Saturday, August 31, 2019

Animal Farm Analysis Essay Essay

The Tragedy Of Oppression â€Å"Among those who dislike oppression are many who like to oppress†. These are the words that rolled off the French General Napoleon Bonaparte’s tongue. This relates to Animal Farm because all of the farm animals do not like oppression but they have a bunch of oppressors among them. The pigs control the farm animals in every way possible and frankly they are sick and tired of it. Animal Farm by George Orwell shows that oppression is at the heart of so much sorrow in life, and that the abuse of power is at the heart of oppression. Napoleons violence and Squealers mind-control are the two forms of power and abuse that keep the poor animals oppressed. Napoleon was violent in many ways. First of all, he used his power to raise an army of dogs to become mean and violent just like him. Napoleon had the dogs under his wing; they would do whatever he told them to do. For example, Napoleon was trying to get the animals to admit to working with snowball. When and if they did admit to this he would command the dogs to kill them. This is one of many examples of how Napoleon uses his power to abuse the farm animals. Napoleon hated Snowball; they disagreed on everything so he definitely didn’t want any of his farm animals working with his enemy. That’s not all Napoleon had the dogs, or in other words his â€Å"slaves† do. Another example of violence is when Napoleon commanded the dogs to chase Snowball off of the farm. He didn’t like the idea of sharing the power with Snowball; he wanted the power all to himself! He tried to control everyone through violence and fear. As a result of this power struggle he abused not only the farm animals but also the dogs by trying to control them. Napoleon verbally, mentally and physically abused everyone in his path. Squealer is also guilty of abusing his power. Squealer’s choice of abuse is mind control. He is capable of making a bad situation seem as if it were meant to be. Like the time when the farm animals got suspicious when the pigs started sleeping in beds. Everyone on the farm knows that sleeping in bed goes against the commandment that states, â€Å"No animal shall sleep in a bed† When the animals built up the courage to ask the pigs what was going on, the pigs simply stated â€Å"A bed merely means a place to sleep in. The rule was against sheets, which are a human invention. We have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds, and sleep between blankets. You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?†(Orwell67). This is an  example of slippery slope because in other words Squealer is telling the animals that if the pigs aren’t allowed to sleep in beds then they will not be able to do there duties because they will not get a good night sleep and if they cant do their duties then eventually Jones will come back. Squealer does things like this all of the time. He is know n for verbally abusing the farm animals by controlling their minds. This all leads up to one thing, oppression. Oppression is caused by the abuse of power. Napoleon wanted to be in control of everything and everyone because he was a very selfish and controlling pig. His need to be this way caused severe oppression on the farm. The farm animals were all unhappy and felt like there was no way out. Anytime they confronted the pigs, they were always given some excuse or reason why things were not the way they were supposed to be. Boxer was the hardest worker on the farm, yet he got treated the most unfair. He might not have been the most intelligent of the animals but he sure was strong and worked more than any of the others. One day, Boxer collapsed while pulling stone for the windmill. The pigs said that he would be taken to a hospital. When a cart arrived to pick Boxer up the farm animals got suspicious because the cart was sent from the slaughterhouse. Squealer quickly denounced the rumor saying that the hospital had bought the cart from the slaughterhouse and never painted over the writing. The animals were relieved after hearing the â€Å"good news† until squealer announced that Boxer had died in the hospital. â€Å"I will work harder† and â€Å"Napoleon is always right†(Orwell 39). were Boxers two slogans. Boxer thought of Napoleon as a role model and all Napoleon thought of Boxer as, was one of his many workers. Boxer loved Napoleon. It is very sad that he was never appreciated or loved in return by Napoleon. At least Boxer will always be in the hearts of the farm animals because he was truly loved by them. This was a great and unnecessary loss, which caused much sorrow to the farm animals. This clearly shows that oppression can cause great sorrow. The abuse of power is the cause of great sorrow for many people all around the world. The Novella Animal Farm by George Orwell proves this in the life of the farm animals. Napoleon caused a lot of unhappiness and sorrow to the farm animals, which lead to great oppression on the farm. In order to keep h is power, Napoleon used violence to get his way. He used Squealer to play mind games on the animals to keep his power and to trick them into believing his lies. Oppression is a disheartening reality that affected the farm animals and continues to affect the lives of many people today.

Research countering the student-teacher ratio effect Essay

Graddy and Steven (2005) examines several studies of secondary school performances throughout the U. K. and concluded that there is little to no effect of the student-teacher ratio on the achievement of students. Borland, Howsen & Trawick (2005) also found no noticeable connection between student achievement and either reduced or enlarged class sizes. The Congressional Budget Office presented results and analysis of 1986 SAT scores. Analysis revealed a relationship between student performance and student-teacher ratios. Lower student-teacher ratios were consistent with lower SAT scores (as cited in Hanushek, 2000). School size, which is another important consideration that also affects the student-teacher ratio, does not demonstrate an effect on student performance either, according to Lamdin (1995). There is also very little long-term effect of student-teacher ratio on student performance and lifelong achievement. Though Vignoles (1998) found a slight correlation between student-teacher ratio and student performance on O Levels exams in the United Kingdom, the observed effect was so small as to be insignificant. In fact he argues that true effect on student achievement is actually non-existent. This conclusion is based on the finding that the effect of a lower student-teacher ratio was not reflected in later years on the job market and in terms of earnings 17 years later. True achievement, he argues, is measured not by the standard of achievement tests, but by later success in life. He safely concludes therefore that there is no true effect of class size on student accomplishments. Schweitzer (1991) suggests that moves by institutions to decrease the pupil-teacher ratio are counterproductive and will only result in additional government spending with little effect on student performance. He believes that the old-fashioned method of â€Å"hard work on the part of the student, good teaching by the faculty, and strong motivation by both† (Schweitzer, 1991, p. 297) are the key ingredients to improved student achievement. Thus, as Gursky (1998) surmises, there is very little magic to class size or student-teacher ratio. Some researchers have proposed that the optimal size for any classroom is between 15 and 17 students. What the research is confirming is that there is presently very little in the way of consensus on the issue of whether or not reduced student-teacher ratios result in improved student performance. In the comprehensive review conducted by Hanushek (2000), 14% of the researches showed that there was a positive relationship between increased student-teacher ratio and a similar 14% found the opposite association. The remaining 72% found the relationship to be too insignificant to matter (p. 5). It is fallacious to suppose that all factors that may impact student performance can be isolated and controlled in order to discover a causal relationship between the variables of lower or higher student-teacher ratios and higher student performance. As researchers such as Hanushek (2000) and Preece (1987) would argue, there are a myriad of home-environmental and societal factors over which the state or school have very little control but which may impact student performance in either direction regardless of existing student-teacher ratios. Without a doubt the family background from which the students come plays a significant role in impacting achievement. Dustmann et al. (2003) proposes that the financial resources of the family, the quality time parents spend with children, the size of the family, a child’s birth order and the interest the parent shows in the child’s performance are important in analyzing factors that influence success in school. The socioeconomic context and location in which the child resides could also be a constraining factor. Preece (1987) adds that another factor, the heterogeneous nature of the classroom could be a significant key in understanding student achievement. He proposes that more homogeneous classrooms foster a better learning environment for students, regardless of class size or student-teacher ratios. Research has not proven either side of the debate but has demonstrated the possible merits of both. Educators seem determined, despite the lack of evidence to support the claim, to reduce the student-teacher ratios in an effort to impact student achievement. These educators are not completely misguided in their position however. It is a combination of factors too complicated to isolate that determines the how well each student achieves individually. Reduced class sizes have not proven to be harmful to any significant extent and thus existing policies to continue to reduce the student-teacher ratios cannot possibly do any notable amount of harm. ferences Alspaugh, J. W. (1994, Summer). The relationship between school size, student teacher ratio and school efficiency. Education, 114(4), 593-601. Borland, M. V., Howsen, R. M. & Trawick, M. W. (2005, Mar). An investigation of the effect of class size on student academic achievement. Education Economics, 13(1), 73-83. Colorado Association of School Boards, Colorado Association of School Executives & Colorado Education Association. (n. d. ). Believe in a better Colorado. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www. believeinabettercolorado. org/images Dustmann, C. , Rajah, N. & van Soest, A. (2003, Feb). Class size, education, and wages. Economic Journal, 113(485), F99-F149. Ehrenberg, R. G. , Brewer, D. J. , Gamoran, A.& Willms, J. D. (2001, Nov). Does class size matter? Scientific American, 285(5), 78-85. Graddy, K. & Stevens, M. (2005, Apr). The impact of school resources on student performance: A study of private schools in the United Kingdom. Industrial & Labor Relations Review, 58(3), 435-451. Gursky, D. (1998, Oct). Class size does matter. Education Digest, 64(2), 15-18. Hanushek, E. A. (2000, Aug). Evidence, politics, and the class size debate. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www. utdallas. edu/research/tsp/pdfpapers/paper19. PDF Lamdin, D. J. (1995, Apr). Testing for the effect of school size on student achievement within a school district. Education Economics, 3(1), 33-42. Morisi, T. L. (1994, Jul). Employment in public schools and the student-to-employee ratio. Monthly Labor Review, 117(7), 40-44. National Center for Education Statistics. (2001, Sep). Elementary and secondary school enrollment. Education Statistics Quarterly, 2(2). Retreived November 19, 2007 from, http://nces. ed. gov/programs/quarterly/Vol_2/2_2/q3-3. asp Preece, P. F. (1987, Jul/Aug). Class size and learning: A theoretical model. Journal of Educational Research, 80(6), 377-379. Sable J. & Garofano, A. (2007, Jun). Public elementary and secondary school student enrollment, high school completions, and staff from the common core of data: School year 2005-06. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from, http://nces. ed. gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo. asp Schweitzer, T. T. (1991, Summer). Collective bargaining, teachers, and student achievement: Comment. Journal of Labor Research, 12(3), 297-298. Vignoles, A. (1998, May). Raising standards in our schools: Does class size really matter? Economic Outlook, 22(3), 18-23.

