A short analysis of “The Bucket Rider” and “A Country Doctor”

The Bucket RiderThis short story, typical of Franz Kafka’s surrealist writing, would bring the reader into some false hopes that the speaker would somehow get through the dilemma or problem he is in, but ends in frustration and despair. Such false hopes that the narrator would somehow get some coal that she/he desperately needs are created by the magical elements in the story. Somehow likened to Aladdin’s flying carpet, the bucket becomes the narrator’s humble vehicle which safely brings her/him to the destination, the coal dealer’s cellar. Nevertheless, unlike Aladdin, the speaker shows extreme dependence on the bucket and what it should contain, i.e., coal. We could likely interpret the bucket and the coal as the narrator’s source of security that ought to be filled up once it goes empty.Probably it could be one’s desire for love or (to be Freudian about it) it could be the libidinal desire for sexual gratification. In one way or another, t he characteristics of the bucket could be likened to human emotions: like emotions the bucket â€Å"flies,† and like emotions, the bucket, likened to a steed, could not resist. There could probably be many other interpretations on what the bucket and the coal may represent (as well as what the coal dealer and his wife, and all the other elements in the short story represent) but one thing clear is the ending: that eventually, coal would run out and when it does at the point when one is without means (but to beg) to get a new supply, then one would have to end in despair, in the regions of the ice mountains. This is the recurrent Kafka theme: that human life is inescapably frustrating and riddled with anxiety, riddles that seem not to have any answers.The Country DoctorThis short story stands out for its repeated use in classes in demonstrating Freudian psychoanalysis. A number of psychology and literature professors fancy using this short story to show how a classic surrealis t literature could be Freudian. True, the elements of this short story could well be translated in Freudian terms but that I shall not pursue in length. It may be enough for the purposes of this short essay to say that the groom, the doctor’s alter ego, could very likely represent his id, the hidden erotic side of his personality, and that being a professional could simply be the sublimation of his sexual desires.Such would bring a whole new paradigm in the short story; nevertheless, I would want to point out, not how the entire short story could very well demonstrate Freud, but the theme of how frustrating human existence could be. The district doctor is ironically portrayed as powerless to attend to his own needs and desires. Torn by the call of duty, he did not have the power to stop the groom from running after Rose when he explicitly said that he does not have the intention of handing the maid to the groom.It should be mentioned that the groom and the horses magically ca me from the doctor’s own pigsty, which made Rose say, â€Å"You never know what you’re going to find in your own house.† Such a frustrating existence could very well be seen in the patient’s house as the doctor once again is caught in the frustrating dilemma of a healthy boy wanting to die, only to be reversed afterwards, i.e., after diagnosing that the boy indeed is sick, this time the boy wants to live. While in the patient’s house, the doctor is constantly troubled by the horses, the parents, the sister, and other human beings like the village elders. Again he proved to be helpless when his upper garments were removed from him.He managed to escape but this time his magical horses would not canter but would rather go slow. The doctor, now in between the patient’s house and his own, gives a cry of despair: â€Å"Never shall I reach home at this rate; my practice is done for.† All of what he has, i.e., his home and his maid as well as his profession are all now gone, all because he made a mistake to respond to a false alarm. These entire surrealist events point to the meaninglessness of it all, the frustrating existence of the country doctor who is incapable of saving his own self.ConclusionThough there are obvious differences as regards the characters, the use of symbols and elements, etcetera, we could say that the two essays are similar in a number of ways: the theme, i.e., inescapability of frustrations and powerlessness in human existence; the use of surrealism and magic; and the possible use of Freudian paradigm to interpret the elements of the stories. All these we have seen in our discussion above.

Environmental Factors Essay

There are many environmental factors that affect the global and domestic marketing strategies of organizations. What is necessary is an assessment of the company’s attempts at positioning its product to meet the needs of an undisclosed market. Environmental factors always affect the domestic and international marketing performance of companies in many environments. What environmental factors do is that they shape and set targets on the entry and operational decisions of Coca Cola Limited. Established in 1886, Coca Cola owns four of the world’s top five nonalcoholic beverages, operates in over two hundred countries and serves over one point five billion consumers locally and international. The environmental factors that Coca Cola has to battle with include the level of competition, cultural attributes, consumer characteristics, political and legal concerns. These factors have an impact on both the potential local and international marketing functions of the company. One factor affecting the marketing decisions of Coca Cola is competition among alcoholic beverages. These competitive factors include pricing, advertising, production innovation and brand and trademark development and protection. Of interest to us is the fact that one of Coca Cola’s major competitors is PepsiCo. The marketing decisions of the company have to be guided strategically because it impacts on the actual sales levels of the firm. Coca Cola continues to maintain a cutting edge in the industry because it continues to uphold its hallmarked values of refresh the world, inspiring moments of optimism and creating value through making a difference. Cultural also has a part to play in the marketing decisions of Coca Cola. Of later, governments across the world have been placing pressure on beverage companies to regulate alcohol content because they affect consumer’s thinking. While Coca Cola does not have to fight up with this cultural implication, it may have to attend to means of re-establishing consumer loyalty. For example, Marketing Coca-Cola in China has been a long and trying road. Firstly opening bottling plants in Shanghai and Tianjin in 1927 and then a third plant opened in Qingdao in 1930, Coca had a fight gaining a solid marketing lead. After a 30-year absence from the country, The Coca-Cola Company re-entered China in 1979, following the re-establishment of relations between China and the United States. Coca-Cola was the first American consumer product to return to China and is doing very well today. Another environmental factor affecting Coca Cola’s development of effective marketing tools and campaigns across the world is legal requirements for entry and set up. All multinational companies are forced to abide by laws requiring high tax entries although maximum profits are to be repatriated. It is Coca Cola’s policy to comply to consumer protection laws, occupational, health and safety acts, and local statues and regulations concerning advertising, transportation, distribution and food and safety laws. Additionally, Coca Cola’s principle challenge was is water resource management which in some countries is bound by legalities. In 2004, the company was forced to take a major step in reducing the potential impact of climatic damage via the use of coolers and vending machines. So that dealing with legal implications enabled Coca Cola to adapt a marketing strategy that considers its social responsibility. The end result of that was Coca Cola, partnering with the United Nations Environment Programme and Greenpeace International as a means of finding natural refrigerants. Explain how technology impacts the organizations marketing decisions. Coca Cola decisions have been affected by the impact of technology. In an interview done by a researcher, he commented that â€Å"as industry leaders it is Coca Cola’s responsibility to invest in the research and development necessary to develop economically viable and commercially available refrigeration solutions to take us toward an HFC-free, climate-friendly future. We hope that other companies will join our commitment to sustainable refrigeration. By working together, we can continue to reduce the impact of commercial equipment on the environment. † It is obvious that Inorder for Coca Cola to remain a leader in the beverage industry there was the need to re-examine its products and production processes; its packaging, design, equipment and quality assurance. Coca Cola attempts to strike a balance between the use of modern and traditional technologies depending on the marketing initiative and project location. Interestingly, with the launch of eKOfreshment, Coca Cola used more than ten different technological options to improve its environmental performance, regulatory compliance and overall price and operational costs. The end result of using technology as a point of reference for marketing is the winning of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Protection Award for their joint efforts in promoting the development of environmentally friendly commercial refrigeration technology through the creation of the refrigerants naturally coalition. So that as Coca Cola evolves with technology its marketing habits and values change to accommodate consumer characteristics and behaviours. Of great importance to Coca Cola is their social responsibility and ethical considerations of which its management has found to be a contributing factor to the development of a strong marketing campaign globally. In analyzing its importance, we must consider the company’s priority; its marketplace, workplace, environment and community. To us, this is a key side; Coca Cola has opted to have social responsibility as a sub heading to their website. In the marketplace, they take pride in quality, marketing more than 450 brands and over 2,800 beverage products, just still living up to giving our consumers a choice of still or sparking beverages that refresh, hydrate, energize or nourish. Our ethical value is that each of those products must be of the highest quality and must meet consumers’ changing tastes, needs and expectations. In each of the more than 200 countries where we operate, Coca Cola is an active member of the business community, working hand in hand with local individuals, merchants and governments to improve the health and prosperity of the local economy and environment. We know that the continued health and sustainable growth of our business depends on the long-term health of the communities that surround it. After all, we need healthy consumers, communities, environments and economies for our business to thrive. So we encourage human right laws in the workplace as our business ultimately depends on the combined talents, skills, knowledge, experience and passion make Coca Cola who it is. Wherever Coca Cola operates, it seeks to get involved in the work of communities, governmental organizations and NGOs to create and support projects most relevant to them. Marketing is a critical step in the success or failure of a company. For Coca Cola, an international company operating in years of integrity and business sense, today they have stood to repeat the rewards of their actions. Together with many other partners, this company continues to forge it way to be a continued leader in the beverage industry. Reference Blythe, Jim. (2004). Canada. Financial Times – Prentice Hall.

