Motivating employees Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Motivating employees - Coursework Example She emphasized that being respected, being taken seriously, and being listened to are considered very crucial. In this regard, using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Shank’s old boss failed to meet her esteem and status needs, which are the desires for self-respect, or self-esteem. These include the desires for achievement, confidence, independence, and freedom; as well as reputation, prestige, recognition, attention, importance and appreciation. For Shank, these needs have not been previously met because of the organizations’ utter disregard for a person’s worth as a person, and not as a number, as alleged. To address these missing needs, management of these previous organizations should provide positive recognition and importance to their personnel by acknowledging good performance through rewards, appreciating inputs, promotions and recognizing exemplary work, as needed. (2) Use the Expectancy Theory and/or the Equity Theory of motivation to explain how feeling underpaid might affect the work of a Flight 001 associate and what a manager can do to increase the employees motivation. The Expectancy Theory states that motivation is a product of three variables: namely, â€Å"valence which represents how much as person wants a reward; expectancy, which refers to a person’s estimate of the probability that effort will result in effective performance; and instrumentality, which relates to a person’s estimate that performance will lead to receiving the reward† (Martires & Fule, 2000, p. 22). Feeling underpaid might affect the work of an associate in terms of perceiving that the effort exerted leading to a level of expected performance is not appropriately compensated and therefore, there is this feeling of being short changed or not being properly remunerated for the particular job. In this case, the associated would

The Problem Solving Essay Example for Free

The Problem Solving Essay Problem solving is the basic procedure of TQM, an importants aspect of problem solving in the TQM approach is eliminates the cause so that the problem does not recur. This is why users of TQM approach often like to think all opportunities for improvement there are the basic steps to be success and should follow a standard approach. Step 1: Define the problem and establish an improvement goal. Step 2: Develop performance measure and collect data. Step 3: Analyze the problem. Step 4: Generate potential solutions. Step 5: Choose a solution. Step 6: Implement the solution. Step 7: Monitor the solution to see if it accomplishes the goals. The Plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle. Also referred to as either the sherwhart cycle or the Deming wheel, is the conceptual basic for problem-solving activities. The cycle is illustrated the figure. Representing the process with a circle underscore its continuing nature PLAN ACT DO STUDY There are four basic steps in the cycle: Plans begin by studying the current process. Document that process. Then collect data on the process or problem. Next analyze the data and develop a plan for improvement. Specific measure for evaluating the plan. Do Implement the plan, on a small scale if possible. Document any change made during this phase. Collect data systematically for evaluation. Study Evaluate the data collection during the do phase. Check how closely the results match the original goals of the plan phase. Act If the results are successful, standardize the new method and communicate the new method to all people associated with the process. Employing this sequence of step provides a systematic approach to continuous improvement.

The School Voucher Debate Essay -- essays papers

The School Voucher Debate In the education community, few issues stir up as much debate as the notion of providing government-funded aid, in the form of vouchers, to parents so that they may send their children to private schools. The voucher movement has been gaining momentum since Wisconsin implemented the first voucher program in 1990, but only few states have adopted such programs. Although the courts have upheld the constitutionality of vouchers, there is still a lack of consensus amongst the public over the issue. The underlying disagreements that surround the issue of vouchers revolve around three main controversies: constitutionality, influence on student achievement, and impact on public schools. The idea of school choice is not a new one. Since the late 1980s school choice has become a popular strategy for â€Å"reforming American education and equalizing educational opportunities† (Hadderman, 2002). School choice is a broad term that is used to describe charter schools, home-schooling, for-profit companies, and vouchers. Parents who wish to select schools for their children do so for academic, religious, or moral reasons, and usually select schools that reflect their own beliefs. The concept of educational vouchers originated with Milton Friedman, known as the grandfather of vouchers, in the early 1960s. Friedman argued that vouchers would improve educational efficiency. Vouchers equal to the per-pupil expenditure in the public schools would be given to parents for the purpose of sending their child to whichever school they wished their child to attend, public or private. In the 1970s it was proposed that â€Å"vouchers be used for students in poor districts to remedy unconstitutional school-funding inequiti... ... community, and will continue to be an issue as more programs develop around the country. References Good, T. L., & Braden, J. S. (2000). The great school debate: Choice, vouchers, and charters. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates. Hadderman, M. (2002). Trends and issues: School choice. Clearinghouse on educational policy and management. Retrieved March 7, 2005 from http://eric.uoregon.edu/trends_issues/choice/index.html Hanus, J. J., & Cookson, P. W., Jr. (1996). Choosing schools: Vouchers and American education. Washington, D.C.: American University Press. Reid, K. S. (2001, October 3). Poll finds support for vouchers wanes if public schools affected. Education Week, 21(5), 7. Retrieved February 27, 2005 from http://www.edweek.org Vouchers (2005). Education Week. Retrieved February 27, 2005 from http://www.edweek.org

Creative Writing – Life in the City

The day in the city is starting: Claustrophobia. Frustration. Overcrowded. Crushing. Swarming. Cacophonous. Obstreperous. Clamorous. Vociferous. The gloomy grey sky, with its heavy nimbostratus clouds, blocking all of the sun's rays from reaching the Earth. The smoke from the industrial factories polluting the atmosphere and smelling like a failed chemical experiment. The fridge-like coldness of the winter air freezing your face. Claustrophobia on the streets; commuters, shooting menacing glares at each other, attempt to rush to work. They fight their way past each other, determined to do anything they can to get to their destination. One businessman, dressed in a shirt and tie and clutching a black leather briefcase, is shoved back as the current of the swarm of people against him is too strong. The towering skyscrapers looking down at the strugglers in battle. Across the road, the unpleasant cacophony of cars blaring their horns is heard above everything else. Frustrated drivers, already late for work, bellowing at the ever-changing traffic lights and wide lorries blocking half of the road. The overpowering skyscrapers watch over the events; their roofs almost brushing the heavens. Hectic life in the city goes on and on, and feels as though it will never end, that the commuters will never stop fighting their way into work, that the car drivers will never stop cursing at the traffic, that the city will never be empty†¦ †¦Night time in the city. Empty. Deserted. Silent. In the charcoal black sky, the effulgent crescent moon, the glistening stars forming illuminating constellations, the flickering lights of a plane that glides through a sky like a hawk. Descending to the Earth, we observe the city in its now desolate state. Looking through a dimly lit, litter strewn alley, a homeless man crouches defensively, ready to go to sleep for the night. His scruffy, short, light brown hair covered with a worn out, chequered hat. His torn, tatty shirt and his trousers covered with holes both sizes too small for him. A few meters away, a rat scuttles over to the litter, scavenging around for food. Turning into the car park, we see that the once overflowing place full of resting vehicles of every size and shape, now contains nothing but the dormant parking meter that patrols the area. Standing on one leg and lining up in a straight row like soldiers, the street lights provide the only source of illumination, their one eye emitting a golden beam of shining light down on the dusty, cracked pavement below. Through the city park, the sea of trees is seen swaying gently in the whispering wind. Rippling reflections of the stars are shown in the peaceful pond. The vastest tree of the park comes into view with its narrow finger-like branches reaching skywards and brushing the heavens; its gnarled bark and broad trunk radiating infinite wisdom. The silent, harmonious noises of the city now amplified. The ticking of the clock tower, the rustle of the autumn leaves being softly blown down the road by the wind, the high pitched creaking of the iron gates to the car park. Soon the silent, tranquil city will be once again transformed into the blaring, claustrophobic city, and life in the city will start again.

