn. In looking at the Soviet elite we should consider all members of the Communist Party. Communist Rule and Policies As a world's first socialist state, the Constitution of Soviet Union only allowed a communist rule which was later by some member countries like Hungary, Poland and Yugoslavia introduced elements of market-based reforms before the collapse of the Soviet Union (WB, 2002). As a communist state, it was only possible through Soviet's permission to allow Hungary and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to find their own future and it was Soviet pressure that encouraged Vietnam to do the same (Segal et al, 1992: 10). However, in many cases Soviet's example was not perceived as it was supposed to be accepted like in the Chinese and North Korea, it was dealt with pessimism but it is fair to say that no matter what happened to reform in the Soviet Union, the fate of the Soviet's revolution was important to all. Economic Performance The former member states never fulfilled revolutionary promises, particularly when they promised equality. Parliamentary democracy was neglected and remained involutorial in the region except in Czechoslovakia, yet subordination to the Communist regimes left less personal or

AlWaleed Bin Talal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

AlWaleed Bin Talal - Essay Example His professional and financial initiatives AlWaleed’s prominence in investment surfaced in 1990s when he bought substantial shares in Citicorp, when the firm was experiencing financial crisis. Al Waleed’s bailed out Citibank with an initial investment of $550 million, an investment that has grown to about $1 billion currently. In 1997, AlWaleed was reported to have owned about 5% of News Corporation - stake that had grown to about 7% in 2010 ($3 billion) (Gustin 2). In February 1991, AlWaleed bought new preferred shares amounting to about $590 million. These investments increased his stake in Citigroup from 10% to 14.9%. Afterwards, he invested in a variety of companies including Apple Inc., AOL, MCI Inc., Fox News, Motorola and many other media and technology companies. Prior to 2007-2010 financial crises, his shares in Citibank at some point accounted for about half of his assets (Gustin 3). Al Waleed is the owner of Rotana Group, the Arab world's largest entertainmen t corporation. This company is also owned by News Group, which holds 18.97% of its stake. Rotana Group is an expansive pan-Arab media establishment that incorporates Rotana Magazine, a film production company, Rotana Record label, Rotana TV, and seven music channels (Rotana Radio). In 2005, Al Waleed stakes in Apples were disposed. On the down side, Al Waleed has happened to invest in the airline TWA and Eastman Kodak, which have performed quite poorly. He has also invested heavily in the real estate sector, where he has stakes in the Plaza Hotel and the Four Seasons hotel in New York. In December 2011, he invested $300 Million in Twitter, which gave Kingdom holding more than 3% stake in the company (Knickmeyer 5). His personal initiatives AlWaleed has participated in significant philanthropic initiatives that have build bridges between the West and the Islamic world. He strongly believes that promoting harmonious global co-existence is an imperative role of global philanthropy. In his early life, he capitalized on his advantaged upbringing to share his resources with the less-advantaged in the society. When he was growing up and started accumulated wealth, he upheld his believe in giving and sharing his wealth as an obligation to his God. Up to date, he strongly believes in the principle of giving and sharing of wealth with the less privileged. He also made efforts to dismiss the view that Saudi Arabia was not affected by poverty and reached out to poor remote desert hamlets had urban neighborhoods. As a global philanthropist and investor, AlWaleed has upheld long-term relationships with former heads of states, NGOs, academics, religious and business leaders, and political leaders from around the world. AlWaleed is also a staunch religious believer, hard-working, and gifted in multitasking. In this regards, he holds libel political and religious perceptions, and he subscribes to a Global vision of mutual respect and tolerance amongst different states, communi ties and faiths (Peel 5). There are a total of three philanthropic Foundations established by Alwaleed – all committed to supporting humanitarian projects in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. These programs are generally

Determine whether compensation and overtime applies to exempt and Essay - 1

Determine whether compensation and overtime applies to exempt and non-exempt security personnel in your state - Essay Example in our numbers lately and we need to play catch up.† â€Å"Will we be receiving overtime?† Bob the employee inquires, though he already knows the response. â€Å"Good one, that’s why we moved you to salary remember?† Joe chuckles as he walks back to his office. Fairness, in workers time and effort, versus pay has long been a minefield for dispute in the workplace. Typically speaking the worker tends to feel overworked and underpaid, and the owner tends to feel the employee is underworked and overpaid. Over the years lawsuits on compensation and overtime have arisen many times, and the decisions made by the Supreme Court in interpreting the constitution have greatly impacted the way these two are handled. So in order to investigate these laws and how they are applied in greater detail we are going to take one group of employees, security personnel, and see how overtime and compensation are regulated for them in the state of Texas. We will do this by defining overtime, by looking at what FLSA and the states say, by determining who is considered exempt and non-exempt employees, and by looking at how the United States Supreme Court case of Garcia v. City of San Antonio applies. The exact definition of overtime is any work done in addition to regular working hours (Lovett, 2011). However this leads to the question what are regular working hours? Regular working hours can be determined in several ways. The first way is by custom. This means the amount of hours that is considered healthy or reasonable by society. In the United States the custom for regular working hours is forty hours a week. The second way regular working hours can be defined is by the practices of a given trade or profession. A regular working week for an air traffic controller, for example, is anywhere between fifty – seventy hours. The third way regular working hours can be determined is by legislation. This occurs through bills being passed through congress to regulate the work environment and