How does Priestly show tension is at the heart of the Birling family? Essay

Tension is an element that has been intricately woven at the heart of the Birling family. The Birling’s are a family of two generations; the older assertive and callous generation and the younger ambitious generation with not yet fully sculpted minds. The lack of understanding and empathy for the younger generation (Eric and Shelia) feeds the tension at heart:- ‘Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble-that’s why.’ This quotation reflects on Eric’s sense of distance between himself and his farther whilst implying that Mr Birling is rather out of touch with his children. This incoherent relationship therefore amplifies the tension that neither father nor son are prepared to confront. Inspector Goole plays a large role in surfacing the tension in the families differentiating views and beliefs on responsibility for the death of Eva/Daisy. As Shelia and Eric develop a sense of maturity and acceptance for their actions they begin to further undermine their parent’s authority and ideas:- ‘Mother I couldn’t possibly go. Nothing could be worse for me. We’ve settled all that. I’m staying here until I know why that girl killed herself.’ There is a prominent contrast in the way Shelia addresses those of the older generation at the begging of the play to the Shelia the audience become accustomed to towards the end which again conveys the tension due to Shelia’s lack of obedience. Sheila also adopts the Inspectors blunt language: ‘I’m staying here until I know why that girl killed herself.’ Regardless of the idea that women of the time were thought to need protection from all things disturbing or unpleasant Shelia does not hesitate to bring attention to the solid fact that she is well aware that Eva/Daisy ‘killed herself’. Priestley’s use of stage directions is another technique used to accentuate the tension that inhabits the heart of the Birling family. The audience at the beginning of the play encounter subdued lighting which therefore creates a relaxed atmosphere shrouding the true feelings of the family which are hinted to suggest something is not quite right. The intensity of the light grows at the arrival of the inspector to indicate a turn of events. A combination of an array of techniques at Priestley’s disposal allow him to capture and reveal the taboo tension between the individual characters that is hidden behind euphemisms and gender roles.

Homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Homework - Assignment Example The professor is still new to the U.S environment and serves as the advisor to the lesbian and gay bisexual transgender movement in campuses (Loffreda, 231). Worth noting is that she is an outsider and an insider in these events. She is quite observant and contacts an interview to the police officers, students, politicians, townspeople and activists among other people. She does this with the aim of making untying the knot of forces that is tied to the fate of the young man more visible. Furthermore, the author explores how the sexual politics unfolds in a sparsely and remote area in America. During this time the sexual politics was very common in the American culture war. She captures the daily life occurrences since 1998 in Laramie (Loffreda, 238). She does this in a more brilliant manner which occurred in Wyoming. This was a community that lived in a rural, conservative, poor and a breathtaking beautiful state which did not have a bookstore or a gay. She also focuses on several characters which include gays, homicide investigators, gay activists, the unreflective journalists in the media houses, and the appearance of Mary, Paul, and Peter. In addition, Loffreda goes through a series of events (226). She starts with the protests of the townspeople and the students against the gays. They rise above the famous anti-gay theatrics of the defrocked Fred Phelp towards the spontaneous support to matt during the homecoming parade in the university. In addition, the bias by the town council on legislation to trace evidence by the investigators is also analyzed. The book does not just look into this but also focuses on other events. She recounts on the death of matt and most surprising stories which were left out in the media

Study Case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case Study Example The pursuit of innovation and efficiency led to operational excellence which was its competitive edge over rival companies. 2- Lincoln Electric’s vision was to be the world’s leading manufacturing company. The plan therefore was to produce high quality products at the lowest cost possible in order to transfer more value to its customer in terms of savings and to itself through increased sales volumes. The organization therefore adopted a flat structure to encourage communication and build trust between staff and other workers as well as guaranteeing job security in order for staff to be less resistant to change as need be. As a form of control the company used merit rating systems that analyzed individuals of four factors: dependability, quality, output, and ideas and cooperation. 3- James Lincoln believed that through competition and incentive every person could develop to his or her full potential (Fast and Berg 4). This assertion resembles the optimistic and positive view of workers advanced by McGregor’s Theory Y. Lincoln therefore believed that he had put in place the right environment (and cultural paradigm) that enabled workers be responsible, self-direct and be creative. Other policies that Lincoln instituted such as guaranteeing employment for workers and year-end bonuses pegged on merit ratings point towards Maslow’s theory. Guaranteeing employment allows workers to satisfy physiological needs and to some extent safety needs. The bonus incentives on the other hand allow workers to reach towards greater goals or to afford higher needs such as new car, home etc. which are esteem needs. 4- Belief in workers’ ability to self-manage; be creative; and institution of reward schemes that are not capped directly contributed to Lincoln’s dominating performance over its competitors for two reasons. Firstly, it kept staff motivated. Motivated staff increases productivity which increases returns. Secondly, employees stick around

Building Technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Building Technologies - Essay Example Social shaping of a building technology is related to the ways and customs, in which the physical structure, apparatus, and modus operandi used, cooperate with the social needs and customs of the community. The characteristic plan of the medieval cities was built with a spacious design, which was always enclosed by city walls, reflecting a grid arrangement. The most idiosyncratic feature of the medieval cities was the colossal community locales or edifices. These edifices were brought into use for the purpose of water supply, amusement, business, and administration. The average income families lived in open areas as compared to the rich who resided in high raised apartments. A medieval city could be called as a "densely congested network of narrow winding streets, lined with high house fronts, a pattern relieved only occasionally by open squares and marketplaces." (Friedrichs, in Chant, p147) enclosed by closely fortified barricades with shielded entrances and fortified towers. The building technology used up for military also affected the lay out of the medieval cities. When the military had to settle in populated areas, they used to build their own towns that were typical of the military model. The basic form of these medieval cities were in the fortified walls and castles shaped directly to help the military and weapon siege techniques. Stone city walls restricted external city development, hence the affinity for houses and buildings to be intimately packed together and to be built high. The material of walls used was concrete, which was used in combination with brick and mortar which made the walls strong to defend the city in times of invasion. Since the supply of land was restricted within the walls, concrete buildings were allowed to 5 storey. The medieval cities also used up a large quality of natural materials, like wood and stone for the construction purposes. Lime-mortar and wall reinforcement through the use of sandstone columns allowed Islamic cities to expand when mud-bricks did not allow buildings above a single storey (Chant & Goodman, 1999: p137). In addition, the religious buildings in a medieval city were the focus of the common people. The structure and design of these buildings involved the forms of Roman Basilica but adapted to hold a larger audience. At times, new technologies were also experimented which allowed for the establishment of very high cathedrals that subjugated the perceptible room of medieval cities. In medieval cities, the use of horse for transport purposes soon replaced the use of ox, for the agricultural use. This was necessary, as the crowded cities were not built to allow for the passage for wheeled vehicles. To conclude, the medieval building style imposed a level of universality of beliefs, speech, and administration outlines. The communal areas for use or entertainment and religious buildings brought reputation to the head of state. Thus we can say that the medieval cities were socially shaped. Bibliography 1. Alsford, Steven, "Florilegium Urbanum", http://www.trytel.com/tristan/towns/florilegium/flor00.html [27 April 2003; consulted on 26 June 2004] 2. "Armenian Architechture - Virtual ANI", http://www.virtualani.freeserve.co.uk/

Finance problems Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Finance problems - Speech or Presentation Example What is the component cost of debt for use in the WACC calculation? Tapley Inc. recently hired you as a consultant to estimate the company’s WACC. You have obtained the following information. (1) Tapleys bonds mature in 25 years, have a 7.5% annual coupon, a par value of $1,000, and a market price of $936.49. (2) The company’s tax rate is 40%. (3) The risk-free rate is 6.0%, the market risk premium is 5.0%, and the stock’s beta is 1.5. (4) The target capital structure consists of 30% debt and 70% equity. Tapley uses the CAPM to estimate the cost of equity, and it does not expect to have to issue any new common stock. What is its WACC? Wagner Inc estimates that its average-risk projects have a WACC of 10%, its below-average risk projects have a WACC of 8%, and its above-average risk projects have a WACC of 12%. Which of the following projects (A, B, and C) should the company accept? The Nunnally Company has equal amounts of low-risk, average-risk, and high-risk projects. Nunnally estimates that its overall WACC is 12%. The CFO believes that this is the correct WACC for the company’s average-risk projects, but that a lower rate should be used for lower risk projects and a higher rate for higher risk projects. However, the CEO argues that, even though the company’s projects have different risks, the WACC used to evaluate each project should be the same because the company obtains capital for all projects from the same sources. If the CEO’s opinion is followed, what is likely to happen over time? Since according to the CEO’s opinion all projects, whether risky or non-risky, should be evaluated by using the average WACC therefore the riskier project’s cash flows would be discounted by using a lower WACC as a result the firm will accept too many risky projects. Similarly, low risk project’s cash flows would be discounted by using a higher WACC which will reject too many low-risk projects. Percy Motors has a target capital

