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Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Essay about Critical Book Review - 1170 Words

Critical Book Review Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction Michelle Beel Liberty University Psych 307 Summary Dr. Mark Lasser’s book â€Å"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction† gives insight to those who suffer from sexual addiction and to the families, friends and other people in their lives. Dr. Mark Lasser has chosen to write this book, to share with others his personal struggle and victory with sexual addiction. Dr. Lasser has written this book from a Christian view, to give other individuals hope in a difficult and growing disease, which is taking control and destroying our families. Lasser defines sexual addiction as â€Å"a sickness involving any type of uncontrollable sexual activity, and because the addict cannot control his†¦show more content†¦Mark Lasser’s book â€Å"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction† there are 4 major themes being explored, Part One: What is Sexual Addiction? Here Dr. Lasser explains what sexual addiction is, and what the three building blocks of sexual addiction are â€Å"Sexual Fantasy, Pornography, and Mas turbation†. (Lasser, 2004, pp 28)Lasser expands on the different types of sexual addiction, and give us understanding of the different characteristic of the addiction. Major theme part 2: â€Å"The Roots of Sexual Addiction†, here Lassser gives the roots of sexual addiction and explains the reasonsShow MoreRelatedEssay on Critical Book Review1166 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Critical Book Review Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction Michelle Beel Liberty University Psych 307 Summary Dr. Mark Lasser’s book â€Å"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction† gives insight to those who suffer from sexual addiction and to the families, friends and other people in their lives. Dr. Mark Lasser has chosen to write this book, to share with others his personal struggle and victory with sexual addiction. Dr. Lasser has written this book from a Christian view, toRead MoreCritical Book Review Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesTo begin, I feel the need to state that this book was slightly hard to digest. I realize that I am meant to elaborate on whether or not I agree with Joseph Nevins thesis, but to be honest, I was rather confused as to what that thesis is. The author jumped around quite a bit, giving the reader extensive background information and lessons in history and geography, and yet, he managed to tie everything back to the main story of Julio Cesar Gallagos. I think that, perhaps, the extraneous informationRead MoreCritical Book Review of Slaughterhouse F ive2406 Words   |  10 Pagessoldier through his writing technique. Slaughterhouse Five is written circularly, and time travel is ironically the only consistency throughout the book. Vonnegut outlines the life of Billy Pilgrim, whose life and experiences are uncannily similar to those of Vonnegut. In Chapter 1, Kurt Vonnegut non-fictionally describes his intentions for writing the book. Vonnegut personally experienced the destruction of Dresden, and explains how he continuously tried to document Dresden but was unsuccessful forRead MoreFeatures Of Writing A Review At A Professional Standard2023 Words   |  9 Pages Regardless of the object being reviewed, there are a number of essential features of writing a review at a professional standard. This essay will examine each of those features with reference to two reviews of films which explore a specific theme. Firstly, however, the meaning of the term ‘professional standard’ must be established. There are standards that all professions must follow. These are to do with ethics and values. At the very least, standardsRead MoreThe Monuments Men: Critical Book Review Essay1638 Words   |  7 Pagesgenerations learn about the War, they are exposed to the battles, leaders, political parties, heroes, and turmoil of this period; however, important events that often were overshadowed are slowly becoming forgotten and neglected. Robert Edsel, in his book The Monuments Men, tells the story of the â€Å"greatest treasure hunt in history† and the race to sa The Monuments Men is set during World War II, but primarily focuses on the Monuments Men and their activities from June 1944 to May 1945 (Edsel xv). TheRead MoreCritical Book Review : No Shame in My Game1612 Words   |  7 PagesWhen someone thinks of the poor they instantly imagine a homeless man sleeping in a cardboard box or the nearest garbage can, but the working poor especially in the inner-city is commonly overlooked by society. However the working poor, in this case the working poor in the inner-city, are people advancing to try and make their lives better. They are taking minimum wage jobs so that they can barely afford a roof over their heads. Within Katherine Newman s novel No Shame In My Game, she studies theRead MoreCritical Book Review Red China Blues Essays1586 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Stephen Mendoza, HIST 2312 Wong, Jan. Red China Blues. Toronto: Doubleday/ Anchor Books, 1996. 395 pages. $11.95 In Jan Wong’s entrancing expose Red China Blues, she details her plight to take part in a system of â€Å"harmony and perfection† (12) that was Maoist China. Wong discloses her trials and tribulations over a course of three decades that sees her searching for her roots and her transformation of ideologies that span over two distinctive forms of Communist governments. This tale is so enticingRead MoreA Critical Review of the Book Its Not Luck by Em Goldratt Essay1722 Words   |  7 PagesA Critical Review of the Book Its Not Luck by Em Goldratt An extensive use of Goldratts thinking process is applied in the various businesses as part of the problem solving. Its not luck emphasizes the importance of using the thinking processes in business and in your personal life. The thinking processes refer to a logical, graphical, general and practical method of problem solving methodology and basically comprised of 3 steps. These steps as described by Goldratt are: 1. What to changeRead More Critical Book Review of No Shame in My Game by Katherine Newman1591 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Book Review of No Shame in My Game by Katherine Newman When someone thinks of the poor they instantly imagine a homeless man sleeping in a cardboard box or the nearest garbage can, but the working poor especially in the inner-city is commonly overlooked by society. However the working poor, in this case the working poor in the inner-city, are people advancing to try and make their lives better. They are taking minimum wage jobs so that they can barely afford a roof over their heads.Read MoreCritical Book Review: Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian1793 Words   |  8 PagesIn his book Forgotten Fire, author Adam Bagdasarian investigates the Armenian Genocide through the eyes of a twelve year old Armenian boy named Vahan Kenderian. Through Vahan, the reader experiences the atrocities committed during the 1915 genocide of Armenians in Turkey. The Turks, who were Muslim, viewed the Christian Armenians as inferiors and treated them as such; under Turkish law, Armenians had nearly no rights, no fair justice in Turkish courts, could not bear a rms, and were taxed far higher

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Declaration Of Independence, By Thomas Jefferson, And...

Chris Layton Mrs. Brown English 101- Honors English 12 2 October 2015 Every person has their own characterization of freedom. Depending on time, place, religion, and race, this meaning varies. Eventually it comes back to one specific point, all men, regardless of anything, created equally, and therefore have the right to be free. The â€Å"Declaration of Independence,† written by Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech both address the problem of not being free. Even though Thomas and Luther were alive 150 years apart and had very different lives, they both faced the same issue of human equality that drove them to write some of the most influential works in American history. Although they bear some superficial similarities, the difference between the Declaration of Independence and â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech are pronounced. Thomas Jefferson, and a group of other rich white men, thought it was necessary for the colonies to separate from Great Britain so they created the Dec laration of Independence. The decided to make the Declaration of Independence to overthrow the government that was in power of the colonist because it was becoming too powerful and destructive. Jefferson states, all men are created equally and all have the natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. In Jefferson’s thoughts, we all have such rights that are given to us by nature so these rights are called our â€Å"unalienable rights† of the people. For the protection ofShow MoreRelatedEquality And The American Dream1068 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst inequality. On July 4, 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the most important document in the history of our nation. The Declaration of Independence was the official document that claimed that their new name the United States of America and they would succeed from unfair British control. The Declaration of Independence was famous for demanding that everyone should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of h appiness. Fast forward 187 years, Martin Luther King gave his monumental â€Å"I Have A Dream†Read MoreMartin Luther King s I Have A Dream Speech891 Words   |  4 PagesKindergarten, teachers have been teaching students about Martin Luther King Junior’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech. Ever since children have been born, they have celebrated Independence Day by either going to a parade, or shooting fireworks. Although, at these young ages, children don’t quite know the real importance of each of them. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted every human being, regardless of their race to be treated fairly or just. Independence Day was the day on July 4, 1776 where fifty-six courageousRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr s Letter Of Birmingham Jail903 Words   |  4 Pagesa unique element to the mixture of liberty across the United States. Martin Luther King Jr’s a â€Å"letter of Birmingham Jail,† and Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence both advocate the claim for freedom. Both of these historical figures make this apparent by arguing for the protest against tradition, a change across unjust laws, although they differ between the kinds of change to be enforced. Martin Luther King Junior’s a letter from a Birmingham Jail was him expressing his motivationRead Moreï » ¿An Analysis of Letter from a Birmingham Jail1204 Words   |  5 PagesLetter from Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King Jr. As he states in the title, in a Birmingham, Alabama jail. Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed because he participated on a nonviolent protest of segregation in public places such as lunch counters and public restrooms. During his jail time, Martin Luther King Jr. read a criticism about a protest made by a group of white ministers, accusing King of being an outsider, of using extreme measures that incite hatred and violence, that hisRead MoreDeclaration of Independence and Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesThomas Jefferson and Martin Luther King Jr. are two American men who were key leaders during very controversial periods in U.S. history, and they were instrumental in movements that forever changed American soc iety. Although their generations, cultures, backgrounds, and motives were quite different, their cause was relatively the same. It was a cause that stood against injustice, oppression, and sought the freedom of all men. Their beliefs and struggles were evident in their writings. Two of theRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Martin Luther King Jr. Essay1334 Words   |  6 Pages2 What is our role as a citizen? The Declaration of Independence explains a citizen’s role as, â€Å"Individual rights refer to the liberties of each individual to pursue life and goals without interference from other individuals or the government.† But what happens when the rights given to us are not protected as stated in the Declaration of Independence? The result is dissatisfaction in our communities which leads to people taking a stand. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham jail talks aboutRead MoreThe American Dream By Martin Luther King Jr.943 Words   |  4 Pagestreatment of African Americans was one example of how the American Dream can be taken away from a group of people, but it also shows how much the American Dream is wanted by that same group of people. â€Å"The Declaration of Independence† by Thomas Jefferson, and the â€Å"I Have a Dream† by Martin Luther King Jr., speech are just small beginnings to something as great as what America is today. When the liberation of America came from Great Britain, it came with many struggles that the settlers had to face. TheyRead MoreA Comparison of the Declaration of Independence and Kings I Have A Dream1264 Words   |  6 Pagescreated equally, and therefore have a right to be free.   The Declaration of Independence, by Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have A Dream are two works addressing this concern.   Although Jefferson and King led extremely different lives over 150 years apart, both faced issues of human equality that drove them to write two of the most influential works in American history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thomas Jefferson, an educated, well respected career man, served as governor of Read MoreIndependence Of The Independent Constitution Today Is Great For All Of Us Essay1032 Words   |  5 PagesEssay: Independence Living in the Independent Constitution today is great for all of us. Independence Day is a representation of what the United Stated now is. The government and President work for the people not the other way around. The Civil Rights movement resulted in our modern change of rights for all races. Independence usually that comes at a cost in order to truly be achieved and helpful to the people. The Constitution was made to help mankind achieve new possibilities. Read MoreMartin Luther King Jr1194 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Simmons 1 Gabrielle Simmons Mrs. Fitzgerald Social Studies 8A 4/27/10 Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a well known and an inspiring man to all cultures of the world. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. King s views and believes helped African Americans through the 50 s and 60 s to the rights and liberties that was their right. King faced many obstacles on his journey, things like jail and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles,