Tenancy Agreement Problem Question

Tenancy Agreement Problem Question Abstract The primary scope of this paper is to consider whether parties who enter into an agreement that purports to be a licence can be said to have entered into a lease agreement. If a party can enter into a so called licence agreement and it later appears to be a lease, the tenant will be protected as an assured tenant under the Housing Act and the landlord will find him/herself subject to the provision of the Act. The paper first discusses the difference between a licence and a tenancy. With reference to cases and literature the paper proposes that the actual agreement between the parties is that of landlord and tenant. The paper further discusses the protection afforded to tenants under the Housing Act 1988. Introduction Tenants enjoy statutory protection and to avoid it, landlords require prospective occupants to sign licence agreements. What is the nature of the agreement between David and the occupants of the flats? Licence to Occupy or Tenancy Agreement A license gives the occupant the permission to occupy his/her premises but does not confer an interest in land.[1] A lease on the other hand creates an interest in Land. In Street v Mountford [1985] 2 All ER 289 (299), Lord Templeman set out three hallmarks of a lease: Exclusive possession Rent and Term Although rent payments will normally be payable, it is submitted that the requirement to pay rent is not essential to a lease agreement.[2] A lease only has two requirements: Exclusive possession and a term. The licence also provides for a term but does not grant exclusive possession. To determine whether there is a lease or a licence it is necessary to look at the form and substance of the agreement and the genuine intention of the parties is important. There is no hard and fast rule and it is not always easy to determine whether exclusive possession exists. What rights has the owner retained pertaining to use of the premises? If the agreement requires from the occupier to share with another or the owner, the occupier will not have exclusive possession. Employee Occupancy The service agreement between employer and employee entitling the employee to live in the employer’s accommodation in order to perform his duties as employee is an example of exclusive occupancy that does not confer an interest in land. The employee is not occupying for himself but on behalf of the employer. In Street v Mountford, op. cit. the court said that the possession of the servant is treated as the possession and occupation of the master but it must be strictly ancillary to the performance of the duties which the employee has to perform within the employment relationship. Cases The leading case is Street v Mountford, op. cit. Mrs Mountford had the right to occupy a furnished room under a written agreement which stated that it was a licence and she had no protection under the Rent Act. The court held that the true distinction between a lease and permission personally to occupy lay in the exclusivity of possession which Mrs Mountford enjoyed. Despite the wording the true nature of their agreement was that of landlord and tenant. The court in Antoniades v Villiers Anor [1988] EWCA Civ 3 (17 March 1988) followed the judgement of Street v Mountford op. cit. where Lord Templeman criticised the finding in Somma v Hazelhurst [1978] 1 WLR 1014 (Each occupant signed a separate agreement). In this case the occupants were partners too. The owner presented an agreement that was drafted on the same terms of the agreement in Somma v Hazelhurst op. cit. Mr Villiers and his Partner signed two separate agreements stating that the nature of the agreement is a licence. The owner was entitled to put someone else in too and in fact a friend stayed with the respondents for a period of time. On appeal the court held that the respondents did have exclusive possession and called the agreements pretence. The agreements did not reflect the reality of the situation and the court held that a lease was created.[3] The pretence doctrine can be seen as a three stage process: The courts must establish that there is a consensus ad idem between the parties. If the parties agreed to a term to avoid statutory protection, it should be struck out. The remaining part of the agreement will determine if it is a lease or not. Multiple occupancy arrangements are more difficult to decide. In AG Securities v Vaughan, op. cit. the court referred to unity of possession, title, time and of interest and held that there was a licence only since unity of time, title and interest were missing. There are three ways of looking at the nature of the agreements: There are a series of licences and no protection under the Housing Act.[4] Each individual has exclusive possession of a bedroom whilst sharing the other facilities and each has a lease providing security[5] There exists a joint tenancy of the whole as found in Antoniades v Villiers op.cit. Advice Ben, Clara and Alan are all living in the same flat. Ben and Clara live together in one room and Alan in his own room. They are sharing the rest of the flat. The position with Ben and Clara is the same as that in Antoniades v Villiers, op.cit. save that Alan is in the second room. Ben and Clara have exclusive possession of their room and one cannot validly argue that someone else can be placed in their room with them. All three of them also fall under the second scenario since they have exclusive use of their bedrooms but they share other facilities. Section 3 of the Housing Act provides security to them. The real nature of the relationship is that of a lease. The students are entitled to protection under the Housing Act. The tenant has tenure and a sale to Fred does not affect their security. Edward is not in the flat as part of his job as clerk for David. There is no mention of the nature of the agreement but there is clearly a term and exclusive possession. The relationship between Edward and David is also a lease. In all circumstances none of the students or Edward can be evicted without following the correct procedures. The Housing Act 1988 In terms of Section 19A of the Act, the agreement between David and the Students and David and Edward are assured short hold tenancies. The landlord cannot validly terminate the tenancy without the obtaining an order of court, or in the case of a fixed term tenancy which contains power for the landlord to determine the tenancy in certain circumstances, by the exercise of that power. Edward is protected by Section 5 of the Act as an assured short hold tenant. The only way that Fred can end the assured short hold tenancy is by make the premises his principal residence and approaching the court for an order without any court appearance. Bibliography: Books Bright, S. and Gilbert, G., Landlord and Tenant Law: The Nature of Tenancies, (1995), Clarendon Press Legislation: Housing Act, 1988 Housing Act, 1996 Housing Act, 2004 Law of Property Act , 1925 Cases: Street v Mountford [1985] 2 ALL ER 289 Ashburn Anstalt v Arnold [ 1988] 2 All ER 147 Antoniades v Villiers Anor [1988] EWCA Civ 3 (17 March 1988) Somma v Hazelhurst [1978] 1 WLR 1014 AG Securities v Vaughan; Antoniades v Villiers [1988] 3 All ER 1058 Other sources: Law Commission, Landlord and Tenant. Reform of the Law:, Law Com No 162, 1987 Internet sources Tenants Know Your Rights http://www.fool.co.uk/news/property-home/2008/09/25/tenants-know-your-rights.aspx> as at 14 November 2008 Housing- In England, Tenancy Agreements http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/housing/tenancy_agreements.htm> as at 14 November 2008 Residential Tenancies What is a Tenancy http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/residential_tenancies.htm> as at 14 November 2008 The Letting Centre Factsheet 18 Residential Tenancy Agreements http://www.letlink.co.uk/letting-factsheets/factsheets/factsheet-18residential-tenanc> as at 14 November 2008 Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies, A guide for tenants http://www.info.gov.uk> as at 14 November 2008 [1] Licences, Key points, http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/license_agreement.htm> at 14 November 2008 [2] Ashburn Anstalt v Arnold [ 1988] 2 All ER 147; Law of Property Act 1925, Section 205(1)(xxvii) [3] AG Securities v Vaughan; Antoniades v Villiers [1988] 3 All ER 1058 [4] AG securities v Vaughan, op. cit. 7 Housing Act 1988, Section 3

Pollution Essay: Forests Counter-Act Global Warming :: Environment, Climate Change

An important ecosystem service provided by forests is the ability to counter-act the effects of global warming. Carbon dioxide, a contributing factor to global warming, is taken up by the plants and vegetation contained in forests through photosynthesis and the resulting carbon is stored in both living and dead plant biomass. This process, known as carbon sequestration, greatly reduces the potential for global climate change (IPCC 2001). Forest cover also affects the albedo, that is, the proportion of incident solar radiation that is reflected by the earths surface. The dense green coloured canopy of tropical forests have a low albedo when compared with grasslands or deforested areas. This allows for more incident solar radiation to be absorbed and cooler air termperatures (O’Brien 1996). Perhaps the most important ecosystem service provided by forests, which is a basic requirement for life, is the supply of clean water. Forests facilitate the storage of clean water through filtering precipitation through the tree canopy. This, in effect, slows the rate at which precipitation collects at the ground surface allowing it to remain unsaturated. It is estimated that over 2/3 of the clean water supply is United States is contained within stream water, which was filtered through forests, with a direct value exceeding $27 billion per year (Snail 2009). This clean water can be captured and stored in watersheds that in turn, can be used for variety of purposes including agriculture, municipal drinking water, recreational activities and habitat for wildlife. Global forests provide habitat for wildlife, which in turn, contribute to the maintenance of ecological processes. Wildlife is directly utilized by humans for hunting, observation and ecotourism. However wildlife is considered an important ecosystem service because of its indirect contribution to many other ecological processes. Wildlife plays an important role in the pollination and seed dispersal of crops. Eighty percent of the world 1,330 cultivated crop species are pollinated by wild pollinators who typically live in forested regions (Abroamorvitz 1997). Additionally wildlife plays an important role in biologically controlling pest populations, specifically in timber species (Snail 2009). Works Cited Wiersum, K.F. 1984. Surface erosion under various tropical agroforestry systems. In: O’Loughlin, C.L. and Pearce, A.J. (eds.) Proceedings Symposium on Effects of Forest Land Use on Erosion and Slope Stability.