BRIEF CASE Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BRIEF CASE - Coursework Example Teresa D. Oglesbee is the bereaved and Pfeil is a private funeral home. Oglesbee attended a private viewing at Pfeil in the evening of September 12, 2010. Oglesbee used the front door to exit the building after the viewing. Pfeil official escorted her carrying an umbrella since it was raining. Oglesbee moved ahead of the Pfeil official and fell in an eight-inch drop at the public sidewalk, causing her to suffer injury. The drop was not marked and the official did not warn her about the eight-inch drop. Oglesbee sued Pfeil in tort for negligence arguing that her fall resulted from Pfeil’s neglect and failure. Pfeil discovered this and moved for summary judgment. Pfeil argued that the company had no duty to warn Oglesbee because the drop consisted of an open and obvious danger, which she could have easily observed without necessarily being warned against it. Oglesbee filed a case against Pfeil upon suffering an injury caused by falling into an eight-inch drop at Pfeil’s premises. The offended party usually moves to court to sue the offender for remedies. In this case, Oglesbee is the offended party, and also the plaintiff. Her interest was to sue Pfeil for damages caused by negligence and failure of duty of care to its invitees. Pfeil sought summary judgment after discovering Oglesbee move to court. Pfeil won the case against Oglesbee based on the fact that the drop at Pfeil’s sidewalk was an open and obvious danger; therefore, the company was not responsible for Oglesbee’s injury. Oglesbee decided to appeal to the higher court. The case was forwarded to the court of appeal. The plaintiff/appellant feels that the agent of the defendant/appellee had a duty of care in tort to ensure safety of invitees through providing and keeping posted adequate warnings at the scene under the conditions that prevailed at the time of her injury. These conditions are hazardous and dangerous to people leaving the premises especially when there is no light, sign or

Northrop Grumman U1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Northrop Grumman U1 - Essay Example Therefore, I selected Northrop Grumman for review because it deals with a wide range of businesses related to defense sector. I hope to learn about different types of undersea, outer space, and cyber space products and services that this company offers to its customers. Moreover, I will enhance my knowledge about the threats and opportunities that the business of defense security might have. Northrop Grumman was founded in 1994 when Northrop Aircraft Company merged with the Grumman Aerospace Company. The merger of the companies proved successful for both companies as they turned out to be the fourth major defense services providing company of the world in 2010. The reason behind that success were the wide range of defense related products and services that it started providing to the customers by acquiring key defense technologies and companies, such as, Westinghouse Electronic Systems, Logicon, Teledyne Ryan, Litton Industries, TRW, and Newport News Shipbuilding. The offices of the company are located in 50 states of America, whereas the headquarters of the company are based in Virginia. The company also has its headquarters in London, United Kingdom. The sector headquarters for business sectors of the company are located in California, Virginia, and Maryland. The total number of employees working for the company is 75,000 approximately. Northrop Grumman is a company that addresses key security challenges related to such areas that are of significant value for the defense sector of any nation. Some of those defense areas include C4ISR, unmanned systems, satellites, aircraft careers, logistics, and cyber security. The company offers a wide range of products and services to the governments all over the world. Some of the major products of the company include advanced laser targeted system, AESA radars, marine radars, booster vehicle engines,

Economics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economics - Case Study Example For example, selling Roundup explain Monsanto’s ability to develop GM herbicide-tolerant crops. A maturity of crops industry is a well-known fact and there is an evident growth of R&D costs, stricter legislation and more approval and support from the government. Moreover, the pricing policy of Monsanto can be explained by the company’s ability to develop Roundup in the post-patent period. Therefore, a fostering of GM products and success of Monsanto can be illustrated in the following way: Roundup is responsible for provision of plants with required herbicides and there is a growth of plants productivity providing a more favorable environment to the crops. As far as we can see, there is a clear strategy of Monsanto developed at different levels (social, economical and technical). Innovations in the company led to an evident increase of prices. Unfortunately, Monsanto did not have such kind of privileges in the earlier years. In 70s OPEC restricted nations in the amount of oil coming to America. Price per barrel of crude oil was very high. Due to the fact that Monsanto needed petroleum for the major part of its developments, and price increase could not be easily passed on to consumers. Monsanto got a trend of 90s and made an emphasis on clear environment. At that time it was a great advantage of the company. Moreover, Monsanto became a monopolist thanks to patent policies of America. Price reduction of Monsanto between 1995 and 2000 is the result of patent law in America, tolerant policy to companies developing eco programs and products. Therefore, price elasticity of Monsanto can be correlated with the best chosen pricing decision strategy: in case a price is low, more units of goods are sold; in case a price is high, fewer units of goods are sold. It is a well-developed mechanism of pricing strategy and Monsanto gained huge profits decreasing their prices for

Voting Age Essay Example for Free

Voting Age Essay Democracy is an egalitarian form of government in which all the citizens of a nation together determine public policy, the laws and the actions of their state, requiring that all citizens (meeting certain qualifications) have an equal opportunity to express their opinion. And that opinion is expressed by the simple act of voting which is one of the most important human rights . In lebanon , we get introduced to that concept at a young age in school when kids get to vote for their class president for instance, then we develop a better understand of its political aspect at university. During the 19th century , the most common age at which the citizens acquired the right to vote was 21 or higher . However , by the end of the 20th century the voting age has become 18 in almost all countries with the exception of Lebanon and a few others. Some people believe that Lebanon should lower its voting age from 21 to 18 and many proposals were made regarding that , but are 18 years old here mature enough to make such decisions? Does the Lebanese history allow them to vote independently despite their parents cival war grudges? And finally are we ready to disturb our sectarian balance with the deluge of new voters? In most western countries , when you reach adulthood you become on your own . You move out of your parents house , get a job to pay for your own education and move on from there . Whereas that’s not the case in Lebanon . Rare are the people that leave home at 18 here due to many traditional beliefs youth usually stay with their parents till their married. Thus we don’t learn responsibility at this young age like adults in other countries. It might be true that giving younger people voting rights will force politicians to take them seriously but its also very dangerous 18 year olds although in adult bodies, still have the mind of children that have to be protected . At 21 , their political views are likely to be more thoughtful than at 18 who are just going to copy their parents opinions or adopt silly ideas for the sake of rebellion such as voting for legalizing drugs .. In addition , Lebanon has suffered from a 16 –year civil war. Even though it ended 22 years a go we are still enduring its consequences til this day. So arguments and rules that apply to other countries cant be applied here. The Youth campaign and the Civil one that proposed the lowering of the voting age should reconsider the fact that youth here are very much influenced by their parents who  faught in the civil war and still hold family grudges against each other. They are not independent with their political thoughts , they seek vengeance for their parents instead of making conscious decisions based on knowledge and education after the university experience . Furthermore, university elections have clearly shown over the years that Lebanese youth are not ready or mature enough for this kind of responsibility with all the clashes that has been happening between youth that follow different political parties like the fight between supporters of the Future Movement and Haraket Amal at the Lebanese American University in November 2011 that led to many injuries or even different clashes at Notre Dame University, Lebanese university and others†¦ Last but not least , the main reason why the Lebanese Parliament has rejected the bill to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 is the fact that it led to a sharp division between Muslim and Christian politicians. Lebanon has 18 different sects, that function according to a sectarian law . it seems amending the voting age would add far more Muslims than Christians to voter rolls . Rabih Haber, president of the research company Statistics Lebanon, have done an approximate study and got his numbers from the Interior Ministry . It says that with the new voters, it would add nearly 175,000 Muslims and around 58,000 Christians to the roles with Shia Muslims being the sect with the most potential new voters. To change the voting age , lawmakers must amend the constitution which requires the support of two-thirds of both the cabinet and Parliament which will not happen because different Political Parties have different benefits and this law is only beneficial for Huzballah and Amal and disturbing the sectarian balance in a country like Lebanon can’t be healthy . In Conclusion , I think the perfect age for voting in Lebanon is 21 since at that age the youth have enough maturity and independence to make their own decisions without basing it on history feuds and parental brainwashing. Plus I don’t think Lebanon can afford an instability in its sectarian system just yet . Maybe if we were more politically stable , that change would have been possible but with these conditions I think giving 18 year olds the right to vote can be very dangerous and they might use it in foolish ways . References: http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=142180 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_age http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Nov-01/152795-student-supporters-of-hariri-berri-fight-at-beirut-university.ashx#axzz1qUe64XuF http://www.euromedp.org/testimonies/lebanon/