Monday, December 9, 2019

A Revisionist perspective of the election of Thoma Essay Example For Students

A Revisionist perspective of the election of Thoma Essay s JeffersonConsensus historians paint Thomas Jefferson as the great father of democracy, referring to his election to the presidency as the revolution of 1800. In actuality, Thomas Jefferson was an inconsistent man, who was philosophically against the Federalists, but who did not bring about any significant political or ideological changes during his presidency. Recently, revisionist historians have begun to question the notion of Jefferson as the representative of the common man. Many of these historians now agree that Jeffersons life was wrought with contradictions, and that his policies, as a president, actually reflected a synthesis of the Federalist and Republican ideologies. We are all republicans, we are all federalists, Jefferson stated in his first inaugural address. Many Americans were shocked to hear those words come out of the same mouth that had supported the bloody conflicts of the French Revolution years before. Jeffersons many political theories, and personal letters, sometimes reflected an interest in the common man and democracy, while his actual practices were drastically different. Politically, the Jeffersonian party was insecure and inconsistent. After being elected president, Jefferson did nothing to increase the level of democracy in the government. Traditionally, the Jeffersonian movement and the Republican Party have been seen as anti-capitalist, promoting the interests of the common man, and favoring a strict interpretation of the constitution. The Hamiltonian movement and the Federalist Party represented the elite capitalist class, favoring a concentration of power in the State, and a loose interpretation of the constitution. Revisionist historians have argued against this view. They argue that the Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian movements are not significantly different, but rather each represents different factions of elites. There are numerous examples that show the accuracy of this revisionist view. In the election of 1800, the federalists were forced to vote for one of the two Republicans running. Many of them favored Burr, as the less extreme of the t wo, until Hamilton convinced them of Jeffersons moderate intents. He Jefferson is as likely as any man I know to temporize- to calculate what will be likely to promote his own reputation and advantage; and the probable result of such a temper is the preservation of the systems, though originally opposed, which, being once established, could not be overturned without danger to the person who did it. The revisionist perspective that Thomas Jefferson did not represent the masses, but merely a different faction of elites, has much supporting evidence. Jeffersons interests in the common farmer were second to those of the Southern landowner. Jefferson deviated even from this prospective, crossing the line on many issues into what would seem Federalist actions. One historian, Peter S. Onuf, went so far as to dub it Jeffersonian Federalism. One example of this is the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson deviated from his strict interpretation of the constitution in order to purchase Louisiana, whi ch would benefit land speculators and Northern capitalists, telling the Senate to ratify it with as little debate as possible, and particularly so far as respects the constitutional difficulty. Morton Borden points out in his essay, Thomas Jefferson: political compromiser, that Jefferson took a decisively Federalist approach to the military as well, contrary to what many Federalists thought would happen. In less than three months after being elected, Jefferson attacked the Barbary pirates without asking permission from Congress. Many of Jeffersons political compromises were reflected in his economic decisions. One of the main contradictions of the Jefferson administration was its adoption of Federalist economic policies. Jefferson had no clear economic plan; he theorized about the adoption of a laissez-faire policy, and the destruction of the Hamiltonian system, but did nothing about this as president. Jefferson, by and large, maintained the Federalist system throughout his presidency. One of the first things Jefferson did was to abolish the hated excise taxes on whiskey. In order to do this, he had to find another way to acquire funds. Thus he justified increasing protective tariffs. This rendered the abolition of the whiskey tax merely cosmetic, as the direct tax was reduced, but the prices of all commodities were raised. Jefferson also had the national bank destroyed, but re-instituted it in 1816 in order to raise national funds. His partys legislature

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Organisation Behaviour Ans Sociology of Work Essay Example

Organisation Behaviour Ans Sociology of Work Essay The two sections of interest from the OBS module are observations into the concepts of organisational culture and scientific management of work design. I will look at the challenges posed to the theories of these areas and use my interaction with my employer (Tesco) to provide concise first person examples. Organisational culture can be seen as a backbone of a company, however as the tangible aspects of it are barely visible it can be hard to derive theories from practice. Looking at the meaning of organisational culture: The culture of an organisation is made up of traditions, habits, ways of organising and patterns of relationships at work(C Molander Winterton 1994), further explained it is the feeling created with an organisation, the climate and energy within the people of the workplace and its environment. It shows focus on the values and norms of how things are done and approached in organisations, the patterns of order and task completion. The are three levels of culture according to Shein (1992), cultural artifacts, values and basic assumptions, with cultural artefacts being the only tangible, visible one, embedding such things as traditions, logos and the type of people within it. The values aspect depicts the group thought and their expectation of the future, this being a covert aspect as it can only be unearthed through detailed investigation. Basic assumptions being even more covert as it entails looking into the actual psyche of the individual, what they believe of the world, (is there such thing as a universal, timeless human truth or reality or do we live in dynamic worlds that are largely of our own making? ) (Joana Brewis 2007, p. 348). There are two underlining approaches to organisational culture that researchers in this field categorise, one is that culture is something that an organisation has and the other is that culture is something that the organisation is. We will write a custom essay sample on Organisation Behaviour Ans Sociology of Work specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Organisation Behaviour Ans Sociology of Work specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Organisation Behaviour Ans Sociology of Work specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The has approach explains that culture is derived from a set plan, changed and moulded by the managers to a specific degree of freedom and control to achieve the one best way of functioning, Peters and Waterman (1982). This is a mainstream approach and is used by many large companies that try to create a good environment and effective culture. The is approach explains that culture is organic, organisations culture builds from the individuality of the people and physical forces within it, as a process over time, without conscious plan. The first challenge posed for the two theories is distinguishing them within the organisation. The mainstream approach is the most recognised and researched approach, most large companies would desire to use this approach and develop the culture from scratch so that it functions solely for the organisations needs. However even when it does do its best at achieving this, the natural problems that an organisation can encounter may hinder the cultural equilibrium. My evidence comes from my employment with a huge supermarket chain Tesco, as a year long employee of this company and working on many different departments throughout the lower end of the chain. Tesco carries out the has belief similarly, with employing many ways to counter the need for control of culture. A set list of required behaviour titled as expectations is presented to the employee where they have to agree to the terms set. This is an official outlined code of conduct, that categorises the culture of the organisation and expects the employee to abide and follow. This can be seen as a form of cultural engineering (Jackson and Carter,2000, p. p 27-28), narrowing down the range of decisions an employee can choose to reach the required goal. This is also seen as the corporate culture, the official way of doing things, but as in all organisations, there is also the organisational culture, the way things are actually done, this may differ greatly depending on how much control is put upon the employees by the company. Tesco corporately shows great enthusiasm in employing control to create a stable culture where motivation and organisational performance thrives, however many factors can affect the competency of this. In my experience, the relationship with the manager and other employees has a great impact on the shaping of culture and how much it stays constant. If a good relationship with the manager is created, in terms of the expectations from each other such as working at the times asked and working at the times wanted, then no segregation is present, however if problems arise between managers and employees as whole, then a Them and us approach is seen. This is where the employees see the managers as a ifferent entity working for a different goal that is opposite to the one of the employees. This challenge can be seen as a form of sub-culture developing, where the forced beliefs of the organisation no longer play a leading role in the employees psyche but a separate route of thought is created, potentially damaging the company in forms of lesser productivity as of employee de-motivation. Sub-cultures however can be managed, looked at critically to see how they can be brought together to crea te a coherent, functional entity. Brown, 1998, p. 72). Actual theories deriving from the has approach have been extensive, many researchers believe they have found the right way of doing things to get the best organisational performance. Concrete research has been created on the types organisational cultures that exist within modern companies and how, they in their own right, function. Deal and Kennedy (1988) and Handy (1993) developed a comprehensive description of theyre four key categories that fit to range of organisations. First category is named The power culture depicting a type of organisation where the owner is the central source of power, that delegates to lower managers but giving them freedom to their own decisions, to compete for the completion of a task. This is a tough culture where high labour turnover may be present through low moral. The role culture is a type of an organisation that functions on the basis of standardised policies and job descriptions. Tasks of employees would involve only what is required of them, as they were selected solely for the purpose of the job description. This type of culture creates stability for the employer and employees, with constant supply of workers for the tasks in hand for the employer and the safety at the company for the employee, being valued and nurtured to climb up the career ladder. Third culture is The task culture, where the central point of function is the team, required to work together on a project where the completion of the job is the ultimate goal. The final culture is The cluster/person culture is centred around the individual, with freedom to do what the individual wants, to carry out the tasks that perceived to be most important. This culture is largely cited in consulting agencies. Tesco can be seen as a role culture, the tasks of the general employee would be constrained to the guidelines given, each department with its own standardised way of functioning, ultimately set out by the directors. As the link of communication between the directors and the employees are the managers, it can be easy to not fulfil the required guidelines of the directors through misdirection from the manager. Misguidance or no guidance at all would break up the process, giving much