Friday, August 30, 2019

For profit and non profit organization Essay

Both not for profit and for profit companies have many similarity and differences. A lot of companies start with the intent of making a profit. These companies also pay taxes and are called profit or for profit companies (Rodwell, & Teo, 2013). Other companies, while they can make a profit begin with the intent of helping others. These companies are not for profit or non-profit organizations. Nonprofit organizations are not allowed to make a profit, and do not pay taxes, but they might generate income. Any income generated by a nonprofit must be returned to the organization to accomplish the goals for which it was established (Anand, 2008). Regardless of its status, many companies like Goodwill Industries International and BP P.L.C. are faced with challenges that threaten the company ethically and morally. Part One: Goodwill Industries International (Not-for-Profit) Profile of Goodwill Industries: Goodwill Industries International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations and gifts are fully tax-deductible to the degree acceptable by law. Goodwill Industries International is a worldwide social services initiative that creates opportunities for people to attain financial constancy and build durable families and lively communities by offering job training, employment assignment services and other community-based programs for people who have incapacities, those who do not have the education or job experience, and others who face difficulties finding employment (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Goodwill supports the operations of about 165 individual Goodwill chapters in the US and Canada. Founded in 1902, Goodwill is one of the world’s leading benefactors of such services, as well as one of the largest employers in the world of the disabled (Hoovers, 2014). Areas of Interest: While it is most recognized for its 2,800 thrift stores, Goodwill concentrates on offering rehabilitation, job preparation, placement, and employment servi ces for people with disabilities and others. The company helps people to find and keep good jobs (Hoovers, 2014). Goodwill offers programs for young people, senior citizens, veterans, and people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Mission statement: Goodwill works to improve the self-worth and value of life of individuals and families by reinforcing communities, removing obstacles to opportunity, and helping people in need achieve their full potential through learning and the power  of work. Goodwill strives to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by helping people reach their full potential through education, skills training and the power of work (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Summary of activities: (Based on 2013 Data) Last year, Goodwill assisted more than 9.8 million people prepare for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, and to get the backup services they needed to be successful (Hoovers, 2014). Last year the company served 9.8 million through employment and training programs, 44 million through mission services, 261, 875 received a job with Goodwill’s assistance and its estimated that those people earned $4.4 billion (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Funding Sources: Support for Goodwill programs is produced mainly from the sale of contribution of goods, both at the retail stores and through an online auction site, and from contract work and government grants (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). The total profits produced by Goodwill organizations was $5.17 billion of which 83% was spent on programs. There are 87 million donors. Retail stores generated $3.79 billion, industrial and service contract work produced $647 million, $90 million came from government grants and $27 million from corporate and foundation grants. Individual gifts, donations and fees for services generated $46 million and government support foe mission services produced $455 millio n (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). History: Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social visionary. Helms gathered old domestic goods and clothing in more affluent areas of the city, then taught and hired those who were underprivileged to fix and restore the goods (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Goodwill Structure: Goodwill International’s CEO is Jim Gibbons. Cindy Cho Kim is the Director of International Development and currently there are two spokespeople Organization expert Lorie Marrero is the face of the Donate Movement. ABC reporter Evette Rios united with Goodwill’s cause in 2012 to help to plead to the Latin American market. Goodwill stores are self-governing organizations headed by a charitable board of directors (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Goodwill has a connection of 165 independent, community-based Goodwill stores in the United States and Canada. Each local Goodwill must be accredited, request participation and meet specific standards created by Goodwill Industries  International (GII) (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). The GII Member Services center, is located in Rockville, MD. There are 2,900 total retail stores. Goodwill Industries of the Columbia, Inc. was initially recognized as a branch division of the Seattle Goodwill in 1961. Goodwill also has an online auction site at www.shopgoodwill.com (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Values statement: The goods were then resold or were given to the people who fixed them. The system worked, and the Goodwill value of â€Å"a hand up, not a hand out† was established. (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). The value statement includes respect, integrity, stewardship, innovation and excellence (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Problems: One problem that Goodwill Industries has is their view in the public eye. Many Goodwill stores are viewed as exploiters of disabled citizens. Some stores used a federal law under the Special Wage Certificate Program, to employ disabled workers at rates of 22, 38, and 41 cents per hour (Gibson, 2 013). The law allows nonprofits and companies to get a certificate that lets them to employ disabled workers â€Å"based on their abilities† at whatever salary they find suitable, with no minimum. This is compared to the $729,000 in salary and deferred compensation that the CEO, Jim Gibbson makes. The CEOs of Goodwill organizations across the U.S. mutually earned $30 million (Gibson, 2013). The problem exists because there are numerous disabled adults who still need to support themselves but cannot get hired by normal means. Management and upper administrators have the ability to ensure that all their employees work in a safe and equal working environment which proper accommodations for their disabilities. Goodwill’s response was that disabled workers would not be hired anywhere else and should be appreciative for any amount they make even if it is 22 cents. Goodwill is against eliminating the program because it would cause more harm than good (Gibson, 2013). Support for Goodwill programs is produced mainly from the sale of contribution of goods, both at the retail stores and through an online auction site, and from contract work and government grants (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Another problem that Goodwill faces is criticisms for ripping off customers. The prices of items are for a donated used article. Goodwill has been accused of taking the better donated items and selling the products on eBay or keeping them for themselves, or calling family members to come in and purchase the items. They also sell the less desirable items in stores and price them at ridiculously expensive prices for used and donated items. According to Smith, selfishness is a fundamental driving force of human conduct (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Companies such as Goodwill accumulate wealth through a system that presents good intentions but are driven by greed. The company has become very wealthy off of items that were completely free. Company Impact: One report indicates a decrease in donations (Begam, 2010). Donations for several local charities are at an all-time low this year. Goodwill says their donations are down 25% in their stores across the region (Begam, 2010). Many consumers are urged not to donate to Goodwill because of their treatment of disabled employees and pricing donated goods at high prices. Part Two: BP P.L.C (For-Profit) Although BP P.L.C. is a profit organization, it faces many challenges that also threaten the company ethically and morally. Profile of BP, P.L.C.: BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies. We provide customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants to keep engines moving, and the petrochemicals products used to make everyday items as diverse as paints, clothes and packaging (BP, 2014). Areas of Interest: BP’s area of interests includes finding and extracting oil and gas to producing fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals (BP, 2014). Mission Statement: Although not specifically labeled a â€Å"mission statement,† BP has a published statement of â€Å"What We Stand For†: â€Å"BP wants to be recognized as a great company – competitively successful and a force for progress. We have a fundamental belief that we can make a difference in the world. We help the world meet its growing need for heat, li ght and mobility. We strive to do that by producing energy that is affordable, secure and doesn’t damage the environment (BP, 2014). Summary of Activities: In 2013 BP completed 17 exploration wells and made seven potentially commercial discoveries in 2013. It was the most successful year for exploration drilling in almost a decade. They started three major projects in 2013 and another three in January and February 2014. They completed the commissioning of all major units for the Whiting refinery upgrade, transforming it into one of our advantaged downstream assets in our portfolio (BP, 2014). Funding  Sources: In 2013 BP had several areas of funding. Sales and other operating revenues totaled 379,136 million dollars. Earnings from joint ventures – after interest and tax totaled 447 million dollars. Earnings from associates – after interest and tax totaled 2,742 million dollars. Interest and other income totaled 777 million dollars. Gains on sale of businesses and fixed assets totaled 13,115 million dollars. Total revenues and other income totaled 396,217 million dollars and BP shareholders totaled 23,451 million dollars (BP, 2014). BP’s History: BP’s history begin with innovations, starting in 1908 with oil found in a rugged part of Persia after a long and difficult search. Since then, discoveries large and small have fuelled the company’s progress. Back in England, William D’Arcy gambled his considerable fortune on oil, and was on the verge of losing everything. It seemed that the geologists and experts who had wagged their heads encouragingly at him since 1901 had all been wrong about the oil beneath the sands of Persia. By the early morning of 26 May 1908, the whole camp reeked of sulphur. At four o’clock the drill reached 1,180 feet and a fountain of oil spewed out into the dawn sky. Within a year, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which would one day become BP, was in business (BP, 2014). BP’s Values: Our values of safety, respect, excellence, courage and one team align explicitly with BP’s code of conduct and translate into the responsible actions necessary for the work we do every day. Our values represent the qualities and actions we wish to see in BP, they guide the way we do business and the decisions we make (BP, 2014). Structure: BP’s businesses are organized to deliver the energy products and services people around the world need right now. It has 102,498 locations and its international headquarters in located in St James’s Square, London Its Upstream segment is responsible for activities in oil and natural gas exploration, field development and production. Its Downstream segment focuses on fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals. BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies. They provide customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants to keep engines moving, and the petrochemicals products used to make everyday items as diverse as paints, clothes and packaging (BP, 2014). Problems: One problem that BP faces results from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The company faces many lawsuits. BP is front and center because of  its high-profile role in the disaster, not to mention its deep pockets and its reputation as a global business power. Current estimates have BP setting aside about $32 billion to cover cleanup, legal claims, fines, and other costs related to the spill. So, clearly BP is planning on taking the brunt of the legal blame — and the biggest financial hit, for contributing to the worst oil spill in the nation’s history (Nolo, 2014). Another problem the company faces is the mandated cleanup fines that the government is requiring the company to pay. According to Smith, selfishness is a fundamental driving force of human conduct (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Companies such as BP accumulate wealth by using resources from the Earth. The company is subject to lawsuits and cleanup fines because of the numerous livelihoods that were damaged and the damage cause to the environment as a result of the oil spill the government requires the company to supply. Recently, BP Oil and Gas filed a petition with US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia seeking review of a lower court’s decision to have BP continue making payments to the affected parties related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and stop payments to claimants while litigation continues (Matthew, 2014). Impact to Company: Initially, BP had a negative public view and maintained its stock. However, by late June, BP was trading in the $27 range. Fewer analysts recommended buying BP and a few recommended that investors sell. Coincidentally, this was all about the same time as or shortly after BP agreed to put $20 billion into an escrow account to pay for spill-related damages and announced it would not pay stock dividends in 2010 (Lawyers.com, 2014). In addition as of 2013, BP spent $26 billion on response efforts. Part Three: Personal Ethical Evaluation Goodwill Industries International Goodwill’s primary response was driven by selfish motives (Fieser & Moseley, 2012) and morally irresponsible. The company’s response that the people should be grateful and not complain about their wages brings a negative view upon the company. According to Fieser and Moseley (2012), the moral subjectivist thinks that right and wrong is decided by what, the subject of the situation, thinks or feels is right or wrong. However the average person  working in the United States expects to receive minimum wage for working, because