Dilemma of International Community

The US prevention strategies against international terrorism have come a long way since the mid-1990s. The disciplined, centralized organization that conducted the September 11 is diminished because most of the group’s senior and midlevel leaders are either incarcerated or dead, while the majority of those still at large are on the run and focused at least as much on survival as on offensive operations. However, Al Qaeda still has the potential to impose lethal threat.From the critical standpoint, the key challenges for contemporary counterterrorism efforts are not as much Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organizations as what will follow them. The emerging primary terrorist threat includes the global network of mostly Sunni Islamic extremists, which extends beyond members of Al Qaeda. The foundations of these extremist sources remain very much alive and in some cases are growing deeper. Practically, they contain the interconnected economic and political systems of the Muslim w orld.In addition to â€Å"Muslim† factor, there is a widespread opposition toward U. S. policies within and toward the Muslim world, especially the U. S. political position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, which is more important, the invasion and occupation of Iraq (Byman, 2003:61). Considering the mentioned trends and reasons, the counterterrorism challenges after the liquidation of Al Qaeda may very well be even more complex than they were before.Decentralization and secretive nature of terrorist plots as well as indeterminate nature of the final target imposes extreme challenges on the intelligence. While the mission of intelligence in counterterrorism is to monitor and prevent terrorist activity, practically it may become vain due to its inability to identify terrorist groups and individuals. However, even a decentralized terrorist threat has some connections that can be discovered, and this will constitute the core of intelligence counterterrorist efforts.From t he practical standpoint, although almost every extremist can be connected at least indirectly to the network of Sunni Islamic terrorists, the majority of linkages includes only casual contacts and do not involve preparations for terrorist operations directed against the United States. No intelligence service possesses the resources to monitor all of these linkages, to construct the life history of every terrorist, or to compile comprehensive sociograms of the radical Islamist scene (Rothkopf, 2005:34).International community’s willingness to assist in the struggle against terrorist organizations to the major degree has depended on Al Qaeda’s record and menacing capabilities. However, from the contemporary point of view, foreign cooperation becomes more problematic as the issue moves beyond Al Qaeda. Mentioned difficulties that the United States has already encountered in dealing with Lebanese Hizballah depict some of the problems in more generally enlisting foreign hel p against terrorist groups (Byman, 2003:63).An underlying limitation to the willingness of international community to collaborate with the United States on antiterrorist efforts is the skepticism among foreign political elite that the most powerful country in the world needs to be preoccupied with small groups of radicals. Critically, the skepticism of foreign community can be considered in terms of fact that the U. S. preoccupation is no longer with the group that carried out the terrorist attacks on September 11 (Nash, 2004:56). However, the most significant challenge to the U. S.counterterrorist efforts that may emerge along with a more decentralized terrorist threat is the ability to uphold the nation’s own commitment to struggle it. Surprisingly, the American society has revealed that its determination to fight counterterrorism can be just as inconstant as that of foreign publics. During the past quarter century, the U. S. public and government has given different and co ntradictive attention, priority, and resources to U. S. counterterrorist programs, with interest and efforts increasing in the aftermath of a major terrorist incident and declining as time passes without an attack.International Threats of Terrorism From the critical standpoint, it is clear that even being the world’s only superpower the United States can no longer sustain a war on terrorism. Due to inability of the US to provide detection, monitoring and elimination of 100 percent of international terrorist groups, international cooperation in this area seems to be a promising solution. Moreover, terrorist organizations are now acting across the domestic borders of hosting states, jeopardizing security of entire international community and recent terrorist acts in London’s subway became an evident support for this statement.Brian Jenkins underlines that the success of terrorism has much to do with the perception of a nation’s capability to deal with such crises, proposing that â€Å"public perceptions of government standing and competence in combatting terrorism are based not on overall performance, but rather on performance in a few dramatic hostage incidents, where the government, of course, suffers disadvantages from the outset† ((Jenkins, 1983:10). Indeed, the public sees the government only in crisis, demonstrably unable to provide security for its citizens, sometimes yielding to terrorists to save lives, unable to bring its enemies to justice.Practically, a rescue attempt or successful prevention of an attack adds immeasurably to a nation’s image of military prowess, while an attempt that fails does incalculable damage. Many statistics exist to quantify the activities, numbers, types, locations and targets of international terrorists. It was reported in 1986 that â€Å"incidents of terrorism – those involving citizens or territory of more than one country – have doubled in number since 1975, to slightly o ver 800 last year [1985]† (Hanley, 1986:3).Notwithstanding the bombings in August 1998 in Kenya and Tanzania, there are analysts who believe terrorism has been in decline in recent years. â€Å"Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997†, published by the American State Department, reported that there were a total of 304 acts of international terrorism, one of the lowest annual totals since 1971 (US Department of State, 1997). According to Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1998, the number of acts of international terrorism dropped to 273 attacks. However, in 1998 there was a record high toll of 741 people killed and 5,952 injured in terrorist attacks (US Department of State, 1998).In 2000, there were 423 terrorist acts, an increase of eight percent from the 392 attacks in 1999. The death toll for 2000 was 405, and 791 were wounded (US Department of State, 1999, 2000). The year 2001 witnessed a dramatic increase due to the audacious attacks on 11 September of that year. Many commen tators agree that terrorist violence is, and will likely remain, an integral part of international relations. As Scotland Yard’s counterterrorist specialist George Churchill-Coleman stated, â€Å"Terrorism is with us now, whether you like it or not. You’ve got to adjust your way of life to that† (Hanley, 1986:3).This mentality has now reached the American scene as the head of the Office of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, noted, â€Å"We need to accept that the possibility of terrorism is a permanent condition for the foreseeable future. † He stated, â€Å"We just have to accept it† (Calabresi & Ratnesar, 21). At airports there is a â€Å"get on with the job† attitude and in daily living one must accept the need to be on guard, like steering clear of suspicious packages and reporting them to the local police. One columnist wrote, â€Å"By not surrounding the (terrorist) incident with hysterical posturing, we cut it down to size.We make it seem a nuisance rather than a cataclysm. We stifle its capacity to instill terror. We decline to be afraid† (McCabe, 1996a:4). In that regard, Great Britain is one of the few nations which is intimately familiar with terrorism and its impact. Lacking any other alternative, the British have essentially learned to live with the threats and the bombings. Moreover, the British have learned to live with intrusive surveillance cameras, the cost of bomb insurance (3. 