Economic Systems Essay

Within the activity parameters of the economy, there come the economic systems. Economic system may be defined as an array and the nature of the interactive forces of the economic activity in the pursuit of the broad national resources in methods and means that brings the most optimal allocation within the economic units. In studying this concept, it remains solely an important factor to put into consideration the aspect of the limited resources. This attribute in an important enterprise that work to define the situational mobility in the use of these resources by the members of the society. In terms of economic systems, the capitalistic and socialist economies have certain features that may be voted as advantages and disadvantages in relation to one another. Since the ages of industrial revolution, these two systems have been developed. In the American enterprise, they have remarkably been in application. To define capitalism firstly, it is the market economic systems in which the decision about the market are decentralized to the firms and economic units with only a complimented influence by the government in supply of the public goods such as justice and national defense. The provision of the products and services are a decision by the owners of the factors of production (firms) that make rational decisions about what to produce, how much, when and whom to produce for. There is private ownership of the factors of production by firms with the main goal being profit maximization. (Foley, Pyle, 2003) On the other hand, socialist economy is the case where the resource package of the economy is deemed to be owned solely by the central government. The economy depicts a well planned system, with equality and equity been the presumptive decisions. Capitalistic economy is based on political frontiers which dictate that the ownership of the factors used in production is in the hands of the firms which use various investments schedules to increase their profit. In the due to process to strike a balance between these two systems, it is important to analyze the efficiency precept of the capitalistic economy. At one level, through personal persuasion in the conscience of his personal interest within the economy, he/she will help to bring a success to the broad economy as a whole and consequently benefit one another. When people choose to act on personal grounds without government regulation, there is a higher creation in the wealth factor by them then the consequence laxity that may be brought about if the ownership of these resources is by the government. Respect to more efforts into the economic activity at the personal level, the living standards will consequently improve. (Barnett, 2005) Within the economic framework, are the firms who own the limited factors of production. The economic activities are broad and intense with various packages of commodities and services as output. The market itself is competitive in nature with the price determination under the control of the existing forces of the market supply as well as the demand. Price level defines the level of consumption of the products by the rational consumers. When the prices are up, the consumers lower the level of consumption with the opposite still holding. However, in the capitalistic system, the price is determined by these forces which are never exploitation to the consumers or a loss to the firms. The equilibrium point between the demand function and the supply yields the equilibrium price. Sheridan, 1998) Generally, the national resources that involve both natural and human resources are limited. Consequently, such limitation to the level of resources implies the need for maximum exploitation. However, the capitalistic system is evident in the efficient exploitation and the use of these resources. At one level, these resources are owned solely by the firms. With the high population of such firms against the little package of the existing resources, there is an optimal subdivision of such resources between the firms. In there bid to create wealth on personal dimensions, the firms involve themselves in persuasive activities aimed at optimizing the scale of the available resources. On another scale, this can be related to the motivational aspect developed to them as reasoned to them been the owners of the state resources. Through this ownership, they apply various economies of scales and investment pattern that are adapted to providing the most optimal and efficient scale of output. Private ownership of resources seeks to fight the weaknesses found in the state ownership where there is generally a suboptimal scale in such resource use. Consequently therefore, the capitalist system signifies efficiency through optimal allocation of resources (Nash, 2003) Within their operation, is the competitive market comprised of many producers. The operating system is dictated by the market forces. For an optimal point within the equilibrium, the level of supply should be consistently equal to the level of demand. The assumption of a rational consumer is still prevalent with them choosing the best quality of product against the equilibrium quantity of demand and the supply. With their competitive nature, the firms employ the use of various methods aimed at improving the competitive age of their product. High quality increases this competition. With this factor in their mind, the firms employ various tools for achieving its success. Firstly, firms within this market are highly involved in market research. With this implement, they are able to study the market requirements in correspondence to the demand. Either, the aspect of innovation is highly developed with intense research on product competing within the market. Due to the competitive nature of this market, the firms are able and willing to invest more in the innovation process of their products which helps to create a reasonable state on their competition portfolio. Consumer sovereignty is an equally important tool. At the market place, consumer sovereignty implies the capacity under which the consumers are willing to consume the most desirable level of commodity at the prevailing optimal prices without any external dictate by the producers. Consumer sovereignty is synonymous to reducing their exploitation. However, exploitation comes when the supplies/firms wants to take various sales advantages in the sales activity to the consumers through increase in the prices of products. Due to the market forces, the capitalist system attempt to safeguard the interest of such consumers through the equilibrium determination of the price factor (Gianaris, 1993) Either, capitalist economy is a remedy to the weakness of lack in equal distribution of he available resources by the socialist economy. At times, the distribution of such resources by the socialist economies may be suboptimal. The capitalist economies come in to safeguard the interest of the people in the case of failed equal resource distribution by the socialist economy. To conclude, the capitalist economic system is a fundamental displine that is credited with various efficiencies. Such efficiencies help to rationalize the resource factor, the product output and the consumption pattern within the economic layout.

Illegal Immigration

Illegal Immigration Illegal Immigration Illegal Immigration is entering the United States without permission of the Authorities through permeable border points, overstaying the legal duration of a visa and admission by using fraudulent identity and/or documents. The Pew Hispanic Centre estimates that there are eleven million immigrants in America, six to seven million of whom came to the United States via illegal entry, mainly through the rural, mountainous and arid border of Arizona and Mexico. Estimates also show that between four to five million unauthorized migrants enter the United States with a legal visa but overstay accounting for between 3350% of the total population. Approximately 250,000 and 500,000 illegal immigrants gain admission through fraudulent use of identity and/or documents. With the enactment of Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and other Federal or State laws in place, an unauthorized immigrant who enters or attempts to enter the United States illegally, uses, acquires, or produces fraudulent documents for immigration-related purposes may be subjected to Civil and Criminal penalties and denied certain immigration benefits, including the ability to enter or reside in the United States. Illegal immigrants in the United States represent a meaningful portion of the working population, despite laws and enforcement statutes designed to prevent the employment of unauthorized workers. The Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act (ICRA) of 1986 establishes a National Policy regarding the employment of undocumented immigrant workers and places considerable accountability on employers to verify an applicant's legitimate validity and to dismiss workers without status. Hoffman Plastic Caserecognized that the National Immigration Policy should limit unauthorized workers support. The logic was that an unauthorized immigrant who could not legally work should not be compensated in a lawsuit since it would be violating the law. Courts also found that immigration status and unauthorized work status do not bar a worker claiming compensation. They however, declined to extend the reasoning on Hoffman Plastic to different case solutions as it was for Catalan versus Vermillion Ranch Li mited Partnership where the court refused to enter a custodial order regarding the complainants immigration status. To curb on illegal immigration, an unauthorized worker program should be set up allowing illegal immigrants to go back to their original countries to get proper paperwork. Serious repercussions should be imposed on employers who engage illegal workers in jobs. Employers and State welfare workers should verify documentation through a database with access to current immigrant and visa information. Local law enforcement agencies should be given jurisdiction over illegal immigrants in the community. Comprehensive immigration policies should be reformed and enforced by securing the borders, enforcing all immigration laws, reforming the visa system and partnering with Latin America on key economic and reform initiatives for a better economy and interrelations with the neighboring countries.