it is the norm or culturally relative (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The culture of the United States would view Goodwill as taking advantage of already limited people. Ethical egoism implies that people act so as to maximize their self-interest (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Goodwill felt that it was doing a greater good by hiring those who would not normally have gotten employment. Morally speaking, they were within the confines of the law to operate as su ch. Because Goodwill used the Special Wage Certificate Program, to employ disabled workers at rates cents per hour (Gibson, 2013) they were legally justified in their actions. The law allows nonprofits and companies to get a certificate that lets them to employ disabled workers â€Å"based on their abilities† at whatever salary they find suitable, with no minimum. On the other side of this coin is that Goodwill receives grant money from the government for operating as a nonprofit organization and actually helping people in the community. Even though the attempt was noble, they could have done more to improve the situation. Though they hired a demographic of people that would normally remain unemployable, they could have offered a salary that demonstrates a level of equality, fairness or self-worth. In many cases these people were working for less than eight dollars a day. They spent more money in expenses getting to work than they actually made at work. Some of the people complained about that very issue also, that they did not make enough money to cover rent. This is compared to the $729,000 in salary and deferred compensation that the CEO, Jim Gib bson makes. The CEOs of Goodwill organizations across the U.S. mutually earned $30 million (Gibson, 2013). The company received 90 million dollars government grants and $27 million from corporate and foundation grants in 2013. Goodwill offered a potential solution to a difficult situation. In doing so, the company created a problem for themselves. It could have been prevented had they offered an acceptable wage compensation to the disable employees. One way Goodwill can address the issue with the treatment of its employees is to consider the triple bottom line, which implies that successful companies must pursue three distinct values: people, the planet, and profit (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). There should be social benefit to workers and the community, environmental benefit with the implementation of sustainable ecological practices, and economic benefit only after all hidden  environmental costs have been factored in. In doing so, if Goodwill hires employees, then they should pay them minimum wage and accommodate their job assignments according to their ability regardless of their level of ability. They should also offer opportunity for raises and promotion. This ensures that everyone gets equal pay and fair treatment. One solution for the issue of greed is to put into place quality assurance representatives and to create a price list for different categories of items. This ensures that all items are priced the same across the country. The price list should have a price range, which includes the lowest and highest prices that items can be priced within their category. For example, a lamp can be priced from $3.00 to $5.00 depending on quality. This solution is possible but would require extreme communication across the nation. It would also require store representatives to ensure that these policies were followed and to ensure that all donations are inventoried properly. BP P.L.C BP’s primary response was utilitarian driven (Williams, 1973) and morally responsible (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The company was motivated by the idea to make things right. The company’s response to set finances aside for the cleanup efforts and to assist those affected by the oil spill was their way of taking responsibility for the harm that their operations and property caused on the environment and lives in the Gulf area. The oil spill was a direct result of the company drilling in the Gulf. The thousands of gallons of oil that flooded the area affected animal life and eventually the livelihood of fishermen. BP plc was faced with managing the crisis and examining the causes of its organizational failure. At the core of the issue is a failed organizational culture. The problem could have been prevented had BP ensured that all safety measures for drilling were being used. As time passed, BP became more driven by ethical egoism. They began to act so as to maximize their self-interest. They no longer wanted to pay the families who were affected and wanted courts to reevaluate the situation to determine if they were still obligated to pay these families for the oil spill that killed and poisoned wildlife, animals and fish (Matthew, 2014). Even though the company’s initial response was admirable, they came back with an actions that demonstrated that they are truly a profit company and wanted to stop all obligation to pay those who were affected by the oil  spill. The company agreed to put $20 billion into an escrow account to pay for spill-related. They eventually paid $26 billion in issued related to the oil spill (Gibson, 2013). BP could have do more to help the situation analyzed the damage caused by the oil spill to determine lasting effects on fishermen’s livelihoods. The company can set aside more money to assist in future cleanup efforts, provide funding to local environmental services for testing and cleanup efforts. BP can also settle all reasonable lawsuits. This will help its public image and provide closure for families who lost their livelihood. The company can set aside money for environmental service agencies to test toxicity levels, population and regeneration of different animal species and any future cleanup efforts. These solutions are possible because eventually BP will have to pay more in legal fees, lawsuits or fines. These solutions offer them the chance to get ahead of the problem and be proactive Part Four: Critique of Company’s Actions Goodwill Industries International Goodwill’s actions and motivation seem to reflect self-interest and at times down right greed. The company’s response that the people should be grateful and not complain about their wages brings a negative view upon the company. According to Fieser and Moseley (2012), the moral subjectivist thinks that right and wrong is decided by what, the subject of the situation, thinks or feels is right or wrong. Even though Goodwill’s administration would have viewed the hiring of disabled people at such a low wage as acceptable, many would not. The average person working in the United States expects to receive minimum wage for working, because it is the norm or culturally relative (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The culture of the United States would view Goodwill as taking advantage of already limited people. Ethical egoism implies that people act so as to maximize their self-interest (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Goodwill felt that it was doing a greater good by hiring those who would not normally have gotten employment. Morally speaking, they were within the confines of the law to operate as such. Because Goodwill used the Special Wage Certificate Program, to employ disabled workers at rates cents per hour (Gibson, 2013) they were legally justified in their  actions. The law allows nonprofits and companies to get a certificate that lets them to employ disabled workers â€Å"based on their abilities† at whatever salary they find suitable, with no minimum. The company’s response should have been response was utilitarian driven (Williams, 1973). This approach would have allowed the company to view the disabled as people worthy of the respect of being treated and paid equally. Just because they â€Å"can† legally pay these employees less does not mean that it is the correct thing to do. Right and wrong could have been determined by a cost-benefit analysis. Because the company receives so many millions to help fund programs like employing disable people, they would not have lost anything financially to pay the people at least minimum wage. There could have been several benefits, such as a more positive public view, sustained donations from the public and a developing a program that actually helps the community. BP P.L.C. BP’s primary response was utilitarian driven (Williams, 1973) and morally responsible (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The company was motivated by the idea to make things right. The company’s response to set finances aside for the cleanup efforts and to assist those affected by the oil spill was their way of taking responsibility for the harm that their operations and property caused on the environment and lives in the Gulf area. As time passed, BP became more driven by ethical egoism. They began to act so as to maximize their self-interest. They no longer wanted to pay the families who were affected and wanted courts to reevaluate the situation to determine if they were still obligated to pay these families for the oil spill that killed and poisoned wildlife, animals and fish (Matthew, 2014). (1) Moral Subjectivism In its common form, Moral Subjectivism amounts to the denial of moral principles of any significant kind, and the possibility of moral criticism and argumentation. In essence, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ lose their meaning because so long as someone thinks or feels that some action is ‘right’, there are no grounds for criticism.à  If you are a moral subjectivist, you cannot object to anyone’s behaviour (assuming people are in fact acting in accordance with what they think or feel is right).à  This shows the key flaw  in moral subjectivism — probably nearly everyone thinks that it is legitimate to object, on moral grounds, to at least some peoples’ actions.à  That is, it is possible to disagree about moral issues. (2) Cultural Relativism Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to hold at the time. Cultural Relativism is closely linked to Moral Subjectivism.à  It implies that we cannot criticize the actions of those in cultures other than our own.à  And again, it amounts to the denial of universal moral principles.à  Also, it implies that a culture cannot be mistaken about what is right and wrong (which seems not to be true), and so it denies the possibility of moral advancement (which also seems not to be true). (3) Ethical Egoism Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-interest.à  Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-interest. Ethical Egoism is usually based upon Psychological Egoism — that we, by nature, act selfishly.à  Ethical egoism does not imply hedonism or that we ought to aim for at least some ‘higher’ goods (e.g., wisdom, political success), but rather that we will (ideally) act so as to maximize our self interest.à  This may require that we forgo some immediate pleasures for the sake of achieving some long term goals.à  Also, ethical egoism does not exclude helping others.à  However, egoists will help others only if this will further their own interests. An ethical egoist will claim that the altruist helps others only because they want to (perhaps because they derive pleasure out of helping others) or because they think there will be some personal advantage in doing so.à  That is, they deny the possibility of genuine altruism (because they think we are all by nature selfish).à  This leads us to the key implausibility of Ethical Egoism — that the person who helps others at the expense of their self-interest is actually acting immorally.à  Many think that the ethical egoist has misunderstood the concept of morality — i.e., morality is the system of practical reasoning through which we are guided to constrain our  self-interest, not further it.à  Also, thatà  genuine altruism is indeed possible, and relatively commonly exhibited. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a very simple view that matches common sense – right and wrong can be determined by a cost-benefit analysis. We must consider all the good and bad consequences when deciding if an action is right. Utilitarians disagree about what counts as â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad.† Some think that fulfilling desires is good and thwarting desires is bad, classic utilitarians think that happiness is good and suffering is bad, and pluralists believe that there are multiple â€Å"intrinsic goods† that are worth promoting. An action will then be said to be â€Å"right† as long as it satisfactorily causes good consequences compared to alternative actions, and it will be â€Å"wrong† if it doesn’t. Utilitarianism doesn’t discriminate or encourage egoism. It is wrong to harm others to benefit yourself because everyone counts. What counts as â€Å"satisfactory† will not be agreed upon by all philosophers. Originally some philosophers suggested that only the â€Å"best† action we could possibly perform is â€Å"right,† but this is an extreme, impractical, and oppressive view. Why? Whenever you are taking a shower or spending time with friends it would probably be better to be doing something else, such as helping the needy, but it is absurd to say that you are always doing wrong whenever you are taking a shower or spending time with friends. Additionally, it isn’t clear that there is a â€Å"best† course of action always available to us. There might be an unlimited number of actions we can perform and at least one of them could be better than what we choose to do. Corporate sustainability includes many normal business practices. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico provides a classic example of how failure to be sustainable can lead to an overall organizational failure of mandate, and a failure to serve stakeholders. BP plc was faced with managing the crisis and examining the causes of its organizational failure. At the core of the issue is a failed organizational culture. This paper examines what events and  organizational values have led to the crisis and what changes to organizational culture would be required, to avoid a repeat event and begin to create a sustainable organization. Reference: Arnold, D. H., & McKay, R. (2013). Sustainable Enterprises: Crisis Management and Culture Transformation for BP. Business and Management Research, 2(3), p16. Chicago Anand, S. (2008). Not†for†Profit Organizations. Essentials of Corporate Governance, 163-177. Matthew, J. 2014. BP Asks US Supreme Court to Halt Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Payments Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bp-asks-us-supreme-court-halt-gulf-mexico-oil-spill-payments-1450360 Rodwell, J. J., & Teo, S. T. (2013). STRATEGIC NRM lN FOR-PROFIT ANO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN A KNOWLEDGE-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY. Human Resource Management in the Public Sector, 9. Williams, B. (1973). A critique of utilitarianism. Cambridge/UK.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