emphasis on the importance of a good manager and relationship with that manager for this type of culture to work. As to what the the one best way of cultural organisation is, I turn to Peters and Waterman (1982), they published the most well known and widely spread empirical text on this issue, values of which are still vigorously used in organisations today. The text sets out the eight tenets for an organisation to follow, having A bias for action, being Close to the customer, having Autonomy and entrepreneurship, Productivity through people, being Hands-on, value driven, Stick to the knitting- produce what is good at, Simple form, lean staff flat structure and flexible staff, Simultaneous loose-tight properties- discretion and centralised values. This sets out a standard for a good culture, when carried out effectively, it can be indefinitely seen that the values work and contribute. However such a concise regime of culture can also be damaging, strong cultures can start overlooking their own values or creating a pedantic approach, attention to detail .. turns into an obsession with minutia, rewarding innovation turns to gratuitous invention (Trice and Beyer, 1993, p380). This breakdown can be seen in many large companies including Tesco; as the largest retailer in Britain with profits over four billion pounds, it can be assumed that the culture at Tesco is strong. Underling values of culture have been tried and tested and would include most of the tenets outlined, however it can be seen across the years in the patterns of employment at Tesco that this tight regime to concise values of culture sometimes integrates negative values. At times when demand is high, such as festive periods, they employ a large number of temporary staff, however sometimes they forget to mention that they are temporary. The staff train up and achieve as much as could be expected of them, better than employees that have been working there for longer, showing that their culture functions effectively in nurturing employees. However when festive periods end, demands lowers and temporary contracts run out. Tesco have the right to get rid of all temporary staff in concession to efficiency policies. In doing so they loose out in their own created good employees, almost indirectly create a small negative part of their one best culture. The contradicting approach, and sometimes the reason that the has approach fails is the is approach. It states that leaders do not create culture, it emerges from the collective social interaction of groups and communities (Meek, 1988, p. 459),- the different types of people combine with their own values and assumptions to create their own innovative, coherent culture. As I have explained in some examples of Tescos functions, this natural process of people evolving their own culture within a has approach culture shows presence of the is culture. However as the company is the culture, this includes all aspects of company functions as a contribution to the overall culture. In comparison to the Has theory, Is theorists look at established cultures and evaluate its continuous innovation and how well it does at learning the truce and coping with demands of employed life. (Mills and Murgatroyd, 1991, p 62). The natural progression of a culture is seen in empirical study by Collinson (1988), the investigation concentrated on the way that employees at a lorry truck factory dealt with the mundane lives of a low skilled, low paid and unvalued worker. It showed how the employees developed a joking and teasing atmosphere in their day to day working environment to evoke a sense of pride, as to not frail their macho persona. Collinson claims that this was not a way of showing a resistance to the oppressive system and it did not allow for a basis of belonging, but only showed how they developed a culture to cope, he backs this up with the fact that the workers voted to accept the redundancy payout, with out counteraction, after the factory announce it was closing down. The challenge posed to this conclusion is comprised of my observation of Tescos employees, specifically the temporaries and part time workers. As these types of workers may not consider them selves to be fully emerged in the organisations culture they latch onto any kind of sense of belonging that may be created. One of them being the type of banter cited in Collinsons investigation, thus proclaiming that if there were part time workers in the truck making factory that they may have valued it more as a sense of belonging. The second section of Organisational Behaviour that I will be looking at is the design of work, specifically the classical, scientific and Fordist approaches to creating the structure for employees to be more effective and efficient in. Structure can be concisely but simply defined as the sum total of the ways in which it divides its labour into distinct tasks and then achieves coordination of organisation and structure (Minsberg, 1979, p2). The way in which the factors of revenue and profit creation (employees and environment) are put together to achieve the one best way of operating. This is the classical approach to organisational structure that has been most investigated by Frederick Taylor and Henri Fayol. These classical theorists tried to find a way of replacing the old uncontrolled structures that worked on the rule of thumb to provide a more methodical and systematic approach to work design. Henri Fayol developed fourteen key principles explaining this, which he derived from his experience in turning around a near bankrupt company. (Fayols Principles of Administration) These principles have been summarised by Huczynski and Buchanan (2001, p. 02) into five basic proclamations, that also exist within Tescos structure as I shall examine. First of the principles being Functional division of work- a team for each of Tescos functions exists to work and concentrate on only their own departments and section of work. The next imperative posed is Hierarchical relationships- a clear chain of command exists at Tesco, with team leaders being the lower supervisors of em ployees through to department, store and regional managers. Bureaucratic forms of control- clearly evident at Tesco with the amount of regulations and policies sent down from the head office to set out the set guidance and rules. Narrow supervisory span- as there are is a large amount of managers on shop floor at once it could be seen there is a large supervisory span, however normally only the manager and the team leader would be in control of that departments employees. Finally Closely prescribed roles the roles in each department are filled by a specific type of employee to fit that role, and is constant throughout. The main concern for Fayols theory is that it has little information on the way that the set out principles can integrate. The hierarchical relationships at Tesco can be loose, when the general employee is looking to communicate vertically up the ladder of command, any department or higher member of another department can be contacted. For example this may happen if a label is missing from the shelf, a shelf stacker can go to either a member of Price Integrity or Stock Control, or any manager and team leader of any department to follow up this query. Under Fayol principle of a narrow supervisory span and hierarchical relationships this may not be possible, the shelf stacker would have to look for his manager or team leader to communicate the problem, loosing time and effectiveness of staff. Classical theorists went further to develop this new approach at looking at the operations of a company more critically and how the structure of it relates to the output and performance. Frederic Taylor developed the scientific approach which demonstrates three principles of increasing productivity and efficiency. Frederick W. Taylor, 1911). First principle mentioned is the separation of design and planning work from actually doing it, this involves creating a structure for each function and operation before actually carrying out the operation. Taylors second principle detailed division of labour, sets out the need to have departments that control their own functions and set of employees. The final principle based on observation of working pra ctices, this means to identify the best form of practice, and derive laws and policies to manage this. Taylor also emphasised on monitoring the results of such operations, so that precise management analysis can be made and structure improved where needed. Taylor greatly focused on the need to improve Americas industry efficiency as he thought that insufficiency was present through out the country, in forms of uncontrolled labour and its ultimate output, and to tackle this companies would have to provide Detailed instruction and supervision of each worker in the performance of that workers discrete task (Montgomery, 1989 ). At Tesco, this principle is used, along with many others of Taylors theories, however integration of these principles poses a challenge to the theory. If only a certain route of tasks is trained to that set of employees, then if the employees decide to change roles within the company or try to complete work outside their capabilities, then problems may occur. I gave the example of a missing label on a Tesco shelf, with Tayolors approach of a singular role, the shelf stacker would indeed have to go to a different department or manager to solve his problem. However Ive noticed that Tesco try to provide each employee with as much information about other departments and tasks so that they can solve any problems for them selves. Tesco also allows cross department shifts, so if a department is running low on staff at a certain period, the employees from other departments can quickly fill the gap. This is a innovation to Taylors scientific approach, allowing the organisation to be more flexible when needed. Taylors scientific management can be seen demonstrated in practice and on a large mass production scale by Henry Ford, who used a scientific method of designing production structures, specifically his production line. Incorporating high division of labour rigidly controlled by hierarchical command and detailed guidance. Also simplifying the employees tasks so that they function quicker with out room for thought. Challenge is posed by theorists Harry Braverman The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century. Tesco can provide a wide rage of examples of deskilling, for example till workers can be replaced by self service tills, only partially in most stores, but recently fully, as a convenience Tesco store has been opened in England with out any till operators at all. (Daily Mail 22 October 2009) (1974) arguing that through fragmentation rationalisation mechanisation had created a way of making employees more disposable, and easily replaceable. Organisations underlying need to improve on efficiency as the best way of profit maximisation, leads to creating cheaper ways of carrying operations and tasks, ultimately leading to deskilling and separation of mental and manual labour. Reference Books: Knights, D and Willmott. H, (1949, first published in 1916) Introducing Organizational Behaviour Management, London. Molander, C. Winterton, J. (1993/4), Managing Human Resources, Routledge , London. Frederick, W. Taylor, (1911), The Principles of Scientific Management ,New York. H, Braverman (1974), Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century. New York. Schein, E. H. (1992). Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco. Peters, Thomas J. Waterman, Robert H. , (1982), In search of excellence: Lessons from Americas best-run companies, New York. Jackson, N, P, Carter, (2000), Rethinking Organisational Behaviour, Essex. Brown, A, (1998) Organizational Culture,Trans-Atlantic Pubns. Deal, T Kennedy, A (1988), Corporate cultures: The rites and rituals of corporate life, Lodon. Harrison, M Beyer, M, (1993), The cultures of work organizations, Eglewood Cliffs. Meek, L (1988), Organizational Culture: Origins and Weaknesses, Austra lia. Mintzberg, H, (1979) The structuring of organizations: A synthesis of the research, Englewood Cliffs. Huczynski, A. Buchanan, D. (2001), Organizational Behaviour: An Introductory Text (Instructor’s Manual),Prentice Hall. F, W. Taylor, The principles of scientific management, (1998) Norcross. Web: The principles of Scietific managent, (last modified, 2009) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Principles_of_Scientific_Management Tesco opes first fully self-service store, (2009) http://www. thisismoney. co. uk/news/article. html? in_article_id=492247in_page_id=2