Dissertation on Definition of Justice

Dissertation on Definition of Justice Dissertation on Definition of Justice Nandrea, Lorri â€Å"Having No Hand in the Matter,† in Ackley, Katherine Ann. Essays in contemporary culture, Mason OH: Cengage Learning, 2004. Print Justice emerged through evolution and advancement of the human civilization to solve the social standoff characterized by the archaic tooth for a tooth tradition of dispute settlement and gender discrimination only served the powerful. Greek philosophy and civilization expound clearly through mythical indulgence, the areas where the society was most affected by injustice and the most affected members of the society. Dispute settlement was replaced by the better version of resolution through a thorough interrogation of the circumstances surrounding each case. This huge departure from the former version eliminated vengeance in reasonable and civilized dispute clearance, ushering the era of justice. Responsibility of wrongdoing could not unnecessarily be apportioned under the new approach. Confusion and resistance of the new approach had a number of ways to be solved, including negotiating with hardliners of the conservative school of thought of the eye for an eye version of dispute set tlement. Agamemnon’s family surrounds the themes describing both the earlier and newer version of the civilization under justice development as featured in the works of many scholars specialized in gender studies. This discourse highlights Nandrea’s main points of justice through the evolution of the modern system as highlighted by Aeschylus touching on ancient Greek civilization in his trilogy of related plays. Justice As mentioned in the introduction of Nandrea’s essay (25), there is a theme of little surprise that women are presented in essay to be among the greatest victims the archaic justice systems. Perhaps, the author captures this theme well since she is a woman and her motivation as mentioned in the essay also arises from a renowned French dramatist who also pairs as a feminist. The feelings of the two personalities make important input in the development of the idea that gender imbalance characterized archaic justice systems which were ironically founded on injustice. It is perhaps worth to notice that the role of justice is not only to protect the marginalized groups of the society as demonstrated in the play by Aeschylus but also acts a tool for cohesion in the family as well as in the entire community (26). Ironically, the retraction and forced withdrawal of women in the justice archaic system is represented as the cause of the perishing of the mighty guardians of the same system, as Agamemnon was killed by his wife in vengeance of death of her daughter (27). While violence is not permitted at any cost in any clearly defined and established justice system, it is important to note one important aspect represented by arbitration in an efficient justice system. The author accounts for the treatment of the Furies as created by Aeschylus in a lenient approach to drive conscience and reasoning in their understanding of justice. Athena emerges to be the savior of the unjust society running on each other in an unending cycle of vengeance for the injustices committed. Strikingly, the goddess figure emerges as an important intervention in the ensuing commotion. Justice emerges later in the court process which the author identifies with an adjudication mechanism that the society can use to balance the equation of vengeance that seems to get out of hand without such a system. Criminal responsibility and other guilt attributes are allocated on grounds of a keen follow up of the circumstances and participation of individuals in crime. By painting the justice system based on factual follow up for crimes, it is clear that nothing can be ignored when the author states that â€Å"†¦though you walked away from the crime, we can still see the trace of your deed† (Nandrea, 30). Justice system appears to be a tight platform where punishment and deterrence are represented by law principles that guide the society . Justice follows evidence that is like a double edged sword; it serves in the same gusto in incrimination as it does in exoneration. Reliance on sufficient proof is a prominent tenet in the evolution of justice as it is in the modern day. Without follow up on evidence, it would be difficult to identify the guilty and dismiss the innocent in case there are uncertainties in the circumstances of a presenting challenge that involves criminal responsibility. The author represents this idea in an accurate imagery of the verso where the individual and his signature and identity are regarded to be similar before the law. The hand that acts in crime belong to the criminal can be followed up to reveal the actual criminal in the system which heavily relies on evidence as highlighted (29). Through disruptions of the system such as by tampering with the connection that the criminal had with a particular crime, the evidence is lost and it becomes difficult to deliver justice. The author uses the tag anonymity to highlight the loophole of the system based on justice since the link is lost between the act and the doer (31). Despite the sensitivity of the matters that touch on life of numerous people, there are cases of miscarriage of justice at higher levels of justice represented by greed for wealth that is also used to cover up responsibility. The author also highlights the complexity of the disruption by stating that â€Å"†¦there is no tragic hero, here, no guilty one to recognize his flaws; only systems which act anonymously, thousands of faceless victims and a generalized tragic condition in which the language of guilt and responsibility must be transformed,† (Nandrea, 31). What amounts to responsibility of wrongdoing under the refined justice system is not necessarily a direct sense of guilt. Omission and commission both take shape and meaning under the justice system, where everybody ought to look at their actions, to always take part in doing good for the society. Refraining from wrong does not exempt anyone from the responsibility of alleviating or mitigating the loss or suffering sustained by others (32). Representing the case involving the two doctors accused of taking part in the loss of a hemophiliac child is depicted as one of the other loophole of justice, even if the evidence bring the culprit closer to justice mechanism. Achieving justice in such a case, as the author argues cannot bring back to life the dead as occasioned by the acts of omission or commission of others. It therefore implies that while justice aims are reinstating individuals to the state similar to the one before being aggrieved, it is not almost possible (33). As mentioned earlier, it is the function of justice to ensure that the circumstances of the case are interrogated to determine the appropriate intervention for the various cases (34). While punishment may appear to be synonymous with the justice system from a distance, it is also a channel to extend reconciliation, establish truth in uncertainties and allow individuals to feel the act of coming forward to witness as their civil responsibility. Everybody has the responsibility of taking charge of the society and avoid miscarriage of justice through complications evident in the modern society (36).

Chopping Off Syllables

Chopping Off Syllables Chopping Off Syllables Chopping Off Syllables By Maeve Maddox Heres a fab app for keeping track of your lab info docs, vocab lists, and rehab meds. English speakers have been lopping syllables off words for centuries. And thank goodness for that when it comes to such mouthfuls as taximeter-cabriolet and streptococcus. Id much rather call a cab or a taxi and talk about avoiding strep-throat. I cant help wondering, though, if the English spoken a generation or two in the future will consist of staccato sentences in which words of one and two syllables predominate. Here are some shortenings already in common use: doc document. exam examination fab fabulous graph paragraph info information lab laboratory meds medications op opinion/operative/opportunity promo promotion (with meaning of advertising) prep preparation rehab rehabilitation sax saxophone vac vacuum (Ive also seen it used as a shortened form of vacation, but I dont know how that vac is supposed to be pronounced.) vet veterinarian or veteran vocab vocabulary Some of these shortenings, even the ones I use in my own speech, bother me when I see them in formal writing. Others dont faze me because Ive grown used to them. Thats the way of change in language. What infuriates one generation of speakers is mothers milk to the next. I recall reading a novel written in the early 20th centuryby Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) I thinkin which a young man is chided by one of his parents for using the slangy word lunch instead of luncheon. Nowadays lunch is the common word for a meal between breakfast and supper. The word luncheon has not fallen completely out of use, but has acquired an altered meaning. My associations with luncheon include fussy repasts provided by and for ladies in flowered hats, and SPAM luncheon meat. Is the shortening of words a bad thing? Not necessarily, butdepending upon the intended audiencewriters should probably give some thought to which shortened forms they promote by committing them to print. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†Select vs. SelectedHow often is "bimonthly"?

