Ethics at Work Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics at Work - Research Paper Example ver a problem arises, one has to look in to the solutions deeply so as to overcome the problem quickly without causing further damage to the organization. Generally, in times of difficult situations and problems, many people opt to solve the problem as quickly as possible to avoid further losses; however it is not a good strategy to solve any problem (GRAHAM, 2013). Many problems bear such nature that if they are not handled properly but with haste, they cause severe damage instead of being solved. So, one needs to approach a problem after properly planning for it. The following approach shall be preferable for solving problems: As a management officer, a person can react in many ways. This reaction depends upon the style of leadership he prefers. Some managers are hard at deciding for who were involved in any problem. This type of manager is a benefit in case of employees who are negligent in performing their duties; however it may motivate those employees who are generally loyal to work (Giberson, 2009). Similarly there may be a manager who uses politeness towards those who made the problem to rise. It is advantageous as it motivate employees loyal to work to be more careful in performing duties, but can also motivate those who disregard such behavior of managers and become more and more negligent. The word â€Å"best† can be described as the single most advantageous of all the possible things. As discussed earlier, there may be many possible solutions for a given problem. It is very rare that a problem has only one possible way to be solved in. but the best is generally a single one yet this one also is not a hard and fast rule as one solution may be the best from one perspective but the other from another. 2. Concern-for-others principles: they are the principles where a person imposes decisions with the others in mind. They have no concern for the organization or themselves in these types of principles. In my business, I would prefer to use the Balancing

Operating Principles of Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Liquid Crystal Essay

Operating Principles of Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Liquid Crystal (LCD) Electronic Displays - Essay Example The P type and N type materials are joined together to create a P-N junction. In case of no electricity flow the electrons occupy the holes on the P type material creating a depletion zone. The depletion zone acts as an insulating layer in the diode. In case the electric current is passed through the diode, the electrons in the N type material get attracted towards the P type material leading to removal of depletion zone. When the electrons meet the protons energy is released in the form of photons, which emit light. The energy of the band-gap is represented by the energy of the photons. The colour of the light depends on the wavelength and the type of material used in the semiconductor. The change in supply of current affects the flux of luminosity proportionately. LED in general are operated using direct currents to avoid the variation in the intensity of luminosity. The mechanism used is the â€Å"Injection Electroluminescence† where Luminescence signifies photon production ; Electro suggests photon production using electric current and the Injection part deals with photon production using current carriers. In general, the conducting material used in LED are Aluminium-Gallium-Arsenide (AlGaAs), the colour of the light depends upon the type of material used as a semiconductor. Some of the other materials used in production of semiconductors a part of LED are Fig.1 –List of Semiconductor materials (LED, 2010) Organic Light Emitting diodes are also used where a thin film of organic material is coated over the semiconductors. LED is made of semiconductor materials which are responsible for the production of light of various colours. In case of a static diode, when no electric current is passed the P type and N type materials attract respective protons and electrons at the respective ends. A depletion zone is created

Relationship Between Documentary And Reality Film Studies Essay

Relationship Between Documentary And Reality Film Studies Essay By exploring the relationship between documentary and reality define the genre. (Please note the term reality here does not mean the genre reality television). Documentary has become so scattered and diverse that it is hard to define the genre, Documentary film has often been looked at as that which communicates the real not the imagined, (Pearce McLaughlin 2007, p.47) it tells stories, makes claims or remarks about the real historical world rather than the contrived areas of fiction. The documentary filmmaker gathers, structures and edits the material in a manner that changes it from a simple record of actuality into a form which we can refer to as documentary dialogue. Therefore it is seen as an engaging sort of cinema but its customary techniques to enhance its aim or purpose has led to issues surrounding verisimilitude. I intend to analyse further the relationship between documentary and reality exploring the conventions and modes used to define the genre. Automatically when we view documentaries we feel closer to the truth for two reasons: first that there is a lack of fictionalised features and second because the events shown have not been coordinated by the filmmaker. But this is a naÃÆ' ¯ve approach we have to be aware that the account offered is one that is seen from a particular perspective. A documentary film is one that offers information about factual topics with a variety of aims, to record important events and ideas; to inform viewers; to convey opinions. To achieve these aims a number of common conventions are used including: actuality (occurrences in front of the lens be it events, people or places), voice-over (the filmmaker offering information, explanations and opinions), interviews (witnesses or participants directly relate their experiences), archival footage (show historical events or to add detail without additional filming), reconstructions (false scenes that provide the viewer with factual information and give a sense of realism), montage (visual representation of characters thoughts helping the viewer understand what the character is saying) and the exposition (creates the viewers first impression and introduces the content) these all create a sense of presence. The overall impact of these devices is to heighten the effect of realism for the viewer; making declarations about the real world and offering filmed evidence to support it. In order to explain documentary further Bill Nichols identified six documentary modes That function something like sub-genres of the documentary film genre itself: poetic, expository, participatory, observational, reflexive, performative. (Nichols, 2001, p.99) I will briefly consider these modes each in turn. The poetic mode is a skewed and creative expression; its desire is to grasp the hidden truth through poetic manipulation as seen in Walter Ruttmanns (1927) film Berlin: Symphony of a Great City which presents an extended montage chronicling the daily life of this German city. In the scenes such as the policeman guiding traffic followed by two rows of matching bobble head toys nodding suggests a tone of conformism and ashamed loyalty of the citizens. Expository documentaries on the other hand use rhetorical methods to create realism, this mode has a straight narrative structure with a direct relationship between the images and voice-over where interviews are only used to support the films argument An Inconvenient Truth is an example of expository documentary as it trusts on verbal commentary and challenging judgment to make its case about global warming. This frankness is similar to the observational mode known as Direct Cinema. Here it appears documentary is impassive, having an impa rtial attitude on its subject which can be seen in Richard Pennebackers Dont Look Back (1967). The participatory mode is where the filmmaker does not stay aloof but rather engages with it. Micheal Moores film Roger and Me (1989) displays this trait with a frankly moralistic documentary. The reflexive mode comments on the means of representation itself; it uses techniques that query the notion of documentary as a category or mode. For instance Errol Morris The Thin Blue Line (1988) an account of the breakdown of justice, urges the viewer to think about comparative points of truth and deceit by using reconstruction and repetition of scenes. Finally there is the performative mode which introduces concerns around the filmmaker and subject performance stressing the emotive and shared impact on the audience. In turn each mode uses the means of the narrative and realism in different ways, using conventional elements to create a range of text with ethnical matters, textual structures and ty pical expectations among the viewers. In the documentary genre, it is observed that reality is seemingly evident, wholesome without any manipulation; compared to fiction film however the margins between reality and fiction are indefinite Documentarys selection and ordering of the images and sounds of reality constitute an account of the world; however, it thereby becomes prey to loss of the real in its narratives of reality. (Cowie, 2011, p.1) It is the degree that these events are affected or directed by the filmmaker that causes concern for documentary. In Nanook of the North (1992) Robert Flaherty engrossed himself in the lives of the Inuit people, devoting a year living with them. This implies a participant observation attitude, where the filmmaker notes modestly and forms as impartial a record as possible. However for the purpose of dramatization Flaherty manipulated events, all of Nanook of the North is said to be one gigantic re-enactment (Nichols, 2001, p.13) for instance he filmed Nanook hunting with customary harpoon rather than the more modern weapons that he actually used. Such devices are actually central and perhaps inevitable practices in documentary production but the use of reconstruction has remained controversial raising issues on ethics as to whether a documentary filmmaker should engineer things in order to realising the truth of the subject matter. Documentary footage can only have a claim on the real if it is somehow taken unawares but this is untrue, all documentaries treat their material artistically. The experts in direct cinema alleged that the occurrence of the camera and filmmakers did not impact on their subject matter. Grey Gardens (1975) by the Maysles Brothers is a very famous fly-on-the-wall documentary about Edith Beale and Edie Beale, Jackie Kennedys aunt and cousin; it is a far cry from observational documentary. As the filmmakers constantly relate with these obviously psychologically troubled women which rears important questions about the morals of documentary filmmaking. Sometimes while filming they just want to clarify information, such as a photograph but frequently their contact is more difficult Because the womens hold on reality is so tenuous the Maysles walk a fine line in the film between examination and exploitation, foregrounding an issue that is always inevitably present in direct cinema (Grant Hillier 2009, p.74) Grey Gardens is a film that employs notions of performance and self-representation where both filmmakers and subjects are delighting in their individual presentations. There are different points to which the subjects of a documentary may be seen to be performing for the cameras A person does not present in exactly the same way to a companion on a dateand a filmmaker in an interviewà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦they modify their behaviour as the situation evolves. (Nichols 2001, p.9) The participation in shared roles has remained vital to the documentary project. Similarly there have been degrees of self-consciousness or acknowledgment by the filmmakers of the role they are performing in the production of a documentary. The fact that documentaries will always be about the real world, real people and real issues, the idea of enactment with them is hypothetically profound and spontaneous as it appears opposed to concepts of truthfulness and undistorted reality. However in Nick Broomfields films Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992) and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003) we are time and again drawn to his role as the filmmaker and moderator. At the end of the day his films are much more about him and the process of filming as they are about Aileen this offers a sense of truth, as behind the story is an condemnation of the media and the legal system of America. Consequently Broomfields films focus the role of the documentarist and the wa ys in which the filmmakers contact with the reality they are capturing influences the subsequent film. Documentary has always had an awe inspiring outcome on its audience the relationship between documentary and reality is debateable as most documentaries do integrate particular fictional elements to elevate the visual effect and entertainment value of their film. Though they claim to present the world as it is and try to hold the attention of their audiences by the strength of their argument, documentaries can never accomplish the level of impartiality to which they from time to time desire it can tell the truth but not the entire truth. (Chapman 1988, p.23) Therefore by analysing some of the conceptual and practical issues involved in defining the genre along with its relationship with reality across a variety of documentary modes the genre of documentary will always cause debate regarding its definition. Therefore all we can expect is that it will be a fair and honest representation of someone elses experience of reality.