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Biography of Qin Shi Huang, First Emperor of China

Biography of Qin Shi Huang, First Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang (around 259 BCE–September 10, 210  BCE) was the First Emperor of a unified China and founder of the Qin dynasty, who ruled from 246 BCE to 210 BCE. In his 35-year reign, he caused both rapid cultural and intellectual advancement  and much destruction and oppression within China. He is famed for creating magnificent and enormous construction projects, including the beginnings of the Great Wall of China. Fast Facts: Qin Shi Huang ï » ¿Known For:  First Emperor of unified China, founder of Qin dynastyï » ¿Also Known As:  Ying Zheng; Zheng, the King of Qin; Shi HuangdiBorn:  Exact date of birth unknown; most likely around 259 BCE in HananParents: King Zhuangxiang of Qin and Lady ZhaoDied:  September 10, 210  BCE in eastern ChinaGreat Works:  Beginning construction of the Great Wall of China, the terracotta armySpouse: No empress, many concubinesChildren: Around 50 children, including Fusu, Gao, Jianglà ¼, HuhaiNotable Quote: I have collected all the writings of the Empire and burnt those which were of no use. Early Life Qin Shi Huangs birth and parentage are shrouded in mystery. According to legend, a rich merchant named Lu Buwei befriended a prince of the Qin State during the latter years of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770–256 BCE).  The merchants lovely wife Zhao Ji had just gotten pregnant, so he arranged for the prince to meet and fall in love with her. She became the princes concubine  and then gave birth to the merchant Lu Buweis child in 259 BCE. The baby, born in Hanan, was named Ying Zheng. The prince believed the baby was his own.  Ying Zheng became king of the Qin state in 246 BCE, upon the death of his supposed father. He ruled as Qin Shi Huang  and unified China for the first time. Early Reign The young king was only 13 years old when he took the throne, so his prime minister (and likely real father) Lu Buwei acted as regent for the first eight years.  This was a difficult time for any ruler in China, with seven warring states vying for control of the land. The leaders of the Qi, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Chu, and Qin states were former dukes under the Zhou Dynasty  but had each proclaimed themselves king as the Zhou reign fell apart. In this unstable environment, warfare flourished, as did books like Sun Tzus The Art of War.  Lu Buwei had another problem as well; he feared that the king would discover his true identity. Lao Ais Revolt According to Sima Qian in the Shiji, or Records of the Grand Historian, Lu Buwei hatched a scheme to depose Qin Shi Huang in 240 BCE. He introduced the kings mother Zhao Ji to Lao Ai, a man famed for his large penis. The queen dowager and Lao Ai had two sons and Lao and Lu Buwei decided to launch a coup in 238 BCE. Lao raised an army, aided by the king of nearby Wei, and tried to seize control while Qin Shi Huang was traveling. The young king, however, cracked down hard on the rebellion and prevailed. Lao was executed by having his arms, legs, and neck tied to horses, which were then spurred to run in different directions. His whole family was also killed, including the kings two half-brothers and all other relatives to the third degree (uncles, aunts, cousins).  The queen dowager was spared  but spent the rest of her days under house arrest. Consolidation of Power Lu Buwei was banished after the Lao Ai incident  but did not lose all of his influence in Qin. However, he lived in constant fear of execution by the mercurial young king.  In 235 BCE, Lu committed suicide by drinking poison. With his death, the 24-year-old king assumed full command over the kingdom of Qin. Qin Shi Huang grew increasingly suspicious of those around him and banished all foreign scholars from his court as spies. The kings fears were well-founded. In 227, the Yan state sent two assassins to his court, but the king fought them off with his sword. A musician also tried to kill him by bludgeoning him with a lead-weighted lute. Battles With Neighboring States The assassination attempts arose in part because of desperation in neighboring kingdoms. The Qin king had the most powerful army and neighboring rulers feared a Qin invasion. The Han kingdom fell to Qin Shi Huang in 230 BCE. In 229, a devastating earthquake rocked another powerful state, Zhao, leaving it weakened. Qin Shi Huang took advantage of the disaster  and invaded the region.  Wei fell in 225, followed by the powerful Chu in 223. The Qin army conquered Yan and Zhao in 222 (despite another assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang by a Yan agent).  The final independent kingdom, Qi, fell to the Qin in 221 BCE. China Unified With the defeat of the other six warring states, Qin Shi Huang had unified northern China. His army would continue to expand the Qin Empires southern boundaries throughout his lifetime, driving as far south as what is now Vietnam.  The King of Qin was now the Emperor of Qin China. As Emperor, Qin Shi Huang reorganized the bureaucracy, abolishing the existing nobility and replacing them with his appointed officials. He also built a network of roads, with the capital of Xianyang at the hub. In addition, the Emperor simplified the written Chinese script, standardized weights and measures, and minted new copper coins. Steve Peterson Photography /  Getty Images The Great Wall and Ling Canal Despite its military might, the newly unified Qin Empire faced a recurring threat from the north: raids by the nomadic Xiongnu (the ancestors of Attilas Huns). In order to fend off the Xiongnu, Qin Shi Huang ordered the construction of an enormous defensive wall. The work was carried out by hundreds of thousands of slaves and criminals between 220 and 206 BCE; untold thousands of them died at the task. This northern fortification formed the first section of what would become the Great Wall of China. In 214, the Emperor also ordered the construction of a canal, the Lingqu, which linked the Yangtze and Pearl River systems. The Confucian Purge The Warring States Period was dangerous, but the lack of central authority allowed intellectuals to flourish. Confucianism and a number of other philosophies blossomed prior to Chinas unification. However, Qin Shi Huang viewed these schools of thought as threats to his authority, so he ordered all books not related to his reign burned in 213 BCE. The Emperor also had approximately 460 scholars buried alive in 212 for daring to disagree with him, and 700 more stoned to death. From then on, the only approved school of thought was legalism: Follow the Emperors laws, or face the consequences. Qin Shi Huangs Quest for Immortality As he entered middle age, the First Emperor grew more and more afraid of death. He became obsessed with finding the elixir of life, which would allow him to live forever.  The court doctors and alchemists concocted a number of potions, many of them containing quicksilver (mercury), which probably had the ironic effect of hastening the Emperors death rather than preventing it. Just in case the elixirs did not work, in 215 BCE the Emperor also ordered the construction of a gargantuan tomb for himself. Plans for the tomb included flowing rivers of mercury, cross-bow booby traps to thwart would-be plunderers, and replicas of the Emperors earthly palaces. Tim Graham / Getty Images The Terracotta Army To guard Qin Shi Huang in the afterworld, and perhaps allow him to conquer heaven as he had the earth, the Emperor had a terracotta army of at least 8,000 clay soldiers placed in the tomb. The army also included terracotta horses, along with real chariots and weapons. Each soldier was an individual, with unique facial features (although the bodies and limbs were mass-produced from molds). Death A large meteor fell in Dongjun in 211 BCE- an ominous sign for the Emperor. To make matters worse, someone etched the words The First Emperor will die and his land will be divided onto the stone.  Some saw this as a sign that the Emperor had lost the Mandate of Heaven. Since nobody would confess to the crime, the Emperor had everyone in the vicinity executed. The meteor itself was burned and then pounded into powder. Nevertheless, the Emperor died less than a year later, while touring eastern China in 210 BCE. The cause of death most likely was mercury poisoning, due to his immortality treatments. Legacy Qin Shi Huangs Empire did not outlast him long. His second son and Prime Minister tricked the heir, Fusu, into committing suicide. The second son, Huhai, seized power. However, widespread unrest (led by the remnants of the warring states nobility) threw the empire into disarray. In 207 BCE, the Qin army was defeated by Chu-lead rebels at the Battle of Julu. This defeat signaled the end of the Qin Dynasty. Whether Qin Shi Huang should be remembered more for his monumental creations and cultural advances or his brutal tyranny is a matter of dispute. All scholars agree, however, that Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty and a unified China, was one of the most important rulers in Chinese history. Sources Lewis, Mark Edward. The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. Harvard University Press, 2007.Lu Buwei. The Annals of Lu Buwei. Translated by John Knoblock and Jeffrey Riegel, Stanford University Press, 2000.Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian. Translated by Burton Watson, Columbia University Press, 1993.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Hindenburg - A Giant and Luxurious Zeppelin

Hindenburg - A Giant and Luxurious Zeppelin In 1936, the Zeppelin Company, with the financial aid of Nazi Germany, built the Hindenburg (the LZ 129), the largest airship ever made. Named after the late German president, Paul von Hindenburg, the Hindenburg stretched 804-feet-long and was 135-feet-tall at its widest point. That made the Hindenburg just 78-feet shorter than the Titanic and four times larger than the Good Year blimps. The Design of the Hindenburg The Hindenburg was a rigid airship definitely in the Zeppelin design. It had a gas capacity of 7,062,100 cubic feet and was powered by four 1,100-horsepower diesel engines. Although it had been built for helium (a less flammable gas than hydrogen), the United States had refused to export helium to Germany (for fear of other countries building military airships). Thus, the Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen in its 16 gas cells. External Design on the Hindenburg On the outside of the Hindenburg, two large, black swastikas on a white circle surrounded by a red rectangle (the Nazi emblem) were emblazoned on two tail fins. Also on the outside of the Hindenburg was D-LZ129 painted in black and the airships name, Hindenburg painted in scarlet, Gothic script. For its appearance at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin in August, the Olympic rings were painted on the side of the Hindenburg. Luxury Accommodations Inside the Hindenburg The inside of the Hindenburg surpassed all other airships in luxury. Though most of the airships interior consisted of gas cells, there were two decks (just aft of the control gondola) for the passengers and crew. These decks spanned the width (but not the length) of the Hindenburg. Deck A (the top deck) offered a promenade and a lounge on each side of the airship which was nearly walled with windows (which opened), allowing passengers to watch the scenery throughout their trip. In each of these rooms, passengers could sit on chairs made of aluminum. The lounge even featured a baby grand piano that was made of aluminum and covered in yellow pigskin, weighing only 377 pounds.Between the promenade and the lounge were the passenger cabins. Each cabin had two berths and a washbasin, similar in design to a sleeping room on a train. But in order to keep weight to a minimum, the passenger cabins were separated by only a single layer of foam covered by fabric. Toilets, urinals, and one shower could be found downstairs, on Deck B. Deck B (the lower deck) also contained the kitchen and the crews mess. Plus, Deck B offered the amazing amenity of a smoking room. Considering that hydrogen gas was extremely flammable, the smoking room was a novelty in air travel. Connected to the rest of the ship through an airlock door, the room was specially insulated to keep hydrogen gasses from leaking into the room. Passengers were able to lounge in the smoking room day or night and freely smoke (lighting from the only lighter allowed on the craft, which was built into the room). The Hindenburgs First Flight The Hindenburg, a giant in size and grandeur, first emerged from its shed in Friedrichshafen, Germany on March 4, 1936. After only a few test flights, the Hindenburg was ordered by the Nazi propaganda minister, Dr. Joseph Goebbels, to accompany the Graf Zeppelin over every German city with a population over 100,000 to drop Nazi campaign pamphlets and to blare patriotic music from loudspeakers. The Hindenburgs first real trip was as a symbol of the Nazi regime. On May 6, 1936, the Hindenburg initiated its first scheduled transatlantic flight from Europe to the United States. Although passengers had flown on airships for 27 years by the time the Hindenburg was completed, the Hindenburg was destined to have a pronounced affect on passenger flight in lighter-than-air crafts when the Hindenburg exploded on May 6, 1937.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Evaluating the Effects of Regulatory Agencies on the LIMS ( Laboratory Essay

Evaluating the Effects of Regulatory Agencies on the LIMS ( Laboratory Information Management System ) - Essay Example tion, meets the standards set, notably CMS Regulations Part 493 Sub-part K, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), and OSE Manual of Policies and Procedures (MAPP) 6700.2. In terms of information security, both agencies will be expecting to be satisfied that the requirements of CMS Regulations Part 170, regarding Information Security, have been met. In practice, Part 170 simply reflects ICT industry standard practice, so providing that the laboratory meets these industry standards, both agencies will be satisfied. In areas specifically involving pathology, a given LIMS implementation will also need to be approved by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). CAP regulators will expect that the LIMS implementation will meet their approval in four key areas: discipline, equipment manufacturer, specimen type and method of analysis. CAP inspections must be regarded as additional to the CMS and OSE inspections and compliance defined below. When examining the exchange of electronic health data, the Federal Regulators will be looking for the use of logical observation identifiers names and codes (LOINC) naming conventions. In order to facilitate the exchange of electronic clinical data between the LIMS being examined and other LIMS implementations, the Regulators will be checking for the use of systematized nomenclature of medicine clinical terms (SNOMED), as defined for specific U.S. applications by the CMS, FDA and, where relevant, CAP. All LIMS Implementations must meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Regulations Part 493 Subpart K - Quality System for Nonwaived Testing. This means each LIMS implementation must include as a minimum the following. Establishing and following policies and procedures for monitoring, assessing, and, when indicated, correcting problems identified in the general laboratory systems requirements specified in CMS Regulations Part 493 Subpart K that apply to the laboratory in

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Six Organ systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Six Organ systems - Essay Example The skeletal system of the body is composed of bones which help in the normal posture in a human being. This skeletal system helps in different types of movement with the help of the muscular system. It is composed of bones to which are attached muscles, tendons and ligaments. The primary function of skeletal system is in the movement of different body parts and also in protection of the viscera of the body (Hall & Guyton 2006). Muscular system is the system which helps the bones to move in accordance to their contraction and relaxation. They also help in involuntary movements taking place inside the body. Muscular system is made up of muscles tendons and ligaments. Muscles are of three types respectively known as cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle. These three types of muscles serve different functions in the body. Skeletal muscle are voluntary muscles which are under the control of the human beings whereas smooth muscles are not. Cardiac muscle are located in the heart which help in the contraction and relaxation of heart (Hall & Guyton 2006). Nervous system is a system which contains specialized cells located all over the body which help in all the bodily functions. The components of nervous system include the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system contains of the brain and spinal cord whereas the peripheral nervous system contains the neurons which help in connecting the body parts to the central nervous system. Both of these systems coordinate their activities together in order to produce the desired effect by the body (Snell 2004). A normal human being is gifted with five basic senses which have different functions. These five senses are named Taste, Vision, Hearing, Smell, and Touch. The smell of taste helps an individual to perceive taste of different substances through taste buds. Vision helps an individual to perceive the world through eyes i.e. see

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Pre-Socratic Tradition and Socratic Philosophy Essay Example for Free