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

Interwar - Essay Example Everybody concentrated on war, which subsequently bred mistrust among countries thereby paralyzing conducive relationships for business. Such precarious times discouraged effective economic activities resulting in a number of world economic disasters. One such disaster was the Great Depression; countries had concentrated all their efforts on the war. Countries had spent billions of dollars purchasing firearms and in the training soldiers, nobody at such times considered the economic repercussions of the exorbitant military spending that the world’s major economies such as the United States of American and the Soviet Union had undertaken. It is only after the war that the countries realized that they had spent more on military at the expense of other sectors of the economy. Furthermore, the war had bred unfriendly relationship between the countries. The regional alignment of countries resulted in the East locking themselves away from the Wets thereby curtailing all business rel ationships between the countries. ... â€Å"Before the war, while most European countries had acquired the constitutional governing systems of some kind, many of these were actually far from being actual democracies† (Martin 312).This implied that the countries had weaker economies and could not possibly afford the cost of the war. However, their participation on the war were inevitable and most countries invested larger amounts of both financial and human resources on the war at the expense of the economy. Combining the political instability of such countries to the implications of the war therefore resulted in a chaotic and unsustainable economic system thereby resulting in the great depression. The First World War lasted for three years a period within which minimal economic activity took place. The world took place in several battlegrounds such as Japan, Italy and Germany and in a number of countries within the Soviet Union. During the wars, such regions therefore became inaccessible and unconducive for any ec onomic activity such as either agriculture or trade. Furthermore, the concern of most governments was on how to save the civilians some of who were dying from the effects of the war and hunger. Three years without a reliable economic activity was likely to bear serious consequences on the countries including those not directly affected by the war. Countries therefore resorted to radical economic policies in the period preceding the war in an attempt to uplift their dwindling economies. The USSR for example implemented a five year plan through which it sought to revamp its economic power and in so doing alleviate the living standards of its people. â€Å"The party

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Degradation of glass fibre Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Degradation of glass fibre - Coursework Example Much of the research that has been conducted lacks longevity data. It is therefore difficult to determine the utmost life of the GFRP rebars in use currently in marine structures. Alkalinity and acidity effects have been analysed as having minimal influence on the GFRP composites with the control conditions being fresh water. Chemical properties of GFRP composites are not highly affected by harsh marine environment therefore withstand aggressive conditions. More research needs to be undertaken on the durability or degradability of the already established marine structures to have conclusive evidence of GFRP composite preference over other fibers composite and other tradition materials like timber and steel. The use of Glass Reinforced Polyester was not common until after World War II which saw the initial commercial use of the material/ composite being established (Telang, et al, 2006). Its use in the civil infrastructure including the marine environment has occurred over the past 15 years. The emergence of fiber reinforcement composite is replacing the traditional materials like steel. The fiber reinforced polymers are the highly recommended in civil engineering structures due to their durability in comparison to steel, cost effectiveness and with their enhanced properties. These fiber reinforcements are able to withstand the harsh and aggressive environments like the marine exposure (Balendran, 2002, 62) GFRP has two major components i.e. the matrix and the reinforcing glass.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

FEMA apply some aspects of administrative law in that particular Essay

FEMA apply some aspects of administrative law in that particular agency - Essay Example Indirect effects include increased security measures in busy public places such as airports leading to delays, emotional trauma due to reports and images released on the terrorist attacks on the press, significant drops in stock values and stereotype suffered by those who profess the Muslim religion. Since the World War II, the 21st century has been faced with increased terrorist attacks. The heinous acts of terror have forced many nations to increase their war on terrorism to safeguard their citizens. The fight against terrorism has taken a new shape and it is now a trend that can only be referred to as globalization and terrorism. Many countries have integrated for them to fit in a globalised world that fights terrorism through geopolitics and technological advancements. It is through this international system of globalization that war on terror started which is also referred to as the global war on terrorism. This international military campaign started after 9/11 attacks in the U nited States. The main aim of this campaign is to eliminate world militant groups such as al-Qaeda (Bahgat, 2003). The participants of the global war include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Kenya, Australia, Lebanon, Tanzania and Uganda among others. This study is important since it brings to the light the efforts that the U.S. Government has put in place amid increased terror attacks. This research further shows the sensitivity of terrorism that requires not only the U.S. but also other government’s cooperation to fight acts of terror. This study also seeks to analyze how terrorism has taken shape in the modern world and the effects it has caused the United States. Literature review Twelve years have passed since the deadliest attack on the American soil in September 11, 2011. This happened when two hijacked planes were flown into twin towers of New York. The effects were devastating as 3000 lives were lost. Since then, America has been engaged in glob al war against terrorism. Specifically, it has gone an extra mile by protracting war in Iraq and Afghanistan that are base countries for the al-Qaeda terrorist group (Coady, 2004). Many speeches have been made to condemn the terrorist actions by the chairperson of the counter- terrorism committee and sitting presidents of the United States. Ambassador Apakan, the chairperson of the counter- terrorism committee told the committee to remain vigilant and resilient as ever and fighting terrorism and that should remain the top objective of the international community. President George W. Bush who was the sitting president during the 9/11 attacks stated that although the war on terrorism would take a while, Americans should remain patient. He also made remarks that the war of Americans on terror began with al-Qaeda, but that would not be the end until every single terrorist group within the global reach is found, stopped and defeated. True to their words of motivation, the U.S. could have immensely contributed to curbing terrorism. The initial stages to curb the acts of terror were founded on peaceful resolutions that were held between President Clinton and Saddam Hussein in 1998. The United States collaborated with like-minded ally countries like the United Kingdom and France by declaring Iraq a no fly zone to protect the Kurdish and Shiat population from Saddam Hussein’s administration attacks. In the same year, Clinton also signed the Iraq Liberation Act

Monday, August 26, 2019

Your body is like a castle under siege.discuss (biology) Essay

Your body is like a castle under siege.discuss (biology) - Essay Example All these cells possess the inherent ability to distinguish between self and non-self antigens while they develop as it is the key requirement in any defense mechanism. Once an antigen or a foreign body is detected these cells put forth a defense mechanism which protects the individual from the invading pathogens and helps to eliminate them. This defense could either be antigen dependent or independent. When immune cells attack any incoming antigen without being specific it is referred to as innate or non-specific immune response. Anatomical barriers such as skin and various body secretions and normal flora present within the body act as the immediate and first line of non-specific defense against the invading pathogens. When the foreign bodies escape these barriers the humoral components of the innate defense mechanism which includes the complement system, coagulation system that help to recruit phagocytic cells and secretion of substances such as interferon’s, lysozyme and i nterleukins play a vital role in eliminating the foreign substances. The cellular components involved in the innate defense mechanism include neutrophils and macrophages which act through phagocytosis, natural killer cells and eosinophils (Mayer, 2009). In contrast to the innate defense, the specific, acquired or adaptive defense mechanisms are antigen dependent. In the specific response a time lag exists between exposure to the antigen and the immune response generated as the acquired immune response is not inherent from birth, instead it is specific and unique to every antigen encountered and a memory of that response is also created by which subsequent exposure to that antigen will generate a similar and a more effective response (Mayer, 2009; Delves, 2008). The lymphocytes present in the blood are the major cells involved in the specific immune response and the two major types of cells, the B and T lymphocytes all of which originate in the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Events that change Nations - P4-db Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Events that change Nations - P4-db - Essay Example The lack of conflict and the breakdown of national economies that came in the aftermath of the First World War, forced nations to repair the damage and this is why economic science flourished. As a result, several economic models, theories and principles were introduced. I would cite two important developments that have contributed significantly to the course of modern history: the Keynesian economic tradition; and, the emergence of postwar globalization. The events in 1920s and 1930s such as the high postwar inflation rates, the instability of stock prices, unemployment, tariff dynamics, and so forth occupied John Maynard Keynes and shaped his economic ideas. Keynes was involved in the major events of his time and would be pivotal in the development of modern economic thought afterwards. According to Alan Meltzer (1988), today, if one looks back and examine Keynes works, he or she would be struck by the labored arguments and definitions that are very much applicable today. (p. 18) In reading his works, for instance, we are able to see how Keynes predicted problems, failures, and impending disasters including the possible solutions for governments. The realizations of Keynes’ predictions influenced the modern economic thought and, certainly, his reputation so much so that governments used his ideas to guide their economic policies today. One could see this in the recent policies of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US Pr esident Barack Obama in their strategies to rescue their respective economies from current global financial crisis. The second important development during the 1920s and the 1930s was the emergence of globalization. During this period, traces of globalization started to emerge as countries started the initiatives to enforce tariff truce as well as agreement that would regulate quotas and other restrictions. When the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934 or Tasca 1934 was enacted by several European