2 billion dollars a year), as well as a higher awareness of the threat that has been assimilated into the society over the years, particularly since the late 1960s.Even despite the recent terrorist attacks in London’s subway, â€Å"the British approach to terrorism, developed over many years, seems natural in a culture that places great store on a ‘stiff upper lip’† (McCabe, 1996b:8). The prognosis becomes ever more frightening as terrorists seek out softer targets, as witnessed in the 1998 bombing s of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. This is because international police and security agencies will, for the most part, strengthen the defenses of consulates, embassies and residences, and will provide other forms of personal security for the more likely terrorist targets.Therefore, terrorist attacks will probably become more indiscriminate. The bombing campaigns in Paris during the summers of 1986 and 1995, aimed at government buildings, restaurants and cafes, the bombings in London during the spring of 1992 of commuter train stations and the financial district, and the use of sarin in the subway in Japan by the Aum Shinrikyo in 1995, and the February 2001 reported discovery by the British police of a terrorist plot to release sarin into the London underground system as well as the suicide hijacking of four airliners in September 2001 are examples of what we may expect.(Other examples of indiscriminate terrorism are the strikes at airports such as those in December 1 985, in Rome and Vienna. ) Furthermore, targets abound in highly developed industrialized societies and analysts anticipate that terrorist groups will begin targeting vital points such as â€Å"computer systems, power grids and other key links of industrial societies† (Hanley, 1986b:2). Reports underline that terrorists are expanding their interests in nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as well as information warfare.Some of these concerns were highlighted in December 1999 when the Solicitor General of Canada, Lawrence MacAulay, told the House of Commons that Canada needed to strengthen the government’s capacity to address the threat of a nuclear, biological or chemical attack by terrorists. Although the possibility of such an attack happening was low, Mr. MacAulay felt all levels of government must be prepared to deal with such eventualities (Evenson, 2001:2).His concerns followed warnings by scientists of the Health Protection Branch that a release of the dead ly anthrax bacteria in a major Canadian population center could kill upwards of 35,000 and cost 6. 5 billion to the health care system, underlining the fact that medical facilities were not prepared to deal with such an incident (Evenson, 2001:2). In the fall of 2001, a series of letters containing the anthrax virus were mailed to media centers in New York City.The letters were sent to ABC, NBC and CBS, and were orchestrated to attain the maximum amount of media coverage, while concomitantly stirring up popular fear and anxiety about these and other possible attacks. Another issue that relates to this is that of nuclear scientists who represent a valuable resource to those nations developing nuclear programs, such as modern Iran. Potential Responses to Terrorism: International Scope The evolution and deployment in the 1970s of elite counterterrorist teams in Israel and West Germany was in response, partly, to the frustrations of employing a series of so-called â€Å"non-force† methods against terrorists.Livingstone has argued that â€Å"governments have employed a variety of nonforce strategies in their efforts to resist terrorism, including diplomacy, negotiation, concessions, and cooptation. Occasionally such methods have worked, but more often than not they have failed or only provided a temporary prophylaxis to an endemic problem† (Livingstone, 1982:176). Now it is widely recognized that, under most circumstances, making concessions to terrorists only invites further acts of terrorism. This fact, combined with the failure of the U. N.to take concerted action to develop effective remedies to the problem of international terrorism, has resulted in a growing tendency on the part of national governments to resort to unilateral military action against terrorism in the belief that, if it is not possible to make terrorists answerable to the law, then they must be answerable to the gun. It is apparent from recent twentieth-century history in Western countries that the responsibility for combating terrorism has been, for the most part, that of law enforcement authorities.On occasion, army units were tasked and, for the most part, were found to be operationally wanting in a number of areas such as strategy, methodology and structure. Conventional military forces and tactics have not met the challenge of terrorism: â€Å"Not only are contemporary weapons and tactics far too destructive to be employed in heavily populated urban regions, but also the deployment of large numbers of soldiers against terrorists simply increases the number of targets at which they can strike† (Livingstone, 1982:176).General George Grivas, the famous Cypriot terrorist leader, noted that the level of terrorist operations is much lower than that of conventional military operations. Counterterrorist operations demand specially adapted and trained soldiers, tactics and strategy. He noted the â€Å"only hope of finding us was to play cat and mouse: to use tiny, expertly trained groups, who could work with cunning and patience and strike rapidly when we least expected† (Taber, 1977:118).In short, one must use those same weapons and tactics belonging to the terrorists’ inventory – psychology, stealth, speed, surprise and cunning – against the terrorists themselves. Moreover, candidates for such units must have motivation and determination, physical and mental stamina, initiative and self-discipline, be capable of operating in small groups during long-term isolated operations, and they must have the aptitude to assimilate a wide range of skills and think laterally. This type of military operation demands a different type of soldier, namely one who can develop a broad spectrum of skills.Practically, contemporary counterterrorism demands highly trained and motivated commandos, operating in small groups; skilled in electronics, communications, demolitions, marksmanship, deception, silent killing; and familia r with terrorist tactics and behavior. References Byman, Daniel (2003). Should Hizballah Be Next? Foreign Affairs 82, no. 6, November/December: 54-66. Calabresi, Massimo, & Romesh Ratnesar (2002). â€Å"Can We Stop the Next Attack? † Time, 11 March, 16–26 Evenson, Brad (2001). â€Å"Canada Poorly Prepared for Germ Warfare. † National Post, 1 FebruaryHanley, Charles (1986a). â€Å"Experts Note Common Traits in Terrorists. † Ottawa Citizen, 19 April Hanley, Charles (1986b). â€Å"International Terrorism: Global Order Shaken by Wanton War. † Ottawa Citizen, 19 April Jenkins, Brian Michael (1983). New Modes of Conflict. Santa Monica, California: Rand Corporation, June. Livingstone, Neil C (1982). The War against Terrorism. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books McCabe, Aileen (1996). â€Å"Britain Learns to Live with Terrorism after Decades of Blasts. † Ottawa Citizen, 4 August McCabe, Aileen (1996).â€Å"Facing Terror with a Stiff Upper Lip . † Montreal Gazette, 3 August Nash, James L (2004). Prevention or cure. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD Observer. Paris: May:56 Rothkopf, David (2005). Can Technology Fix U. S. Intelligence. Technology Review. Cambridge: Feb. 108(2) Taber, Robert (1977). The War of the Flea: Guerrilla Warfare Theory and Practice. St. Albans, Frogmore, Herts, Great Britain: Paladin United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997 Retrieved From < http://www. mipt.org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006 United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997 Retrieved From < http://www. mipt. org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006 United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1999 Retrieved From < http://www. mipt. org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006 United States, Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 2000 Retrieved From < http:/ /www. mipt. org/Patterns-of-Global-Terrorism. asp> Accessed Jan 3, 2006