College Should Not be a Playground :: College Admissions Essays

College Should Not be a Playground University students today have it pretty good. At decent-sized schools, students have access to any number of low-cost services that civilians would donate organs for. We get gyms and fitness centers for free or close to it. We have computer labs, lounges and more clubs and societies arriving every semester. With little or no fees, on-campus coffee bars and pick-up basketball games make traveling into the real world increasingly ludicrous. Sure, we pay more in tuition rates to help off set the cost, but college students these days shouldn't sweat the bill's bundled-in activity fees - it's simply worth it to fork over a little extra cash for the added convenience. Besides, with college rates continually on the rise, these resource charges amount to a drop in a very large bucket. On the other hand, shouldn't a University provide for its students without bleeding them dry? After all, without the learners, the educators and administrators would be jobless. So why should students pay for access to increasingly basic and common services? Students have come to expect these tasty perks, as if our Universities owe us for passing through their hallowed halls. But have we come to expect too much? Do we truly deserve extravagant bonuses? My own school has for years given students free, unlimited, high-speed access to the Internet. All rooms in all dorms have long had an Ethernet port, intended to help us with our studies. Any student can plug in, call up the library's extensive database subscriptions, and hunt for journals, articles and other information on a boundless range of topics. Of course, with such power comes responsibility, for students can also visit the seedier and less, shall we say, academic nooks of the World Wide Web. In light of this, UMD began cracking down on Internet access and Networking capabilities on campus last year. First, the students' file-sharing capabilities were restricted. Many students grumbled, but the administration remained firm. Most recently, filters blocked the transfer of certain controversial file types. Student outcry led to a scaled-back version of the sentinel software, but the students haven't finished crusading. The school, they say, has infringed on our rights by installing restrictive programs between the Internet and us. University literature promises "free, unlimited" Internet access, and

Environmental Science in Today’s World Essay

Humans so dominate today’s world that there is no ecosystem on earth that has not been influenced to a greater or lesser degree of human activities. And, as long as humans remain on earth, such influence will not end. Sustainability will depend on learning to channel our efforts so that we play a positive supporting role as opposed to a destructive role toward ecosystems (Nebel & Wright, 1993). Environmental risk is a reality of today’s world. The seemingly endless supply of synthetic chemicals, consumer goods, energy, and waste create new risks through chemical contamination, pollution, and environmental degradation. Environmental disasters such as chemical spills or explosions threaten millions of people living in the vicinity of manufacturing or storage facilities. The uncertain risks of global warming and ozone depletion loom ahead. A central factor of environmental risk is that it is usually involuntary. People do not choose to ingest chemical pollutants such as pesticides or industrial solvents in their food and water, to undergo workplace exposures to dangerous chemicals, to breathe polluted air, or to experience radiation exposure from nuclear fallout or faulty nuclear power plants. These environmental risks pose a unique problem to regulators charged with protecting the public health. Limited information may be available on the health effects of these risks. Consequently, in an effort to protect the public’s health, various government agencies study these potential hazards to determine the level of risk they pose. This effort to understand these risks, and to quantify their impact on human health, is the field of risk analysis (Moore, 2002). The scale of human occupation and transformation of the environment is now truly global. The adverse health effects of this ignorance may have been limited, as the environmental damage was on a local scale. However, in today’s world our activities are having an impact at a global scale, and global environmental change will become a major theme in public health research, social policy and development, and political advocacy in the 21st century. The conceptualization of the environment as a global public good for health should go some way not only in increasing an appreciation for this heritage and dependency, but should also enhance the interface between research and policy. This increased awareness and interface between key stakeholders might lead to effective action to ensure a sustainable future for current and future generations (Hester & Harrison, 2002).

Equal Pay Act Assignment Essay

Research the Equal Pay Act of 1963: why is it important to know this law when designing the internal alignment piece of your compensation program? The Equal Pay Act (EPA) means men and women receive the same amount of payment for doing the same work, which it will be illegal if employers pay women less than men or for men who get less paid than women for the same work. This Act was passed in 1963 as a revision to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Most of complainant was women, which they always recieved less than men. I think this is unfair and against sex discrimination. Therefore, it is very important to understand this law for every organizations. According to Milkovich and Newman’s textbook, â€Å"Internal alignment, refers to the pay relationships among different job, skills, competencies within a single organization.† (p. 11). Even though there is the internal alignment of compensation program, it could not guarantee that sex discrimination will not be happen. Thus, to know this law is very important for everyone. Employees have their right to earn equal pay for equal work. This law is for protecting both men and women from sex discrimination in pay rates. Meanwhile, it is also important for employers which they have to be careful when they use internal alignment as a policy. It is because employees may not understand why they earn less income comparing with people who work as the same job. As the Internal alignment means employees will be paid based on their performance, so the important aspect of this policy is â€Å"to be fairness†. It can be included pay differences based on productivity, job responsibilities, and work output. Furthermore, the Equal Pay Act requires that employer have to pay employees at the same rate, but it does not require that employer will pay the same amount of compensation which it should be paid by the job duties and responsibilities. For example, if A and  B work as a saleman in ABC organization, which they do the same work, so they will earn the same rate. However, A receives higher income due to he made more sales. In this case, B cannot claim for the EPA because that does not violate. That is why it is important for employer to understand the Equal Pay Act truly. First, to protect the organization from sex discrimination, each organization should have pay structure and clarify to their employees carefully. Second, to keep a good image of organization. Whether big or small organization, they do not want to have bad image. Beside of lossing reputation, they might lose a profit and reliability from outsider. So, it is necessary to know the EPA. If employer pays two employees who work at the same duty with different amount, he/she should do a record why they get different paid, just in case that could be a crucial evidence in the future. Reference Milkovich, G. T., Newman, J. M. & Gerhart, B. (2011), Compensation, 11th edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin.Written Assignment Grading Form Content and Organization 70 Percent Percent Earned: Comments: All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. Research Equal Pay Act of 1963 Why is the law important when designing the internal alignment piece of a compensation program? The content is comprehensive, accurate, and/or persuasive. The paper develops a central theme or idea, directed toward the appropriate audience. The paper links theory to relevant examples of current experience and industry practice and uses the vocabulary of the theory correctly. Major points are stated clearly; are supported by specific details, examples, or analysis; and are organized logically. The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points. Readability and Style 15 percent Percent Earned Comments: Paragraph transitions are present and logical and maintain the flow throughout the paper. The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. Sentences are complete, clear, and concise. Sentences are well-constructed,  with consistently strong, varied sentences. Sentence transitions are present and maintain the flow of thought. Mechanics 15 Percent Percent Earned Comments: The paper, including the title page, reference page, tables, and appendices, follow APA guidelines for format. Citations of original works within the body of the paper follow APA guidelines. The paper is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles, and white space. Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed. Spelling is correct. Word count is within specified instructions.

Concussions essays

Concussions essays A concussion is when someone receives a blow to head, face or jaw, or any quick movements that would injure the brain stem, or causing a bruise on the brain. Common symptoms of a concussion would be: headaches, disorientation, dizziness, vacant stares, lack of coordination, amnesia, nausea, double vision, and ringing of the ears. These symptoms have been known to last for weeks, but usually only last a few hours to a day. There are two common types of sports related concussion acceleration/deceleration and rotational1. Acceleration happens when you are standing still and an object that is moving hits your head. Deceleration is when the head moving and hits something that is not moving. Rotational injuries usually happens when something hits on the side of the head causing the brain to rotate on the spinal column, this is a more serious injury. Some on the field doctors use a three-point system to determine the seriousness of a concussion. The three-point system is divided into three grades, one being the least problematic, and three being the most. A grade one concussion has brief confusion and other common symptoms that clear up within fifteen minutes. A grade two has brief confusion and other common symptoms that last more than fifteen minutes. A grade three has loss of consciousness for any length of time. After a concussion happens you can have symptoms known as post concussion syndrome. Some symptoms of post concussion syndrome or behavioral mood swings, memory loss, and problems concentrating or thinking. An athlete who acquires a concussion is supposed to take time off according to how serious the injury is, if the athlete does not take the required time off they can acquire second impact syndrome. Post impact syndrome can be more dangerous than the original concussion, the effects can be permanent and even cause death. To treat someone with a concussion you sh...

capitalsit world system essays

capitalsit world system essays For the past six hundred years a culture and a society, dedicated for the most part to development and trade as the ultimate source of well being, began to expand all over the world. In a great number of ways this development, capitalism, became the most successful culture and society Capitalism ascended as a successful social means. It was successful as it provided a more effective means of creating a surplus. This was an important feature for mankind. It proved to be an easier and more cost effective means of creating a surplus. Capitalism also allowed for the world system to function with their own states. This system of functioning encouraged the international market economy, which in turn established the success of capitalism. Such a market bestowed incentives which increased productivity all over the globe. Simultaneously a world separation of work made it easy for costs and benefits to be unequally The effects of such a division of labour were profound. It created a multilayered economic hierarchy. The hierarchies were divided into many sections, with each sector owning its own defining feature, and all were linked to one common feature. This was the exploitation of social classes. The wealthy employed labourers and often underpaid their labourers so that they might be able to reap maximum profits. Such racist inequalities and exploitation were used to justify the hindered commission of the proletariat. The world system continues to undergo a cycle of expansion. This trend has gained the support it requires from the notion that all societies, in order to be successful, need to conform to Capitalism continues to be increasingly effective. This is largely due to the belief the workers hold that the harder they work the more the stand to gain. Such workers also affirm ...

Analysis of the Human Rights Act, 1998

Analysis of the Human Rights Act, 1998 Human Rights Law ‘Despite the Human Rights Act 1998, the courts have failed appropriately to limit the scope for the exercise of breach of the peace powers.’ The Human Rights Act 1998 received royal assent on November 9, 1998 and came into force on October 2, 2000. The objective of said Act was to harmonize the domestic law of the United Kingdom with the European Convention on Human Rights. To reaffirm the commitment of the UK to human rights and civil liberties, it is now possible under the said Act to file a claim for violation of the ECHR without going to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Says Weinstein: This ability to transcend national law, and to compel revision of such law to comport with rights guaranteed by the European Convention in a broad range of areas, most often within the exclusive purview of national and local courts, is of historic note. Generally, nation states have been the final arbiters of most issues affecting their citizenry and within their borders. By treaty, the signatory nations of Europe have granted the ECHR binding authority to decide cases affecting their citizenry and other persons subject to their authority. In instances where state law is found inconsistent with an ECHR judgment, the nation at issue is obliged to amend its national law to comport with the ECHR decision. These cases illustrate the concept of what is increasingly being referred to as an evolving European supranational identity. The ECHR grants jurisdiction to any individual, non-governmental organization, or group claiming be a victim of a violation of the European Convention by a ECHR signatory nation, and to bring cases before it, as does, in applicable cases, the European Court of Justice (the â€Å"ECJ†), the court of the European Union, based in Luxembourg. Equally important, it prohibits any public body from behaving in a manner that is incompatible with any of the rights guaranteed under the ECHR. The Human Rights Act has gone a long way in limiting arbitrary actions from public bodies, in particular, police officers. It cannot be denied, however, that the laws on â€Å"breach of the peace† grant have historically been so vast in scope that in some occasions, human rights violations arise. The definition of â€Å"breach of the peace† (also known as breach of the Queen’s peace) has been discussed in the Court of Appeal decision of Howell, where it was stated as follows: We are emboldened to say that there is a breach of the peace whenever harm is actually done or is likely to be done to a person or in his presence his property or a person is in fear of being so harmed through an assault, an affray, a riot, unlawful assembly or other disturbance. It used to be that the prospect of violence alone would not be enough to be considered a â€Å"breach of the peace†, as in the comment of Farqhuarson LJ that â€Å"The act which puts someone in fear of violence taking place entitles a police officer†¦to detain the actor but it is not a breach of the peace, for the violence has not yet occurred.† There has been scant support for this view, such that in the present time, â€Å"breach of the peace† also embraces â€Å"behaviour likely to cause a violent reaction†, even if such behaviour is not of itself violent.