Tax research problem Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tax problem - Research Paper Example Please prepare a memorandum to me addressing the tax consequences of receiving the $200,000 back-pay and damages award, and any gross up she might receive caused by the bunching effect of receiving the award in a single year. Be sure to cite any authority bearing on these questions. _____________________________________________________________________________ MEMORANDUM TO: S. Partner, C.P.A. FROM: J. Accountant RE: Brenda Broccoli In Brenda’s case, three facts must be considered: structured settlements are a possibility; there is one major tax advantage to having a structured settlement; and there is one major disadvantage to having a structured settlement. The structured settlement itself was devised 29 years ago in order to ensure that people who suddenly came into money due to a jury’s award would not have to suffer financial consequences that come with new-found wealth. â€Å"In 1982, Congress created†¦the structured settlement. Rather than paying [a] plainti ff with a single check of $1 million, defendant pays plaintiff $2 million in increments over the next twenty years. [S]preading the receipt over a long period of time [relegates]†¦settlement monies to periodic payments, creating the structured settlement tax subsidy.†1 One of the major problems that had been plaguing people who won large sums of money from jury trials included the fact that people would be subject to losing or spending all of their money in a very irresponsible fashion. This was partially due to the fact that many people simply were not prepared to deal with such large sums of money, had poor financial planning, and, as a result—would lose all of their settlements in a very short time. The best aspect of making sure that one gets a structured settlement for the payout of $200K is that, most likely, Brenda could maintain her current tax bracket instead of being taxed in the second-highest tax bracket in the country. â€Å"One significant advantage of a structured settlement is tax avoidance. With appropriate set-up, a structured settlement may significantly reduce the plaintiff's tax obligations as a result of the settlement, and may in some cases be tax-free.†2 What would be ideal is if Brenda’s settlement was tax-free. The specifics would have to be worked out with her tax lawyers, but perhaps they could set up a tax shelter in the Cayman Islands by setting up an account there and funneling the money there—either that or in Switzerland. Unfortunately, since all the money in a structured settlement isn’t received at one time, no big purchases can be made—such as buying a house. â€Å"One of the disadvantages to a structured settlement is that you cannot make any changes in the amount you receive or in your schedule of payments. That is why it is imperative when you agree to a structure, that you try†¦to anticipate what your needs will be over [time].†3 Of course, it would really depend upon the payout amount of the structured settlement as to what types of goods and services could be purchased based upon Brenda’s budget. It is recommended that Ms. Broccoli make full advantage of her tax lawyers, who specialize in this very same type of legal dilemma.

Management in GIFC Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management in GIFC Company - Case Study Example The company management should take an audit of the entire organization and get an understanding of their marketplace. Some of the issues Maria and the associates should survey the competitive environment to know the companies offering similar products. The company should establish whether there are other companies offering Chinese or Greek foods that Johnny suggests as an investment of the GIFC Company. The company should also establish the organization's real competencies to venture into a new expansion. For instance, it would be advisable for all the entire management team to join a management institute and acquire specific skills to suit their roles. The other step to assist the management to strategize the activities of the company and its expansion by identifying what is important (Brasfield, 2012). The company management should focus on where they have to take their organization over time to create a long-term defined mission. The most important things to bear in mind for the organization to grow are the customers, the market size, and the products they will offer to their clients. In addition, employee welfare, communication, and motivation are key issues for consideration (Brasfield, 2012). The conceptualizations of what the organization’s future should appear will enable it to achieve its vision and grow tremendously. The organization management should their priorities that will require the full and immediate attention of the whole team. The strategic plan should, therefore, focus on such issues to ensure that the right decisions are made they can embark on major changes for expansion of their business operations.

Race and gender econ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and gender econ - Essay Example e other hand, if they have altered – then men and women began to have more flexible understanding and perceptions about their roles and family duties. Communities and Africa were based on hunting and gathering. Traditionally, the role of men and women had different dimension in comparison with the rest of the world. Early theories had focused on the social and biological development in people and referred to men as hunters and meat providers, whereas the women were taking care of the children and gathered wild fruits. Woman gathered also roots, nuts, honey, grains and men were hunting to provide the meat and fur (Gender roles and sexuality, 2002). Women are assessed as caregivers and mothers and men are perceived as protectors and hunters. These roles correspond to the passive roles that women had and their social placement. Women were subordinated and men dominated. These culturally and socially stereotyped gender roles interpret males not only as hunters, but also as active invaders and guardians. Therefore the hunting-gathering societies were patriarchal focused and male-centered. Females as gatherers had decentralized role within the community. What is more because of their reproductive functions women were less mobile and their economic role less viable (Dahlberg, 1981). Horticulture is the first evidence of sedentary lifestyle and anthropologists have called such groups Horticulturists. Horticultural societies depended on cultivating fruits, plants and vegetables. During horticulture period men were the ones to plow, dig or hoe the land in order to cultivate it. In general men were responsible to cleaning the land, while women plant, crop, harvest and stored the production. Also during this period men continued to hunt, however, they were less productive in their hunting and societies started to domesticate animals. The role of men and women changed, because men had to trade the crops and because groups began to settle down. Kinship played an immense

Innovation, Change and Motivation at Nucor Corporation Essay

Innovation, Change and Motivation at Nucor Corporation - Essay Example Apart from these cultural values, none of the company’s employees is unionized. Nucor does not approve of unions, as it believes the culture is counterproductive, especially where building of a strong workforce whose objective is to serve the steel company’s interests is concerned. Nonetheless, the employees remain committed to quality of service and lay-offs are minimal. (a) Devolved Management system Nucor is heavily devolved in its operations, a culture that enables the employees to be innovative in their work and develop a feeling that they are owner-operators. In light of this, the company encourages most of the decisions about the business operations to be made at the lower level. In addition, Nucor’s claim that only 65 employees work at the headquarters is quite telling about the company’s lean culture. (b) Performance-driven rewards Nucor has established general rules of compensation which apply to all employees. The policies provide for a uniform compensation for individual employees who meet particular incentive-specific objectives. Apart from these common bonus plans, Nucor Corporation has periodically awarded extraordinary rewards to all employees, in the financial years when the company has made the highest amounts of profits. For instance, the company’s record sales of $23.6 billion in 2008, which was up from $4.6 billion in 2000 trickled down to the employees’ pockets, with the Chief Executive earning a whopping $ 5.24 million (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Matteson, 2007). The uniform treatment of employees has tremendously reduced the gaps between the earnings of senior executives and lower ranking employees. (c) Egalitarian perks The company’s senior executives are not guaranteed traditional high bonuses such as company cars, executive parking slots or executive dining rooms (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Matteson, 2007). Additionally, the publication of all the names of the company’s employees at the back of Nucor’s annual reports is a clear indication of the company’s egalitarian culture and inclusiveness of the decision-making processes. This is also a sign that the company values all of the employees, irrespective of their position within the organization. (d) Effective customer service Although, the text rarely mentions sound customer service at Nucor, it can be inferred. Effective customer service and quality can be explained by the simplicity and courtesy, which the Chief Executive cultivates. The culture of inclusivity, teamwork and appreciation of every person’s effort is a clear indication that all the stakeholders in the company are assured of respect and recognition. (e) Technology-driven culture Nucor Corporation is undeniably banking on the technological edge in its production of steel products. The process of using electric arc furnaces to liquefy scrap metal is the first of its kind in the twenty-first century (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Mat teson, 2007). Currently, Nucor’s association with two multinational steel companies in the running of the Crawfordsville facility, which specializes in the manufacture of sheet of steel from liquefied steel without necessarily deploying heavy, costly, and energy-inefficient rollers, is in itself a technological breakthrough that many steel companies have not yet adopted. Question # 2 Nucor has maintained the gap between executive pay and that of lower-ranking employees to the bare minimum as compared to other American companies. Since 1980s, the level of growth recorded by companies has been growing at almost the same pace as that of executive compensation (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Matteson, 2007). Globalization makes highly performing executives more likely to