Employees’ Perception of Selection Systems The WritePass Journal

Employees’ Perception of Selection Systems Introduction Employees’ Perception of Selection Systems IntroductionArticle 1: â€Å"Applicants Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†.Article 2: â€Å"Fairness Reactions to Selection Methods: An Italian Study†.Conclusions and RecommendationsReferencesRelated Introduction This paper summarises the views of two authors on how job applicants or potential employees perceive selection procedures. Both articles focus on employees’ perceptions of selection methods. Article 1: â€Å"Applicants Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†.    The first article is written by Ryan and Plolyhart (2000) and is titled â€Å"Applicants’ Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†. This article is motivated by the fact that low unemployment rates have increased the competition for employees, which has forced organisations to review the various components used in selecting job applicants and how job applicants’ perceptions of those procedures can affect the attractiveness of the organisation to potential employees. Another motivation for this study is the fact that there is lack of better research on applicant perspectives. Thirdly, the article notes that social justice theorists are looking for ways to apply social justice theory concepts to applicants’ perceptions of selection methods. Moreover, there is an increasing diversity in the workforce as well as racial differences in perception of selection procedures which can affect the manner in which j ob applicants perceive organisations and thus the attractiveness of those organisations to potential employees. The article notes that one of the main assumptions of most research in this area is that the manner in which job applicants perceive selection procedures and processes affects the manner in which the applicant views the organisation and thus the decision on whether to apply for a job vacancy to that organisation or not. The article also suggests that differences in perceptions between minority and majority groups on certain selection procedures can account for some of the differences in job performance that is often observed between these two groups. The article begins by reviewing the works of Schimittand Gilliland (1992) and Gilliland (1993). These studies develop a model which provides a link between between applicants’ perceptions of selection systems and situational factors and their subsequent â€Å"attitudes and behaviours† towards those organisations. The model postulates that applicants’ perceptions of the procedural justice system are influenced by situational characteristics. These characteristics include the type of test administered during the selection process, the human resource policy of the organisation and the behaviour of the human resource staff of the organisation. The overall fairness of the selection system is influenced by the degree to which the applicants’ perceptions of the procedural justice of the selection system meet the expectations of applicants. The framework further stipulates that applicants’ prior experiences with a selection system would affect the evaluatio n of the system. Distributive justice rules of equity, equality, and need have an impact on the perceptions of the distributive fairness of the final decision reached through the selection system. Distributive justice rules are in turn influenced by performance expectations and the salience of discrimination. In a nutshell, the framework concludes that there should be a relationship between outcomes such as â€Å"job application decisions, test motivation, self-esteem, self-efficacy, endorsement of the company’s products, job acceptance decisions, job satisfaction, and performance among others† and applicants’ perceptions of fairness of the selection process. After reviewing the framework, the authors then move on to provide a critical review of the empirical literature and evaluating how they conform to the framework. The review focuses on four key areas including: The perceptions that have been studied; The factors that determine applicants’ perceptions; The consequences of holding more positive or negative perceptions; and The theoretical frameworks that have been presented. With respect to the applicants’ perceptions that have been studied, the article notes that the most commonly researched perceptions include applicants’ feelings regarding degree to which the selection system is related to the job, feelings about the fairness of various aspects of the selection system and its associated outcomes, as well as feelings about test taking motivation. The authors provide a critical review in this area and conclude that a major concern with most of these studies is that their constructs are imprecise with respect to the manner in which they are defined as well as the variability with which they are operationalised. As a result, the authors conclude that a better conceptualisation of research on test behaviours and on fairness is required to improve understanding. The authors however, admit that the work of Chan et al (1998) to a certain extent provides a link between test attitudes and perception of fairness although the study focused only on two concepts from each line of research. According to the authors, lack of an improved integration of studies on test attitudes on fairness and test attitudes makes understanding difficult. For example, it is difficult to determine whether potential employees who are more anxious perceive procedures are more unfair as opposed to those who are less anxious. In addition, it is difficult to deter mine whether beliefs about testing have a higher impact on perceptions of fairness of a procedure than characteristics of the procedure and selection situation itself. The author notes that notes that most test-taking attitude measures are perceptions of oneself (including motivation, anxiety, etc) while justice-related perceptions typically focus on the fairness of the test used in making hiring or rejection decisions. The authors argue that there should be a relationship between applicants’ motivation and anxiety and the justice-related perceptions. The authors also suggest that it is important for other perceptions to be tested. Basically most of the studies under review focus on how the motivation or perceptions of applicants influence their perceptions of fairness. This approach neglects the impact of other perceptions of fairness that may be critical for the improvement of selection systems. Article 2: â€Å"Fairness Reactions to Selection Methods: An Italian Study†. This article is written by Bertolino and Steiner (2007). Like the first article, this article begins by reviewing the works of other authors who provide different conceptual frameworks on the relationship between applicants’ perceptions of fairness of selection systems and their attitudes and behaviours towards the organisations. This article cites the work of Schuler (1993) whose framework suggests that the reaction of applicants to a selection process is a function of the key characteristics of the selection techniques employed. In addition, the article reviews the work of Anderson and Ostroff (1997) who focus on the socialisation impact of selection methods. Like the first article, the second article also reviews the work of Gilliland (1993) who employ organisational justice theory to comprehend the reaction of applicants to selection systems. Unlike the first article, which is based solely on a critical review of empirical literature on the reaction of applicants to selection systems as well as the underlying models of selection systems, the second article is based on both primary and secondary information. It begins by reviewing literature, and then conducts and exploratory study on the reaction of applicants to selection systems using a sample of 137 Italian students. The study is motivated by the fact that despite the presence of evidence on selection systems, most of the studies have been conducted in other countries with no attention given to Italy. The article notes that cultural differences may play an important role in the manner in which applicants perceive selection systems and thus their reaction to those systems as well as their attitudes towards the organisation. Based on the four dimensions of culture proposed by Hofstede (1980, 1991) (individualism vs collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femi ninity, and power distance), the article suggests that it is possible for selection systems to be avoided by these four dimensions. For example, the article reviews the work of Ryan et al. (1999) who show that uncertainty avoidance can affect the selection practices of many countries. In addition, the study reviews the work of Triandis (1990) who argue that people from countries with high uncertainty avoidance prefer predictability, knowing what others will do, and having clear instructions and expectations. This means that employees who work in countries with high uncertainty avoidance should be more inclined towards engaging in structuring activities, including the standardisation of practices. On the contrary, those in countries with low uncertainty avoidance should be less committed to formal structures and should be prepared to accept spontaneous changes in practices. The study employed a survey questionnaire to study the reaction of Italian student to selection systems. The questionnaire used in the study is the one developed by Steiner and Gilliland (1996) which presents 10 different selection methods used in the U.S or Europe. The questionnaire asked students to think about a job they would apply for upon completion of their course Using a within-subject analysis of variance (ANOVA) the ratings of process favourability was compared across 10 selection methods. The evidence suggests that there are significant differences across the 10 selection methods. The selection method that received the most favoured rating was â€Å"work-sample test†. Resumes, written ability tests, interviews and personal preferences had the second favourable rating. Personality tests and biographical information blanks received a neutral rating while honesty tests and personal contacts received negative ratings. The authors conclude that their results are similar to those obtained from other countries. In particular, they observe that employer’s right, opportunity to perform and face validity are the procedural dimensions that had a high correlation with process favourability for all four countries that were studied. The two articles are similar in that they both begin by providing a theoretical framework on selection methods. Both articles provide the same theory which shows that there is a relationship between applicants’ perceptions and their reactions to selection systems. However, the first article differs from the second one in that it is based solely on the review of secondary literature. The article does not arrive on any conclusions with respect applicants reactions to selection systems. Rather, it identifies weaknesses in the literature and provides recommended procedures for improvement in future studies. On the contrary, the second article employs primary data to study how employees’ perceptions of selection systems affect their reactions to those systems. It compares findings to previous studies and concludes that culture has no significant impact on employees’ reaction to selection systems in Western countries. The study observes that the findings from France, I taly and other Western countries are similar to those obtained in studies from the United States. This shows that the different cultural dimensions mentioned in Hofstede (1981, 1990) do not influence the manner in which employees perceive selection systems which means that it does not affect the manner in which the react to those systems. The foregoing suggests that other factors may be affecting employees’ perceptions rather than culture. Conclusions and Recommendations Based on the discussion of the two articles above, one can conclude that employees’ perception of selection procedures influences the manner in which they behave towards the organisation and the decision to accept or reject an offer to work for a particular company. These perceptions may even influence the applicants other interactions with the company such as deciding to buy or not to buy the company’s products. The main difference between the two articles is that one focuses on criticising research on selection systems while one focuses on understanding how employees perceive selection systems across countries and how those systems affect their reaction. Based on this conclusion, it is important for organisations to note that the manner in which they design their selection system can affect the perception of applicants and as such affect the attractiveness of vacancies to potential applicants. Selection systems can even influence the ability of a company to attract qu alified applicants. If employees have a negative perception about a particular company, they may not be motivated to apply for a vacancy in that company and this may make it difficult for the company to fill the vacancy with a qualified applicant. Consequently, employers should seek the most favourable selection systems so as to increase their ability to attract qualified applicants to their jobs. The first article shows that research on selection systems is limited. Therefore, this paper recommends that more research should be conducted on selection systems and how employees perceive those systems. By so doing one can provide better recommendations to employers to aid them in designing their selection systems. References Bertolino, M., Steiner, D. D. (2007) â€Å"Fairness Reactions to Selection Methods: An Italian study†, International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 15, Number 2 Ryan, A. N., Ployhart R. E. (2000) â€Å"Applicants Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†, Journal of Management, 26, 565-606