Why is technology important to students Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why is technology important to students - Essay Example The 21st century has posed a new challenge to the traditional way of learning as administered by teachers to their students. These days, learning is no longer limited to the 4 walls of the classroom, nor the pages of the school approved textbook. With the advent of the internet, search engines, laptops, smart phones, and tablet PC's, the world of education and learning has entered unknown territory. Technology is now an integral part of the educational system. It has become a vital and all too important part of the modern day classroom and learning process of the modern student. Education is no longer limited to a mere 40 minutes per class subject in school. Technology has allowed education to extend far beyond the recognized educational system and has come to offer the highest benefit to students in terms of a well rounded education thanks to the gadgets that help in their discovery and learning processes. Students of today must be computer savvy in order to ensure that they will be able to compete in the modern workplace. Lack of technological education such as basic computer skills will prevent these students from reaching their full employment potential. That is why the modern day teacher must work with the students in order to provide themselves with challenging learning opportunities (qtd. in Hayden). Education has never before had an all too important role in the future of a student. The advent of technology has forced the students to develop a higher level of thinking and analytical skills (Delgado, Rick â€Å"Top 10 Reasons Technology is Important for Education†). The use of computers and other technology based equipment in the modern or digital classroom has provided the students with the ample development of their problem solving skills through the use of computer software and other programs that help them to accomplish that task. By successfully completing the assigned tasks, the students sense of motivation and self - esteem is heightened an d their desire to learn more about topics of interest to them is fueled by their exposure to the technology that helped them kindle their interest in the topic. It is important to note however, that even though not all the students in a school will have computers at home, they all have an equal chance at learning while in school because of the computers that are readily available either in the computer lab or the library. These gadgets are available free of charge to the students who can use it to research any topic on an unlimited basis. However, the advent of technology also poses new problems for the students and the teachers who use learning tools such as power point presentations. Not all students manage to learn at the same pace. There are some who require extra time to process their learning material and the oral lecture of their teachers. Power point presentations and other technological advancements have also made teaching faster and easier for most teachers. They then fail to take into account the learning curve of their students (Hayden, Kelly â€Å"Reasons Technology is Important in Schools: The Digital Age in Classrooms). Technology has allowed students to also become their own teachers because they are given projects that require them to research and understand various materials

Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management Essay - 14

Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Management - Essay Example This was followed by a close examination of the competition in London with restaurants with a similar theme of organic food serves. Analyzing the strategies and financial aspects followed by reviewing the success prospect of this business project. I also included the start up cost as well as the feasibility of funds According to a report; organic food Industry is growing internationally, its sales have grown 8% in 2010 globally and it is valued as pounds  £ 44.5 Billion. It has shown remarkable growth in the European and the US market and for future the prospect is positive ("soil association"). People in Europe are more concerned about consuming safe food. They are aware about the harmful affects of modified foods and hence the organic food market is the fastest growing filed in United Kingdom. People tend to choose organic food to compliment their living standard which has increased significantly in the recent years. UK sells Organic food and presently it the second highest sale in Europe. The most popular organic foods in UK are fruits, potatoes, cereals, milk products and vegetables (George 205-206). When it comes to the word ‘Organic’, the very first impression one gets is of a product which is free of chemicals, it is mostly attributed to vegetables and fruits and not with any non vegetarian food. However, animals those are raised in an organic environment, taken complete care with natural substances and without any pesticides involvement are highly preferred by consumers. They are fed with natural diet and they are free from genetically modified organism, when they are sick they are treated with drugs and not with antibiotics. These animals are never given hormones ("Soil association"). Presently there are very few restaurants in London; engaged in serving organic food. This report will highlight the possibilities of its successful venture. It is quite evident through research reports provided by the soil association, UK’; that organic

Does wod strategy have a definite meaning in business parlance Essay

Does wod strategy have a definite meaning in business parlance - Essay Example With such rethinking, new ways are devised to counter the threats. Alternatively, some new opportunities may emerge in the environment which had not been there in the past. In order to take advantage of these opportunities the company reassesses the approaches it had been following and changes its courses of action. These courses of action are what we may call strategies undoubtedly strategy is one of the most significant concept to emerge in the subject of management. It has emerged as a critical input to organizational success and has come in handy as a tool to deal with the uncertainties that organizations face. It has helped to reduce ambiguity and provide a solid foundation as a theory of conduct business- a convenient way to structure the many variables that operate in the organizational context and to understand their interrelationship. When we think of long-term direction of an organization we immediately think of strategy. Matching of the resources and activities of an organ ization to the environment in which it operates is the basic requirement for strategy. This may be called as the search for strategic fit. Strategic fit is developing strategy by identifying opportunities in the business environment and adopting resources and competences so as to take advantage of these (Porter, 1980). ... Strategies exist at a number of levels in an organization. It is possible to distinguish at least three different levels of organizational strategy. Corporate level strategy (Andrews, 1987) is concerned with the overall purpose and scope of an organizational and how value will be added to different parts of (business units) the organizations. This could include issues of geographical coverage, diversity of products/services or business units and how resources are to be allocated between the different parts of the organization. The second level can be thought of in terms of business unit strategy (Hall, 1978) which is about how to complete successfully in particular markets. The concerns are therefore about how advantage over competitors can be achieved; what new opportunities can be identified or created in market; which product or services should be developed in which markets; and the extent to which these meet customer needs in such a way to achieve the objectives of the organizati on-perhaps long term profitability or market share growth. So where as corporate strategy involves decisions about the organization as a whole, strategic decision here need to be related to a strategic business unit (SBU). A strategic business unit is any part of a business organization which is treated separately for strategic management purpose. In public sector organizations a corresponding definition of a SBU might be a part of the organization or service for which there is a distinct client group. But confusion can often arise because an SBU may not be fixed in terms of an organizational structure. It may not be a separate structural part of an organization. The third level of strategy is at the operating end

Speech Made in the Conference, Concerning Japan's Aggression Essay

Speech Made in the Conference, Concerning Japan's Aggression - Essay Example Japan is such a country that can best be described as aggressive, with its acts being tantamount to belligerence, especially towards China. Some of the acts of aggression that Japan has carried out may be illustrated forthwith. It is open knowledge that Japan on September 18th, 1931 sent its army and some of its political leaders to invade Manchuria, which is the eastern seaboard of China. The worst part of this problem is not merely personified in Japan’s acts of aggression, but on Japan’s lack of goodwill to being accountable for its actions. For instance, in 1933, after the Manchuria crises ended, Japan’s delegate walked out of the League of Nations when the findings by the Lytton Commission were being read out and mooted. In so doing, Japan was not only excising itself from the rest of the international community, but also parading unwillingness to take responsibility. Arrogance was also the driving force behind Japan’s walk out since Japan had already pacified Manchuria from China and singlehandedly made Manchuria a puppet state, Manchukuo. Japan even had the audacity to make Emperor Pu Yi as the head of Manchukuo who was a stooge in every respect. Similarly, Japan’s aforementioned willingness to take responsibility is underscored by the fact that the tabling of the Lytton Commission’s findings was supposed to be accompanied with discussions on China’s appeal for an interstate approach towards Japan’s aggression (Christensen, 75). Japan’s bellicose stance was further shown in it engaging the Chinese army near Peking, at the Marco Polo Bridge in 1938, following the ‘China Accident.’ It is important to note that Japan’s problem is one which is heavily embedded in wrongful thinking and attitude. For a fact, ever since Japan won the Sino-Japanese War which took place between 1894 and 1895, Japan has become increasingly stubborn throughout the orient, after it knew that it had a stranglehold in the Asian continent. China’s compelled recognition of the Korean independence and its forced concessions on Liaotung Peninsula and Taiwan were to serve as Japan’s reassurance and propitiation. Unfortunately, Japan grew into a bully. It is important to note that with much power comes, responsibility in lieu of belligerence. Japan, other developed and developing countries ought to realize this. It is important that Japan appreciates the fact that when it joined the Allies in World War I, it gained a lot when the League of Nations granted it, the Asian colonial territories that had been being controlled by Germany in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. That these territories were rich, is a matter that is underscored by the inclusion of the Shantung Peninsula and Micronesian islands which had been under the tutelage and ownership of China and Germany, respectively. Thus, the citing of Japan’s landlocked status as a reason behind its unbridled antagonism cannot wash. How the U.S. Plans To Handle the Situation There are several measures that America has considered as tenable solution to the problem of Japan’s aggression. The measures are both short and long term. One of the long term approaches to the problem is the reevaluation of economic policies with Japan. It is well known that since 1920s, Japan got less interested in western model of economic liberalism. This is because, while reeling from the

Still Life Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Still Life Art - Research Paper Example Still life painting is ubiquitous in historic Egyptian tombs. Egyptians are considered one of the oldest civilizations of the world and the existence of still life is an indicative of its historic nature. The concept behind Egyptian still life was that these pieces of art would turn into real life in the afterlife and would be available for use for those who have deceased. The Greek civilization also shows the presence of still life art. Sticking to its own norms and rules, academic reflections tend to lag behind developments in the art world. The word still life was used as late as the 17th century and was first discovered in Dutch inventories (Slive). Other terms which were considered for defining the aforementioned art included fruytagie, bancket and ontbijt. In the 17th century the Parisian Academy of art helped in the foundation of the first schools of art in Europe. A specific set of rules were laid down that explained which forms of art will be taught on a hierarchical basis. Still life was struggling at the bottom of that list because they were considered as mere recordings of inanimate objects or things that were considered to be there without much thought to how they came about in existence. Still life, however, was later acknowledged as a true form of art and gained repute with every additional contribution. Several artists used it as a starting point and often considered the results of still life to be much more appealing than what they thought they would be (Schneider). The earliest forms of most medieval still life were designed in an era that was struck with economic turmoil as well as the dissolution of feudalistic cultures. The motifs of these paintings, hence, were indicative of the changes in economic and social conditions taking place. There were changes in agricultural situations and status quos as well. Some of the art was aimed to depict those changes. Two of the primary scenes depicted in the era were market scenes and kitchen scenes (Eb ert-Schifferer). The 16th Century: The 16th century was the tipping point for still life art as there was an enormous increase in interest in nature and the creation of botanical encyclopedias that informed of the discoveries of the new world and Asia. These areas of interest were subject to significant use by still life artists as their paintings and artistry moved towards their depiction. While the first half of the 16th century did not recognize still life as an autonomous category of art, by the latter half of the century autonomous still life was evolved. Slowly but surely, religious content started to diminish from paintings and artists started to focus more on still objects. The key contributors of still life in the 16th century include Alberceht Durer, Maarten van Heemskerck, Annibe Carraci and Joachim Beuckelear. The 17th Century: The 17th century saw the growth of Italian still life art. Despite its growth, however, it was considered inferior to art that focused on histori cal, religious and mythological subjects. Many prominent contributors and artists thought that still life art was lacking something and had some way to go before any piece of the art could be considered as great. This is one of the reasons why there were considerably lesser number of people who dedicated their work to still life. Some of the prominent artists who contributed to still life include Caravvigo and Jan