Approches To Decision Making Essay Example for Free

Approches To Decision Making Essay Decision making in the workplace is something that all managers are faced with at one time or another during their careers. Some decisions are minor and some are major, but what we have to keep in mind is the decisions we make can make or break a company. Being the one who is faced with making these types of decisions can make our job more stressful, but thankfully there are steps we can learn to take which is known as the decision making process. This process helps us identify the problem and look at alternatives to help us solve the problem. Once the problem is identified it is up to the manager to look at all areas of the situation and weigh out the pros and cons of the decisions you have come up with. Never jump at the first thought that comes to mind always look at the decision criteria. After reading over the scenarios provided I have decided to go with scenario 2 which provides information about a problem that has been brought to the nursing home administrators and the infectious control officer’s attention. According to the information that I have read the nursing home is experiencing high infection rates within its facility and these rates are increasing. If the nursing home keeps experiencing high rates of infection they can be fined and with this type of facility many more patients can become ill if nothing is done. So as you can see this is a situation that we have to give prompt attention to and find the best solution for before anyone else falls ill or the company has to close its doors. There are different approaches to decision making that we can explore, but we need to find the best approach for this certain scenario. After reviewing the different types of approaches the two I would choose are rationality and intuition. The reason for choosing thes e types of approaches are because this seems to best for this scenario. When using rationality this means the person will make logical and consistent choices that are best for everyone involved and anyone who holds a management position knows that by thinking  things thru rationally will give you the best choice of action to take. The reason for this is because you are weighing the pros and cons and thinking logically. The second approach I would take is relying upon intuition. I know some people think that it is almost impossible to make a decision upon someones intuition, but if you know the facts and know the situation you can usually go by your intuition. The reason is because you know the problem that exists and know there has to be steps made to correct this issue quickly. Making decisions as a group can be a great thing because everyone can give their input and you can toss around different ideas and suggestions. There is a downside to making group decisions because there are times certain people will not be open to suggestions because they want to be the only one who is right and this can take up time and cause conflict. References Chapter 3 foundations of decision making www.ebusinessmanagement.com ezinearticles.com