ATP Definition and Importance in Metabolism

ATP Definition and Importance in Metabolism Adenosine triphosphate or ATP is often called the energy currency of the cell because this molecule plays a key role in metabolism, particularly in energy transfer within cells. The molecule acts to couple the energy of exergonic and endergonic processes, making energetically unfavorable chemical reactions able to proceed. Metabolic Reactions Involving ATP Adenosine triphosphate is used to transport chemical energy in many important processes, including: aerobic respiration (glycolysis and the citric acid cycle)fermentationcellular divisionphotophosphorylationmotility (e.g., shortening of myosin and actin filament cross-bridges as well ​as  cytoskeleton construction)exocytosis and endocytosisphotosynthesisprotein synthesis In addition to metabolic functions, ATP is involved in signal transduction. It is believed to be the neurotransmitter responsible for the sensation of taste. The human central and peripheral nervous system, in particular, relies on ATP signaling. ATP is also added to nucleic acids during transcription. ATP is continuously recycled, rather than expended. Its converted back into precursor molecules, so it can be used again and again. In human beings, for example, the amount of ATP recycled daily is about the same as body weight, even though the average human being only has about 250 grams of ATP. Another way to look at it is that a single molecule of ATP gets recycled 500-700 times every day. At any moment in time, the amount of ATP plus ADP is fairly constant. This is important since ATP is not a molecule that can be stored for later use.​ ATP may be produced from simple and complex sugars as well as from lipids via redox reactions. For this to occur, the carbohydrates must first be broken down into simple sugars, while the lipids must be broken ​into  fatty acids and glycerol. However, ATP production is highly regulated. Its production is controlled via substrate concentration, feedback mechanisms, and allosteric hindrance. ATP Structure As indicated by the molecular name, adenosine triphosphate consists of three phosphate groups (tri- prefix before phosphate) connected to adenosine. Adenosine is made by attaching the 9 nitrogen atom of the purine base adenine to the 1 carbon of the pentose sugar ribose. The phosphate groups are attached connecting and oxygen from a phosphate to the 5 carbon of the ribose. Starting with the group closest to the ribose sugar, the phosphate groups are named alpha (ÃŽ ±), beta (ÃŽ ²), and gamma (ÃŽ ³). Removing a phosphate group results in adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and removing two groups produces adenosine monophosphate (AMP). How ATP Produces Energy The key to energy production lies ​with the  phosphate groups. Breaking the phosphate bond is an exothermic reaction.  So, when ATP loses one or two phosphate groups, energy is released. More energy is released breaking the first phosphate bond than the second. ATP H2O → ADP Pi Energy (Δ G -30.5 kJ.mol-1)ATP H2O → AMP PPi Energy (Δ G -45.6 kJ.mol-1) The energy that is released is coupled to an endothermic (thermodynamically unfavorable) reaction in order to give it ​the  activation energy needed to proceed. ATP Facts ATP was discovered in 1929 by two independent sets of researchers: Karl Lohmann and also Cyrus Fiske/Yellapragada Subbarow. Alexander Todd first synthesized the molecule in 1948. Empirical Formula C10H16N5O13P3 Chemical Formula C10H8N4O2NH2(OH2)(PO3H)3H Molecular Mass 507.18 g.mol-1 What Is ATP an Important Molecule in Metabolism? There are essentially two reasons ATP is so important: Its the only chemical in the body that can be directly used as energy.Other forms of chemical energy need to be converted into ATP before they can be used. Another important point is that ATP is recyclable. If the molecule was used up after each reaction, it wouldnt be practical for metabolism. ATP Trivia Want to impress your friends? Learn the IUPAC name for adenosine triphosphate. Its  [(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(6-aminopurin-9-yl)-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]methyl(hydroxyphosphonooxyphosphoryl)hydrogen phosphate.While most students study ATP as it relates to animal metabolism, the molecule is also the key form of chemical energy in plants.The density of pure ATP is comparable to that of water. Its 1.04 grams per cubic centimeter.The melting point of pure ATP is  368.6 °F (187 °C).