Does wod strategy have a definite meaning in business parlance Essay

Does wod strategy have a definite meaning in business parlance - Essay Example With such rethinking, new ways are devised to counter the threats. Alternatively, some new opportunities may emerge in the environment which had not been there in the past. In order to take advantage of these opportunities the company reassesses the approaches it had been following and changes its courses of action. These courses of action are what we may call strategies undoubtedly strategy is one of the most significant concept to emerge in the subject of management. It has emerged as a critical input to organizational success and has come in handy as a tool to deal with the uncertainties that organizations face. It has helped to reduce ambiguity and provide a solid foundation as a theory of conduct business- a convenient way to structure the many variables that operate in the organizational context and to understand their interrelationship. When we think of long-term direction of an organization we immediately think of strategy. Matching of the resources and activities of an organ ization to the environment in which it operates is the basic requirement for strategy. This may be called as the search for strategic fit. Strategic fit is developing strategy by identifying opportunities in the business environment and adopting resources and competences so as to take advantage of these (Porter, 1980). ... Strategies exist at a number of levels in an organization. It is possible to distinguish at least three different levels of organizational strategy. Corporate level strategy (Andrews, 1987) is concerned with the overall purpose and scope of an organizational and how value will be added to different parts of (business units) the organizations. This could include issues of geographical coverage, diversity of products/services or business units and how resources are to be allocated between the different parts of the organization. The second level can be thought of in terms of business unit strategy (Hall, 1978) which is about how to complete successfully in particular markets. The concerns are therefore about how advantage over competitors can be achieved; what new opportunities can be identified or created in market; which product or services should be developed in which markets; and the extent to which these meet customer needs in such a way to achieve the objectives of the organizati on-perhaps long term profitability or market share growth. So where as corporate strategy involves decisions about the organization as a whole, strategic decision here need to be related to a strategic business unit (SBU). A strategic business unit is any part of a business organization which is treated separately for strategic management purpose. In public sector organizations a corresponding definition of a SBU might be a part of the organization or service for which there is a distinct client group. But confusion can often arise because an SBU may not be fixed in terms of an organizational structure. It may not be a separate structural part of an organization. The third level of strategy is at the operating end

Still Life Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Still Life Art - Research Paper Example Still life painting is ubiquitous in historic Egyptian tombs. Egyptians are considered one of the oldest civilizations of the world and the existence of still life is an indicative of its historic nature. The concept behind Egyptian still life was that these pieces of art would turn into real life in the afterlife and would be available for use for those who have deceased. The Greek civilization also shows the presence of still life art. Sticking to its own norms and rules, academic reflections tend to lag behind developments in the art world. The word still life was used as late as the 17th century and was first discovered in Dutch inventories (Slive). Other terms which were considered for defining the aforementioned art included fruytagie, bancket and ontbijt. In the 17th century the Parisian Academy of art helped in the foundation of the first schools of art in Europe. A specific set of rules were laid down that explained which forms of art will be taught on a hierarchical basis. Still life was struggling at the bottom of that list because they were considered as mere recordings of inanimate objects or things that were considered to be there without much thought to how they came about in existence. Still life, however, was later acknowledged as a true form of art and gained repute with every additional contribution. Several artists used it as a starting point and often considered the results of still life to be much more appealing than what they thought they would be (Schneider). The earliest forms of most medieval still life were designed in an era that was struck with economic turmoil as well as the dissolution of feudalistic cultures. The motifs of these paintings, hence, were indicative of the changes in economic and social conditions taking place. There were changes in agricultural situations and status quos as well. Some of the art was aimed to depict those changes. Two of the primary scenes depicted in the era were market scenes and kitchen scenes (Eb ert-Schifferer). The 16th Century: The 16th century was the tipping point for still life art as there was an enormous increase in interest in nature and the creation of botanical encyclopedias that informed of the discoveries of the new world and Asia. These areas of interest were subject to significant use by still life artists as their paintings and artistry moved towards their depiction. While the first half of the 16th century did not recognize still life as an autonomous category of art, by the latter half of the century autonomous still life was evolved. Slowly but surely, religious content started to diminish from paintings and artists started to focus more on still objects. The key contributors of still life in the 16th century include Alberceht Durer, Maarten van Heemskerck, Annibe Carraci and Joachim Beuckelear. The 17th Century: The 17th century saw the growth of Italian still life art. Despite its growth, however, it was considered inferior to art that focused on histori cal, religious and mythological subjects. Many prominent contributors and artists thought that still life art was lacking something and had some way to go before any piece of the art could be considered as great. This is one of the reasons why there were considerably lesser number of people who dedicated their work to still life. Some of the prominent artists who contributed to still life include Caravvigo and Jan

Explore The Character and symbolic significance of Simon Essay Example for Free

Explore The Character and symbolic significance of Simon Essay After the end of the Second World War, novelists had fighting time writing on events that had just happened. It made a lot of writers think deeply about mankind and themselves. One of these writers was William Golding who Lieutenant in command of a rocket ship; his first novel was an allegory called Lord Of The Flies published in 1954 it asks the question is humanity all evil/self-destructive. Through out the book mankind is portrayed in a very pessimistic way. The characters in the novel reflect a particular part of humanity Jack reflects dictatorship and he creates a division between the group of children, very cleverly he becomes the leader of a tribe of animalistic savages that remind the reader of early man in its time. The Littleuns symbolises the vulnerable in society, Simon, on the other hand, is their saviour he picks the Littleuns fruit from the trees, which they cannot reach. He represents the spiritual aspect of humanity. Simon as a character is a caring and compassionate child who has not a bad intention in his mind. He is not govern by the negative human traits that influence our day to day reactions; human traits such as aggression or hate red even to the children that treat him badly, he treats all the children equal and helps them when ever it is need. An example is when he helps the littleuns, Simon found for them the fruit they could not reach,, passed them back down to the endless, outstretched hands. Simon or though his caring and compassion, he is quiet inarticulate, this is his only weakness, he finds it extremely difficult to communicate with the other children, this has an extremely bad effect on his ability to change the events on the island. Although his wisdom he never mangers to show the others how he could change the mistakes they make. He is physically weak and doesnt really take part in the greatly physical activities. At the beginning of the novel, as they all meet at the platform, you find out that he has fits, so he is epileptic or has a disability similar to that. He sometimes tries to interact with the other children but he feels the pressured of personality, on his views on the island and the beast, an example is when he says the wrong thing. Whats the dirtiest thing there is? Simon. He helps Simons always about This quotation describes how Simon lives in peace with the island and all the children on it. Simon is the only one with unreal view and the beast he is genuinely different to all the others. But he still mangers to live in peace with everyone, even Jack he mangers to get on with, there not friends as such, but the dont really bother each other. Does with show that the other children can see thats he is different and is some who respected because of this? Or though Simon does live in peace with all the others he is still treated and considered as an outsider by them all this is one of the unfortunate affects of being different, no matter how wise or intuitive you are. This is so easily sensed in the quote, when jack and Ralph go to find Simon. Hes queer. He funny They dont not like him they just realise that Simon is total Different to them selves. The one thing about how the children see Simon is that it changes though the novel and by the end, most of the children, not all of them but a proportion of them, respect him and are quite fond of him. Simon, you can tell is instantly different to the rest of the boys, his absolutely wise view on the beast and island. But William Golding in this novel made him more than just a mere boy he represent intuitive thought, this is to say that he get his knowledge from nowhere really he just know its, When he is talking about the beast existents What I mean.maybe its only us No child really think that way, William Golding is making it so that he symbolises Intuitive thought but it doesnt end there. At one time as he goes to prove the beasts inexistent, it reachs it climax when he meets an the lord of the flies, he has an encounter with the pigs head on a stick, the creature is crawling with flies hence calling it the lord of the flies. Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didnt you? Im a part of you?