Communicating In Health And Social Care Organisations Social Work Essay

Communicating In Health And Social Care Organisations Social Work Essay INTRODUCTION Language in particular and communication in general, permeates every aspect of peoples lives. It is important in everything that a person does, in whatever profession an individual might be in. It fosters greater understanding as well the possibility of establishing better relationships between the parties which are communicating. This paper seeks to address the issue by the provision of the theories of communication which are applicable in health and social care, how to use effective communication skills in such a context, methods of dealing with inappropriate communication practices, strategies for effective communication, and the benefits and need to be engaged in effective and efficient communication practices, especially in the context of the said profession. The author will stipulate significant factors which are assumed to be highly influential in the process of communication include culture, values, legislations, and other regulations which govern the practice of the profession. The author will also provide suggestions on how the communication process can be improved so that it can be more useful in the field of health and social care. Furthermore, the author will discuss the standard software which are used by the health and social workers in their profession, an analysis of the benefits which were brought about by such applications, provide an analysis of how such technology enhances activities in the profession, and evaluate the legal considerations which are critical to be understood in the application of the information and communication technology. The author will further discuss the nature of the workplace where the author is working. The organization provides care services for clients with physical and mental disabilities and for clients with dementia. USE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN HEALTH CARE THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION Four theoretical approaches in the practice of health and social care will be highlighted in this section: psychodynamic, behaviourist, humanistic and cognitive. The main foundation of the psychodynamic theory to communication is grounded on the works of Sigmund Freud. This does not involve only a single theory but stems to a number of other theories which were all grounded on the foundations of the work of Freud. This theory combines those which are associated to psyche which includes not only the mind but the entire inner feelings, thoughts and experiences and dynamics which refer to the notion that psyche is not stable, rather active. According to this theory, communication with the individuals self is very critical as it is the foundation of that persons communication practices to others. One of the basic assumptions on this theory is that the individual is the author of his own history; therefore, the individuals earliest experiences form the foundations of how that person deals with others. Such can be modified along the process. Another basic assumption is that the individual lives in two worlds at the same time, internal and external. The internal world is unconscious while the external is controlled. The theory also assumes that all behaviour is logical and acted upon with purpose. These factors are highly influential with how the individual communicates in health and social care setting (Ellis et al., 2003). Another theory which can be noted is the behaviourist theory. The main foundation of this theory is the notion that all behaviour is largely based on learnt responses about specific stimuli. This can be able to explain the method of language acquisition such as that of the echoic response wherein the infant imitates the sound which is made by the health or social professional, who, on the other hand, reinforces the behaviour of the infant. This theory focuses on behaviour and highlights the present and the future (Ellis et al., 2003). The third theory which will be considered in this paper is the humanistic approach. Under this theory, the person is the highlight of interest rejecting the significance of behaviour and the unconscious impulses which result from the past. Two of the theories which are under this approach are the person-centred theory and the transactional analysis. The former highlights the importance of childhood and current experiences in life while the latter reiterates the significance of personality, child development, social psychology, and psychopathology (Sully Dallas, 2005). According to Carl Rogers (1902-1987), People are essentially trustworthy, that they have a vast potential for understanding themselves and resolving their own problems without direct intervention on the therapists part, and that they are capable of self-directed growth if they are involved in a specific kind of therapeutic relationship. In relation to health care context, the goal of this theory is to make the clients become more open in their own personal experience, to accept themselves in all aspect, and to minimize things that might challenge their concept of self. To achieve this, there must be a good relationship between the therapist and the client. The therapist must be realistic but not offensive, accepting but critical to the misconduct of the client. Trust between the therapist and the client is important so the client will not feel social distance scale. It is basically understanding and accepting the client as a whole being, not judging the clients impurities. The fourth is the social cognitive theory. According to Bandura (1986), individuals obtain more information through observational learning. At home, how a parent would nurture their child can be an environmental factor that influences the child the way he behaves. Learning starts from the home whereby a child imitates the people around him. Behaviour then is being shaped and as the child grows; his natural curiosity is reinforced by his motivation to learn. The social cognitive theory explains the interaction between the person and the environment which involves cognitive competencies such as achievement that are developed and modified by social influences and structures within the environment such as parents and society. USE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS There are many ways to communicate; it could be verbal, non-verbal, writing and listening. Verbal communication is used when giving information or doing trainings, on the telephone, hand over and when talking face to face with a client. For verbal communication, there are things to consider like the tone of voice, pitch and talk on the same level, never talk with your back on your client. Non-verbal communication is used for clients who have difficulty hearing, deaf and mute. Factors to bear in mind are facial expression, hand gestures, physical appearance and body posture. Aids that might help communication are the use of symbols, picture cards and communication board or writing pad. The art of good listening is practiced by letting the clients talk in their own pace and giving them time to express themselves. Transmission of information becomes effective by getting the message across clearly and reflects on how the message was conveyed. The benefits of effective and efficient communication skills in the practice of health and social care can be highlighted by how it is used in the profession. One of the uses of communication in this field is to foster the growth and development of the practice. It must be noted that communication does not only exist between the health professional and the client. It is also evident between health professionals themselves. Communication can be used in this field to be assured that innovative ideas, trends, and best practices are shared amongst the healthcare professionals and social workers for the betterment of their profession (Santy Smith, 2007). Communication can also be used in the context of health and social care to be able to promote an advocacy. This kind of communication is often utilized in mediums like advertisements on print and other channels. The use of media for health promotion campaigns is very convincing that people understand healthy living and what is best for them. Lastly, it has also been noted that communication can be used in the health and social care setting to be able to foster partnership with clients or patients, treat them with respect, provide patients with self-esteem, provision of practical help and advice regarding their condition, stimulate their intellectual development, improve the clients sense of self-being or self-worth, satisfy the physical, emotional, and social needs of the patients and to be responsive of their needs (Haworth Forshaw, 2002). DEALING WITH INAPPROPRIATE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION To be able to reap the benefits of a good communication practice, health and social workers must be able to properly deal with any inappropriate communication practices. For instance, any barrier to communication should be resolved as such can result into misunderstanding in the professional practice. An example of a factor which can be a hindrance to good communication practice would be culture and language itself. Professionals in the field of health and social care should see to it that both parties understand each other, especially when decision making is involved. The use of jargons should be limited as it can lead into inappropriate communication leading into misunderstanding. Another factor which can be considered as an inappropriate practice in communication in the context of health and social care is privacy. Patients are private individuals, their records should therefore be held with confidentiality and there should be no presence of breach of contract as well between prac titioners or professionals. Health and social workers have the inherent duty to not disclose any information without the knowledge of all the parties which are concerned. The lack of trust of the patient to the medical worker can also be a barrier to effective communication. Lastly, the lack of knowledge can also serve as another barrier to communication (King Wheeler, 2007). STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT USERS To be able to be potentially engaged in efficient and effective communication practices, as a carer VARIOUS FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE COMMUNICATION PROCESS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE VALUES AND CULTURE Two of the factors which are assumed to be highly influential in the communication process, specifically in the field of health and social care, are values and culture. These may include factors which are related in demographics such as age, gender, race, educational and economic status, and also beliefs, among others. Culture, which can be defined as the identifiable integrated pattern of human behaviour that includes customs, beliefs, values, behaviours, and communications (Servellen, 1997), is said to be highly influential in this field basically because they arise from almost every group that are involved in the communication process. In tackling the issue of culture and its influence in the communication process, one of the factors which should be understood are the sub-groups, for instance, Asian. Among the Asian cultures, people from different countries have various approaches to communicating. For instance, in the Vietnamese culture, talking is customary. Professionals who ar e working with people who are accustomed to the Vietnamese culture must be able to take such cultural factor into account so that the communication process can be carried out more efficiently and more conveniently. Another factor which should be understood on this note is cultural identity. One of the inclusions in this identity is the fact that all people are influenced by cultural programming which makes it essential to have an understanding of that culture so that communication can be carried out better (Servellen, 1997). As mentioned earlier, one of the dimensions of culture and values which influence the communication process is gender. Men and women are naturally equipped with differences and such can be reflected in the way they engage themselves into the process of communication. Having different communication styles base on gender, interpretation may also vary in both sexes. Health and social workers should be aware of these differences so that they will be sensitive on how to deal with each patient or client. One of the key to understand these differences is to be an active listener so that the professional can be able to better understand the patient. The same is true with age and ethnicity. Communication with elderly should be done on a different approach wherein the health or social worker should demonstrate more respect. A different approach is also given when communicating with the younger ones. Furthermore, each nationality also has different approaches to communication. Some verbal and n on-verbal communication techniques might be appropriate for other cultures while it may prove to be rude for some. These should be understood clearly so that there will be no misinterpretation and confusion with regards to the transmission of the message (Basavanthappa, 2004). LEGISLATION, CHARTERS, AND CODES OF PRACTICE Despite the fact that communication in the field of health and social care is highly influenced by culture and values, it has also influenced the existence and stipulations which are provided by legislations, charters, and codes of practice. The institution is often left with no option but to follow such stipulations as it is a legal requirement in the context of their practice. One of the most important factors by which legislations and charters influence communication techniques can be demonstrated by the fact that such allows the provision of equality. The existing laws which govern the practice of health and social care are based on the principle of equality which does not allow discrimination of any party, be it a patient or a health or social worker. For instance, legislations such as those which provide fair employment, sex discrimination acts, race relations, and others are some of the laws which demonstrate and influence in professional practice. These laws serve as the foundation of the behaviour of the healthcare professional and form the basis of how they act and how they communicate. The serious consequences of going against such legislations will be undeniably a critical factor in the observance of a good communication practice (Cambridge Training Development, 2000). The Data Protection Act 1984 is a good example which demonstrates legislations in good communication practice in the field of health and social care. This can be able to provide protection to information which are assumed confidential and should be used solely for the purposes known by the persons involved. Service users could possibly demonstrate loss of trust from the service providers if confidential information are leaked making it important for laws to provide protection for such. Certain legislations are also made available to provide equality and anti-discrimination in the workplace. These factors are highly influential in shaping the communication practice and activities of people in health and social care (Moonie, 2005). Furthermore, the stipulations in the code of practice and ethics in a certain institution are also highly influential in communication practices especially in consideration of the fact that they can affect confidentiality and privacy of information. For instance, the use and access to the internet for health and social workers are often limited and defined by codes of conduct, depending upon the institution, to be assured of good communication practices and work ethics. The use of other technological aids can also be regulated by existing rules and regulations to be able to protect the rights of the institution, the workers, the patients, and the public in general (Martin, 2003). ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS AND POLICIES For all concerned parties to be engaged in effective and efficient communication practices, one factor which can be considered as essential would be effective organizational systems and policies. These systems and policies will be able to shape the communication activities and will make it more appropriate and meaningful. Health and social care institutions need to develop systems and policies which can foster good communication. This can include factors which are related to documentation, information systems, establishment of procedures and practices. For instance, the development of a dynamic and advanced information system can demonstrate effectiveness and efficiencies in the various activities which are undertaken. In the absence of such systems, it will be highly impossible to transmit and share information which might prove to be significant in the profession. For instance, at Ashleigh Court Rest Home, policies are strictly implemented. Stated below are some of the policies tha t the home adheres with: Whistle Blowing Policy this document has been written to comply with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, which was introduced to protect employees who blow the whistle about any wrongdoing. The policy gives clear guidance to all members of staff regarding the correct procedure for bringing to attention any wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing which they feel could affect the reputation of the home, other members of staff, visitors, residents or any other organization or persons connected with the home. The policy outlines commitment to openness and good communications. Bullying In The Workplace The home believes that all staff have the right to work in an environment that is free from bullying, harassment or intimidation, from either colleagues or management. The home seeks to enable staff to enjoy their work and fulfil their personal and professional potential, by creating and sustaining a stimulating and supportive work environment. It is recognised that staff who feel powerless, vulnerable or even persecuted will not be able to give of their best work or work successfully. Prevention of Accidents The home fully accepts the responsibility to ensure that all reasonable steps and precautions are taken to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, which comply with all statutory requirements and codes of practice. The home fully supports and complies with the relevant National Minimum Standards and Regulations, which relate to the promotion and protection of the health, safety and welfare of service users and staff. It is recognised, however, that even in the safest of working environments, accidents will occur, from time to time. Where and when this does happen, the Registered Providers (employers) will abide by the requirements of The Health and Safety at work Act 1974. As such, employers must, by law, notify certain categories of accidents, specified cases of ill health and specified dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive or the Local Authority to comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). By undertaking these notifications, the home will not only be meeting the legal requirements but will be able to determine local patters and causes of accidents, so that preventive measures can be put in place to prevent recurrence. A written record such as Accident/Incident Report will be kept, of any accident, however minor, which occurs in the home. Policy on Racial Harassment Every Service User has the right to live and every staff member has the right to work in the home without the threat of racial harassment, discrimination or abuse. Any occurrences of this nature will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be subject to disciplinary procedures. The home fully upholds the principles and guidance of the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Racial harassment is any behaviour, deliberate or otherwise, pertaining to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, which is unwanted by the recipient and creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. It may include racist jokes or insults, abusive comments about racial origins and skin colour and ridicule of an individual on cultural and/or religious grounds. IMPROVING COMMUNICATION PROCESS Health and social workers must be perpetually engaged in the improvement and development of the communication process to be better in their profession. One of the ways by which such can be improved is through the provision of security of information. In this way, privacy and confidentiality can be achieved and it can to help prevent any misunderstanding and confusion in the communication process. Furthermore, the communication process can also be improved through the provision of dynamic and sustainable rules which relate to documentation, presentation, and use of outputs and reports so that their purpose can be maximized by its users and providers. The provision of technological aids and communication tools can also help improve such process. Furthermore, the following are other ways by which communication can be improved in the health and social care setting: provide communication access to persons with difficulties; be aware of the various communication barriers and develop strate gies by which they can be minimized or reduced at an acceptable level; teach workers about ethics and values related to communication practices; and rigorous training and education to enhance workers knowledge about effective and efficient communication. There is a need to make service providers understand what are the processes and activities involved in the complex communication process and the need to teach them to be active listeners. By doing the earlier mentioned, the health and social care workers can have an improved communication process and it can foster greater understanding and build better relationships between providers and users (Malone, 2005). EXPLORING THE USE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE STANDARD I.T. SOFTWARE The activities in the provision of health and social service would not be possible to carry in the absence of various I.T software and applications. Some of these include: word-processing, spreadsheets, presentations, internet, intranet, and email. These tools are assumed to have critical significance in the profession as it helps in the completion of day-to-day activities in the organization. Word processing is important because it allows the creation, editing, reading, and amendment of various documents which might prove to be vital with health and social care work. If these documents are handwritten, there is no form of standardization and it will be hard to understand as well as too slow to accomplish. Therefore, word processing is considered as one of the most significant I.T. software package as it allows ease in work and reduces the intensity of labour in the creation of documents. Spreadsheet, on the other hand, allows them to do mathematical calculations with ease as it has formulas which can make their works easier while presentations allow them to prepare and present visual presentations in order to communicate better. The internet and intranet is also a good tool as it allows connectivity between the network of users within the organization and through the globe using the internet. Lastly, emailing would allow them to exchange information within each other and share documents in the workplace (Cook, 2006). One of the most advanced application of information and communication technology in the field of health and social care is through telecare which is a business-to-consumer service provision without personal interaction as it just completed on channels such as telephones and computers. This includes services which are related to health and social care such as automated appointment reminders and client monitoring services at home. Traditionally, these things are done by trained professionals at the clients home until the inception of technology which defies distance and allows greater interaction between the users and providers (Niman et al., 2006). BENEFITS OF USING ICT The use of information and communication technology would have not proliferated in the field of health and social care if it did not bring numerous benefits and advantages to the organization, users, providers, and the general public. One of the benefits is the accuracy of records. Because of the use of the various applications of information and communication technology, it will be easier to have readily available information about the condition of the client and it will be easier for the staff to provide an answer to the concerns of the patients. The health professionals are also able to enjoy the benefits of information and communication technology because such allows them to have safe, modern, and speedy IT systems which can help them in their routine, it allows them to utilize time more efficiently, and it allows the possibility of remote monitoring (Gillies, 2006). Information and communication technology is also beneficial in the field of health and social care because it allows the possibility of meeting individual needs, it provides ease in the administration of treatment procedures, it makes the administrative practices more efficient, records and documentation can be more accurate, it fosters better communication, and it promotes independence. Information and communication technology also provides collaboration among users and providers which inevitably leads into more efficient service delivery (Leathard, 2003). ENHANCING ACTIVITIES OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE WORKERS Information and communication technology demonstrates the possibility of enhancing the activities by which health and social care workers are engaged. This is assumed to be done through the following ways: efficiency in business administration, meeting the needs of the employees, improving the quality of service, accountability, and meeting what is required from them. Because of information and communication technology, the field of health and social work is able to experience increased efficiency. The use of various tools associated to such form of technology has allowed them to be engaged into better practices in their profession. For instance, the internet and the intranet, along with the methods by which documentation has improved, are all seen as highly contributory to the improvement of business administration. Service has also seen a dramatic improvement because of the applications of the said technology. Because of such, it is easier to access records and information, althoug h such has also been limited by existing legislations to protect privacy and to promote confidentiality. LEGISLATIONS To be assured that the use of information and communication technology is maximized and not detrimental to the society, certain legislations, both internal and external to the company also exist to govern information and communication practices in the field of health and social care. The Data Protection Act provides restrictions and limitations on the use and access of personal information, especially those of the clients or the patients. Some of this information includes personal information, medical records, treatment history, and credit information. Record keeping is very important and should not be underestimated. Disclosing of information is tantamount to breach of confidentiality. Furthermore, another legislation which is assumed to be significant in the use of information and communication technology is the Access to Personal Files Act 1987 which stipulates general considerations with regards to access to personal information, specifically those data which relate to social services. In addition to these legislations, Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 has also been provided to give right to access into medical reports for the purpose of employment or for insurance. The client, under this legislation, is also endowed with the right to see the information before it is supplied and can also be subject for correction. Lastly, another important legislation is the Access to Health Records Act 1990 which is more concerned about records which could be accessed manually. It gives the client or any other representative the right of access to medical records, in whatever form, electronic or manual (Jones Jenkins, 2004). Moreover, to keep information within the limits o f the workplace, bringing of storage devices are also limited so as the providers cannot transfer any information about the service users which can be leaked and used for purposes which are not under the consent of the parties concerned (Moss, 2008). RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Technology has brought a number of benefits realized in the health and social care sector such as meeting the individual needs, ease of administration of procedures, making efficient administrative practices, accurate documentation, and fostering a more dynamic communication practice. Information and communication technology also enhances activities of health and social worker such as by improving efficiency of service, accountability, and quality of outputs. To be able to engage in a more meaningful communication practice, there is a need to be aware and to understand the existing differences in culture and values because they will be able to foster better relationships. There is a need for continuous improvement process in communication by being able to identify ways by which such could be improved. The health and social care sector needs to identify, without a halt, ways by which communication can be improved, so that the profession, in general, can also be improved.