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Animals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Animals - Essay Example climate changes, habitat destructions, diseases, natural disasters or speciation (some animals develop into totally new species) (â€Å"Extinct†). Our planet Earth, a home to wonderful diversity of living creatures, has hosted some incredibly unique species. Unfortunately, many of those weird animals that inhabited the world in the distant past are gone now. For example, Tyrannosaurus Rex became extinct around 65 million years ago (â€Å"Ten Most Amazing Extinct Animals†). As fossils of this enormous carnivore had been found, it became clear that Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the biggest animals of all time, â€Å"measuring up to 43.3 feet long, and 16.6 ft tall, with an estimated mass that goes up to 7 tons† (â€Å"Ten Most Amazing Extinct Animals†) (Image 1). The Irish Elk (also known as Giant Deer) died out nearly 7, 700 years ago. It is believed to have been the biggest deer that ever inhabited our planet. Specifically, the Irish Elk was measured to hav e While animals became extinct due to various natural cataclysms in the past, they appear to be in danger or under threat of extinction today due to destructive human activity. These species are called endangered or threatened. According to the U.S. Endangered Species Act that was passed in 1973, two categories are distinguished as for the animals that risk becoming extinct: endangered and threatened. To specify, endangered species is defined as â€Å"... one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range† (â€Å"Facts about Endangered Species†). In its turn, a species is considered threatened if it is â€Å"... one that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range† (â€Å"Facts about Endangered Species†). A good example of an endangered species is the American Alligator. This large alligator lives in wetlands in the Southeast of the United States and is s ometimes encountered by humans (Image 3). It

Friday, August 23, 2019

Chinese Logistics Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Chinese Logistics Companies - Essay Example ........................................................................... 20 How to devise strategy for logistics companies in China to fit in the tough market environment 1. Introduction The subprime crisis has had an enormous effect on the global financial markets. It has also affected the Chinese economy. China's economy has been faced with many difficulties which include global slowdown, the undulation of the oil price, pressure of RMB appreciation and inflation. The subprime crisis has been particularly cruel to the Chinese economy. The logistics industry in China is still at the beginning. Although it is developing fast, it has many problems. The out-dated management styles, obsolete information technology and haphazard planning of capital construction in the national transportation system and so on restrict the development of the logistics industry in China. However foreign competitors pay attention to this potential market due to the fact that their existing operational capabilities elsewhere can be effectively utilized in China. Flynn (2006) argues that foreign logistics companies entering the Chinese market, especially after WTO accession, brought tremendou s pressure to bear on the local companies. This situation forces them to improve their technology and reformulate their strategy. At the same time, the Chinese government recognizes the significance of the logistics industry to China's continuing economic prosperity. Millar (2006), for instance has shown that the Chinese government has seen logistics as a strategic imperative. Gradual deregulation combined with immense investment in the transportation infrastructure to improve the logistics development is an inevitable outcome of this desire. While, depending on the...However foreign competitors pay attention to this potential market due to the fact that their existing operational capabilities elsewhere can be effectively utilized in China. Flynn (2006) argues that foreign logistics companies entering the Chinese market, especially after WTO accession, brought tremendous pressure to bear on the local companies. This situation forces them to improve their technology and reformulate t heir strategy. At the same time, the Chinese government recognizes the significance of the logistics industry to China's continuing economic prosperity. Millar (2006), for instance has shown that the Chinese government has seen logistics as a strategic imperative. Gradual deregulation combined with immense investment in the transportation infrastructure to improve the logistics development is an inevitable outcome of this desire. While, depending on the government's help is not enough. The logistics companies must revise their strategies to promote their competitive advantage to coordinate with the policy. If they cannot they will be left behind. Realizing how to devise strategy for logistics companies in China to fit in the tough market environment is becoming more and more important to the logistics companies. The aim of this research paper is to highlight on logistics op

Malaria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Malaria - Essay Example According to statistics given by the Centers for Illness and Prevention, 1925 cases of malaria were detected. This constituted approximately 70% of the population that was affected. The 70% cases were from people who had tours to outside U.S predominantly West Africa and others from India. In U.S, only five cases were reported, and this was approximately 0.25% of the population. Of the five cases reported, one was as a result of blood transfusion, another one from a lab accident, one from a traveler and the remaining two cases from born children whose mother had traveled. Yes, there has been historical case of malaria in the U.S. Back in the year 1930’s, malaria was endemic and concentrated in the 13 states of America. For instance, in the year 1933, malaria had prevailed approximately 30% of the population in the Tennessee River Valley. Another instance of malaria outbreak was recorded in the year 1942, this was during the World War II. Malaria cases were heavily recorded in military base camps. The disease was handled and controlled. Programs like the National Malaria Eradication Program (NMEP) and centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were initiated in the year 1947 and 1946 respectively, to suppress and help in the eradication of malaria. Preventive measures like spraying of insecticides, DDT, and application of the same to the interior walls of the houses, were used to thwart spreading of malaria. The goals and objectives of the public education plane to control malaria were as follows. One, educate the community about transmission and the causative agent of malaria. Two, provide methods and ways of reducing the spread of disease, in case there is an outbreak (Speybroeck, 2011). Three, give ways in which people can prevent malaria and eradicate it from their vicinities. Four, educate the public on the various organizations that have been established

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Essay Example for Free

Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Essay We know the Enron scandal and the effect to the society and business world. The ethical standards and decision making have become a dominant aspect. Managers are faced with situations which they must make what they believe is the right decision. People make different choices based on what they believe and their ethical values. The Ethics Awareness Inventory (EAI) refers to a combination of broad characterizations representing four categories of ethical philosophy, which are Character, Obligation, Results, and Equity. They have been designed to assist in the development of a deeper understanding of personal ethical perspectives and styles. These descriptions are used to analyze some of the characteristics of my own perspective on ethics according to my preferred answers when faced with ethical issues. I would observe my values by Ethics Awareness Inventory self-assessment and how those values align with the values of Kudler Fine Foods. If I were a manager, how those would apply to the management at Kudler Fine Foot of it. According to the result from the self-assessment, my first highest score is Results. The ethical perspective impacts one’s decision and action. My Ethical Perspective is that conduct should be directed toward promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of persons. In judging whether an individual’s actions are ethical you look for concrete evidence. Discussions about process and principles are not as important as what is ultimately achieved for the overall good of society. This category is most closely aligned in philosophy with a utilitarian theory of ethics (The Williams Institute, 2008). My Ethical Style concentrates the happiness for the majority of the people in society. Ethical Awareness Inventory indicates frustrations I could face in addressing ethical dilemmas. I could have conflicts with those who are not results-oriented and have various points of view about determining what is beneficial for the majority and society. Considering my value is Results and I analyze any connection between my values and my culture background or society. The country where I was grown up was on the status of developing. After the civil war between South Korea and North Korea, people could not have the quality of life and personal preferences or choices. People worked for the company and society with any sacrifices to achieve the majority of the common goal. There was no union in the company back then and no human rights. In the name of developing the country we couldn’t make our own opinions and voices for the unfairness. The government was very results-oriented and demanded the individuals’ sacrifices to achieve overall good of society and to make the developed country. South Korea accomplishes the social goal during the short period. Those social and culture backgrounds could influence the majority who need to make ethical decisions. I was educated in that society and learned that the utilitarian theory was adequate to achieve the social desires. As the society has become developed, the each individual is seeking for their right and happiness. The more various points of views can exist in the community. With my values of Results on Ethics Awareness Inventory I will explain how my personal values reflect in managing Kudler Fine Foods (KFF). Managing a company requires various abilities and talents the growth of the company relies upon. Kudler Find Foods’ end vision exists in the growth of the business and they would like to make expansion into other areas, making the franchise stores. As a manager of KFF, analyzing the strength and weakness of company and applying my personal values and experience to the company’s values improve the productivity and management of the company. I am a results-oriented type of person by EAI so I can find a way to accomplish the goals and the end vision for the greatest possible good for the company. Like South Korea, we can have the brightest development during the short period. Although seeking for the greatest good for the greatest number can cause the conflicts between the management level and the employees, sharing the vision and the accomplishment of the ultimate goal can reduce conflicts. At the early stage of the company the management operation tends to pursuit the expansion. KFF would like to expand the business and the results-oriented manager can meet the demand of the company. The pursuit of the results can regard reaching an ethical decision as the â€Å"bottom line† due to the ultimate goal. Fortunately my second highest score is Obligation. There is only one point difference between Results and Obligation. The ethical perspective of Obligation respects legal and human rights. This means that I tend to consider the persons actions to determine intention, rather than concentrating on results. Obligation supports Results to make an ethical decision. EAI assists me to understand my ethical perspective and style and would give the chance to have better decision-making ethically.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Analysis of the Star Wars Films