LAB 15 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

LAB 15 - Assignment Example The remodeling of the skeletal remains had not occurred because of the teeth loss was around 6 to 18 years. It is because the teeth were absolutely erupted. It is still approximately 18 years because this is the stage of the Basilar Suture. The complete fusion of the teeth was around two years which led to the complete permanent eruptions by the 18 years. The skeletal disjoint of the bones that led to the separation of the bones to pieces had to take around 6 years because the basilar bone has fused to form the occipital condyles. The identification of the skeleton remains is determined generally by creating a biological profile of the remains. In the four remains they are well identified by the age, sex, statue and the ancestry of the bones. The bones are also identified by the diseases that attack them. This is also determined by the injuries the human remains might have faced before in history. The first information given by the forensic analyst is whether the remains are bones and if the bones are for human beings. It is hard to identify the remains if it is covered by some substances that affect their shapes and mechanisms. The substances can be Ceramic shards, woods, rocks and concrete. For the forensic analyst to be sure if the remains is a bone, he or she ensures that the remains are well cleaned and examined very clearly. If the remains are bones then it is chance to understand whether they are from human beings. For the mammals their bones are all almost in the sale location and well shaped. By havi ng a skull, spine, ribs, and the four sets of the limbs. By looking at the shape of the bones, shape, and structure the anthropologist will know if the bone is for a human. By doing so, the information could explain whether the bones are for one individual all they are for other animals, male or female. The teeth of the remains look wet due to the enamel hypoplastic disease. The enamel of the teeth is also

Innovation, Change and Motivation at Nucor Corporation Essay

Innovation, Change and Motivation at Nucor Corporation - Essay Example Apart from these cultural values, none of the company’s employees is unionized. Nucor does not approve of unions, as it believes the culture is counterproductive, especially where building of a strong workforce whose objective is to serve the steel company’s interests is concerned. Nonetheless, the employees remain committed to quality of service and lay-offs are minimal. (a) Devolved Management system Nucor is heavily devolved in its operations, a culture that enables the employees to be innovative in their work and develop a feeling that they are owner-operators. In light of this, the company encourages most of the decisions about the business operations to be made at the lower level. In addition, Nucor’s claim that only 65 employees work at the headquarters is quite telling about the company’s lean culture. (b) Performance-driven rewards Nucor has established general rules of compensation which apply to all employees. The policies provide for a uniform compensation for individual employees who meet particular incentive-specific objectives. Apart from these common bonus plans, Nucor Corporation has periodically awarded extraordinary rewards to all employees, in the financial years when the company has made the highest amounts of profits. For instance, the company’s record sales of $23.6 billion in 2008, which was up from $4.6 billion in 2000 trickled down to the employees’ pockets, with the Chief Executive earning a whopping $ 5.24 million (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Matteson, 2007). The uniform treatment of employees has tremendously reduced the gaps between the earnings of senior executives and lower ranking employees. (c) Egalitarian perks The company’s senior executives are not guaranteed traditional high bonuses such as company cars, executive parking slots or executive dining rooms (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Matteson, 2007). Additionally, the publication of all the names of the company’s employees at the back of Nucor’s annual reports is a clear indication of the company’s egalitarian culture and inclusiveness of the decision-making processes. This is also a sign that the company values all of the employees, irrespective of their position within the organization. (d) Effective customer service Although, the text rarely mentions sound customer service at Nucor, it can be inferred. Effective customer service and quality can be explained by the simplicity and courtesy, which the Chief Executive cultivates. The culture of inclusivity, teamwork and appreciation of every person’s effort is a clear indication that all the stakeholders in the company are assured of respect and recognition. (e) Technology-driven culture Nucor Corporation is undeniably banking on the technological edge in its production of steel products. The process of using electric arc furnaces to liquefy scrap metal is the first of its kind in the twenty-first century (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Mat teson, 2007). Currently, Nucor’s association with two multinational steel companies in the running of the Crawfordsville facility, which specializes in the manufacture of sheet of steel from liquefied steel without necessarily deploying heavy, costly, and energy-inefficient rollers, is in itself a technological breakthrough that many steel companies have not yet adopted. Question # 2 Nucor has maintained the gap between executive pay and that of lower-ranking employees to the bare minimum as compared to other American companies. Since 1980s, the level of growth recorded by companies has been growing at almost the same pace as that of executive compensation (Ivancevich, Konopaske, & Matteson, 2007). Globalization makes highly performing executives more likely to

HOWARD GOODALL'S 20TH CENTURY GREATS - BERNARD HERMAN Assignment

HOWARD GOODALL'S 20TH CENTURY GREATS - BERNARD HERMAN - Assignment Example He brought the orchestra up to date with imaginative and unparalleled musical textures and effects. Hermann used electronic instruments to score a sequence of landmark films. In doing this, he did not only deter the film audience off the romantic music it was almost conversant with but he also impacted classical concert. He was unsure of his success. He never received the respect he had a desire in the classical world. However, Herman did more than anyone else to widen the musical tastes of the audience. He did this in the crucible most significant form, which is the cinema, of the twentieth century (Howard). Herman composed more than simple music to manipulate his audience as most movies scores are intended to (Howard). He created a psychological mood that developed a character unto itself. Living even beyond the images they are established to support. It is interesting to learn about the combination of historic facts and practical demonstration. It is interesting to note that the musical concepts to be observed in the Hitch scores of Hermann always have a heavy focus on internal repetition. Often, sections of Hermans music will comprise of a short notion that is repeated in various ways. On the one hand, it is applied to disguise this repetition partially, but, on the other hand, to assist the suspense and obsession of mood and cyclic falls found in the Hitchcock. The most remarkable of the repetition strategies comprise of the chromaticism and instrumentation. Chromaticism not only permits Herrmann to repeat short phrases without end, but it also increases the suspense and general mood of the scene. It is a device of Hermanns landscape, which can be seen as the first of Herrmann’s notable echoes. Herman was evidently able through his collaboration with Hitchcock to connect these films sonically. The allusions betray a more intelligent objective than a simple lack of creativity. The echoes throw thematic designs in the

Use of Price Elasticity & Income Elasticity of Demand for Businesses Essay Example for Free