Descartes Conceivability Argument For Substance Dualism Philosophy Essay

Descartes Conceivability Argument For Substance Dualism Philosophy Essay Substance Dualism is the view that the mind and body are distinct. It pictures the world as consisting of two independent domains, the mental and the material, each with its own distinctive defining properties. We have clear and distinct awareness that the body is physical therefore it is spatially temporary and made from atoms which follow physical laws. It has dimensions, mass, texture etc. We also have clear and distinct awareness that the mind is non-physical therefore is not made from atoms or follows physical laws. The essence of the body is to be extended whilst the essence of the mind is to think. The mind is logically distinct and an independent entity to the body. So what can be asserted for one cant be asserted for the other. The mind will continue to exist without the body. It is infinite and immortal and will go to the afterlife. But the body is subject to decay because it is physical. It is not immortal and cant exist without the mind. The claim is there are two complet ely distinct substances, where substances mean a fundamental thing rather than stuff. In Descartes Sixth Meditation, he states one of his arguments for the mind and body being distinct. This is known as The Conceivability Argument: 1. I can clearly conceive existing without my body 2. What is clearly conceivable is possible 3. So it is possible for me to exist without my body 4. So I am neither identical with, nor a part of my body 5. So substance dualism is true Descartes, when considering himself, had a clear and distinct idea of myself (himself) inasmuch as I am (he is) only a thinking and unextended thing. Since he is thinking now, he must be a thinking thing. This property must be there as it belongs to his essence. If thinking ceases then he doesnt exist, an argument which he tries to prove in his early works in The Discourse. He has a clear understanding of what thought is. This allows him possibly to be non-extended as spatial temporality is not essential to him. He also has a distinct idea of body, inasmuch as it is only an extended and unthinking thing. If we think about an object we comprehend that its necessary extended and its essence is not thinking. For example, the essence of a stone is to be extended not to be a thinking thing. It is very hard to comprehend a stone thinking and if we can it is definitely not an essence of the stone. It is possible to conceive of the mind existing without the body and the body existing without the mind. Descartes uses the word possible in the sense that it is logically conceptual therefore not self contradictory that he can exist without his body. This is because it is possible to conceive of something being extended and non-thinking. Also it is possible to conceive of something being non-extended and being a thinking thing. For example we can conceive of my mind thinking but having no spatially temporality. God can create a world where whatever is conceivable is metaphysically possible because all things which I apprehend clearly and distinctly can be created by God. Thus anything conceivable becomes an actual truth. For example God cant create a square circle as it is not metaphysically possible. But God can create me, a thinking thing, distinct from my extended body since they may be made to exist in separation at least by the omnipotence of God. Therefore it is possible that my mind can exist without my body resulting in having a body not being essential to me. Descartes is moving from this doubt of his body to his essence. Descartes is using his scepticism that he is not going to accept anything that he is not certain of. He is certain of his own thinking and existence though. He concludes that this he can be sure of but this is the only thing he can be sure of: I am a real thinking thing and really exist, but what thing? I have an answer: A thing which thinks. But there are two different meanings to a thinking thing. One is something that thinks or another is something whose essence is to think, a thing that cannot not think. These are very different claims. He is making an epistemological claim to a metaphysical claim. He is arguing from how we come to know something to what it actually is. The argument shifts from a possible sense to a possible fact: It is possible that I am a thinking thing to my essence is a thinking thing. Knowing that I am thinking, it does follow that I am thinking in one sense. If I am thinking then I must be capa ble of thinking. But the claim that his essence is thinking is fallacious. If we take John Lockes claim that God can make matter think then God can make a stone think. A stone would then know that it is only a thinking thing and not know that it is extended. Therefore as its only aware of its own perceptions it can conclude that its essence is thinking. Just as God has made the stone think, God can take this away. Therefore the stone is left with its essence being extended and non-thinking. Moreover, all because the mind and body have different essences, this does not mean that they have to be two different substances. Surely they can be one and the same thing. Cant there be one entity which is thinking and extended? Jerome A. Shaffer uses the example of one entity, a man: The defying characteristic of being a husband is being a married man and the essence of being a parent is having offspring, but one and the same person can be both. Hence all because we have conceived of two entities having different properties it does not mean that they actually exist distinct from each other. For Descartes it would seem that they have completely distinct essences that it is impossible for them to not be distinct. Therefore the example of a husband and a father is seemingly weak because the actual properties of the occupier of the essences are both extended and male. Whereas the properties of extended and thinking things have, according to Descartes nothing in common. It would appear that there needs to be a stronger example from Shaffer to show that the mind and body can be one and the same thing. George Graham has a stronger example of the Gods making Oedipus marry his mother. As he didnt want to marry her he would say: very idea disgusts me, I find it unconceivable that I will marry my mother. Oedipus then falls in love with Jocasta, who is actually his mother. If we asked him what he thought about marrying her he may say: Very idea pleases me, I find it very conceivable. We would then conclude that Oedipus can conceive of himself marrying Jocasta but cant conceive of himself marrying his mother. Therefore they are not the same person. If I can conceive of myself as disembodied but cant conceive of myself without a mind you cant conclude that your mind and body are distinct as they can be one and the same thing. This is because the conclusion is aspectual and realises on aspectual knowledge. This aspectual knowledge that Graham mentions is a major downfall to Descartes conceivable argument. Gottlob Ferge explains this with the ancients knowing that Venus is the morning star whilst believing that the evening star was Venus as well or illiterate people not knowing that water is identical to H20. The mind and body could be the same thing but he they are assessed differently, one by introspection and one by inspection but this doesnt mean they can be separated and exist apart from each other. W. D. Hart creates a story to strengthen Substance Dualism and tries to show that the mind and body are not one and the same thing. This is because we can conceive the mind to exist without a body: Imagine one morning you wake up and go to the mirror. Looking in the mirror you realise that your eye sockets are empty. You can visualise your face with empty eye sockets as it would look to you in the mirror. You then saw around your head and see that your brain is not there. You can visualise how your empty brain pan would look to you in the mirror. Lastly it is still possible to visualise if you had no body. You would see the reflection of the room in the mirror. So you have a recipe for visual experience of yourself disembodied. As this is a thought experiment it could not actually occur in the real world. But the fact that we can imagine being disembodied. As we can imagine being disembodied without contradiction, it means that it is metaphysically possible. Hart would conclude that it is metaphysically possible for me to exist disembodied. Therefore the mind and body are distinct as disembodied existence can occur. Is it not possible to conceive of water not being identical to H2O even though it is metaphysically impossible? If we can then it is possible to conceive of the mind existing apart from the body doesnt show that it is metaphysically possible. For this metaphysically possible for the mind to exist with the body then the mind must be numerically distinct from the body. Kripke used his concept of rigid and non-rigid designators for Cartesian Dualism argument to prove that they are numerical distinct: If a and b are rigid designators, it follows that a = b if true, is a necessary truth. If a and b are not rigid designators, no such conclusion follows about the statement a = b The rigid designator water is identical to the rigid designator H2O. This is true scientifically. Water is identical to H20 in every possible world. If we have two rigid designators and the two are identical then this will mean that conceivability entails metaphysically possibility. This is because we cant conceive of a possible world where H2O is not Water. According to Descartes this would mean that God couldnt create a world where Water is not H2O as they are the same substance with the same essences. We cant conceive metaphysically that water is not H2O as this would make no sense. However it does not work if we use water non-rigidly. Water may not be a direct reference to H2O but a summary of the properties. This would be topic neutral as we are leaving out the nature of water. We could have a sample of water but not know that it is H2O, just like our predecessors. We cant conceive of them being identical in every metaphysically possible world therefore H2O is not water. We can easily conceive a non-rigid designation of water, for example tap fluid, rain, a lake that may not have been H2O as it is only there empirical properties that we know. As long as it is a non-rigid designator of water and we produce the properties, water can be anything. Thus we could conceive of the substance described as having a different chemical composition in a possible world. Kripke applies this to a brain state being identical to a mental state and tries to improve Descartes argument. We are immediately subjectively aware of mental states. We have immediate perceptions of them inside me. What you are experiencing when in pain is pain. It is an internal content of consciousness and this is the only way we can understand it. Therefore it is a rigid designator. If we can conceive of mental states being identical to the body then this would mean that it would be a necessary truth. If Descartes can conceive of himself being distinct from his body then Descartes is not identical to his body. Through modern neuroscience research it is possible to see that Descartes immaterial explanation of thinking being the essence of the mind is a lot simpler than getting a brain dependent theory. He believed that: Each substance is thought to have its own laws and its own range of properties; hence research on the brain is not going to yield any knowledge of the mind. But as more research occurs with neuroscience and neurology the more we realise how absurd the concept of Substance Dualism is. The mind apparently has higher functions which are reasoning, consciousness, emotion etc. All of these higher functions can be changed by drugs or an injury. For example damage to the temporal Lobe, the person with this damage will learn complex cognitive skills but will be unaware he has done so, even while engaging in them. There are many other examples of how the brain affects our higher functions. If the brain is dependent on the mind then how can this be true? How can the brain affect thinking as thinking is not its essence? Therefore it would seem that dualism fails not so much because of our limited knowledge of the mind but rather because of modern science. As the conceivable argument needs the essence of the mind and body to show that they we can conceive of them distinctly, if Descartes has got the essences wrong then he cant conceive of himself di sembodied. Doesnt entail it false as further research may discover there is a substance dualism but at the moment there is no leads.

Different Perspectives on Guns in the USA :: essays research papers

The right to own a gun Some states in America do not consider the right-to-carry law. In 1986, only nine states in America had the right to carry a gun law. But by 1998, 31 states had this law, and more than half of America’s population live in them. Nowadays, nearly all Americans own a gun. 80% men own a gun and 20% women. About 17 million American women own a gun. Different states in America have different gun control law. In New York, there is a juvenile possession law, a permit to purchase a gun, registration, licensing of owners and a permit to carry a gun are all required. This is quite strict compared to Texas. In Texas, there is a child access prevention law but no other controls are required. There are many gun rights interest groups in the USA. One of them is the Rocky mountain gun owners. They argue that the freedoms of US people have been eroded too far already. They succeeded in blocking tighter gun control laws. Most gun control interest groups argue that a gun is the only commercially available product solely designed to kill. They believe there should be a ‘cooling off’ period before people are allowed to purchase a gun from the time of application for a license. Should Children be allowed guns? In the USA, more than 135,000 guns are brought to school by pupils, some children as young as nine years old. But this is not a good idea because some children use it seriously and just shoot their friends because they are annoyed at them. Many of these teenagers are in gangs and say that they need guns for their protection. But is this true? Every 2 hours an American child gets shot, and sometimes it will be by another child his/her age.

Technology and Education Essay -- Teaching Education Essays School

Technology and Education Education is one of the most important professions in the working world. Technology has done many things for us in today’s society especially for education and schools. Technology in the school system has impacted the students and teachers in many positive ways, including virtual field trips, testing tips, teacher resources, class web sites, and lesson plans. With computer use in our schools, we have access to many different sources and various types of learning. Virtual field trips are a good way for kids to learn and get involved with computers. Students can go on all sorts of exciting trips and not even leave the classroom. Students can go on boat trips. They can follow other kids in different countries observing what they do throughout the day. I thought this was a great tool for teachers to use to introduce the students to new things about different cultures. Another database that teachers find helpful is International educator. This program helps teachers find jobs in other countries and receive information on other school systems throughout...