Analysis of the Star Wars Films A change in the force When I think of the term A Heros Journey the first image that comes to mind is Luke Skywalker standing proudly holding an outstretched lightsaber pointing to the stars with Princess Leia kneeling at his feet clutching a blaster as depicted on the cover of the 1978 movie Star wars IV: a New Hope. Like millions of other children, this film was, unknowingly, my first introduction into the idea of heroic archetypes. It was a story of a heros awakening and the struggle between the forces of light and dark, with glorious space battles, cocky space pirates and a pretty princess. I would watch the VHS tape multiple times a day. It had a very profound impact on my young mind and although the concept was used many times before, its sci-fi themed setting was more than enough to attract the attention millions of other kids and adults alike. It is well documented that George Lucas was heavily inspired by joseph Campbell (1904-1987) and his work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949). In this Campbell outlines what he calls the heros journey; this is a motif of adventure and personal transformation that is used in nearly every cultures mythical framework. This is mirrored in A New Hope where in act one of the heros journey we meet Luke Skywalker who lives on the desert planet of Tatooine and works on his uncles moisture farm. It is soon after we learn of Lukes dreams of becoming a pilot but is bound by his obligations to his uncle to help with the harvest which will be ripe soon. When he receives the message contained within the R2-D2 droid from a princess in obvious distress it serves as his call to adventure and inspires his first steps on his journey which will lead him to Obi Wan Kenobi, his future mentor. Luke initially denies the call only changing his mind when his family and home are destroyed, only then accepting the first stage of his journey which is to rescue the princess. The second act is generally when the hero meets allies, enemies, undergoes life and death conflict and completes the main task in his journey. This can be seen when Luke and Ben enlist the services of rogues Han and Chewbacca and experience their first confrontation with the evil empire. As Luke escapes Tatooine in search of the princess on the planet Alderaan it is truly the beginning of his journey as he ventures into space on his quest. Luke receives training from Obi Wan and bonds with Han during this time and eventually meets the princess by the end of act two. Luke is also portraying similar characteristics of the epic hero during this time, starting in his humble beginnings as a farm boy to completing a task meant only for him and displaying many ideals of the epic hero such as morals, strength, faith, intelligence and bravery. While all these characteristics are vital to fulfil the epic hero role, it is faith that Luke must find in the force before he can truly achieve his heroic status. When Luke and the crew of the Millennium Falcon are captured by the death star, the audience is unsure if they will succeed in escaping and weather they rescue the princess along the way. Of course our hero finds the princess and achieves the goal while nearly being killed along the way. Luke escapes the death star and his task is achieved. Over the course of the second act Luke begins to displayÂÂ   the qualities of an epic hero, Luke is seen as morally positive intelligent man, optimistic about his mission and displays strength and bravery in a number of ways. His faith in the mystical force also develops as he preservers to continue forward after the death of his mentor Obi Wan. In the third act Luke displays what he has learnt over the course of his journey. It is only then that the hero can gain the true reward -in Lukes case this is knowledge. Lukes final task is to aid in the destruction of the Death Star and will only return if his mission is a success otherwise he will be killed and his journey will be over. During the final assault Luke displays growth as a hero, his belief in the force and his alliance with friend Han Solo further shows his hero status. Luke uses his new knowledge gained from his journey and the force to destroy the Death Star and save the rebel alliance from total destruction. It is at this point Luke Journey comes to an end for a New Hope but is continued by Lucas over the course the trilogy, this even continues into the latest instalment, The Force Awakens released in 2015. Although I have focused on Lukes role up until this point is also important to note the other archetypes present in The Star Wars movies.Firstly is Han Solo who is possibly the most beloved character in the original trilogy. This is mostly because of his bad boy image and that he is a cynical anti-hero figure and a bit of a cowboy who relies mostly on courage and the use of his blaster to escape tight situations. He is an independent and strong character as his name SOLO would suggest. In the first film Han can be seen as a shape shifter, perceived by the main character as someone he is unsure of trusting. Hanss intentions are hidden as well as his loyalties as he doesnt want to care about the rebellion or their struggle against the empire. He only wants to care for himself and problems directly affecting him. In the final moments of the battle at the end of Episode IV Han comes to Lukes aid and ends up joining the struggle with the rebels. Hanss journey is more about learning to car e for others rather than just about himself, this journey continues throughout the second and third films as Han the proven warrior now learns to love. Han is accompanied through the trilogy by his trusty companion Chewbacca. It is common for a hero to befriend a beast along the way as this helps the hero to be reminded of the natural world. Lukes main companions include the droids C3PO and R2-D2. They mostly serve comic relief and the everyman archetype. They react to situations much like the audience would if they were thrown into the action. They cower and flee from danger but are also the heralds who issue challenges to the hero as well as announce the coming of change in the heros future. R2-D2 also serves as the Catalyst of the story. He is passionate and helpful, and is completely dedicated to the cause, he delivered the first call to arms to Luke and eventually accompanying him to his next stage of training with the last remaining Jedi master Yoda. Yoda, similar to Obi Wan before him is the old man mentor archetype, although he also embodies multiple archetypes also. When Yoda first meets Luke in the swamps of Dagobah, he is the trickster who is pretending to be a senile old creature, later it is revealed that he is a threshold guardian who is protecting the wisdom and secrets of the Jedi order until the hero proves himself worthy of such gifts. These secrets also contain the truth about Lukes family and the eventual downfall of his father, Anakin Skywalker. Yoda is also represents the oracle that possesses the ability to see beyond the present to future possibilities. Lukes father Anakin Skywalker experiences a true Visionaries arc throughout the series. From a simple slave on Tatooine to becoming one of the last Jedi knights, he remained committed to the order until a vision of his dying mother and death of his beloved wife lead him to the dark side only to be reborn as the tyrannical Darth Vader. Vader is committed to the vision of the empire and remains its most staunch supporter until the undeniable force of change returns him to the light side of the force. This happens as a result of this long lost son Luke who he sacrifices himself to save from the emperor and herald in a new era in the process, which would be led by his children Luke and Leia. Princess Leia represents the feminine in the otherwise male dominated Star Wars universe. In the original trilogy she is firstly depicted as a damsel in distress who is captured by the empire and has to be rescued by the heros. She then reveals herself to be a warrior as she fights to escape the Death Star. Later in the series she takes on a leadership role in the rebel alliance and also a romantic role with Han Solo. In the final film of the original trilogy she is revealed to be the twin sister of Luke Skywalker, thus becoming a female counterpart to Luke with the same strength and potential he has. Leia and her mother Padme are also good examples of what may be perceived as gender bias in the original and prequel trilogies. Aside from these characters the Star Wars universe is practically devoid of female characters. Similar to the society we live in, the Star Wars universe is predominantly patriarchal with characters such as Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi garnering more attention with the female characters usually taking a back seat to the action when they are around. Characters such as Luke and Obi Wan show qualities such as loyalty, integrity and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, while the females are mostly submissive with very few opportunities to be heroic themselves. While the male characters mostly fill the role of the archetypal male hero that the audience is used to seeing, they do have some differences. Han Solo for example is good looking, adventurous with a bad boy attitude while at the same time being irresistible to the opposite sex. Luke Skywalker is also adventurous but is different in that by the end of the original trilogy does not win the girl and forgoes the stereotype of ladies man in favour of the serious hero with a solemn nature similar to the samurai found in the Kurosawa films that originally inspired Lucas. The Jedi from the prequels follow much the same archetypes, female Jedi are present in these movies but are mostly relegated to the background in scenes with no input of value coming from them during the course of the movies. Female villains are also noticeably missing from the films and females in general and are nowhere to be found in the ranks of the Galactic Empire, with the addition to the noticeable lack of alien creatures as well. Although, this may have been a product of the times of the original films production as women in general would not be viewed as legitimate villains. Regardless of the real reasons for this the Star Wars universe is practically devoid of female heroes and villains alike. also worth noting is that the female characters do little to further the cause of the heros and will often get in the way, requiring the heros take time to rescue them. Leia may be an exception to this; she is the most influential female character by far in the Star Wars universe and after the release of Episode IV in 1977 lead to a noticeable uprising in strong female leads in film. Two years later we would see possibly the most heroic female character ever, Ellen Ripley appears in the hit horror movie Alien. With Linda Hamiltons Sarah Connor furthering the cause in 1984s The Terminator a few years later. How much influence Princess Leia had over these characters is easy to see. Leia is headstrong and cocky and when we are first introduced to her she is perceived by the audience as an authority figure being no way over sexualized. Even in the face of her captures she is fearless which is uncharacteristic of the damsel in distress idea. Episode IV is basically a story about a princess who needs to be rescued from the villains stronghold. Women are seen to be on a lower threshold than men and require rescuing as they cannot do so themselves, interestingly, as soon as the male heroes rescue Leia, she takes control of the situation telling the heroes what to do, even rescuing them in the process. At one point she even takes the weapon from Luke to open up a pathway to escape. When they finally escape the Death Star, Leia is also the only one to realise that their escape may have been too easy with the real reason being that they would be used to track the location of the rebel bases. As part of the Rebellion, Leia is also regarded as an authority figure. She orders the all-male rebel pilots around throughout the original trilogy. She is seen as an important and influential strong female protagonist.