Produce a critical analysis of the completed video that involves Essay

Produce a critical analysis of the completed video that involves theorising the possible practices, i.e., setting the practice i - Essay Example The film accomplishes its goal in creating an unexpected ending, but some of the work in the beginning could better frame the intentions for the reactions of the viewer. Blindside is a film that provides a classic point of view with a cleanly performed twist at the end. The film genre that Blindside is most similar to is that of the film noir, although just as film noir does, it slips effortlessly into the many aspects of the thriller. One of the aspects of film noir is in the crisis of masculinity that is defined through alienation and despair (Silver, 5). The two male characters in Blindside create two sides of the criminal aspects of masculine crisis and alienation and despair. As the viewer first watches the film, the alienation and despair of seeking a criminal that commits horrific and bloody crimes is clear in the way in which the first character, named Michael, is framed as he works with seriousness and intensity at his desk, while the frailty of life and the vulnerability of the human existence is exampled in the way in which Neeson, the second character, is at the side of the road, shivering in the wind as he waits for Michael to appear at the crime scene. One of the most obvious ways in which the filmmakers recreate an example of the genre of film noir is through filming most of the short in black and white. However, the film does diverge from this type of film when scenes from the murder are revealed in short bursts of cinematic cuts. However, a film needs to exhibit more qualities other than the simple quality of being black and white in order to be a type of film noir. The film must build suspense and must have an essential number of basic characteristics in the building of its storyline. Silver frames these themes which are embodied in characters as follows: Alienated characters Existentialism Obsessed characters Freudianism Proletarian characters Marxism Femme fatales Feminism All of the above Structuralism While this short film does not ha ve the space in which to reflect all of these concepts, the two main characters have a duality that both reflects alienated and obsessed characters, thus providing for existentialist aspects and Freudian aspects of characterization. In addition, they appear to have the working class aspect of their character, reflected through the subterfuge which fools the audience into believing they are police, as well as through the type of clothes they wear, the cars they drive, and their working class nature as they move through their scenes. The primary aspect of this structure that is missing is the femme fatale, the woman who represents betrayal and masculine femininity. In the case of Blindside, the female character is purely the victim. She represents the impending release of the masculine build up of crisis, the According to Gates, the next evolution from film noir was to create the serial killer which moved away from the femme fatale and the victim-hero towards the relationship of the m ale-male connectivity of the investigator and the killer. The noir film was replaced with films that denied the masculine crisis through a â€Å"masquerade of masculinity† (123). In Blindside, the two male leads reflect the potential variations of the investigator, whether the victim-hero or the overtly masculine through displays of machismo, until they reveal themselves for the

Art in South Africa Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Art in South Africa - Research Paper Example From the early days of colonization by the Dutch, then the independence from the British, the apartheid era from 1949 to 1989 and the post apartheid era, art in South Africa has been hugely diversified in terms of subject and matter. The population in South Africa is hugely diverse when it comes to the issue of race. The leading races found in South Africa include Blacks, Whites, Indians and Coloured’s. The role of race in South African Art cannot be ignored as it has had a significant impact and resonates in Most of the South African artists work. An exhibition of South African artwork from the 19th century to modern popular art pieces will take place at University Gallery for students, faculty, and staff attending Indiana State University. The exhibition will run for one week in celebration of the South African Art Struggles during the apartheid period. The art exhibition will run daily for the seven days starting from 12pm to 5 pm and later on Guest artists from South Afric a will take to the podium and share their experiences on the history of art in South Africa. Objectives The history of South Africa has been told through many forms. However, art is one of the forms that captured the history of the country since Ancient times. Students in the university will have a better understanding of South Africa history in the eyes of different artists, through different races and lastly through different forms of art media. The history of art itself in South Africa is an intriguing one, and in holding the exhibition, cultural understanding of South Africans will be achieved. At the end of each exhibition and lectures, students and lectures will fill single cards to determine the impact on students. Context The audience that this exhibition target includes students and lecturers from different faculties at Indiana State University. The university population is composed of students from different cultural background. Knowledge on the different cultures is essen tial for each student and faculty individuals in the university. This will help in understanding other people’s culture while at the same time ensuring that there is cohesion in the University population. Students need to learn beyond their own culture and this art show will be  enable better understanding of   differences in other cultures. South Africa has a rich cultural background and those who wish to have future dealings in South Africa will find the exhibition particularly educative. Community Connections For the exhibition to run smoothly volunteers from the student body will be required to ensure that security and issues of mobilizing and ushering in guests are taken care of. The transportation of the artwork will also require students and other volunteers. The University Gallery will need to be cleaned daily.   Preparations for the lectures by the various guest artists has to be done. The help of the student community will be beneficial to ensure that the exhi bition is a success. Budget The exhibition will require funds to help transport various south African art pieces from Art galleries around the university. The galleries will also need some amount of money to be paid so that they can lend the paintings and other art pieces. This will be achieved by organizing fundraising events to help collect enough money. The South African consulate will also be approached to offer the sponsorship of

NURSING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NURSING - Essay Example A muscle is a vital type of soft tissues found in every organ of an animal’s body, the cells in a muscle of myosin, protein and acting all of which are vital in influencing the shape and size of an organ thus the entire organism (Blakey 77). Among the most vital muscles in the human body that enhance movement is the skeletal muscle. The skeletal muscle is responsible for the upright posture of humans. It connects bones through tendons, which act as levers thereby enabling movement. During a jog, both the arms and the legs move systematically. The lifting and dropping of the limbs during a jog arises from the ability of the skeletal muscles. The tendons in both the leg and the arm lift various parts of the limbs at the various synovial joints. Synovial joints foster the movement of various body parts in humans. Such are the most common types of joints in humans. A joint is a point in the body where two bones meet. Synovial joints have a slimy lubricant that enhances the efficiency in the contact of the bones in humans. Such joints as the elbow and the knee are among the most vital synovial joints that facilitate the movement of a body (Barnett 121). The synovial fluid requires adequate supply of blood from the arteries that share the anastomosis at the joint. Jogging engages the joints thereby heightening their activity. The heightened activity in turn increases the flow of blood through the arteries to the synovial fluid in the joints. Such is a desirable occurrence that enhances the functionality of the joints since they the synovial fluid replenishes itself thus keeping the joints functional. Regular jogging facilitates an adaptation tendency. The arteries expand thereby supplying the synovial fluid with adequate blood . This in turn enhances the production of the fluid thereby reducing the chances of people suffering from any form of joint aches breakages especially in old age. Among the movements at the joints in a