Odysseus as a Leader Essay -- essays research papers

The owner of a show horse has many tasks to keep her horse fit and beautiful. She must spend time cleaning, stroking, and combing his hair to keep its gleaming shine. She must make good choices time after time for her horse, allowing him to be in his best condition. She must also train with him day after day and spend hours after hours with her baby, giving him her unconditional love. Like the dedicated owner to her horse, Odysseus shows wonderful leadership skills towards his men with his wily intelligence, warm compassion, and vast bravery. One of Odysseus’ best traits as a leader was his brilliant mind. Without his continuous wits, Odysseus would have never gotten his crew as far as he did. A great example of this creativity is when Odysseus and his men were trapped in the Cyclops’ (Polyphemus) cave. It was Odysseus who came up with blinding the drunken monster with a sharpened log and it was he who tricked the great Cyclops with his â€Å"Nohbdy† scheme: â€Å"My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends/everyone calls me Nohbdy† (827-828), sang Odysseus to the intoxicated Cyclops. The dazzling intelligence of Odysseus also helped him and his men escape from the evil Polyphemus to safer grounds. He said, â€Å"I drew on all my wits, and ran through tactics, reasoning as a man will for dear life, until a trick came – and it pleased me well. The Cyclops’ rams were handsome, fat, with heavy fleeces, a dark violet† (887-891). With this, Odysseus tied three rams together and â€Å"slung a ma...

foolear The Fools in William Shakespeares King Lear :: King Lear essays

The Fools in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare's play King Lear tells the tale of the main character who divides his kingdom between his older daughters, Goeneril and Regan, and disinherits his youngest daughter, Cordelia. The action leads to civil strife, his insanity, and his ultimate death. King Lear can be viewed as a great illustration about the struggle between good and evil. Perhaps better than any of Shakespeare's other tragedies, King Lear displays the concept of evil most strongly.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is believed that King Lear is an expansion of a British legend. The legend is as follows: Lear, King of Britain decided in his old age to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their expressions of love for him. His two eldest daughters overwhelmed their father with expressions of love, but the youngest told her father that she loved her father as a daughter should. Enraged at his youngest daughter's reply, Lear drove her into exile and divided the kingdom between his two eldest daughters. However, his two eldest daughters infuriated him with their cruel treatment thereafter. Hence, the king went in search of his youngest daughter. His youngest daughter had married the king of France while she was gone. His youngest daughter returned with him two Britain and helped him to regain hi throne.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeare utilized this British legend to create what is arguably one of the greatest tragedies of all time. Shakespeare took this British legend and conceptualized it to fit his audience. Shakespeare added the character of the Fool as a tool in better understanding Lear. The Fool exists as a metaphorical device in the King's path to better understanding himself. The Fool's bitter jests ultimately show King Lear the folly of his action. King Lear's madness and the Fool's wit and insight illustrate the theme of the play. The theme being man's inhumanity to man in the form of ingratitude.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeare gives the most unlikely character, The Fool, the greatest amount of wisdom and insight. This device works well because The Fool is a peripheral character, as such, he acts as a sought of narrator pointing out the foolishness and folly going on around him. Shakespeare uses The Fool to be a commentator on the action of the play as well as a character in the play.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeare uses The Fool to provide comic relief through the play as well. The Fool's role as entertainment for the king allows him to influence the king. It is believed that in the tradition of Elizabethan tragedy that the fool acts as the instructor to the king.

Black Death :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the later part of the middle ages, an epidemic was unleashed upon society. Killing almost half of the population, the black death not only changed, or ended the lives of everybody in its path, it also left a dark cloud lingering over humanity for decades after. At a time when the population of Europe was at an all time high, food was scarce. The people of Europe were not prepared to fight this terrifying new disease that couldn’t even begin to understand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This catastrophe did more then kill, it changed the structure of life in the middle ages, both the church and state were effected. Surprisingly the public officials treated this as a disease, not as the wrath of a vengeful god on a society of sinners. Although for the people who were dying, or who were seeing their families and neighbors killed, their judgment day had arrived. It would be difficult to keep your faith at a time of great tragedy, if god wasn’t doing this to them, then why was he letting it happen? Religion usually stabilizes a society and brings the people together, but in this case, the faith of the people was among the list of casualties. God had always served as a beacon of hope in uncertain times, and made the people feel safe and cared after. But at a time when entire families and towns are being wiped out, rich and poor alike, faith in god was dieing as fast as the people were.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When kings and nobles started to perish at the hands of this monster, it really painted a dark picture for the rest of society, it proved that nobody was safe. The rich already had more food and better health to start with, which made them somewhat more resistant to the plague, but in the end even they could not escape death. The cities were abandoned rapidly by those who could leave. No amount of power or wealth could save them from their grim fates. When priests and popes began dying, faith was no longer enough.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The plague was accompanied by chaos and panic. People could not understand for what   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 2 they were being punished. Most took precautions and hoped for the best. Some accepted that there was nothing they could do about it and felt that they had to live like everyday was their last.