Formation of an Alkene by Alcohol Dehydration

Formation of an Alkene by Alcohol Dehydration Lab Report Balanced Chemical Equation for the Main Reaction Mechanism The acid-catalyzed dehydration of secondary and tertiary alcohols involves non-isolable carbocation intermediaries. In the first step of the of the reaction mechanism below, a phosphoric acid catalyst adds a proton to the oxygen atom of the alcohol to form an oxonium ion. The OH is converted to a better leaving group as the positive charge on the oxygen weakens the carbon-oxygen bond. The carbon-oxygen bond breaks during heating giving water an unstable carbocation. Without a nucleophile, the carbocation intermediate loses a proton from a carbon and forms a carbon-carbon double bond from the carbon-hydrogen electrons. The formation of a carbocation intermediate from the loss of a leaving group classifies this as an Elimination Reaction. Table of Reagents Pertinent Safety Information The phosphoric acid in this lab is a corrosive acid. Caution must be used to not get the acid in contact with skin or clothes. Gloves must be worn while pouring it. If there is a spill, wash the area with large amounts of water. Cyclohexanol, and especially cyclohexene, are very flammable liquids. Do not use an open flame as a source of heat with these substances. Outline of the Procedure Add 20 mL of cyclohexanol and 5 mL of 85% phosphoric acid to a 50-mL round-bottom flask along with 1 or two boiling chips Swirl the flask gently to thoroughly mix the layers and incorporate this into a simple distillation column Heat the flask until distillation begins and slowly distills the mixture, controlling the heating so that the temperature of the distillation vapor does not go above 100-105 degrees C. Cool the receiver in an ice bath to reduce the loss of distillate to evaporation Continue the distillation until only 5-10 mL of high-boiling residue is left in the flask Allow the flask to cool and disconnect the apparatus Transfer the distillate to a separatory funnel and shake it with 10 mL of saturated sodium chloride solution, then drain off lower aqueous layer Add 5 mL of 10% sodium carbonate to solution to neutralize any acid, gently shake the mixture, and drain off the lower aqueous layer again Pour the upper layer into a dry, clean Erlenmeyer flask Add 1-2 g of anhydrous calcium chloride, and allow the flask to stand for 15-20 minutes with occasional stirring Clean and dry the condenser, distillation flask and adapters for the final distillation Decant or filter the dry cyclohexene from the calcium chloride into a dry distillation flask and set up a simple distillation apparatus Add 1-2 boiling chips to the flask and distill the cyclohexene, collecting the liquid that boils between 79 and 85 degrees C in a small graduated cylinder Data and Observations The purpose of this lab is to synthesize cyclohexene from cyclohexanol using phosphoric acid. This student had difficulties maintaining the temp erature of the distillation vapor between 100-105 degrees C. the distillate recovered that was between 79 and 85 degrees C was discarded. The receiver was placed in an ice bath to reduce evaporation. A total of 21 mL was collected. Results and Discussion Volume of cyclohexene: 2. 8 mL Weight from density of cyclohexene: (0. 810 g/mL) / (2. 8 mL) = *0. 29 g cyclohexe*ne Percentage yield of cyclohexene: 20 mL x 0. 960 g/mL = 19. 2 g = 0. 192 mol 0. 192 mol x 82 g/mol = 15. g x 1mL/0. 81 g = 19. 4 mL (Theoretical Yield) 2. 8 mL/19. 4 mL x 100 = 14. 4% Yield (but of excellent quality) In a small test tube, add 5 drops of cyclohexene to 1 mL of 0. 5% aqueous potassium permanganate solution The solution turned brown immediately and then formed a dark, thick precipitate within 1 minute 1 mL of a 2% solution of bromine in carbon tetrachloride The solution immediately turned clear, and remained that way throughout the lab Conclusions The dehydration of alcohols is one of several methods to p roduce alkenes. This dehydration may be accomplished using a strong mineral acid such as sulfuric and phosphoric acid. The first step in this transformation is protonation of the hydroxyl group by the acid yielding an excellent leaving group. Next water is eliminated from the molecule resulting in a carbocation intermediate, which then eliminates a proton to form an alkene. Questions Name and draw the structure of the alkenes that might be obtained by acid-catalyzed dehydration of 2-methylcyclohexanol 3-methyl-3-hexanol What would be the best alcohol to use in an acid-catalyzed dehydration to prepare 1, 3-dimethylcyclopentene? The most suitable alcohol to use is 2*, 5*-dimethylcyclopentanol. Write equations to show the products that form in the reactions of cyclohexene with potassium permanganate and bromine.

Organizational Behaviour Assignment †Management Essay

A manager is a person who supervises one or more subordinates (Bailey et al., 1991, p. 14) by using the management functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Managers can make a group of individuals more efficient to achieve (Reid) an organization’s goals. In addition to the functions, managers have roles to play in an organization and skills which make easier for them to do so. The management functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling is a way for managers to mold individuals into ideal employees. With planning, managers can define the goals of the organization, and then establish an approach to achieve it (Gibson et al., 1997, p. 16) by developing a plan. Inputs from subordinates concerning about the plan are very much encouraged; as they’re the ones that make a plan work and by asking for their thoughts, subordinates would feel valued. After a plan is designed, organizing it will be the next step. Everything should be on stand by and everyone should understand the significance of their role (Gibson et al., 1997, p. 16). Next comes leading, where managers are seen motivating the employees and resolving conflicts. When the plan is being implemented, managers can control activities to ensure everything goes accordingly. A back-up plan should be developed in case of a crisis (Reid). Being aware of all these functions, managers can effectively assist an organization to attain its goals. In Henry Mintzberg’s study, he concluded that a manager’s roles falls into three categories; interpersonal, informational and decisional roles (Robbins & Coulter 2002, p. 9). In the category of interpersonal roles, a manager is a figurehead, a leader and a liaison of which he is a person who to gets closer to other individuals in the organization by developing a more personal connection with them. To accomplish this, managers should recognize that individuals have life to lead outside their office. Within the informational roles category, managers are the organization’s monitor, disseminator and spokesperson. Information is used here as an advantage for subordinates; managers facilitate by seeking receiving and transmitting information to them. In the decisional category, managers are seen as an entrepreneur, disturbance handler and resource allocator. Managers make important decisions that can influence individuals’ work environment. By assuming these rol es, an effective manager can be born in oneself. An effective manager needs certain skills as well. Skill is an ability to transform knowledge into act that ends in a desired performance (Bailey et al, 1991, p. 22). The vital managerial skills are sorted out into three categories; technical, conceptual and human skills (Robbins & Coulter 2002, p. 11). A technical skill is a specialized knowledge, which can be learned through experience or basis education. Conceptual skills are the potential to analyze, identify and correct problems. Human skills are the capability to work well with others by using motivation and understanding human behaviors. Organizational Behaviour is a knowledge which helps managers who deals closely with human resources to understand their subordinates as an individual, a group or as a whole organization (Robbins, S. P. et al., 1998, p. 10). Organizational Behaviour offers several concepts in helping managers to understand individuals better. The concepts are globalization, workforce diversity, improving quality and productivity, empowerment, improving people skill, ‘temporariness’, simulating innovation and changes, balancing family with work and ethics (Robbins, S. P. et al., 1998, pp. 13-18). Globalization is interdependency of transportation, distribution, communication and economic networks across global boundaries (Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly 1997, p. 54). This influences a manager’s people skills by two ways; he’ll likely be transferred to a foreign country or having to deal with individuals from difference countries (Robbins, S. P. et al., 1998, p. 17). To adapt, managers should think globally and being aware of the process of globalization. Managers should sensitise themselves while dealing with a global organization (Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly 1997, pp. 57-58). A clear code of conduct for the workplace can be developed so that employees have respect for difference cultures. To benefit from globalization, managers should equip employees with information about cultures in a country that they wish to penetrate its market (Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly 1997, p. 58). Procter & Gamble’s introduction of liquid detergent failed in Europe because European washing machines weren’t equipped for it so modifications had to be made to their product (Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly 1997, p. 56). This is an example in which Procter & Gamble had to suffer the loss of profits because they were ignorant in finding out about the pros and cons of launching their product. Managers will have to give pleasure to local as well as international needs so that global success can be attained. A diverse workforce will help managers to appreciate the intricacy of globalization. Workforce diversity occurs when an organization becomes more distinct in terms of gender, race, ethnicity and minority (Robbins & Coulter 2002, p. 41). Managers will have to mingle with the diverse workforce. Cultural awareness training for the current workforce (http://www.pwcglobal.com/us/eng/careers/diversity/index.html, 2001) can help employees and managers to learn about each other’s background. At PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Diversity and Workforce Champions are appointed in each department to find solutions concerning diversity problems; in hope of enhancing work performance. Jim Schiro, the CEO there, said that; â€Å"When you make a genuine commitment to diversity, you bring a greater diversity of ideas, approaches, experiences and abilities that can be applied to client problems. After all, six people with different perspective have a better shot at solving complex problems than sixty people who all think alike.