The Pre-Socratic Tradition and Socratic Philosophy Essay Socrates was one of the most relevant figures in philosophy. His influence in this field of discipline was so extensive that every philosopher who came after him followed in his footsteps. Though the history of philosophy considers Socrates as a central figure, there were lesser known but equally important philosophers who came before him. These individuals are known as Pre-Socratic philosophers. Now the philosophy before the time of Socrates and the philosophy that Socrates influenced shared similarities and differences. This essay seeks to discuss what makes these philosophies alike and what sets them apart. What was the pre-Socratic tradition all about? What was its subject matter? To properly describe the pre-Socratic tradition, there are several themes to consider. First, this tradition deviates from mythology and religion (Soccio 62). During the Greek civilization, the knowledge of the people was founded on either mythology or religion. The answers to their inquiries were provided for them by the stories of gods and goddesses. Pre-Socratic tradition relies on neither mythology nor religion. Second, its main preoccupations are nature and the world (Soccio 63-64). The thinkers before the time of Socrates were not satisfied with what was already established about how nature was or how the world worked. Instead, they posed their own questions on the workings of nature and the universe. Third, the pre-Socratic tradition used reason in their explanations behind the ways of nature and the world (Soccio 64). Prior to the emergence of these thinkers, the only explanations available were those which were mythological or religious in nature. As was earlier stated, the pre-Socratic tradition deviated from mythology and religion. This deviation is due to the preference for rational investigation. The pre-Socratic thinkers attempted to verify their views with reason (Soccio 64). These three themes define what the pre-Socratic tradition was about. There were many thinkers who were part of the pre-Socratic tradition. Three of these thinkers were Thales, Heraclitus and Anaxagoras (Soccio 64). All three pre-Socratics were preoccupied with discovering the ways of the world with the use of reason rather than mythology and religion. Thales was the first significant pre-Socratic thinker in history. He upheld the belief that water was the element behind all things. For Thales, every single thing in the world was created with water. He simplified the complex workings of the world into a single substance—water (Soccio 65). The conclusion that Thales had arrived at was not based on religious speculation or mythological presumptions. Instead, he created a rational explanation for what he observed in nature (Soccio 65). Just like Thales, Heraclitus also inquired about the world and the element which kept it together. If Thales believed it was water, Heraclitus thought it was â€Å"Logos† (Soccio 67). â€Å"Logos† is not actually an element per se; it was more of a principle. The word â€Å"Logos† itself has several meanings, but Heraclitus affirmed that it is the law which maintains everything and is contained in everything (Soccio 68). The Heraclitean â€Å"Logos† is the one responsible for the world order (Soccio 68). Lastly, Anaxagoras continues the tradition of the two aforementioned thinkers by proceeding with the inquiry about the cosmos. If Heraclitus believed that it was ‘Logos† which dictated the order of the world, for Anaxagoras it was â€Å"Nous† (Soccio 73). â€Å"Nous† is not an element, principle or process. It is defined as the Mind which sets the pattern of the universe. This â€Å"Nous† influences the things of the world without being contained in them (Soccio 73). The pre-Socratic tradition is different from Socratic philosophy. It is through the differences between the two in which Socratic philosophy can be defined. The pre-Socratics were interested on cosmology—the causes behind the workings of the world (Soccio 63). They investigated on nature and the world. Meanwhile, Socratic philosophy is not limited to cosmology. Socrates himself did not write anything, and his teachings were only reflected through the works of other thinkers (King 23). One of those thinkers, and the most influential Socratic philosopher, was Plato. Socratic philosophy is interested in a wide range of philosophical disciplines, which include epistemology, ethics and metaphysics (King 24). The metaphysical influence of Socrates is evident in Plato’s theory of Forms (Kraut). Another difference between the pre-Socratic tradition and Socratic philosophy is approach. Pre-Socratic thinkers did not have a specific approach to philosophy. Initially, they were more concerned with subject matter rather than method (Soccio 63). On the contrary, Socrates is recognized for his approach or method. It was Socrates who started the process of cross-examination or elenchus; this is popularly known as the Socratic Method (King 23). This process does not impart knowledge; it includes a system of questions which soon reveal what a person really knows. Plato followed this method, as most of his works were dialogues which feature Socrates (King 24). Just like Socrates, Plato believes that knowledge is not acquired, but simply recollected (King 24). The pre-Socratic thinkers and the Socratics also share similarities. For instance, how do these people count as philosophers? The answer is the same for both. They are philosophers because they were dedicated to seek the answers for questions about nature, the world or life in general. A philosopher is not distinguished for his wisdom; rather, he is defined by his love for it (Soccio 63). A philosopher is a thinker who seeks out the truth; he devotes his energy in investigations and observations which would bring him closer to the truth. Pre-Socratic thinkers, Socrates and the other Socratics are similar in this account, as they all love wisdom and inquire about the truth. Another similarity between the pre-Socratic thinkers and the Socratics is rational discourse. All these thinkers support their arguments with reason. Rational discourse necessitates the use of reason in establishing views on reality so that it could be properly verified (Soccio 65). It is a fact that Socrates had a monumental influence on philosophy. However, that does not mean that pre-Socratics have a lesser role in the development of philosophy. The role of Socrates in the history of philosophy is just as important as the thinkers that came before him. Between the pre-Socratic tradition and the Socratic approach, there are more differences than similarities. Regardless, both of these have made remarkable contributions to philosophy in general.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Mitsubishi Essay -- essays research papers

Background Recruitment Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit Media Response Defense Leave End Interpretation Conclusion Racial Discrimination?Japanese Interview Mitsubishi Japan Employment Discrimination Case Hi, I had the misfortune of working for Mitsubishi Electric in Japan, a few years ago. This is my story of a rare employment-related racial discrimination lawsuit I filed against them in their home country. This story is somewhat different. Media's version of it (below) will let you know some facts regarding this case and for those with patience and open minds to explore the truth, a different story will emerge after reading my account. First, let me introduce you briefly to my relevant background. I am a graduate of IIT Bombay (an IITian) and we are used commonly in the IT industry for developed countries like the USA and Japan. I am a permanent resident ("Green Card" holder) of the USA and it took me five years to get it. Normally, it used to take about 2 years. Moreover, as you can see from my GMAT scores that I have high verbal aptitude (left scores). (GRE scores were similar.) I was preparing for a career in financial sector. MBA + Actuarial exams with high scores + CFA and CFP exams. Was expecting to pursue that career after getting my Green Card. I didn't want to work for in the IT industry and most definitely didn't want to work for notorious Mitsubishi but I landed up in their Computer Works in Japan. Mitsubishi went on an aggressive recruitment process to hire me, apparently at the orders of its highest executives. The purpose - you will find out soon. By the way, as most of us very well know, Japanese executives in places like Mitsubishi have racial-superiority complex towards the rest of us, especially the non-Caucasians, and even though they try hard, most of them are unable to master a foreign language like English. Now you are all set to begin your journey. Note: Am adding more material to the other pages. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Case of Racial Discrimination? An Indian Worker Sues His Japanese Employer by Robert Guest From the credit - Robert Guest is a British free-lance writer based in Hiroshima who contributes business and other articles to The Far Eastern Economic Review and The Independent. The Journal - Issues in Bilateral Relations, November 1992 p... ... thinks its effects will last much longer. Victory for [name removed], for example, would mean that Japanese companies would have to start taking concrete steps to educate their staff about racism and completely overhaul their training programs for foreign workers, not to mention instituting new sensitivity training courses for workers going abroad. Mitsubishi Electric officials, meanwhile, are maintaining their innocence in this case, claiming that the whole affair was "an unfortunate misunderstanding." "It was our intention to provide Mr. [name removed] with opportunities for training and a chance to make use of his abilities in the long term," said a spokesperson for the firm, "but he failed to understand this, and so, unfortunately, has brought this case against us." The company would prefer to wait until the facts have been established before making any further comments, he added, but in the meanwhile, they are doing their best to make [name removed] understand their point of view. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: mitsubishi-sucks[at]ThisDomainName[dot]com Related link: Mitsubishi!

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Marriott Corp: the Cost of Capital

To : President, Marriott Corporation From : FLO299 Subject : Marriott Corporation – The Cost of Capital Date : April 6, 2010 The Importance of the Cost of Capital The cost of capital is important as it forms the basis for Marriott’s investing and financial decisions. By understanding and knowing the cost of capital, Marriott is able to select relevant investment projects for the company, determine incentive compensation, and repurchase undervalued shares when needed. The returns of a project were found by discounting the appropriate cash flows against the appropriate hurdle rates. Without knowing the cost of capital, Marriott would not be able to determine hurdle rates that would help Marriott’s growth. Also, knowing the cost of debt would allow Marriott to optimize the use of debt in the company’s capital structure. Knowing the hurdle rates on a divisional level would also enable Marriott to reward their managers using incentive compensation. By using hurdle rates, Marriott managers would be â€Å"more sensitive to Marriott’s financial strategy and capital market conditions† and would give the company a more accountable method of rewarding their employees. Lastly, Marriott’s method of calculating a â€Å"warranted equity value† for its common shares required knowing the company’s equity cost of capital. A share price that was below the â€Å"warranted equity value† signaled to Marriott when the company needed to step in to repurchase its stock as the company believed that repurchases of shares were a better use of Marriott’s cash flow and debt capacity than acquisitions or owning real estate. Computing Marriott’s WACC The cost-of-capital was computed both divisionally and overall for the company. It required using the formula WACC = (1-t_)RD(D/V) + RE(E/V). D and E are the market values of the debt and equity respectively and V (market value) = D+E. RD and RE are the pretax cost of debt and cost of equity respectively and t is the corporate tax rate. The Numbers Used in Marriott’s WACC A 34% tax rate rate will be assumed for simplicity's sake so more effort can be focused on other issues . The above WACC calculation uses market value of debt. Cost of debt can be observed directly by calculating the yield to maturity of outstanding bonds, but since the bond market is not very transparent and we know Marriott's unsecured debt is A-rated, the company can expect to pay a spread above some base rate. Which index to use should be determined by project life, and as lodging is based on a long term business model, a 30-year treasury bond is appropriate. In this case, the base is 8. 95% according to Tabe B and the spread for the overall company is 130 basis points according to Table A. Also found in Table A, Marriott set a target of the debt percentage in its capital structure to be 60% for the overall company. Because there is no way of directly observing the return that equity investors require, we rely on a couple of methods to estimate it. A dividend growth model can be used, and although simply to use, this approach assumes steady dividend growth. This approach also does not directly adjust for the riskiness of a project. An alternative approach is to use CAPM, which does not rely on dividend growth and does take both the market risk premium and systematic risk into consideration. Using CAPM to estimate the cost of equity we use the following formula: _E(R)=Rf+ {draw:frame} *MRP_. Rf is the same risk-free base rate used to calculate cost of debt, in this case, 8. 95% from Table A. The {draw:frame} is obtained from regression using market data and therefore is affected by leverage. To adjust for this, the B is unlevered and then relevered so that it is the B for business risk only, independent of capital structure. With due consideration given to each input, Appendix A is a computation of Marriott's WACC, 11. 87%, which is also the required rate of return for the company overall. The Use of Marriott’s WACC in Divisional Decisions Marriott can use the computed WACC to support its stock repurchasing decisions because it allows the equity cash flows to be discounted at a company level rate. But because each cost of capital input could differ amongst its divisions, the cost of capital varies across each. If Marriott used the above calculated WACC for all divisional decisions, it would cause the company to take on riskier projects, projects that once risk adjusted would likely cause the company to lose money in the long run. A better approach would be to use individual {draw:frame} for each project with CAPM to calculate the WACC for each project and compare it to IRR. Determining Divisional WACC To estimate the WACC for each division, we need their corresponding {draw:frame} . To do this we use comparable companies for each division; this is because we cannot run regressions at the divisional level as that information is not available. For the lodging division, we compare other hotel companies, for the restaurant division, we compare other restaurants, and for the contract services division we use the identity: {draw:frame} M=WL* {draw:frame} L+WR {draw:frame} R+WCS {draw:frame} CS. The identifiable assets in Exhibit 2 will be used to compute the weights of each division. Once again, because the information is actual market numbers, {draw:frame} E is affected by leverage and must be unlevered by multiplying it by 1 – market leverage. This results in {draw:frame} A which is business risk, independent of capital structure. Asset risk is the only thing that is comparable across firms. Within each divisional comparison to comparable companies, weighted average of {draw:frame} A is used as smaller companies have less impact on the overall segment. These numbers are shown in Exhibit 3. The WACC for each division is found in Appendix B to D. Differences in WACC Appendix A: Marriott’s Overall WACC Calculation Appendix B: Marriott’s WACC for Lodging Appendix C: Marriott’s WACC for Restaurants Appendix D: Marriott’s WACC for Contract Services Identifiable lodging assets = 2777. 4 WL = 60. 61% {draw:frame} L = . 57 Identifiable restaurant assets = 567. 6 WR = 12. 39% {draw:frame} R = . 75 Identifiable contract services assets = 1237. 7 WCS= 27. 00% {draw:frame} CS = solve for this below {draw:frame} M=WL* {draw:frame} L+WR {draw:frame} R+WCS {draw:frame} CS 0. 57 = . 6061*0. 42 + . 12390. 75 + . 2700 {draw:frame} CS {draw:frame} CS = 0. 57