Watson & Skinner Perspective Essay Example for Free

Watson Skinner Perspective Essay Psychological perspectives will always change as long as psychology continues to move forward. Not one perspective or approach would be considered wrong or incorrect. It just adds to our understanding of human and animal behavior. Most psychologists would agree that not one perspective is correct, although in the past, early days of psychology, the behaviorist would have said their perspective was the only truly scientific one (McLeod, 2007). Two Psychologists who are well known for their theories on behaviorism are John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner. In this paper I will discuss their own perspectives on behaviorism. Behaviorism is an approach to psychology that combines elements of philosophy, methodology, and theory. It emerged in the early twentieth century as a reaction to mentalistic psychology, which often had difficulty making predictions that could be tested using rigorous experimental methods. The primary tenet of behaviorism, as expressed in the writings of John B. Watson, B. F. Skinner, and others, is that psychology should concern itself with the observable behavior of people and animals, not with unobservable events that take place in their minds. The behaviorist school of thought maintains that behaviors as such can be described scientifically without recourse either to internal physiological events or to hypothetical constructs such as thoughts and beliefs. John Boardus Watson(January 9, 1878 – September 25, 1958) was an American psychologist who established the psychological school of behaviorism. Watson promoted a change in psychology through his address, Psychology as the Behaviorist Views it, which was given at Columbia University in 1913. This is sometimes called The Behaviorist Manifesto(Watson, 1913). The first paragraph of the article concisely described Watsons behaviorist position: Psychology as the behaviorist views it is a purely objective experimental branch of natural science. Its theoretical goal is the prediction and control of behavior. Introspection forms no essential part of its methods, nor is the scientific value of its data dependent upon the readiness with which they lend themselves to interpretation in terms of consciousness. Watsons quote: â€Å"Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and Ill guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select – doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. I am going beyond my facts and I admit it, but so have the advocates of the contrary and they have been doing it for many thousands of years† (Watson, 2012). The quotation often appears without context and with the last sentence omitted, making Watsons position appear more radical than it actually was. In Watsons book Behaviorism, the sentence is provided in the context of an extended argument against eugenics. That Watson did not hold a radical environmentalist position may be seen in his earlier writing in which his starting point for a science of behavior was the observable fact that organisms, man and animal alike, do adjust themselves to their environment by means of hereditary and habit equipments. (Watson, 2012). Nevertheless, Watson recognized the importance of nurture in the nature versus nurture discussion which was often neglected by his eugenic contemporaries. The behaviorist, in his efforts to get a unitary scheme of animal response, recognizes no dividing line between man and brute. The behavior of man, with all of its refinement and complexity, forms only a part of the behaviorists total scheme of investigation. With his behaviorism, Watson put the emphasis on external behavior of people and their reactions on given situations, rather than the internal, mental state of those people. In his opinion, the analysis of behaviors and reactions was the only objective method to get insight in the human actions. This outlook, combined with the complementary ideas of determinism, evolutionary continuism, and empiricism has contributed to what is now called radical behaviorism. It was this new outlook that Watson claimed would lead psychology into a new era. He claimed that before Wundt there was no psychology, and that after Wundt there was only confusion and anarchy. It was Watsons new behaviorism that would pave the way for further advancements in psychology (Watson, 2012). Burrhus Frederic B. F. Skinner (March 20, 1904 – August 18, 1990) was an American Psychologist, behaviorist, author, inventor, and social philosopher (Woodward, W. R. 1996). He Innovated his own philosophy of science called radical behaviorism, and founded his Own School of experimental research psychology—the experimental analysis of behavior. His Analysis of human behavior culminated in his work Verbal Behavior, as well as his Philosophical Manifesto Walden Two, both of which have which have recently seen enormous Increase in Interest experimentally and in applied settings. Contemporary academia considers Skinner a Pioneer of modern behaviorism along with John B. Watson and Ivan Pavlov. Skinner Called his particular brand of behaviorism Radical behaviorism (Skinner, 1984). Radical Behaviorism is the Philosophy of the science of behavior. It seeks to understand behavior as a Function of Environmental histories of reinforcing consequences. Such a functional analysis Makes it capable of producing technologies of behavior. This applied behaviorism lies on the Opposite side of the Ideological spectrum as the field of cognitive science. Unlike less austere Behaviorism, it does not accept private events such as thinking, perceptions, and unobservable Emotions in a causal account of an organism’s behavior. Skinner stood at the opposite position From humanistic Psychology for his whole career and denied humans possessing freedom and Dignity as well as Evidenced in his novel Beyond Freedom and Dignity (Skinner1984). Most of His theories were supposed to be Based on self-observation, which caused him to become a Supporter for behaviorism. Much of This self-observed theory stemmed from Thorndike’s Puzzle Box, a direct antecedent to Skinner’s Box (Skinner, 1984). The psychologist further Expanded on Thorndike’s earlier work by introducing the concept of Reinforcement to Thorndike’s Law of Effect (Skinner, 1984). Skinner was an Advocate of behavioral engineering And he thought that people should be controlled through the Systematic allocation of external Rewards (Skinner, 1984). Skinner believed that behavior is maintained from one condition to Another through similar or same consequences across these Situations. In short, behaviors are Causal factors that are influenced by the consequences. His Contribution to the understanding of Behavior influenced many other scientists to explain social Behavior and contingencies (Skinner, 1984). Reinforcement is a central concept in Behaviorism, and was seen as a central Mechanism in the Shaping and control of behavior. A common Misconception is that negative Reinforcement is Synonymous with punishment. This Misconception is rather pervasive, and is Commonly found in even scholarly accounts of Skinner and his contributions. To be clear, while Positive reinforcement is the strengthening of behavior by the application of some event, Negative reinforcement is the strengthening of behavior by the Removal or avoidance of some Aversive event (e. g. , opening and rising an umbrella over your Head on a rainy day is reinforced By the cessation of rain falling on you). Both types of Reinforcement strengthen Behavior, or Increase the probability of a behavior reoccurring; the Difference is in whether the Reinforcing Event is something applied (positive reinforcement) or something removed or avoided (negative Reinforcement). Punishment and extinction have the Effect of weakening Behavior or decreasing The future probability of a behaviors occurrence, by the application of an aversive Stimulus/event (positive punishment or punishment by contingent Stimulation), Removal of a Desirable stimulus (negative punishment or punishment by contingent Withdrawal), or the Absence of a rewarding stimulus, which causes the behavior to Stop (Skinner, 1984). After researching endless research, what is really boils down to is Watson, a classical behaviorist, believed that there was a connection between response and Environment and Skinners theory was a bit different from Watsons in that behavior was a result of consequence. Watson and Skinner were all fathers in the field of psychology. Their ideas Contributed to the way that behavior is seen. Their theories have helped to create many forms of Behavior modification as well as the processes that occur during thought. Although psychologys Theories grow and change daily; these two psychologists theories will maintain their values in Modern psychology.