ÂÂ   Gwendolyn Glover, a noted feminist blogger writes, I know that for many, Princess Leia is a sex symbol. The unattainable and perfect woman. For me, Princess Leia is my feminist icon. She was my first (and pretty much only) female role model for feminism. In a male dominated universe, she stood out as a force to be reckoned with. Tough, smart, and outspoken, she typified everything that I wanted to be,(Glover, 2009). Leias role in Episode IV does a lot for female protagonists in the film industry. With the release of Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 Leias character conforms more to the traditional female character roles seen up until then in film. Her romance with Han Solo is a stark contrast to her disinterest in the male leads in the first film and she quickly becomes useless for the majority of the film. In the first 15 minutes of Episode V Han is required to rescue her from the crumbling ruins of the rebel base on Hoth while she displays fear of rodents and requires a male to kill them for her. Which all seems out of place for such an independent character who, in the previous film required none of this attention from her male counterparts and spends the majority of this film falling in love with one of them. One scene in particular stands out in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. When Leia is confronted by Han, she is backed into a corner and asked about her true feelings, the male character takes her hands preventing her escape. The scene ends as she succumbs to her feelings and passionately kisses her capture. This scene can easily be construed as disturbing as it may teach men that borderline violent behaviour or intimidation is a viable way to a womans heart. This trend continues in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi when after rescuing Han from Jabba the Hutt, Leia is herself captured and forced to wear a gold bikini and lie at the foot of Jabbas bed with a collar around her neck, waiting to be rescued by a man. in this we see leias change from the first film where she is dresses from head to toe in white to the final film where we see her practically naked creating one of the most iconic images of male fantasy ever to be seen on the big screen. After she is rescued by Luke she succeeds in killing Jabba (who resembles a giant phallus) with the chain that was previously used to hold her. Towards the end of the film, Leia redeems herself by saving Hans life by shooting attacking Stormtroopers in the films final battle. Thus, although Leia conforms to the traditional gender roles, she does project some positive traits throughout the course of the original trilogy. With the release Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens in 2015, popular culture was still lacking adequate female representation and role models. When a woman was cast as the lead character in the latest instalment of the Star Wars Saga it was a regarded as a big deal. Rey, played by Daisy Ridley was both a protagonist and a hero, she has no romantic interests, wears combat outfits and fights villains just like Anakin and Luke in the trilogies before her . Starting out as a scavenger on Jakku she combines some of the best traits of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo and is both a relatable and believable female lead which is rare to see in films even today. This leads to breaking the stereotype which is present in the earlier films and reinforces the gender balance. Young girls growing up with these new films will have a role model to look up to, while boys will see Rey as a hero regardless of gender. Rey, and her companion Finn mirror well-known initiation myths from mythology: While Finn draws from various Biblical folktales and Celtic myths, Reys story is a updated version of one of the oldest myths, The Epic of Gilgamesh, while adding a feminist interpretation (Glen Robert Gill, 2016). Reys struggle with the main villain Kylo Ren, who is later revealed to be the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, resembles mythic themes of relations and rivalries between siblings. Although Reys lineage is kept secret from the viewer, the idea that she is a Skywalker would make perfect archetypal sense. When we are introduced to Rey we quickly realise she will follow much of the same traits as J.J. Abrams previous leading female characters such as Jennifer Garner of Alias and Anna Torv of Fringe. Rey is a solitary hero who resides in the desert. Her name evokes ideas of light or solar heroism (Ray) and royalty with Rey meaning King in Spanish. Rey however starts at the bottom of the social hierarchy unlike Gilgamesh. While stranded on the planet Jakku we see her scavenging parts from crashed Imperial ships as a means to survive which may be a forecasting of her future as a rebel. Rey is an inverted feminist version of Gilgamesh that will have to be trained and moulded with the martial tradition of the Jedi order to become a Jedi and possibly even becoming immortal during the course of the new films. Rey is also an orphan similar to Finn that reminds us of many female examples such as Daenerys Targaryen from Game Of Thrones, Jane Eyre or even Annie.ÂÂ   This can have special feminine implications as the search for her family is not just about parental affirmation but also about overcoming social vulnerabilities and inequities. Similar to the first meeting between Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu, the first time Rey and Finn meet they begin fighting and arguing with each other, only to later find a common purpose. Just as Rey is an inverted feminist Gilgamesh, Finn is an inverted version of Enkidu, Enkidu can be seen as a representation of the natural or uncivilized side of humanity. As Finn is spurred to escape the soulless structure of the First Order to the natural environment of the Resistance by the cold toughness of Captain Phasma, who is the negative projection of the maidenly anima. Phasmas chrome covered armor projects the mythological idea of the mirror, as this symbolizes self-contemplation and self-examination. As Finn and Rey grow closer as friends, we see in them less as deserters (Finn deserted the First Order, Rey was deserted on the desert planet by her family) but an updated version of the archetypal friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The friendship that develops between Rey and Finn during The Force Awakens reminds us that friendships born in the midst of battle do not need to be exclusively masculine, and do not have to be endorsed or convoluted by a romantic element. When Rey and Finn escape the planet Jakku they are introduced to Han Solo and Chewbacca, the original trilogys version of the same archetypal characters. Han Solos return also brings with it the Jungs archetypal figure the wise old man. Just like Obi-Wan Kenobis role to Luke in A New Hope, Han becomes a mentor figure to our main characters. Han also affirms the existence of the Force to Rey in the exact same location on board the Millennium Falcon as Obi-Wan Kenobi tutored Luke. Soon after our four heroes meet they must work together to escape gangsters who are attempting to capture Solo, the archetypal significance of this is found in the pursuing groups destruction by the hideous rathtars that escape their cages during the course of the action, these snake-tentacled creatures are reminiscent of the mythical Medusa that is itself a demonic incarnation of the yonic symbol that Freud called the vagina dentata(Leah12. 2012) In relation to Reys journey, this can be seen as a parallel of Gilgameshs battle with the monstrous Humbaba. In a archetypal sense monsters are generally projections of the negative self or extensions of the viewers self-image, it is also worth noting that while Gilgamesh decapitates his monster in an egoistic search for prestige, Rey only dismembers her monster to aid her companion, Finn. It is also notable that during Reys martial induction, she generally only uses her developing abilities for defence and enemy persuasion just as the Jedi code demands, and only time she is openly aggressive is when Finn is cut down during his battle with Kylo Ren in the films climax. Rey is basically the 21st century version of Luke Skywalker, a young 20 something character who is possibly the last hope for the Jedi order. Early in the film when Rey first meets Finn and they are fleeing from pursuing Stormtroopers, Finn repeatedly reaches for Reys hand to aid in her escape. Rey snaps at him I know how to run without you holding my hand. She also outmatches the main villain Kylo Ren both mentally and physically during the course of the film. One of the more notable scenes involves Han Solo recognising that Rey is somebody who can handle herself, in one scene in particular he offers to show Rey how to use a blaster to which she replies I think I can handle myself, his agreement reminds the viewer of how Leia saved his life at the end of Episode VI. He then continues to approve of her proficiency without coming across a patronising, even offering her a job alongside him and letting her fly his beloved Millennium Falcon. Rey is also an example of the young, maidenly aspects of Jungs term anima, which describes the archetypal feminine. Like much of Abrams previous work it shows an understanding that the anima does not need to be a companion or object of the masculine self which presumes the perspective of the audience, instead being a representation of that perspective. It has also been claimed that Reys character is whats described as a Mary Sue type anima archetype (Zulai Serrano, 2015), which claims the character can do no wrong, making her a character too unrealistic for some viewers. The rich feminine dimension of The Force Awakens makes itself very apparent with the first appearance of the droid BB-8, who serves as Reys heroic token just as R2-D2 served as Lukes. The figure eight body shape of BB-8 resembles that of theNeolithic Venus, which contrasts against the small phallic structure of R2-D2. BB-8 is what is called ayonic symbol, this is the archetypal image of female embodiment (the chassis of BB-8 houses the reward of the quest which is the map to finding the missing Luke Skywalker, this can also be seen as a sort of rebirth for the character in the process). As stated earlier, the original trilogy had only one main female character and although the Prequels had more female characters their representation was even worse, even going as far as to have Padme (Leias mother) dying of a broken heart in Episode VI. The new film takes steps to address this by having several women in key roles. General Leia is the leader of the resistance and has been allowed to age gracefully on screen, she is seen as the role of leader while still being a mother figure throughout. Over the course of the films Leia has moved from a Princess to a General and from a lover to a leader of the Resistance. Leia also functions independently without either Luke or Han which is very different than the last time we seen her in Return of the Jedi. Leia also conforms to the mature pole of the anima archetype, named by Jung as theGreat Mother. This marks a major archetypal change for Leia from the original trilogies, where she often functioned as the pure aspect of the anima, a role now taken by Rey. Leia still remains a positive representation of the anima as she continues to oppose the negative aspects of the anima, which Jung calls theTerrible Mother. This figure is not represented by one character in particular but by a vast destructive power such as the Death Stars of A New Hope and The Return of the Jedi, and its most recent incarnation Starkiller base in The Force Awakens. Where the Great Mother supports and upholds, similar to what Leia does, the Terrible Mother consumes all, as shown in the Death Stars ability to destroy planets from afar. We are also introduced to the character of Maz Kanata an old, wise mother figure who has been referred to as a female Yoda. It is Maz who gives Rey Luke Skywalkers lightsaber and Awakens the force in her. The fact that this character has been given Yodas role is very noticeable and can be seen as a major step in the gender balance issue. To a lesser extent Captain Phasma as a woman under the Stormtrooper suit is completely new to the Star Wars universe. It is also the first time we see female pilots at the controls of the X- wings during the final assault on Starkiller base which was unheard of before the release of the film. The Force Awakens is a game changer in many respects. It honors and updates the themes and tropes fans expect to find in the Star Wars universe by reiterating and reinterpreting compelling characters and symbology from known mythology. While still retaining its traditional values and fearlessly putting a female character such as Rey as the main protagonist and keeps a healthy mix of old and new characters that continue to transcend their archetype roles. The The Force Awakens can also be seen as more of a reboot than a sequel that builds on the best elements from the previous films and what it promises in the future.Whether the story of the Skywalker family continues throughout the course of the new trilogy is still to be determined but with the inclusion of Rey as the hero a new generation of fans (Male or Female) will look up to promises to bring us in new, fascinating directions. References Andrew Yang. (2015). The Archetypes Of Star Wars . Available: https://www.archetypes.com/the-archetypes-of-star-wars/. Last accessed 04th Jan 2017. Glen Robert Gill. (2016). Star Wars: The Force Awakens: An Archetypal Review. Available: http://brightlightsfilm.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens-archetype-gilgamesh-joseph-campbell-hero-mythic-myth-deepens/#. Last accessed 13th Jan 2017. Gwendolyn Glover. (2011). Women Role Models. Available: http://anna-reinertson.livejournal.com/. Last accessed 04th Jan 2017. John Paul Pianka. (2013). THE POWER OF THE FORCE: RACE, GENDER, AND COLONIALISM IN THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE. Available: http://wesscholar.wesleyan.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1040context=etd_mas_theses. Last accessed 14th Jan 2017. Kristen Brennan. (2013). Star Wars Origins. Available: http://www.moongadget.com/origins/myth.html. Last accessed 7th Jan 2017. Laura Hudson. (2013). Leia Is Not Enough: Star Wars and the Woman Problem in Hollywood. Available: https://www.wired.com/2013/02/opinion-star-wars-females-media/. Last accessed 04th Jan 2017. Leah12. (2012). The Monstrous Feminine. Available: http://monstrous-fem.blogspot.ie/. Last accessed 11th Feb 2017. Lucas Seastrom. (2015). Mythic Discovery Within the Inner Reaches of Outer Space: Joseph Campbell Meets George Lucas Part I. Available: http://www.starwars.com/news/mythic-discovery-within-the-inner-reaches-of-outer-space-joseph-campbell-meets-george-lucas-part-i. Last accessed 8th Feb 2017. Samuel James. (2015). How does Star Wars: The Force Awakens represent women ?. Available: http://screenprism.com/insights/article/what-does-star-wars-the-force-awakens-tell-us-about-its-representation. Last accessed 04th Jan 2017. WD TR. (2016). Star Wars : The Heroines Journey Of rey. Available: http://www.starwarsintheclassroom.com/content/hj/rey_hj.asp. Last accessed 16th Jan 2017. Zulai Serrano. (2015). Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Is Rey A Mary Sue? Twitter Sparks Fanboy Debate. Available: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/star-wars-force-awakens-rey-mary-sue-twitter-sparks-fanboy-debate-499248. Last accessed 20th Feb 2017.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Effectiveness of Different Leadership Styles