Sunday, November 10, 2019

I, Being Born A Woman And Distressed Essay

This sonnet of Edna St. Vincent Millay is a literary piece shows many faces and expresses so many meanings.   But even if it has many meanings, the general message and meaning is about unrequited love.   It expresses overpowering feelings; longing and a desire for a lover.   The interesting factor of â€Å"I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed† is the intriguing features of the sonnet conflicting message and desires expressed. Saying that she is â€Å"born a woman and distressed† signifies that she surrenders to such fate that she is of the female gender with its consequent circumstance surrounding women.   Followed by the sultry acknowledgement of the â€Å"propinquity† (nearness) of a lover, the sonnet defines what pleasure such nearness brings.   The sonnet yearns that the two bodies of the lover be near to each other.   It is because such nearness enables the â€Å"fume to clarify the pulse and cloud the mind†, meaning such nearness allows the savoring of their mutual scents.   Wherein, it is further expressed that such nearness and feeling of â€Å"undone, possessed† brings them to higher levels of joy. However, the sonnet defends that such extreme happiness of being together does not necessarily mean that it deters rightful reason or thinking as â€Å"stout blood† is â€Å"against my staggering brain†.   It is just that such nearness always   invoke joyful sojourn and leaves fond memories.   Furthermore, such nearness reaffirms the commitment and conviction of love shared and cherished.   Nevertheless, amidst all the â€Å"frenzy†, the confusion, the sonnet evoke the inability to truly express in words that could make a reasonable conversation â€Å"when we meet again†. The entire sonnet is a slow mode of rising feelings from the beginning until the conclusion that apparently can leave one expressionless, wordless.  Ã‚   There is a possible paradox wherein the sonnet embody humongous run of feelings and yet could not find the words to say them.  Ã‚   There is also the possible inconsistency that inasmuch as the rise of feelings is joyous, yet, they may not be wanted.   Maybe it is because it is so difficult to contain enormous feelings of love and joy, that it might be better not to have the feelings anymore than not being able to contain them.   It is like as if the sonnet portrays a lover’s dual role of being â€Å"both [a] winner and [a] loser.   It is because there is â€Å"zest†, frenzy†, â€Å"seduction†, â€Å"staggering†.   (Hubbard, 1995) The sonnet somehow refers to such incongruent thoughts and paradox to the fact that the feelings and emotions come from a woman – who is not capable of such enormity of feelings.   This sonnet explains that â€Å"being born a woman† is not the fault of anyone – thus, it is not anyone’s fault that the subsequent experience and nurturing such passion and joy could not be contained. The ultimate interesting part is that despite all the paradox, the sonnet is convinced that there is complete reason and awareness as to what pleasure such passion and joy beings.   The sonnet finally intends to illustrate that even if there is confusion in such situation and such enormity of feelings, it is still right to nurture such feelings.   The sonnet confirms that love and passion is a right and it is logical. Reference: Hubbard, Stacy Carson.   â€Å"On ‘I Being Born a Woman and Distressed†.   1995   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Millay at 100:   A Critical Reappraisal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Modern American Poetry   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.english.illinois.edu/MAPS/poets/m_r/millay/born.html

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Thesis Writing Tips

Thesis Writing Tips Thesis Writing Tips Thesis Writing Tips: Yours Personal Guide. Before you start writing your thesis you should read some tips and some information about thesis. What is thesis? A thesis or dissertation is a document performed by students for a degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and discoveries. In some universities, the word thesis is used as part of a bachelor's or master's course. Thesis is an academic standard procedure. Thesis Writing Tips: Thesis Importance. If you are a student, thesis writing is a very important sphere in your learning life because your passing the course depends on it. Therefore, you should be concentrated during the work on your thesis. You can write a thesis for a couple reasons: if you need to write it to get a degree, if you need extra credit to enter a higher educational institution, because you want to become familiar with serious scientific researches, or if you are really into these researches. It is does not matter what the rea son, is the start point for your long, difficult but exciting work! Thesis Writing Tips: The Basic Steps in Researching and Writing. Before you start writing a thesis, you should read this small but very useful paragraph. It contains all necessary statements that you need to write a good quality thesis. Do not ignore it! First of all you need to have full understanding of the thesis and its challenges. Choose a thesis topic that is focused. This is a crucial step. Try to develop understanding about the structural writing various phases of thesis. Receive all the necessary approvals for your thesis topic. Do not forget about planning. Good planning and project management make a significant difference in how difficult your thesis is to complete and how long it takes. Try to follow the thesis format. Check out hypothesis/ thesis statement/objectives. This is the basic element in the thesis. Try to write the thesis abstract with full of care, avoid hurry in everything. Maintain links between the chapters and logical relations between various sections Note all the literature you use. Build your bibliography. Try to think accurately before making outline for the thesis. Learn correct punctuation because incorrect/no punctuation can cause great difficulties in reading. Be correct with active or passive voices usage. Never ignore the value of diagrams, graphs, charts, tables. Check them. Find out and correct the errors of table of contents, bibliography, and index. The conclusions must provide solutions of the raised issue rather than an abrupt end; how to write a thesis is not difficult after knowing all these. Do not forget to edit your work. Thesis Writing Tips: Resume. Writing a thesis is a very responsible work. It affects your future and your career in a particular! So do not be in a hurry. We wish you luck in passing!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Lessons I Learned from a Suicidal Arsonist

Lessons I Learned from a Suicidal Arsonist On Friday, September 26, I set out to travel from New York City back home to Madison. I dutifully arose at 4:00 a.m. to meet a car service, arriving at the airport with plenty of time to spare. Boarding went smoothly and we left the gate. I looked forward to a 10:36 a.m. landing in my hometown after 3 days at a conference in Denver and a week with my family and friends. I had wonderful plans for Friday evening and Saturday. Then the announcement came: There has been a fire in the Chicago air traffic control tower. All flights in and out of Chicago have been delayed. The guy across the aisle from me began cursing and waving his fists around. I resolved to take the news better than he was taking it. After calling United twice and spending an hour on hold, I managed to get rebooked through Atlanta. But when I landed in Atlanta there were three voice mail messages advising me that my flight to Madison had been cancelled, and one informing me that I had been rebooked on a flight the next day through Washington D.C. I would, if all went as re-planned, arrive in Madison at 9:12 p.m. Saturday night. The punch line is, I made it home. But there’s more. Throughout this adventure, I learned or was reminded of some valuable life lessons. Here are some of them: One person can truly make a difference. That guy Brian Howard who set a fire in the Chicago air traffic control tower was one single man who managed to paralyze air travel across the country for two days. I’m guessing he also affected security measures at air traffic control towers throughout the world. Yet so many of us sit around thinking we can’t make a difference. What are the extreme positive acts you could take to change something you want to change? Surrender to what’s so. When faced with the prospect of spending the night in Atlanta, I was not thrilled. But since all flights to Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and pretty much all areas surrounding were cancelled, I decided the best plan was to surrender. I got on a line for customer service, hoping there might be a hotel voucher for me if Atlanta was my only overnight option. An hour later I was at the counter, having had some lovely conversations with other stranded travelers, and discovered that there were no more hotel vouchers remaining, and that my flight to D.C. was that very night. Suddenly I had a new reality before me, and I accepted that one too. It’s amazing how much my stress level went down when I dealt with what was so instead of wishing it were another way! It’s good to have friends everywhere. Through a combination of college connections and my dance community, as well as other life adventures, I have built a network of friends and family in almost every major U.S. city (and some overseas cities as well). Drop me in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin, Tucson or Tel Aviv, and I will have a friendly place to lay my head. When I discovered I would be in Washington, D.C. for a night, I started calling friends, one of whom, my college buddy Sara, was happy to put me up for the night. I had not seen her in about 10 years, so it was a great treat to spend unexpected time with her. Not only that, but she had kale in her fridge, a blender, and a free pass to her gym which we used to attend a class together Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon we swam together in an outdoor pool, well after any such pool in Madison would ever be open. I also saw a high school football game that was highlighted on Fox 5 Friday night! I was well taken care of. And I got on a deep l evel that I have led my life well to be able to call on so many people to help. Of course I would do the same for all of them. Talk to strangers. In the customer support line and on various airplanes Friday and Saturday, I met some other waylaid travelers. It was good to connect with humanity. They put my situation in perspective, and helped me out by watching my bag while I went to plug in my phone, whose battery was on its last legs. One woman guided me where I needed to go in D.C. to get to the suburban Metro stop where I met my college friend Sara. I noticed I felt fairly upbeat given the monkey wrench that had been thrown into my life, and on one of my plane rides I identified why: I was talking to strangers! In an article I read on the plane in Success (which is quickly becoming my favorite magazine), I discovered that a social science study by researcher and professor at Harvard Business School, Michael Norton, Ph.D., showed that â€Å"talking with strangers can be at least as important to our daily happiness as talking to our close friends and family.† Norton confirmed this to be true regardless of personality type. I know it is true for me! I always feel more energized when I connect with the people around me than when I retreat into my shell. On Saturday night my flight departed from D.C. on time and landed in Madison 30 minutes early. My housesitter Mariah picked me up and drove me home, where I arrived fairly exhausted yet grateful. I slept well that night, knowing that I am well-loved, resourceful, connected, and able to handle the challenges that one suicidal arsonist  threw in my direction. 🙂 This is a good reminder to travel a couple of days early for any important event. 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Sunday, November 3, 2019