Use of Price Elasticity Income Elasticity of Demand for Businesses Essay Price elasticity of demand and income elasticity are two important ideas in practical business activities. Price elasticity, which is represented by PED, measures the changes of one product’s demand in response to a changing in its price. We can write an equation in this way: Price elasticity of demand = percentage change in quantity demanded of the product / percentage changes in price of the product. This is abbreviated to: XED=%ΔQD / %ΔP. Income elasticity of demand (represented by YED) shows the relationship between a change in quantity demand and the changing in income. The equation can be written as: Income elasticity of demand = percentage change in quantity demanded / percentage changes in income. Abbreviated to: YED=%ΔQD / %ΔY. These are just two terms, but how they work is the most important part. For companies, price elasticity of demand is actually effects of prices’ changing on its own sales of products; and income elasticity of demand is effects of consumers’ changes on its sales. Generally speaking, learning the two relationships can help the business find out the situation of the market and make right decisions. Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) The value of price elasticity of demand is usually negative. The product with high value of PED is described to be elastic, while for one with low PED is said to be inelastic. Just an example to show this idea: when Mc Donald rises its price of burger from $2 to $2.3, and its demand falls from 20 million to 14 million, so its PED= (14 million-20 million)/20 million / (($2.3-$2)/$2 = 30% / 15% = 2. It’s a quite big value of PED, so this is elastic. In order to show the degree of elasticity, we use graphs. There are generally 5 types of graphs, and through them we can see the product’s PED, and company can make decisions in different situations. Type 1: Elastic demand (Please ignore the numbers on it.) This occurs when a given % change in price causes a greater % change in demand. In this kind of graph’s condition, the value of PED is greater than 1 and less than infinity. It usually happens when the company has close substitutes, so a little change in price can cause a big changing in demand. When in a company the PED graph gets like this, it should consider decreasing the price a little to achieve more consumers. From the graph, we can see when the price drops a little, the area of revenue increases much. Type 2: Inelastic demand This is when a given % change in price causes a smaller % change in demand. Its PED value will be greater than 0 and less than 1. Goods with this graph are usually necessaries, and even a relatively high change in price would not cause a big decrease in demand. Or, there are no big substitutes closely, so most consumers will still choose to buy it even if the price rises. Type 3: Unit price elasticity of demand This is when a given % change in price results an equal % change in demand. Its PED value will be exactly 1. In this condition, the PED is easy to handle, because the price and the quantity demanded is proportional, so the revenue will remain constant. Thus, the company can change the price flexibly depending on the market’s situation. However this may not happen so frequently, because the real market is much more complicated. Type 4: Perfectly elastic demand This occurs when a constant price will cause the infinite change in the quantity demanded. In this case, the value of PED is infinite. For example, 2 people are selling the exactly the same goods in a small area, and if one of them gets his price below the other one, then he will get all of the consumers. This doesn’t happen frequently, because there may not be such goods that are exactly the same but different in price in a certain area. Type 5: Perfectly inelastic demand Perfectly inelastic demand curve describe the situation for the company that the price’s change will have absolutely no affect on the demand. PED here is 0. No matter how much the price increases or decreases (mostly increases), the demand will not change any. This often happens to the necessaries or monopolies that people have to choose to buy the good even the prices changes rapidly. For example, the gasoline’s price changes from $2.3 to $3.5, the demand will still remain about the same, because for such goods consumers have to pay for it. Conclusion: Different goods will have different PED charts. Companies should change its price depending on different kind of charts. Generally, if a goods is in a competitive market, it can be high elastic, so it should consider to lower the price to increase revenue; contract to it while in a relatively not so competitive market, it can rise price to increase revenue when its PED is low. The goods that are new in the market should decrease the price to survive and achieve higher revenue (new products usually has high PED). Luxuries are mostly elastic, since they are not essential goods. However, PED is not exactly what it would happen in the market; it is limited in many situations, that the practical market condition and the competitors’ changing may have effect on the demand. So it’s better to just make it as a supplement, but not relying on it.