† (http://www.pwcglobal.com/us/eng/careers/diversity/index.html, 2001) From the statement above, it shows that a diverse workforce is well appreciated because it can improve an organization’s quality and productivity. To improve quality and productivity, this is where Total Quality Management (TQM) comes in. TQM is a philosophy of management that is driven by constant attainment of customer satisfaction through continuous improvement of organization (Robbins & Coulter 2002, p. 46). Managers can use the approach of reengineering (Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly 1997, pp. 349-50) which is to reconsider how work would be done if it was from scratch. This can be done if a manager’s conceptual skills are used. Managers will have to come out with an arrangement that can improve organization’s productivity and quality so that customer satisfaction could be maximised. The organization should be completely change for the better; not only the final product but also the small things like how quickly is the employees’ response to complaints, how polite are they and so on. Citigroup’s employees are promoted based on their work performance (http://www.citigroup.com/citigroup/corporate/values/index.htm, 2003). At Hewlett-Packard Corporation, customers’ respect and loyalty is earned by providing high-quality services (http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/corpobj.html, 2001). This can be done by putting employees in direct contact with customers. By doing so, employees can personally identify customer needs, so better choices can be made to satisfy the customers. Managers can empower employees to achieve customers’ approval. Empowerment means putting employees in charge of what they’re doing. It eases employees because when there’s no managers breathing down their necks during their work. At Nokia, employees are rewarded for the overall success based on their performance so it generates an environment for employees to optimize to their full potential; which managers can provide by giving employees all the information they need to succeed (http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,8764,5452,00.html, 2003). Motivation is the best means for managers. In the Lesson of the Red Horse, it stated that employees tend to work more competent when employees are able to think on their own (Reid). Managers should treat employees as individuals and show that their contribution to the organization count. Meetings across departments; as a whole should be held regularly to help employees recognize the organization’s objectives better. In those meetings, ‘brainstorming’ (Robbins, S. P. et al., 1998, p. 741) can be done so new ideas from employees can be considered. Susan M. Heathfield wrote that: â€Å"†¦I attended a meeting led by a young manager. I watched †¦ as she provided [information] and led a discussion. The most striking feature of the interaction was that she talked to the group as if they were all colleagues working on the same goal.† (Heathfield, 2003) This exhibits that a manager isn’t more or less important than other individuals in the organization. Organization’s goals can be achieved when its managers’ people skill enhances. Employees should have a sense of importance and thrill, exhibit openness, insight and originality, and flourish on change, challenge and competition. A manager can make an employee have that sense by making them know that mistakes are tolerable as long as it’s being dealt with as soon as possible. Citigroup encourages an ‘open-door’ management style where doors in the office aren’t close at any given time to make the working environment more laid-back and giving the employees an opportunity to converse as well as interaction with their co-workers and managers alike without fear of rejection (http://www.citigroup.com/citigroup/corporate/values/data/index.htm, 2003). Communication is the key to bring individuals closer. At Nokia, a culture of internal and external communication is valued. Its range of communication channels that helps employees to use corporate information that they receive and by doing so knowledge is pooled and a sense of openness in Nokia is supreme (http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,8764,321,00.html, 2003). Managers can take cue from people at Nokia as there is a Nokia People magazine which is published in 4 languages, a Nokia News Service which offers daily organizational news online, and an Intranet that contains Nokia’s company information. The reason why Nokia was focused is because of their commitment in bringing the Nokia employees throughout worldwide closer to one another (http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,8764,5450,00.html, 2003). Managers should familiarize themselves with employees to can create a sense of family bond in the workplace. At HalfPrice books, its founder made the working environment enjoyable by encouraging a sense of play at work and enlivening employees so that they feel they’re a part of something brilliant (Heathfield, 2003). Managers have to simulate employee’s creativity and tolerance for change. The business world today is a global one with the introduction of the Internet. It offers plenty of opportunities for organizations to discover in. Hallmark, a greeting card company recognised this and developed their own website. Managers can nurture innovation by making information accessible to its employees and selecting creative people who are trained to develop first-class products (Robbins, S. P. et al., 1998, p. 18). Even if the company is the first to develop something new, it’s time to move on to the next best thing when their competitors reached the same product level. At Citigroup, management are willingly to invest in infrastructure and focus more on technological innovation because they want employees to give the very best service to their customers (http://www.citigroup.com/citigroup/about/index.htm, 2003). A change in an organization is inevitable therefore managers and employees face the concept of ‘temporariness’ (Robbins, S. P. et al., 1998, p. 18). They have to learn flexibility, spontaneity and unpredictability in the workforce today, by constantly updating themselves to better perform. Employees tend to defy changes because fear of getting fired, getting a lower pay or just fear of the unknown (Robbins & Coulter 2001, pp. 345-47). Resistance to changes can be avoided if the changes are planned well and there is clear communication between management and employees. Explaining the need for changes to employees and getting their views can diminish the resistance. Companies like Ford or JVC had to deal with changes when computerised assembly lines were introduced. All these changes happened due to new innovations being made everyday. Change creates stress for employees. Managers have to realise that employees have another part of life outside the workplace (Robbins & Coulter 2001, p. 351). Balancing work and family add more stress to employees that it disturbs their working potential. Work and family relates to one another. Organizations realized family concerns jeopardize business results. Managers should be aware of this as employees are afraid to voice out their concerns in fear of appearing less dedicated to their jobs. At Motorola, a work-life vision statement is made and a â€Å"Special Delivery† program gives expectant parents a 24-hours nurse hotline in hope of comforting and calming employees (Hammonds 1997). Satisfying employees’ personal needs can encourage more effective workers with less constant worry. Companies that recognise the need to adapt work to peoples’ life will win employees’ loyalty which gains them an edge in the business. Managers might find themselves dealing with ethical dilemma where they’re required to define right or wrong conducts. Managers need to create an ethically healthy working climate at the workplace for employees. Levis Strauss became the first global company to establish a broad ethical code of conduct in 1991 (http://www.levistrauss.com/responsibility, 2003). Values of the organization can be seen through its employees. For example, Malcolm Walker who heads a retail food chain called Iceland is also a member of an environmental awareness group called Greenpeace (Robbins & Coulter 2001, p. 130). His company showed ethical behaviour when they decided to sell products which are free of chemicals that can harm Earth. Managers should hire ethical individuals, establishing a code of ethics at workplace (Robbins & Coulter 2001, p. 131) and of course, be a good role model by making the right choices in managing the organization. Managers can either make or break an organization as they can influence and control the employees into doing anything they want. Managing individuals isn’t easy; however, it can be done effectively with the aid of organizational behaviour concepts and knowledge. It is something that a manager can improve on with practice and experience throughout their working profession. Reference List ‘About HP: Hewlett Packard Corporate Objectives’, [online] 2002, Available from: , [2003, October 10]. Bailey, J., Schermerhorn, J., Hunt, J., Osborn, R., 1991, ‘Chapter 1 Organisational Behaviour and the Manager’. In: Managing Organisational Behaviour. London: Jacaranda Wiley Ltd. p. 14. – – -. p. 22. ‘Citigroup – Our Values’, [online], 2003. Available from: , [2003, October 9] ‘Citigroup – About Us’, [online], 2003. Available from: , [2003, October 9]. Gibson, J. L., Ivancevich, J. M., Donnelly, J. H. Jr., 1997, ‘Chapter 1: The Study of Organization’. In: Organizations Behavior Structure Processes. ed. Biernat, J. E., Rob Zwettler. United States of America. p. 16. – – -. ‘Chapter 3: Globalization’. p. 54. – – -. ‘Chapter 3: Globalization’. pp. 56-58. – – -. ‘Chapter 13: Organization Structure’. pp. 349-50. Hammonds, K. H. 1997, ‘Balancing work and Family: Business Week’, [online], Available from:, [2003, October 15]. Heathfield, S. M.,2003. ‘Help People Thrive at Work’. [online]. Available from:, [2003, October 9]. – – -. ‘Make Learning Matter: Become A Learning Organization’. [online]. Available from: , [2003, October 1]. ‘Levi Strauss Co. | Social Responsibility’, 2003. [online], Available from: , [2003, October 4]. ‘Nokia – Internal Communications. [online], 2003, Available from: , [2003, October 4]. ‘Nokia – Nokia as an Employer’. [online], 2003, Available from: , [2003, October 7] ‘Nokia – Performance Based Rewarding’. [online], 2003, Available from: , [2003, October 10]. ‘PricewaterhouseCoopers:US:Careers:Diversity’, [online], 2001. Available from: , [2003, October 10]. Reid, J., 2003. ‘Lesson of the Red Horse’. [online]. Available from: [2003, September 18]. – – -.2003. Management 101. [online]. Available from: [2003, September 18]. Robbins, S. P. & Coulter M. 2001. ‘Chapter One: Introduction to Management and Organizations. In: ‘Management’. Prentice-Hall International Inc. p. 9. – – -. p. 11. – – -. ‘Chapter Two: Management Yesterday and Today’. p. 41. – – -. p. 46. – – -. ‘Chapter Five: Social Responsibility and Managerial Ethics. Pp. 130-31. – – -. ‘Chapter Thirteen: Managing Change and Innovation’. pp. 345-47. – – -. p. 351. Robbins, S. P., Millett, R., Cacioppe, R., Marsh-Waters, T., 1998. ‘What is Organisational Behaviour?’. In: ‘Organisational Behaviour: Leading and Managing in Australia and New Zealand’. French’s Forest NSW: Prentice Hall. p. 10.