Was the Falklands a vital factor in Thatcher's political survival Essay

Was the Falklands a vital factor in Thatcher's political survival - Essay Example Britain in reaction to this, established a navy task force to attack the Argentine navy and the air force. Their main aim was to put in place an amphibious operation which would assist them to win back the Islands. On June 1982 Argentina surrendered leaving the Islands under the control of the British. This brought the conflict to an end. A total number of 907 people perish during the attack; among these were 255 British and 652 Argentine most of who were soldiers, sailors, and airmen. In addition, several people got injured and three islanders also perished. The two countries had a strong case which was inconclusive. Even though the British argued that they had put the international law into consideration it was not well-founded. According to Gamba (1987) an analysis made with the involvement of the Government, the Royal Navy and Parliament It showed that several impertinent factors and pressures majorly determined the decision of the task force being sent to south Atlantic. The gov ernment survival threat due to the argentine invasion factor greatly determined how the conflict was conducted. This situation had a great impact on Thatcher survival in office hence; all the actions put in place was mainly to favour her. Despite the various achievement of the British military the Falkland’s crisis was not solved appropriately The main focus in this paper is the impact of international war participation on political leader’s survival in office. The relationship that exists between the performance in war and the fate of political leaders afterwards is of great significance. In most cases leaders who involve their nation in war are more likely to be faced with domestic political hazard which may interfere with their retention of political power. As compared to the democratic leaders, the authoritarian leaders incline to war for a longer durations when they successfully come to power. In addition, democratic leaders are involved in wars which have lower c hances of defeat than the authoritarian leaders. In this case, Margaret Thatcher is central to all the events that took place in the Falklands conflict. The British Prime Minister was criticized by the British press after she invaded the Argentine Falkland Islands. She was perceived as having been slow in reacting to the situation. This greatly affected her political fortunes. Prior to the war, it was uncertain that Thatcher and her party would be re-elected. However, a year later after she managed to repel the argentine forces successfully, Thatcher together with her party was returned to by a large majority to the parliamentary power in the general election that took place in 1983. The Falkland conflict had political impacts that were strong in the two countries. In Britain, Margaret Thatcher was under pressure from the parliament and she had to utilize this opportunity in order to ensure she survived in office. On the other hand, in Argentina Galtieri's Junta opted to invade the Falkland’s for political survival while considering the domestic situation in his country. The intention In most cases armed conflict is pursued with specific intentions which include; obtaining the just causes objects, to correct the impact of aggression and injustice, to pursue peace and reconciliation in the presence of conflicts, and to immediately bring hostilities to an end. The British government Margaret Thatcher being

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Universal Healthcare in the United States Essay

Universal Healthcare in the United States - Essay Example This paper argues that the universal health care system would be beneficial for the United States. The statement passed by Institute of Medicine is the US is the only developed nation that does not provide universal health care system. In United States, around 84% of citizens have some form of health insurance, either through their employers, purchased individually or provided by government programs. Some publicly funded health care programs are provided for the elderly, disable, children and poor and federal law mandates public access to emergency services1. The US government schemes reported for over 45% health care expenses. This makes US government the largest insurer in the nation. Based on health care expenditure, The US government has been placed in the top ten highest spenders among the United Nations member countries in 2004. Still more than 16% of population in America is without health insurance2. The health insurance costs are increasing faster than wages and medical bills, leading to personal bankruptcy in the United States. The lack of health care for all America is fundamental moral issue. In order to understand universal health care we need to understand its concept. It is a broad concept that can be applied in many ways. Universal health care is the form of health care benefit that is provided by the government. The government introduces varieties of programs aimed at promoting the right of admittance to the public to health care as much as possible. Many countries apply universal health care through lawmaking, regulatio n and through taxes. Some of the costs are paid by the patients but later they are reduced in taxation and paid to the patient. There is a need of universal health care system in United States of America. A single paying system operated by the government will help save on bureaucracy and investor profits. In this way

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Design in Modern Art (painting from Paula and Leonard Granoff Gallerie Essay - 15

Design in Modern Art (painting from Paula and Leonard Granoff Galleries) - Essay Example The sculpture painting is placed in [Please provide the room that you obtained it from]. There are other fashion sculptures placed around it such as shoes. There is also a glass cupboard with other ornaments in it. There is a wooden table made of a board that holds them (Rosenfeld, & Daniel, 54). It has been displayed upright with human portrait used to depict how it appears when it has been used. The room which it has been placed is well lit with ceiling lights illuminating enough light to the objects. The display is very appropriate since it gives the viewer the direct message of what it is and has the theme of modernism in it. The display is very good since the portrait that has been used also suggest the gender type that the artwork is made for. The time period of this object is of the twentieth century since most of the clothing displayed is widely used in the present. The artist has used modern techniques in bringing out the sculpture; the artist has presented the fashionable trends in the twentieth century and displayed contemporary artwork. The artist is a modernist; everything that has been used in the sculpture is modern. The artwork symbolizes modern fashion styles that are widely used in the twentieth century. The artwork also symbolizes change that has seen old fashion dressed being wiped out with trendy ones like the one portrayed. The artwork has a theme of religious meaning; in this context, it has touched on fashion styles that are widely used by Christians. One traditional aspect that has been considered is the color black; meanwhile, the patterns and the materials used are both modern. The fashion can be used in both social and official ceremonial events. The artist inspires and it brings a feeling that success comes through hard work and determination. The choice about this object reveals that art has been given the first priority and understanding how to succeed is may be learnt from past

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Welfare Facilities During Construction Work