The significance of preventing accidents In a construction industry

The significance of preventing accidents In a construction industry Today, most of the top managers, contractors and workers, who work in construction industry, are aware about the significance of preventing accident.( In fact they know that ignoring safety and health can impose a high penalty on a company -large or small. Also individual accident or injury can mean compensation, time off and lost production and what have seemed to be a minor risk becomes a major liability)(safety at work/compiled by Badrie Abdullah/p.iii). Therefore they know the valuable of occupational safety and health management (OSH), although most of the managers havent enough knowledge about OSH. It means that they dont know what the OSH is and how they must use it. In this report I try to investigate different part of OSH management in addition the need for it. Introduction In current years, construction accident rates have decreased as a result of substantial effort by many parties. Increased pressures from OSHA and owners, and increased cost of accidents raised the contractors awareness. In turn, contractors increased safety training and enforcement. These efforts have decline the injury and illness rate from 12.2 in 1993 to 7.9 in 2001. The recent approach to accident prevention is based on OSHAs violations approach and focuses on prescribing and enforcing defenses that is, physical and procedural barriers that reduce the workers exposure to hazards. The violations of the defenses are called unsafe conditions and unsafe behaviors. (Systems Model of Construction Accident Causation /Panagiotis Mitropoulos1; Tariq S. Abdelhamid2; and Gregory A. Howell3.p.12) Only knowing about the benefits of OSH management isnt enough, we must be act and apply it. So at first its important to understand the necessity of OSH management then definition of OSH management and finally how we can follow its rules to make our workplace safe. Who are included in the safety value chain? Maybe, it `s better to ask this question who should be interested in accident causation and safety system? In fact the safety value chain includes students, researchers, technicians, system designers, operators, managers, shareholders, accident investigators and safety inspectors. (Fig.1), all these groups affect to system safety in different time-scale. Educators and researchers play important role in this safety value chain, because educators by teaching safety culture can help students to have awareness before they enter to workplace and they impact on accident prevention in long term. Safety levels Short- term Medium-term Long-term Regulatory Accident investigators, safety inspectors, and regulators (Penalties) Economic (Incentives) Insurers shareholders Organizational/ Managers and company executives Managerial Operational/ Technicians and system designers Maintenance Technical/ Engineers and system designers Design Research researchers and academics Education students Fig 1.safety levers and shareholders in the safety value chain Accident theories based on year: NO Models year 1 Domino Theory Heinrich 1931 2 Multi casual Model Gordon 1941 3 Critical Incident Technique Flanagan 1954 4 Combination of Factors Model Schulzinger 1956 5 Goals Freedom Alertness Theory Kerr 1957 6 Energy Exchange Model Haddon et al 1964 7 Decision Model Surry In Viner 1969 1991a 8 Behavioral Methods Hale Hale Anderson et al 1970 1978 9 Fault Tree Analysis II Meister Hoys Zimolong 1971 1988 10 Error Model Wigglesworth 1972 11 Life Change Unit Model Alkov 1972 12 Hazard Carrier Model Skiba Hoys Zimolong 1973 1988 13 Task-Demand Model Waller Klein 1973 14 Multilinear Events Sequencing Model Banner 1975 15 Systems Safety Analysis Smillie Ayoub 1976 16 Risk Estimation Model Rowe 1977 17 Danger response Model Hale Prusse 1977 18 Incidental Factor Analysis Model Leplat 1978 19 Accident Sequence Model Ramsey Quoted in Sanders McCormick Ramsey 1978 1987 1985 20 Psychological Model Corlett Gilbank 1987 21 Domino/Energy Release Zabetakis, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 22 Stair Step Model Douglas, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 23 Motivation Reward Satisfaction Model Petersen, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 24 Energy Model Ball, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 25 Systems Model Firenze, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 26 Epidemiological Model Suchman, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 27 Updated Domino Model Bird Jr, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 28 Updated Domino Model Adams, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 29 Updated Domino Model II Weaver, quoted in Heinrich et al 1980 30 Task Ability Model Drury Brill 1980 31 OARU Model Kjellen Hovden Kjellen Larsson 1981 32 Traffic Conflicts Technique Zimolong 1982 33 Signals Passed at Danger Decision Tree Model Taylor, R. K. and Lucas, D.A in ch.8 of Van Der Schaaf , Lucas Hale 1991 34 Ergonomic Behavioral Methods Kjellen 1984 35 Human Causation Model Mager Pipe 1984 36 Near Accidents Incidents Swain 1985 37 Behavior Model Rasmussen 1986 38 Contributing Factors Model Sanders Shaw 1987 39 Hazard Carrier Model Hayos Zimolong 1988 40 Comet Model Boylston 1990 41 Comprehensive Human Factors Model Dejoy 1990 42 View of Workers on Safety Decisions Model Saari 1990 43 Epidemiological Model Kriebel, quoted in Cone et al 1990 44 Universal Model McClay 1990 45 Federation of Accident Insurance Institution(Finland)Model Seppanen 1997 46 Question Tree Model Hale et al.in Van Der Schaaf, Lucas Hale 1991 47 Occurrence Consequence Process Model Viner 1991b 48 Onward Mappings Model based on Resident Pathogens Metaphor Reason 1991 49 Functional Levels Model Hurst et al 1992 50 Tripod Tree Wheelahan 1994 51 Attribution Theory Model Dejoy 1994 52 Cindynic Hyperspace Kervern 1995 53 Fig.2 Accident theories (Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health, Geofry Taylor, Kellie Easter, Roy Hegney)2004 What is occupational safety and control? The Occupational Safety and Health management is a management which provides the legislative framework to secure the safety, health and welfare among all workforces and to protect others against risks to safety or health in connection with the activities of persons at work.( Job Seeker Handbook/alaysian Labour Law : Regulation of Employment) Occupational health and safety is a discipline with a broad scope involving many specialized fields. In its broadest sense, it should aim at: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention among workers of adverse effects on health caused by their working conditions; The protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; The placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adapted to physical and mental needs; The adaptation of work to humans. In other words, occupational health and safety encompasses the  social, mental and physical well-being of workers that is the whole person. (Website of International Labor organization) What is an accident? It is necessary to define what we mean by the word accident, because before anyone can begin to put up any sort of a flight, he must know his enemy. So we must do the same. An accident is an unplanned event, which could result in injury to persons or in damage to plant and equipment or both. Also accidents are consequent of unplanned (unsafe) acts or unplanned (unsafe) conditions performed or created by people. In fact people cause accidents, by what they do or what they neglect to do and the activity of people, in a factory or any other place of work, are controlled by management. (a safe place of work/D.WB James/p.56) From the linguistic point of view, the word accident is the present participle of the Latin verb accident which means to happen, which in turn is derived from ad- + cadere, meaning to fall. The literal meaning of accident is therefore that of a fall or stumble. The derivation from to fall is significant, since falling is not something one dose on purpose. If someone falls while walking or while climbing, it is decidedly an unexpected and unwanted event. It is, in other words, what we call an accident: an unforeseen and unplanned event, which leads to some sort of loss or injury. Other definitions of accident , such as they can be found in various dictionaries, concur that an accident is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance that (1) happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause and (2) leads to loss or injury. Used as an adverb, to say that something happens accidently or happens by accident means that it happens by chance. (Barriers and Accident Prevention/Erik Hollnagel p.34/2005) The need for accident models It is a truism that we cannot think about something without having the words and concepts to describe it, or without having some frame of reference. The advantage of having a common frame of reference is that communication and understanding become more efficient, because a number of things can be taken for granted. The frame of reference is particularly important in thinking about accidents, because it determines how we view the role of humans. (Barriers and Accident Prevention/Erik Hollnagel p.4445/2005) Accident causation models: Figure 2.  Diagram showing the dominate five perceptions of accident causation (Benner 1975).   The single event concept SINGLE EVENT CONCEPT What the first opinion of accident causation is the Single Event Concept. This idea concentrates that a single event caused accident. It means that this simple model is the widest The first perception of accident causation is the single event concept. This concept focuses on the premise that accidents are caused by a single event. This simple model exemplifies the quest for the cause of what occurred. The search for a scapegoat and taking care of the scapegoat would solve the problem. This concept is the most widely perceived and least complex. The public and media typically utilize this concept when they ask what caused the accident?   Limitations The single events concept is limited in its ability to see the accident as a process or sequence of events in time. The factors that may contribute to the accident are not identified or pursued due to the fact that the real cause is obvious and visible. Causes that may underline human behavior are rarely determined.   Application Current applications are primarily apparent in how the public and media view accidents. This viewpoint is reinforced by findings such as when an airline accident was caused by pilot error. Police citations are another example of the perception.   CHAIN OF EVENTS CONCEPT History The chain of events concept or domino theory was originally developed by Heinrich (1941). The basic concept implied that accidents resulted from a sequence of events that led to an accident. Like a row of dominos, once the sequence began each event led to the next until an accident occurred. Intervention at any point along the events sequence could halt the accident process and eliminate the unwanted results. An unsafe act starts the chain of events that began with an unsafe condition.   Limitations This concept is limited by the linear progression characteristic of the model. Interactions among events, contributing causes, and the duration and timing of each event limit the identification of all causal factors.   Applications The current use of this concept is prevalent in the legal field that attempts to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the accident.   