Ethical behavior Essay

Hypothesis: Practicing Ethical behavior improves business operations Abstract This paper discusses about how observing ethical behavior in the workplace develops or improves business operations. It delves into the workplace culture and introduces the positive and negative ethical practices that affect its processes. It also points out the research gathered about the codes of conduct and behavioral standards that contribute and further advance the company’s undertaking. Ethical behaviour goes beyond the legal requirements placed on a business; it is also concerned with discretionary decision-making and conduct. Ethical behaviour is an important function in integrating business and society, by promoting the legitimacy of business operations, through critical reflection of employee behavior. In this paper, varied researches can be found with the goal of deepening the reader’s understanding of ethical behavior and its role in promoting and improving operations in businesses. I.Ethical Behavior A.Introduction One of the tough and complex problems that business organizations are facing is managing ethical behavior. Ethical behavior in the workplace is a standard of conduct expected of or adopted by a business. It involves characterizing moral principles including honesty, fairness, interpersonal equality, dignity, diversity, and individual rights. B.Importance Ethical behavior helps maintain quality and productivity in the business. What is ethical is legal and with it, it assists the organization to comply with laws and regulations. It has the ability to attract investor and customers and ensures good and proper relationships with them. Also it  promotes teamwork within the organization whereby employees can work together more effectively and efficiently. Similarly, with people practicing ethical behavior in the workplace encourages making decisions in an ethical way. Conducting the business complying ethical behavior brings more benefits to the company’s improvement and the basis for long-term success in most businesses. II. Ethical Workplace Culture Ethics in work place are cultures that a company imposes to make each professional more productive and cooperative. This makes each professional more responsible and hardworking to their duties. Complying with ethics in the workplace makes the company successful and knowledgeable in their field of business. A.Positive workplace behavior ethics -According to Don Rafner, Demand Media (2014), your employees face ethical dilemmas every day in the workplace. They might be tempted to leave work early, take credit for the work of others or lie to a potential client to get him to sign the insurance policy, order the service or purchase the product that they are selling. The key to fostering strong business ethics at your company is to create an ethics policy that clearly spells out what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. EXAMPLES Cheating the Company A solid ethics policy should clearly outline the procedure employees should follow if they need to take time off, leave early or start late. If you don’t spell out these procedures, employees might be tempted to handle these matters on their own. They might claim to be meeting a client at the end of the workday when instead they are leaving early to catch a ballgame on TV. They might claim to be at a workshop for the first half of the day when instead they are sneaking in some extra sleep. Make sure your ethics policy contains a provision telling your employees how they can request time off even for personal matters. Open communication is a far better alternative than the sneaking around required when employees try to cloak the reasons for their late starts or absences. Working with Clients Your ethics policy also should make it clear that your workers must treat clients and customers fairly and honestly. This means prohibiting employees from lying to potential clients or providing them with misleading information. Employees shouldn’t hide the true price of a service, policy or product in an effort to trick customers into signing up. They also shouldn’t promise more than their service or product can deliver. Employees should never bully or harass potential clients. Your ethics policy should state how often your workers can contact potential customers, at what times of the day and what exactly they can and cannot say during their conversations. Ethics in our workplace makes professional the best and this benefits both the employer and the employee. B.Possible negative ethics -Not all ethics in workplace is good, sometimes it can harm you. EXAMPLE You have discovered that your workmate is starting up business the same to your company and started to get costumers from your company so you decided to tell your president regarding what your officemate is doing after your officemate was caught he threaten you that he will do something not good to you. You have disregarded what he has said, after one month your daughter was kidnap. Realizing that your office really did what he has said. III. Ethical Principles President Theodore Roosevelt once said that, â€Å"To educate the mind without the morals is to educate a menace to the society.† Ambition, competitiveness, and innovation are essential factors that lead to business success but these must be controlled by core ethical principles. According to Josephson (2013), ethical principles are universal standards of right and wrong prescribing the kind of behavior an ethical company or person should and should not engage. These principles provide a guide to making decisions but they also establish the criteria by which your decisions will be judged by others. A.Code of Conduct Definition As stated by Vitez (2014), codes of conduct usually describe the required behaviors, responsibilities, actions or attitudes employees should have in  an organization. This conduct policy ensures all individuals are on the same page and have a clear understanding of the business’ mission statement and values. Functions and Features Businesses may include basic employee working guidelines in their code of conduct policy. These guidelines can include dress standards, avoidance of drug or alcohol use, arriving promptly to work on time and keeping the employee’s workplace neat and clean. Companies use these policies to develop and promote a safe and courteous work environment. A code of conduct can also be created to govern the owners and managers of large and small businesses. Business owners and managers are often held to a higher standard because they have more power in the organization. Considerations Implementing ethical values into a code of conduct can help companies strengthen these policies. Ethical values include self-discipline, honesty, integrity, fidelity and charity. Companies use ethical values to promote their conduct policies as individuals may have different personal ethical values. Creating a standard ethical system helps companies promote the values they see most important in business. Business ethics commonly fall in line with the business owner’s view of ethical standards. B.Behavioral Standards As described by Abraham Lincoln, character is a tree and reputation is a shadow. Your character is what you really are; your reputation is what people think of you. Hence, reputation is purely a function of perception while character is determined by ones actions. The following are the 12 ethical principles enumerated by Josephson (2013): 1. HONESTY. Be honest in all communications and actions. Ethical executives are, above all, worthy of trust and honesty is the cornerstone of trust. Ethical executives do not deliberately mislead or deceive others. 2. INTEGRITY. Maintain personal integrity. Ethical executives earn the trust of others through personal integrity. Integrity refers to a wholeness of character demonstrated by consistency between thoughts, words and actions. 3. PROMISE-KEEPING. Keep promises and fulfill commitments. Ethical executives can be trusted because they make every reasonable effort to fulfill the letter and spirit of their  promises and commitments. 4. LOYALTY. Be loyal within the framework of other ethical principles. Ethical executives justify trust by being loyal to their organization and the people they work with. Ethical executives place a high value on protecting and advancing the lawful and legitimate interests of their companies and their colleagues. 5. FAIRNESS. Strive to be fair and just in all dealings. Ethical executives are fundamentally committed to fairness. They manifest a commitment to justice, the equal treatment of individuals, tolerance for and acceptance of diversity. 6. CARING. Demonstrate compassion and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. Ethical executives are caring, compassionate, benevolent and kind. They seek to accomplish their business objectives in a manner that causes the least harm and the greatest positive good. 7. RESPECT FOR OTHERS. Treat everyone with respect. Ethical executives demonstrate respect for the human dignity, autonomy, privacy, rights, and interests of all those who have a stake in their decisions; they are courteous and treat all people with equal respect and dignity regardless of sex, race or national origin. 8. LAW ABIDING. Obey the law. Ethical executives abide by laws, rules and regulations relating to their business activities. 9. COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. Pursue excellence all the time in all things. Ethical executives pursue excellence in performing their duties, are well-informed and prepared, and constantly endeavor to increase their proficiency in all areas of responsibility. 10. LEADERSHIP. Exemplify honor and ethics. Ethical executives are conscious of the responsibilities and opportunities of their position of leadership and seek to be positive ethical role models by their own conduct and by helping to create an environment in which principled reasoning and ethical decision making are highly prized. 11. REPUTATION AND MORALE. Build and protect and build the company’s good reputation and the morale of its employees. Ethical executives understand the importance of their own and their company’s reputation as well as the importance of the pride and good morale of employees. 12. ACCOUNTABILITY. Be accountable. Ethical executives acknowledge and accept personal accountability for the ethical quality of their decisions and omissions to themselves, their colleagues, their companies, and their communities. V. EFFECTS OF PRACTICING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR A. Advantages A.1 Employees †¢Positive Work Environment – Ethical employees are perceived as team players rather than as individuals just out for themselves. They develop positive relationships with co-workers. Their supervisors trust them with confidential information and they are often given more autonomy as a result. Employees who are caught in lies by their supervisors damage their chances of advancement within the organization and may risk being fired. An extreme case of poor ethics is employee theft. In some industries, this can cost the business a significant amount of money, such as restaurants whose employees steal food from the storage locker or freezer.†(Brian Hill) A.2 Business †¢Build customer loyalty – â€Å"Having a loyal customer base is one of the keys to long-range business success because serving an existing customer doesn’t involve marketing cost, as does acquiring a new one. A company’s reputation for ethical behaviour can help it create a more positive image in the marketplace, which can bring in new customers through word-of-mouth referrals.†(Brian Hill) †¢Retain Good Employees – Talented individuals at all levels of an organization want to be compensated fairly for their work and dedication. They want career advancement within the organization to be based on the quality of the work they do and not on favouritism. They want to be part of a company whose management team tells them the truth about what is going on, such as when layoffs or reorganizations are being contemplated. Companies who are fair and open in their dealings with employees have a better chance of retaining the most talented people.†(Brian Hill) †¢Avoid Legal Problems – At times, a company’s management may be tempted to cut corners in pursuit of profit, such as not fully complying with environmental regulations or labour laws, ignoring worker safety hazards or using substandard materials in their products. The penalties for being caught can be severe, including  legal fees and fines or sanctions by governmental agencies. The resulting negative publicity can cause long-range damage to the company’s reputation that is even more costly than the legal fees or fines. Companies that maintain the highest ethical standards take the time to train every member of the organization about the conduct that is expected of them (Brian Hill). †¢High Employee Performance – A lack of ethics has a negative effect on employee performance. In some cases, employees are so concerned with getting ahead and making money that they ignore procedures and protocol. This can lead to additional paperwork and careless errors that result in the task having to be completed again. Additionally, employees who feel acting ethically and following the rules will not get them ahead in the business sometimes feel a lack of motivation, which often leads to a decrease in performance (Stacy Zeiger). †¢Company Credibility – If a lack of ethics in a business becomes public knowledge, that business loses credibility. While some businesses survive public knowledge of a lack of ethics through reimaging and advertising campaigns, many lose a key customer base. Even if a business recovers from news about its lack of ethics, it takes a lot of time and money to restore its image and consumer confidence (Stacy Zeiger). †¢Competitive Advantage – Business ethics offer companies a competitive advantage. Consumers learn to trust ethical brands and remain loyal to them, even during difficult periods. The company followed its credo, a set of ethical organizational values, and the result was a boost in consumer confidence, despite the contamination scare. Society benefits from business ethics because ethical companies recognize their social responsibilities (Lynne MacDonald). †¢Asset Protection – A strong ethical culture within your business is important in safeguarding your assets. Employees who abide by your workplace ethics would be able to protect and respect your business’s assets. For example, they would avoid making personal long distance calls using the business’s lines.  Workers can only respect company property when you treat them with respect and dignity, which makes them feel proud to be working for your business. Ensure that your workers perform in an environment with integrity and strong ethics. It increases employee pride and discourages them from stealing supplies or equipment (Alejandro Russell). †¢Productivity and Teamwork – Workplace ethics is integral in fostering increased productivity and teamwork among your employees. It helps in aligning the values of your business with those of your workers. Achieving this alignment requires that you encourage consistent dialogue regarding the values of your business, which enhances community, integrity and openness among employees. Ethics enable your workers to feel a strong alignment between their values and those of your business. They show such feelings through increased productivity and motivation (Alejandro Russell) . †¢Public Image – You earn a lot of respect and cultivate a strong image in the public domain when you make ethical choices. For instance, you can fulfill your corporate social responsibility by reducing waste discharge from your business. The public would consider your business to be operating with honor and integrity while valuing people over profits. Building a strong public image through ethical conduct also earns you more clients. Customers would develop trust in you and do business with your organization (Alejandro Russell). †¢Decision-Making – Ethical conduct in the workplace encourages a culture of making decisions based on ethics. It also enhances accountability and transparency when undertaking any business decisions. During turbulent times, a strong ethical culture guides you in managing such conflicts by making the right moves. It can help you to introduce change successfully in your organization, which can be a challenge. Ethical conduct within the business sensitizes you and your staff on how to act consistently even in difficult times (Alejandro Russell). B. Disadvantages B.1 Employees †¢Inequality – Codes of conduct are often drafted, in part, to ensure that all members of an organization are treated equally. However, often those in upper-level management and creative positions are given a â€Å"bye† on certain codes, like those restricting how the worker talks about the company or to what degree employees are allowed to have personal relationships outside of work. According to CNN Money contributor Eleanor Bloxham, if companies are going to have codes of conduct they should reconsider any code that cannot be applied equally (Miranda Morley). †¢Unethical Corporate Behavior – In some cases, codes of conduct may facilitate unethical corporate behavior. Codes of conduct that limit employees’ ability to speak out against the corporation can keep them quiet for fear of job loss or legal retribution even if the company is engaging in an unethical practice. Further, codes of conduct can be used to set ethical-looking rules that managers are instructed not to follow so if any misconduct occurs it is the individual employee, not the corporation that will be blamed (Miranda Morley). B.2 Business †¢Lack of Management Support – One of the disadvantages of an ethical compliance program is that it requires the comprehensive support of management to be effective. If members of the management team decide to apply their own version of corporate ethics to the way they manage their departments, then this clash of principles can cause confusion in the workplace. For example, a manager who tends to look the other way when his employees are committing sexual harassment sets a precedent that can start to undermine the entire corporate culture.( George N. Root III) http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-ethical-compliance-organization-20548.html †¢Costly – Developing, implementing and maintaining an ethics compliance program within your organization can be expensive and time-consuming, according to attorney Michael G. Daigneault, writing for the Maryland Association of CPAs. Ethics policies need to be continually updated to reflect changes in  workplace laws and changes in your company culture as the organization grows. Proper administration of an ethics program often requires the hiring of an ethics officer and the commitment of company financial and personnel resources.( George N. Root III) http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-ethical-compliance-organization-20548.html †¢Reduce Company’s Freedom – Business ethics reduce a company’s freedom to maximize its profit. For example, a multinational company may move its manufacturing facility to a developing country to reduce costs. Practices acceptable in that country, such as child labor, poor health and safety, poverty-level wages and coerced employment, will not be tolerated by an ethical company. Improvements in working conditions, such as a living wage and minimum health and safety standards, reduce the level of cost-savings that the company generates. However, it could be argued that the restrictions on company freedom benefit wider society.( Lynne MacDonald) VI. CONCLUSION Within the business world, ethical decisions are made each day that have an impact across all organizations. Conducting yourself ethically as a business owner and encouraging your employees to engage in ethical business conduct brings about several benefits for your company. Business ethics tend to be overlooked by entrepreneurs as they have other priorities such as ideas for the business, marketing strategies, and financial matters. However, business ethics have a more powerful influence on the existence and improvement of business operations than most people think. It can create a positive image of a business, to mention one of the many, which can greatly contribute to the improvement of the business operations that can lead to its growth and boost in sales. Alongside with the advantages of practicing ethical behavior are disadvantages. Essentially, if you don’t practice ethical behavior in your business then you are in a position with more freedom than if you do, thus, reducing a company’s freedom to maximize its profit. Practicing ethical behavior improves business operations despite it having disadvantages as it brings about more benefits to your business than not performing ethical business conduct. Besides the moral, social, personal and cultural imperatives to tell the truth, it’s increasingly evident that ethical practices protect and even boos the bottom line (Johnson, 2008). Customers will patronize your business not because you are on the number one spot among your competitors but because you give value as to how you claimed that spot.