Effectiveness of Different Leadership Styles Table of Contents Executive report Introduction Rationale and objectives Background Methodology Analysis of the findings Conclusion Reference Works Cited Appendix Executive report This report is done to compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations, explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management, and evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations. The purpose, problems and objectives of the research are outlined in the introduction as well as background information on both businesses. A methodology that explicitly tells how the researcher will go about conducting the research- methods and so on is also included. The research begins here in section two; the findings are analyzed and discussed. The objectives are restated then they are discussed, analyzed and evaluated respectively. A conclusion is also drawn from the whole report mainly giving a reminder of the issues that exist. Harvard style referencing is used to cite where some of the information and knowledge are obtain. Finally, there is an appendix which consists of an organizational chart for CDR. Introduction Rationale and objectives The importance of this research includes: Firstly, to afford the researcher the opportunity to assume major roles in leading a project. Secondly, allowing the researcher to assume management and administrative roles in order to attain knowledge, understanding and the skills of these areas. Third, to prepare and coordinate operational plans, display effective self-development and time management skills to satisfy an organization’s needs The objectives of the research are to: 2.1 Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations 2.2 Explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management 2.3 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations Leadership Background Casa de Regalo is a nationwide partnership gift boutique established in 2009. It is located at Barbican Centre. They have ten dedicated and enthusiastic employees. Due to their unique tailor made products and services C.D.R is considered as the organization that satisfies seasonal giving needs. They specialize in a variety of unique merchandise ranging from specialty cards, flowers, toys and personalized printing services to specialty handcrafted gifts, jewelry, body essentials and customized apparel which are imported from your favorite places over the world. They also offer surprise delivery services. Providing exceptional customer service and customized products that are tailor-made to each customers personal style and also giving them the highest quality merchandises at an affordable price is our mission. We are aimed at making profit. KD consulting is a limited liability company established in 2008. It has twelve dedicated experts. We are a mobile company but our main office is located in Montego Bay. Our company provides a variety of services ranging from identify highest-value opportunities to addressing the most critical challenges and transforming enterprises. The trust and confidence in our capabilities that our clients are exposed to, is what differentiates us from other firms as well as our ability to enhance business performance, positively marketing them and ensuring their likelihood of making profit or achieving their goals. CDR is an international organization with the mission of providing expert advice and solutions for clients, therefore assisting small businesses to develop efficient plans for meeting their goals. Our aspiration strives through becoming the best consulting firm there is; providing quality service to all existing and start-up small businesses that seek our guidance. We also aim to be recognized as partner of choice by our clients and being technologically advanced in our fields of expertise while remaining practical and business oriented. Methodology The research is to design a management firm which is hired to assess a small business on behalf of an investor to help the company to explore the links between the organisation structure and culture and how these interact and influence the behaviour of the workforce. In order to assist the company secondary research will be conducted. Secondary data collection is published information that is already available from other sources. The internet will be my main source with its online dictionaries, articles, websites and books. This information collected from the secondary sources is pertinent to the objectives of the research. The researcher also used this type due to the fact that it is Inexpensive, information is easily accessible and immediately available and it will provide essential background to help to clarify or refine the research problem. The information accumulated is credible and is derived from the written work of authoritative individuals such as Jatin Vaid. The research began on February 9th and proceeded to February 26th. Data was collected from several sources from the online sources in order to obtain information related to the United Kingdom (UK) and local business organizations. . Analysis of the findings Compare and contrast different organizational structures and culture The structures There are three main types of structure. Product, matrix and functional Product Division Structure -These are popular among international companies with many products. Products that are similar are grouped under one product heading e.g. Perfumes and Cosmetics, each CEO focusing on a single product segment for its global market. Matrix Division Structure This tries simultaneously to deal with competing pressures for global integration and local responsiveness. Institutes overlaps among functional and divisional forms. It allows individual groups to share responsibility for new operations and enables them to exchange resources and information more Group willingly. Disadvantages includes: not championing their groups’ unique needs, therfore eliminate the multiple knowledge (Vaid, 2012). Functional Structure Specialized jobs are grouped according to traditional business functions. It is suitable for Company with a narrow product line, sharing similar technology. Highly efficient and assist in maximizing economies of scale The cultures Role Culture – focusses on rules, tasks, procedures and job descriptions Power Culture – power exercised by a one person with not much formal rules; Person Culture – the organisation is present for its members to benefit of; Task/Mission Culture – goal based with rewards for achieving mission and goals; 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organization’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business Organizations are set up in specific ways to accomplish different goals, and the structure of an organization can help or hinder its progress toward accomplishing these goals. There are three main types of organizational structure: functional, divisional and matrix structure Culture consists of the shared values of an organization -the beliefs and norms that affect every aspect of work life, from how people greet each other to how major policy decisions are made Types of culture include: power culture, role culture, person culture and task culture. 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behaviour at work The major factors that influence individual behavioral patterns, according to John Ivancevich and Michael Mattson are: demographic factors, ability and skills, perception, attitudes and personality. Demographic factors includes: race, age, sex, socio economic background, education and so on. The importance of studying demographic factors is to assist managers to choose the most fitting candidate for the specific job. Organizations rather persons belonging to a particular socio-economic background- well educated and young. They are believed to perform better than others. Skills and ability: skill according to Cambridge dictionaries is an ability to do an activity or job well especially because you have practiced it. Ability is the mental or physical power or skills needed to do something. Ability and skills highly influence individual behavior and performance. Persons tend to perform better in an organization if his skills and abilities are matched with the job. It is the manager’s job to match these skills and abilities off the employee to the job. Perception: a thought, belief, or opinion, often held by many people and based on appearances is referred to as perception (cambridge-dictionaries, n.d.). The study of perception is integral for managers as they need to provide a work environment that is favorable, so that the employees perceive them in most favorable way. If employees perceive it in a positive way they are more likely to perform better. Attitude: â€Å"An attitude is ‘a relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards socially significant objects, groups, events or symbols’ (Hogg, Vaughan 2005, p. 150).† (McLeod, 2009). Attitude is influenced by family, society, culture, organizational factors and peers. Managers in an organization need to create suitable work environments therefore tempting employees to have positive attitudes towards their respective jobs. If employees have positive attitude toward the job they perform better. Personality: the study of individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving (American Psycological Association, n.d.). Factors that influence personality includes: heredity, family, society, culture and situation. Individuals tend to differ in manner while responding to the organizational environment. The most complex aspect of human beings can be regarded as personality. Conclusion Cultural influences and organisational structures can both inform and constrain the strategic development and ultimately the competitiveness of a business in order to maintain competitive advantage and avoid any strategic drift (where organisational factors and culture drive the business rather than the needs of customers and key stakeholders). Their impact should be considered regularly by leaders and senior managers and they should both be critically reviewed. Reference Works Cited cambridge-dictionaries, n.d. Ability. [Online] [Accessed February 2015]. McLeod, S., 2009. Home †º Social Psychology †º Attitudes. [Online] Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/attitudes.html [Accessed February 2015]. Vaid, J., 2012. Organization structure in international business. [Online] Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/jatinmaims/organization-structure-in-international-business [Accessed February 2015]. Appendix Chart showing organizational structure of Casa de Regalo .