Balanced Scorecard

Since the Market downturn in October 2007, a challenging set of economic events has been rocking the financial services industry and AXA equitable has since experienced major changes to keep the company competitive. A well-developed balanced scorecard is what AXA Equitable needs in order to remain a worldwide leader in the financial services industry. In the past, management have believed that the factors critical to the success of a company were based solely upon financial measures; this is why the Balanced scorecard was developed. The BSC has gained increasing popularity as an effective management tool that aligns employee actions and goals with corporate strategy since first being introduced in 1992 (Davis Albright, 2004). Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton proposed the balanced scorecard (BSC). The Balanced scorecard is a widely recognized tool to support decision making at the strategic management level which improves the satisfaction of the strategic objectives (Kaplan Norton, 1992). The BSC provides feedback on internal business processes, performance, and market conditions in order to review the trategy and future plans and  Large U. S. companies, such as General Electric and Federal Express, and non-profit and public organizations have implemented the BSC approach (Creamer Freun, 2010). According to the module, â€Å"financial measures are inadequate, however, for guiding and evaluating the journey that information age companies must make to create future value through investment in customers, suppliers, employees, processes, technology, and innovation (Baltzan, Phillips, Haag 2010). The balanced scorecard deals with a proposed model that embraces both financial and non-financial aspects to measure performance of an organization in the financial services industry (Wu, Tzeng, Chen, 2009). The  balanced scorecard[pic](BSC) is a multi-criteria evaluation concept that highlights the importance of performance measurement, and it recognizes that performance measurement should be incorporated in both of financial and non-financial measures; it captures not only a firm’s current performance but also the drivers of its future performance (Tseng, 2010). The balanced scorecard would be a positive force for AXA Equitable as it is a vital part of an overall strategy to become and remain an industry leader. Since times can be unsettling and while no company is immune from the challenges of a volatile market, management should strive to identify the factors that are critical to the success of the company. AXA Equitable needs to implement the measures listed on the balanced scorecard to achieve the company’s critical success factors. This will strengthen the company and continually improve AXA Equitable’s ability to manage through turbulent market conditions when necessary. The Balanced scorecard has four main parts. The balanced scorecard is developed along the four well-known perspectives of Financial, Customer, Internal Business Process, and Learning and Growth Performance, which, at any point in time of measurement, characterize the current status and future potential of organizations (Craig Moores, 2010). The financial perspective includes the measure of an organizations financial performance. For instance, it measures revenue growth, shareholder’s value, assets under management, and cash flow. This perspective links the company to its shareholders with main attention to the question: â€Å"How do we look to our shareholders and those with a financial interest in the organization? † Financial goals include achieving profitability, maintaining liquidity and solvency both short term as well as long-term, growth in sales turnover and maximizing wealth of shareholders (Asosheh, Nalchigar, Jamporazmey, 2010). The customer perspective includes the measure of an organizations market share, customer satisfaction, customer retention, customer referrals and value added activities. This is the second external oriented perspective that takes a look at the organization’s customers, who are the crucial factor for financial success generating revenue by buying products and services. The question is: â€Å"How do our customers perceive us in term of products, services, relationships and value-added? † (Asosheh, Nalchigar, Jamporazmey, 2010). The internal process perspective includes the measure of an organizations productivity, research and development, customer complaints and returns, and operational speed. This Measure focuses on the internal processes that will have the greatest impact on customer satisfaction and achieving an organization’s financial objectives. Firms should decide what processes and competencies they must excel at and specify measures for each of them (Asosheh, Nalchigar, Jamporazmey, 2010). The learning and growth perspective includes the measure of an organizations turnover ratio, hiring goals, education and training of new and existing employees, and number of new and improved products or services. This perspective identifies the infrastructure that the organization must build to create long-term growth and improvement. Intense global competition requires that organizations continually improve their capabilities for delivering value to customers and shareholders. Thus the question remains: â€Å"To achieve our future vision, how will we continue to improve and create future value for our stakeholders? † (Asosheh, Nalchigar, Jamporazmey, 2010). The best way to measure AXA Equitable’s financial performance is the shareholders value. This shows the value that the shareholders perceive AXA Equitable to be worth. There is strong evidence that the balanced scorecard is an effective strategic management tool that leads to improved shareholder returns (Crabtree DeBusk, 2008). The primary objective of management should be maximizing its shareholder’s value. Since the turbulent economy, AXA Equitable shareholder value is back on the up rise again. This can be seen with the stock price. AXA Equitable stocks, just like most other companies, were not immune to the highly volatile market conditions; However with the market getting back together, the stock price is gradually rising again. The management decisions at AXA should be geared towards maximizing the wealth of AXA Equitable shareholders, which means increasing the value of shares owned by existing shareholders. A good measure of AXA Equitable’s superiority over its competition would be the ability to generate consistent and high total returns that it gives to its shareholders over time. Major company issues will exist with AXA Equitable if management interests are not aligned with those of shareholders. When managers pursue self-serving behavior rather than the maximization of shareholder wealth, several symptoms may become apparent: low stock returns, below-average operating performance, and suboptimal investment decisions. The likelihood of company problems is higher when managerial incentive systems do not coincide with shareholder wealth maximization (Manry Stangeland 2003). It is very important that AXA Equitable management put the interest of the shareholders first. Research suggests that firms with management that pursues its own interests at the expense of shareholders will perform comparatively worse than firms with management whose interests are aligned with shareholders (Manry Stangeland 2003). When a company like AXA Equitable is able to generate wealth for its shareholders year after year, it is able to differentiate itself from the competition and creates better value for its shareholders. Investors who purchase AXA Equitable shares hope that the returns they get on their investments would be higher than what they could get from putting those funds in a risk-free savings account. This shows that the investors are definitely willing to tolerate more risk of ownership in AXA Equitable because of the chance of making higher returns. Assets under management are a measure of the total market value of client assets with the company. AXA as a whole has 1. 46 trillion dollars in assets under management, making it the 13th largest company in the world. One of the biggest advantages of having assets under management as a critical success factor on the balanced scorecard is that focus on increasing the total value of assets under AXA demands continuous efforts and improvement by the management and employees of AXA. This financial measure is not only obvious to AXA management and employees but also those outside the company, i. e. the public. Ranking organization like Fortune 500, use the figures for assets under management as a financial success measure to rank companies against their competition and industries. Constantly increasing the sale of financial products or services is a very important aspect of a company especially one in the financial services industry. AXA Equitable offers a wide range of financial products and services like fixed income investments, equity investments, individual retirement accounts, education planning accounts, life disability insurance and annuities to its clients. The products or services is used to address their needs and help shape their financial futures. The sale of AXA Equitable’s financial products or services is crucial in measuring the financial success of the company. The product or services sale is exactly how the company makes money and becomes profitable. Employees of AXA Equitable earn production credits after each sale of its products or services. Production Credits are the total amount of compensation that AXA Equitable pays to its employees in form of commission for the sale of its products or services. The total amount of production credits earned by each employee is the best way AXA uses to measure employee performance. The Production credits can also serve as a measure of financial performance that AXA Equitable uses as a requirement for other benefits other than commission for its employees. Benefits such as medical plan eligibility, stock options, stocks appreciation rights, AXA Share plan and AXA Equitable Advantage. AXA Equitable should strive for consistent and positive investment results for its investment portfolios. This is very important to a company that deals with attracting new prospects and retaining existing clients. An AXA Equitable client, for example, with a portfolio with poor investment results will not remain with the company if that client can get better results with other financial companies outside of AXA Equitable. AXA Equitable financial advisors manage the managers. Portfolio managers manage the investment portfolios and financial products inside AXA Equitable. Those managers are in turn, managed by the financial advisors that make these investment portfolios available to the clients. The portfolio managers are responsible for picking the equities and bonds available in each portfolio, making changes and the investment results for the portfolios they handle. Clients can benefit from a professional allocated portfolio of AXA Equitable funds that delivers automatic diversification, risk management benefits, quarterly rebalancing, and consistent investment results. The customer perspective section of he balanced scorecard cannot be effective if customer satisfaction is not the number one focus. The first and most important rule for any company in the financial services industry is that the client is of the utmost priority. Financial advisors should learn to put the interest of their clients first before any other interests. Companies in a service industry should understand that customer satisfaction is a great measure of performance. Banks and other companies that deal with providing financial services to the public must first put more emphasis on customer satisfaction, and then on financial return. These companies must ensure that their customers remain loyal to them and develop new markets to attract new customers (Wu, Tzeng, Chen, 2009). A crucial part of maintaining client satisfaction is understanding the clients and their needs. AXA Equitable and its advisors are responsible for making financial recommendations and providing its clients with financial products and services, and financial education to address their needs and help the clients create the retirement of their dreams. AXA Equitable should take sending out client satisfaction surveys to every client on the anniversary date of purchasing a financial product or service very seriously. This Client Satisfaction Index survey is a true measure of customer satisfaction and has helped the company identify the key drivers of client satisfaction. AXA Equitable uses this survey to get client feedback on their financial products and the level of service that their advisors showed the client throughout the year. Value added activity is an important way a company can separate itself from the competition. Companies in the financial services industry primarily offer financial products or services to their clients. Why would a client want to use AXA Equitable’s products and service versus another financial company like American International Group (AIG)? What can AXA Equitable offer that client that no other company can? For example, every financial advisor is required to provide the clients with a contract after every sale of a financial product or service. This contract usually contains copies of signed forms and prospectus. It is better to hand deliver these contracts instead of mailing it to the clients. AIG, a major competition for AXA Equitable, usually sends out thank you cards and client referral forms after every new sale of the company’s financial product or service. This is very effective because it showed that AIG appreciates the client and their business. Value added activities can be as simple as remembering a customers’ favorite drink. Whatever the activity is, managers must find a way to capitalize upon it, as doing so will enable them to gain a competitive advantage. AIG uses this service-oriented strategy to get additional referrals and establish relationships with their clients. BSC is an effective performance measurement tool in performance improvement, which positively affects service quality (Ghani, Said, Laswad, 2010). Exceeding client expectations is another critical success factor on the balanced scorecard that AXA Equitable and its employees should incorporate. When this strategy is taken seriously and done correctly, the clients are satisfied; they stay with the company longer, purchase additional financial products or services and most importantly, refer others to the company. Customer satisfaction offers an immediate, meaningful and objective feedback about clients’ preferences and expectations (Mihelis, Grigoroudis, Siskos, Politis, Malandrakis, 2001). AXA Equitable has provided several tools like eRelationship ® for its financial advisors for client contact. The eRelationship ® platform is a good way for the advisors to have continuous contact and build strong relationships with their clients all year long. For example, doing the simple things like remembering and sending out birthday cards, wedding anniversary cards, seminars invitations, could go a long way in building and maintaining credibility, trust and satisfaction with the clients. When the financial advisor is compassionate and is always willing to help, the clients can now see the true value of the advisors. AXA Equitable needs to generate clients constantly to be successful in the financial service industry. To be successful in this business, the financial advisors have to constantly be in front of their clients. Activities that drive the success of AXA Equitable financial advisors include prospecting and meeting new clients, number of appointments set, running appointments and appointments closed. AXA Equitable uses to 5-3-1 weekly matrix to guide our advisor activities They will be successful every week if they can have five prospecting visits, run three client appointments and sign up one new client†. Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING), another major competition in the financial services industry uses a performance management strategy to keep track of employee activities. The financial advisors are required to submit their performance goals, development plans, and action plans at the beginning of every quarter to their managers. At the end of the quarter, performance reviews are conducted by the managers to measure the activities and production of the financial advisor. The balanced scorecard will help enhance communication between the client and the organization to ensure favorable organization performance (Wong, Lam, Chan, 2009). The internal business process perspective measures efficiency and productivity level within the company. During the client appointments, after the recommendations have been presented to the client, how quickly and efficiently can AXA Equitable provide the financial products or services needed to the client? This can be done with a software called eDox ®. eDox ® is an online database software that the financial advisor carries with him to every appointment with clients. eDox ® contains information about every product that AXA Equitable offers to its clients as well as links to products from other companies that AXA Equitable advisors can also offer to its client. Intra-industry trade (IIT) has been central to increasing the variety of products available to consumers (Moshirian, Li, and Sim. 2005). eDox ® also serves as a tool that top management uses to send out memos, journals, sales ideas, and information on new product launches to every employee of the company. When the client agrees to go ahead with the advisors recommendation and get the financial products; all the applications and forms necessary to make the sale can also be found on eDox ®. A continual review and constant improvement of eDox ® would be very important to keep productivity levels high to become an industry leader. AXA Compliance department is faced with the task of keeping AXA Equitable and its financial advisors compliant with the governing rules made by the Security and Exchange Commission. The Security and Exchange Commission set rules, regulations and guidelines that govern all the companies in the financial services industry. The SEC draws up new regulations periodically that sometimes make business very difficult in the financial services industry, for example, the 90-24 transfer rule, which involves more documentation for transfers of funds between one financial companies. Meeting these guidelines and standards set by the Securities and Exchange Commission is important to eliminate client complaints, trading malpractice, and negative internal and external audit for AXA Equitable Growth within a company like AXA Equitable does not always have to mean more profits because it is in the financial services industry. To become a leader in this industry, the financial company would have to hire more financial advisors to acquire more clients, which in turn leads to more productivity within the company. AXA Equitable should set hiring goals for its managers each year that the company expects to be met because an increase in the number of financial advisors every year will cause an increase in the amount of business written in that year. AXA Equitable and other companies in the financial service industry are constantly rolling out new financial products or services to keep pace with market volatility and unlimited client needs. The companies equip these products with better features and benefits to make them more attractive to the clients and stand out from the competition. AXA Equitable should be committed to providing its financial advisors with the resources necessary to build a lifelong career. Companies facing intensive competition also have a greater impetus to find ways to differentiate their products and services from those provided by competitors, this frequently results in a greater number of product and service lines and differentiation sought through increased customization of products and services in order to meet specific customer desires. (Guilding and McManus, 2002). The Learning center at AXA Equitable is set up to train and support new and experienced financial advisors. For example, when a new financial advisor is hired, the advisor is required to take some necessary courses on AXA Advisors Virtual University (AAVU) to learn everything about the company, its policies and financial product or services. American International Group (AIG) is another company that has a similar new employee development strategy. AIG developed a New Branch Employee Orientation Program where new employees receive online orientation sessions that include information about AIG, as well as company policies and benefits. AXA Equitable should require additional sessions for training and development for their financial advisors. These sessions should include experiences and accomplishments of experienced licensed financial advisors to keep the all other financial advisors motivated and knowledgeable about everything going on with the company and the industry as a whole. Introducing a balanced scorecard in an organization and implementing the critical success factors identified on it will not be an easy task. When firms develop a  scorecard they often start with a strategic performance measurement system which includes a set of financial and non-financial measures. Afterwards, the cause and effect relationships between the different (sets of) measures are developed further to translate the firm strategy to operational activities (Wiersma, 2009). AXA Equitable’s Management and employees will have to cultivate a change initiative. The increasing use of balanced scorecards is changing the way top managers run their companies. When envisioning a firm’s future development, they no longer focus chiefly on monetary success indicators in the financial area, Instead balanced scorecard is designed to complement financial measures of past performance with their measures of the drivers of future performance (Asosheh, Nalchigar, Jamporazmey, 2010). Companies need to address issues to help assess competition in their industry. The Balanced Scorecard is generally implemented at the corporate, business unit, and individual level, and also becomes a powerful tool for the directors to monitor the implementation of the corporate strategy.