Welfare Facilities During Construction Work Hughes and Ferrett, 2008 have defined that health is the protection of people from illness due to the materials, processes of procedures used in the workplace while safety defined as the protection of people from physical injury or in the absence of the danger in simple way. Health and safety often closely related with the physical and material and mental well-being of the individual at the place of work (Hughes and Ferrett, 2008). By referring to Oxford Dictionary, welfare is defined as the health, happiness and fortunes of a person or group. For the purpose of this research, the provision of welfare facilities consist of washing and sanitation arrangements, provision of drinking water, heating, lighting, accommodation for clothing, seating, eating and rest rooms as well as first aid arrangement for the well-being of the employees (Hughes and Ferrett, 2006). CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES Construction health and safety should be of primary concern to employers, employees, government and project participants (Kheni, 2008). Therefore, the client, main contractor, regulatory agencies and employees are the main parties who responsible for construction health and safety (Laryea S. and Mensah S., 2010). There is several government agencies involved in construction safety and health. Each has the same mission towards the safety and health in construction industry as to reduce the accidents or fatalities and the compensation cost as well as to ensure that the risks to health and safety of workers are properly controlled. The contractors role has been mainly focused by the research and publications on construction worker safety due to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) places the responsibility for safety on the employers shoulders (J. Gambatese, J. Hinze, 1998). The table below explained on the main duties of construction parties. PLANNING OF WELFARE FACILITIES Good health and safety planning helps to ensure that a project is well managed and that unexpected costs and problems are minimised (Laryea S. and Mensah S., 2010). Consideration should be made during planning stage prior to constructing any facilities. Issues here include consideration of a safe and healthy location, application of appropriate construction standards, provision of adequate and sanitary living conditions as well as appropriate leisure and health facilities (IFC and the EBR, 2009). Firstly, it is important to make sure welfare arrangements are clearly addressed in the health and safety plan where the Laws and Legislations apply (HSE, 1998). Make sure the facilities reflect the site size, nature of the work, and numbers of people who will use them. An example of nature of work, where consider the provision of showers if the project involves hazardous substances or very dirty work such as sewer maintenance, dusty demolition activities as well as works with contaminated land or concrete pouring (HSE, 1998). The distance of workers will have to travel to the welfare facilities might have to consider as well. The exact nature of the facilities also depends on the intended duration of work and number of different locations. Lastly, consideration on whether the welfare facilities need to be relocated during the construction phase. MINIMUM STANDARD OF WELFARE FACILITIES Minimum standard of welfare facilities should be provided at construction site complying with the regulation for the particular project. The satisfaction of the safety and health act and regulation can be achieved by providing the optimum facilities through the assessing the maximum and minimum of construction workers (Tan, 2010). The person in charge of the construction site must always make sure that the legal requirements of workers welfare are met (HSE, 2004). However, simply providing and enforcing prescriptive rules and procedures are not sufficient to foster safe behavior in the workplace (Reason, 1998). Most construction employers now have safety policies in place, but they need to be kept up to date. The objective is to reflect what actually happens, and to make sure the policy does not contain a hopeful list of wishes that are never likely to be fulfilled (Hotl, A.S.J, 2001) The provision of welfare facilities at transient construction sites and the provision of welfare facilities at fixed construction sites that supplied by Health and Safety Executive often used as guidance in United Kingdom. It gives guidance on the minimum welfare facilities that must be provided or made available to workers on construction sites. The nature and scale of facilities required will depend on the size, location and type of project. Suitable welfare facilities must be available for all workers during all working hours. As a minimum, these will be access to toilet and washing facilities, a supply of clean drinking water, a place to take a breaks and meals and store clothing, shelter in bad weather, and first aid facilities. Most, if not all of these will be covered by local or national regulatory requirements. TYPES OF WELFARE FACILITIES Good welfare facilities not only improve workers welfare but also enhance efficiency. The facilities may be provided and maintained by one contractor or by individual contractors for all workers (ILO, 1995). General welfare facilities that provided on site include: Living Accommodations Sanitary and toilet facilities Washing facilities Drinking water Changing rooms and lockers Rest Facilities Canteen WELFARE FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS The main health and safety requirements in construction relate to tidy sites and decent welfare, falls from height, manual handling, and transport on site (Laryea S. and Mensah S. ,2010) In Malaysia, the welfare provision refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), Factory and Machineries Act 1967 (Act 139) and Construction Industry Development Board Act 1994 (Act 520). Whereas In United Kingdom, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulation 2007 covers a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare and applies to the workplaces involving construction on sites. By referring to Health, Safety and Executive, (1997), adequate and appropriate welfare facilities must be provided for employees so far as is reasonably practicable while them are at work even though in short period. This means that facilities must be provided unless it is clearly unreasonable in terms of time, trouble, cost and physical difficulty. There is an important additional duty in this Regulation. The one in control of a site has to ensure that there are reasonable welfare facilities available at readily accessible places. HSE, 2010 has provided the information sheet for those in control of construction sites which describes minimum welfare facilities that should be provided or made available on fixed construction sites. In addition, the guidance note is based on a review of these instruments and legislation, as well as guidelines and best practices produced by a range of different private and public sector actions at national and international level. (IFC and EBRD, 2009). The regulation 22 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulation 2007 has stated few requirements for welfare facilities provided for construction industry. These include provide sanitary and washing facilities and an adequate supply of drinking water; rest facilities; facilities to change and store clothing. Good facilities can positively benefit health and well-being and can help to prevent dermatitis. The requirements of welfare facilities are as below: Living Accommodations The provision of workers accommodation is often related with the importation of an external workforce into an area (IFC and EBRD, 2009). There are several reasons that lead to this occurrence such as the local labour supply or skills base is inadequate, the workers are simply not available due to the remote location of the worksite or the particular skills required. Also it may happen as the labour requirements can only be fulfilled by migrant workers due to the nature of the work or the working conditions (IFC and EBRD, 2009). The accommodation provided either in building type or conventional container for the sleeping and resting purpose. The workers accommodation for construction more relate to a temporary phase of a project (IFC and EBRD, 2009). The accommodation provided shall be appropriate for its location and be clean, safe and at minimum, meet the basic needs of workers because the location of the facilities is important to prevent exposure to wind, fire, flood and other natural hazards (IFC and EBRD, 2009). Therefore, living accommodations are located within a reasonable distance from worksite as possible. The building of living accommodation requires sufficient materials, appreciate maintenance as well as acceptable cleanliness free from nuisance of rubbish and other waste. It shall not be used for the storage of building materials purpose. (ILO, 1992) The conventional container is generally used in Malaysia construction site because it is easily moved to new project (Tan, 2010). It is important to ensure good standards in living facilities. It helps to avoid safety hazards and to protect workers from diseases and illness resulting from humidity, spread of fungus, proliferation of insects or rodents, as well as to maintain a good level of morale (IFC and EBRD, 2009). Sanitary and Toilet Facilities Sanitary and toilet facilities include water closets, portable chemical toilets and urinals. Toilet facilities needed include the flushing toilets and running water which connected to mains water and drainage system if possible. The alternative way is to provide facilities with a built-in water supply and drainage tank (HSE, 2010). An adequate number of toilets should be available at all times for construction workers. Adequate facilities mean by make sure that there are enough toilets for those expected to use, so that the people should not have to queue for long periods to go to the toilet. Toilet arrangements are essential to avoid any contamination and prevent the spread of infectious disease. The following tables show the minimum number of toilets and urinals that should be provided. The number of toilets needed will be depends on the number of construction workers on site. The number of people at work (left column) refers to the maximum number likely to be in the workplace at any one time. Portable chemical toilets are only acceptable instead of making other adequate provision which is not reasonably practicable and it should be maintained and emptied regularly. The number of persons and the frequency of emptying are used to determine the number of portable toilets needed on site by using the ratio 1 toilet to 7 persons where portable toilets are emptied once a week (HSE, 2010). Beside, toilet facilities are conveniently located and easily accessible. Shorter distance for travelling to toilet from worksite means that unnecessary and non-productive times are minimized (Tan, 2010). Standards range from 30 to 60 meters from rooms. Sanitary and toilet facilities are never shared between male and female resident. Otherwise provide lockable doors instead of failing to provide separate facilities for different gender. Moreover, adequate supplies of toilet paper should be always be available. Specific additional sanitary facilities are provided for women where necessary. It is essential for workers to maintain a good standard of personal hygiene but also to prevent contamination and the spread of diseases which result from inadequate sanitary facilities (IFC and EBRD, 2009). Always make sure that the facilities provided are well-lit, have good ventilation, cleaned frequently and kept in fully working condition (HSE, 2010). The number of utilization determines the frequency of cleaning. Basically, daily cleaning may not always be sufficient. Washing Facilities Work in the construction industry is often dusty and dirty as well as involving handling chemicals and other dangerous substances. Therefore, washing facilities provided as a basic hygiene measure, preventing chemical contaminating foods and so being eaten during snacks or meals, being absorbed through the skin or being carried home. Apart from that, it also functions to remove dirt and grime, which also can be ingested and cause sickness and disease. Washing facilities include basins or sinks that allow people to wash their hands, face and forearms (HSE, 2007). Also, it consists of a supply of hot and cold, or warm, water which should be running water and soup or other washing agents for cleaning purpose that are enough for the workers. Washing or shower facilities is provided for particular dirty work or work exposing workers to hazardous substance such as concrete pouring (HSE,2007). An adequate number of washing facilities should be provided to construction workers. Washing facilities should be provided in conjunction with toilets and changing areas. It should be located within reasonable distance from other facilities and from sleeping facilities in particular (HSE, 2010). A clean supply from a tank should be provided instead of main water supply when it is not available (HSE, 2007). Men and women can share basin used for washing hands, face and arms. Provided that a basin large enough to wash face, hands and forearms if necessary and also a means for drying hands such as paper towels or a hot air dryer (HSE, 1998). Unisex shower facilities is available for both gender, provided that is stands alone, is lockable room and can only be used by one person at a time (HSE,2007). These facilities must be kept in good working condition, cleaned frequently, and always ensure that there is sufficient ventilation and lighting (HSE, 2010). Drinking Water Drinking water is essential for workers in the construction industry, irrespective of the type of work they do. To prevent dehydration, workers should always have easy access to a source of clean water. Therefore, a special attention to water quality and quantity is absolutely essential. A supply of wholesome drinking water should be readily available, preferably from the mains. If this is not possible then bottles or tank should be provided for storing water, protected it from possible contamination as well as changeover sufficiently and regularly to prevent it from becoming stale or contaminated (HSE, 2007). Mark clearly on the drinking water supply to distinguish between drinkable and non-drinkable water such as hazardous liquids or water which is not fit to drink. The supplying of drinking water requires cups or other drinking vessels at the outlet, unless the water is supplied in an upward jet, which can be drunk easily such as drinking fountain (HSE, 2007). Drinking-water should not be placed in sanitary facilities, or in places where it can be contaminated by dust, chemicals or other substances. Whatever the source of water supply for drinking, whether at the mess accommodation or elsewhere on the site, it should be clearly marked as drinking-water in words or with a suitable sign. Changing Rooms and Lockers Changing rooms or lockers are particularly important for workers storing personal clothing that not worn on site such as jackets and training shoes and protective clothing that needed for site work such as high visibility jackets and safety boots (HSE, 2007). Changing rooms should be provided with drying and clothes hanging which are easily accessible. Thus, they can separate their wet and dry clothing by hanging on the cupboard. This is essential to where some working clothes are likely to be contaminated by dangerous substances, atmospheric conditions or workplace conditions. Therefore, facilities should be provided to keep working cloths apart from personal clothing (Fon, 2006). For smaller site, the site office may sufficient be a storage area but the separate lockers might be needed too. This is because there is a risk of protective site clothing contaminating everyday clothing, items should be stored separately (HSE, 1998). If electrical heaters are used, ensure the room has well ventilation and fitted with a high temperature cut-out device where possible. Many fires have been caused by placing too much clothing to dry on electrical heaters, making the heater overheat. Rest Facilities Construction workers begin work early. They start their day alert and productive but their activity level decreases as the day passed. Therefore, short breaks taken frequently are much better than infrequent long breaks. Recovery is much faster as having rest before show signs of being really tired (ILO,1995). Rest areas are not to be used to store plant, equipment or materials. It provides shelter from wind and rain. The rest facilities should have an adequate number of tables and chairs, a kettle or urn for boiling water and a means for warming up food such as a gas or electrical heating ring or microwave oven and be adequately heated. Suitable and sufficient, readily accessible rest facilities should be provided. Work areas can be counted as rest areas and as eating facilities, provided they are adequately clean and there is a suitable surface on which to place food. On smaller sites, the site office or hut may suffice as rest area. Canteen Canteen is adequately furnished and protected from the weather, where one can eat in comfort food brought from home or brought from vendors. Canteen may be used as rest facilities provided there is no obligation to purchase food. If canteen is provided, it does not only save the time for construction workers not going out for eating (Tan, 2010). Standards range from providing tables, benches, individual drinking cups and plates to provide special drinking fountains. It should be situated away from workstations to minimize contact with dirt, dust or dangerous substances. Good standards of hygiene in canteen are crucial. Facilities must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition as well as conform to hygiene and safety requirement. EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE WELFARE FACILITIES ISSUES A company was found not to have provided welfare facilities at a construction site and was served with an improvement notice during an inspection section. The company was prosecuted as failed to provide the facilities within the timescale. The company received a  £2000 fine for not complying with the notice, a  £5000 fine for not providing the welfare facilities, and had to pay prosecution costs of  £1272. A construction company in Devon is caught by surprise for not having hot water and accessible toilet facilities on site and was fined 2,500 by HSE. Rod Hepper concluded: Installing proper facilities on site costs far less than the fines that the HSE will impose if inspectors find the law being flouted. (Pickles, 2001). The Elliott Workspace Marketing Manager, Rod Hepper commented that there are still companies across UK that ignores the necessity of providing appropriate welfare facilities on construction sites in line with regulation in force even after warning from Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In reality, it is a legal requirement for the companies to provide proper toilet facilities and warm running water available at all times (How, 2006). News from workplacelaw on date 13 Dec 2010, a builder whose employees had to work in unsanitary conditions, with no toilet or washing facilities, has appeared in court in Rochdale. Michael Connolly, 46, was prosecuted by the HSE after he repeatedly ignored calls to improve conditions at the site in Littleborough where he had employed contractors to convert a house into flats and shops. HSE inspectors who visited the site found that there were no toilets or washing facilities. ( http://www.workplacelaw.net/news/display/id/31712, 2010). CONCLUSION Work in the construction industry is hazardous and dirty; it involves much manual or physical activity. Welfare facilities such as the provision of drinking water, washing, sanitary and changing accommodation, rest rooms and shelter, facilities for preparing and eating meals, temporary housing, all help to reduce fatigue and improve workers health. The facilities may be provided and maintained by one contractor for all workers or by individual contractors. Good facilities can positively benefit health and well-being and can help to prevent dermatitis. Good welfare facilities not only improve workers welfare but also enhance efficiency. References Welfare at work Guidance for employers on welfare provisions IFC and the EBRD , 2009. Workers accommodation: processes and standards.A guidance note by IFC and the EBRD (ILO, 1992). Thesis ILO, 1995 Safety, health and welfare on construction sites: A training manual ILO. 2003. Safety in numbers. Rep. No. 061, International Labor  Organization, Geneva. J. Gambatese, J. Hinze, 1998. Addressing construction worker safety in the design phase Designing for construction worker safety. Automation in Construction 8 (1999): 643-649. (Laryea S. and Mensah S. ,2010) The Construction, Building and Real Estate Research Conference of  the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Held at Dauphine Università ©, Paris, 2-3 September 2010 Kheni, Nongiba Alkanam (2008) Impact of health and safety management on safety performance of small and medium-sized construction businesses in Ghana, Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, UK Phil Hughes, Ed Ferrett,2008. Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction: The Handbook for Construction Professionals and Students on NEBOSH and Other Construction Courses Phil Hughes, Ed Ferrett, 2006. Introduction to health and safety in construction HSE, September 2007 CONSTRUCTION HEALTH SAFETY STANDARD No. 20 ,Principle sources of information HSE Construction Information Sheets 18 and 46, HSE, 2010 provision of welfare facilities during construction work. construction information sheet no 59 HSE, 1998 Provision of welfare facilities at fixed construction sites, Construction Information Sheet No 18(rev1) HSE, 2007 workplace health, safety and welfare. A short guide for managers.leafetlet INDG244(rev2) According to the International Labor Organization 1992, the general provisions of welfare are stated under clause 19.there should be adequate supply of wholesome drinking water provided at reasonable access of construction site.