Religious beliefs Essay

In What Pragmatism Means, James writes that the central point of his own doctrine of truth is, in brief, that â€Å"truth is one species of good, and not, as is usually supposed, a category distinct from good, and coordinate with it. Truth is the name of whatever proves itself to be good in the way of belief, and good, too, for definite, assignable reasons. † Richard Rorty claims that James did not mean to give a theory of truth with this statement, and that we should not regard it as such; though other pragmatism scholars such as Susan Haak and Howard Mounce do not share an instrumentalist interpretation of James. Bruce Kuklick, (Kuklick, tells us that, â€Å"James went on to apply the pragmatic method to the epistemological problem of truth. He would seek the meaning of ‘true’ by examining how the idea functioned in our lives. A belief was true, he said, if in the long run it worked for all of us, and guided us expeditiously through our semi-hospitable world. James was anxious to uncover what true beliefs amounted to in human life, what their â€Å"Cash Value† was, what consequences they led to. A belief was not a mental entity which somehow mysteriously corresponded to an external reality if the belief were true. Beliefs were ways of acting with reference to a precarious environment, and to say they were true was to say they guided us satisfactorily in this environment. † In this sense the pragmatic theory of truth applied Darwinian ideas in philosophy; it made survival the test of intellectual as well as biological fitness. If what was true was what worked, we can scientifically investigate religion’s claim to truth in the same manner. The enduring quality of religious beliefs throughout recorded history and in all cultures gave indirect support for the view that such beliefs worked. James also argued directly that such beliefs were satisfying—they enabled us to lead fuller, richer lives and were more viable than their alternatives. Religious beliefs were expedient in human existence, just as scientific beliefs were. † William James gave a further direction to pragmatism, developing it as a theory of truth. True ideas, according to James, are useful â€Å"leadings†; they lead through experience in ways that provide consistency, orderliness, and predictability. John Dewey was another leading pragmatist whose influence on educational and social theory is still prevalent in American society. We learn from (American Pragmatism I), that â€Å"James elaborated his theory of pragmatism in works such as Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking (1907) and The Meaning of Truth: A Sequel to Pragmatism (1909). He considered pragmatism to be both a method for analyzing philosophic problems and a theory of truth. He also saw it as an extension of the empiricist attitude in that it turned away from abstract theory and fixed or absolute principles and toward concrete facts, actions, and relative principles. James considered philosophies to be expressions of personal temperament and developed a correlation between â€Å"tough-minded† and â€Å"tender-minded† temperaments and empiricist and rationalist positions in philosophy. Theories, he felt, are â€Å"instruments† that humans use to solve problems and should be judged in terms of their â€Å"cash value† or practical consequences for human conduct. Reference American Pragmatism I. â€Å"Pragmatism†. Adventures in Philosophy. James, William. (1902-1920). â€Å"What is Pragmatism†. The Library of America. Lecture II Kuklick, Bruce. â€Å"William James†. The Introduction to William James’s Pragmatism. Wikipedia, The Free Dictionary.