2.the determinat variable concept 3.the domino theory 4.the fault tree analytical methodology FAULT TREE ANALYSIS Heinrich (1941) developed the methodology that preceded and formed the basis for Fault Tree Analysis. He illustrated the linear sequence of factors in accident causation by using a domino theory. The theory stated that a disturbance that caused any one of the five identified components of the sequence to fail would set off a chain-of-events that led to an accident. The five in the sequence were 1) ancestry and social environment, 2) conditions and fault of person, 3) unsafe act, 4) unsafe condition and 5) injury. He showed that by intervention at any point along the sequence an accident/injury could be prevented. This theory has been modified and updated (Baker 1953, Marcum 1978, Heinrich et al 1980), and has wide applicability in current automobile accident and law enforcement investigations.   Similar linear sequence models such as Critical Path Analysis (CPA), Gantt Charts, and Program Evaluation Research Task (PERT), were initially used in the 1950s and 60s as planning tools (Lockyer 1964). Though many names were given to their process they were very similar in their goals and methods. They provided a graphical display of activities linked to events by arrows in order to plan complex projects. The process illustrated a flow (path) from one task sequence to the next and incorporated time frames and interrelationships between tasks. Projects could then be analyzed by task, the amount of time needed for each segment and the relationship a task may have with another task. These methods offered an effective means of project planning, costs analysis, and time frame considerations by visually outlining the task process (Lockyer 1964). These processes also provided the means to better understand the interrelationships between and among tasks. This logical depiction of process fl ow related directly to analyzing an accident sequence and the precursor events.   In the 1960s Bell Laboratories expanded upon the linear chain of events concept through missile system safety. They arranged events in a flow chart that used a proceed/follow logic pattern. Their concept, Fault Tree Analysis (Figure 11), is generally credited to Watson (1971). Figure 12 illustrates the fault tree concept as applied to a hypothetical accident where a wildland firefighter was burned. This analysis concept helped provide a sense of management by objectives by identifying unwanted events (the top event) and then systematically and sequentially determining the precursor events. The objective is the top event and the identification of the preceding causal factors aid in the management achievement of that objective. Watsons Fault Tree Analysis investigation methodology provided a visible, easily understood and defendable format (1971). The methodology extended the linear chain of events into a branched events chains concept through the use of and/or logic gates. It uses bas ic Boolean logic in a hierarchical tree format. Other Boolean terms such as not are not used in Fault Tree Analysis. For example, C can only occur when both A  and  B occur. If two or more events are required for a cause to happen then an and symbol is used. Another possibility is when only one of the factors need be present. For C to occur, then A  or  B occurred. If only one event of two or more are necessary then an or gate is used. The top event is the unwanted result of the accident and causal factors branch out below leading to it. The downward sequence is continued until the root causes are found or the tree cannot be further developed. This technique, according to Benner (1975), contributed a powerful tool for the investigation of accidents both historical and postulated. Accidents could be investigated or reinvestigated in the search for causal factors utilizing this method. It assisted in illuminating areas that may have previously been overlooked by other means. Numerous approaches to determining accident causal factor using branched events chains reflected the discipline of the investigations employing it; thus medical doctors   used an epidemiological approach (agent/host/environment), while psychologists focused on human factors.   Figure 11. Fault Tree diagram illustrating a typical failure process, symbols used,   and the logic sequence leading to an undesired event, a dark room (in Ferry 1988). Figure 12. Fault Tree diagram illustrating the deductive process using an example of a sequence of events in which a firefighter receives burns.   One key limitation of Fault Tree Analysis is the inability to model time sequences that are concurrent and interactive (Hendrick and Benner 1987). Brown (1993) added that only one event could be analyzed at a time and thus primarily applicable to catastrophic events. Benner (1975) cited similar deficiencies, most notably that charting analysis methods focus on a single undesired event and provided no means to indicate the chronological relationships (and the subsequent concurrent interrelationships) of events. Another limitation is the restriction inherent in the method whereby causes must be either successes or failures and degrees of each are not accounted for (Tulsiani and others 1990).   5.the energy-barriers-targets model Barriers Analysis Barriers Analysis is an accident investigation method that is an additional component of the MORT process. The method identifies barriers/controls that are in place to prevent accidents. These barriers may be physical and/or administrative and must be absent, inadequate, or bypassed in order for the accident to occur. A more detailed account of this approach will be undertaken in the methods section as this method is one of the USDA proposed investigative tools (USDA 1998).   6.the management oversight and risk tree History Traditional accident investigations focused on the active response to a mishap and the identification of procedures to prevent future occurrences. The degree and intensity of the accident dictated the intensity of the investigation response and subsequent preventative action (Brown 1993). But as technology advanced and systems became more complex, the consequences of accidents became increasingly unacceptable to society and industry, particularly in the nuclear power industry. The nuclear industry and similar high-risk technologies have determined that learning from accidents and even near misses was not an option. The consequences of accidents precluded the traditional trial by error approach where as accidents occurred the problem was fixed subsequent to the next mishap (termed the fly-fix-fly approach). A new approach was undertaken to become proactive as well as reactive in accident analysis techniques to determine possible failure points prior to occurrence. Johnson (1973a) work ing for the National Safety Council and under a contract from the US Atomic Energy Commission focused on a systems approach to accident analysis. This approach focused on the entire system in which accidents occurred and the interaction of events within that system. Johnson merged two basic views to focus on management responsibility in planning the context in which accidents occur. These views, understanding the energy release process and focusing management of that hazard on the route of its release, led Johnson to develop the concept of less than adequate management decisions. This progressed to the Management Oversight and Risk Tree (MORT) accident analysis tool. He said MORT was an analytical procedure that provides a disciplined approach for finding the causes and contributing factors of mishaps. It entailed a very broad and detailed checklist that facilitated the search for safety problems. It incorporated 1500 possible causes and 98 generic problems and was the initial metho dology to embody management oversight into accident causation. The Department of Energy currently employs this method as one of its most comprehensive analytical techniques (DOE 1992). It is more generally used as a proactive method in safety system evaluations than as an accident investigation method. This is primarily due to the fact that it can be time consuming and intensive and due to the nature of the nuclear industry, identifying possible loopholes in the safety system to eliminate hazards is more cost effective and publicly expedient than after the accident occurs.   This concept was highly visible, easily reviewed and updated as new relevant facts warrant, and provided structure to help reduce overlooked factors and bias. Within the MORT system incidents were defined as inadequate barrier/controls or as failures without consequence. Accidents resulted in adverse consequences. The MORT system incorporated the concept of the unwanted transfer of energy that can cause mishaps due to inadequate barriers/controls. These barriers and controls may be physical (protective clothing, concrete walls, etc) or administrative (codes, standards and regulations). The MORT system is based on two main sources of accidental losses: 1) specific job oversights and omissions and 2) the management system factors that control the job (Johnson 1973a). A third source he mentioned was assumed risk. Johnson noted that once this source was properly evaluated it could not be considered accidental in nature since we have consciously decided to accept the risk. Integral aspect s of the MORT process are Fault Tree Analysis, Barriers Analysis and Event and Causal Factors Charting. Each of these approaches will be subsequently explained.   Limitations Limitations of MORT are that it can be insufficient in finding specific causes as it designed to identify general causal areas (Gertman and Blackman 1994). These authors do recognize its strengths in identifying more specific control and managerial factors. Moreover, this systematic process is advantageous when system experts are not available.   Application Its current use as a proactive safety system analysis tool for the Department of Energy has long standing (Briscoe 1990). It has been used exclusively as both a proactive technique and an accident investigation method for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.   7.petersen`s multiple causation model 8.reason`s swiss chess model of human error 1990 Reasons Swiss Cheese Model of Human Error One particularly appealing approach to the genesis of human error is the one proposed by James Reason (1990). Generally referred to as the Swiss cheese model of human error, Reason describes four levels of human failure, each influencing the next (Figure 1). Working backwards in time from the accident, the first level depicts those  Unsafe Acts  of Operators that ultimately led to the accident[1]. More commonly referred to in aviation as aircrew/pilot error, this level is where most accident investigations have focused their efforts and consequently, where most causal factors are uncovered. After all, it is typically the actions or inactions of aircrew that are directly linked to the accident. For instance, failing to properly scan the aircrafts instruments while in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or penetrating IMC when authorized only for visual meteorological conditions (VMC) may yield relatively immediate, and potentially grave, consequences. Represented as holes i n the cheese, these active failures are typically the last unsafe acts committed by aircrew. [1]  Reasons original work involved operators of a nuclear power plant. However, for the purposes of this manuscript, the operators here refer to aircrew, maintainers, supervisors and other humans involved in aviation. However, what makes the Swiss cheese model particularly useful in accident investigation, is that it forces investigators to address latent failures within the causal sequence of events as well. As their name suggests, latent failures, unlike their active counterparts, may lie dormant or undetected for hours, days, weeks, or even longer, until one day they adversely affect the unsuspecting aircrew. Consequently, they may be overlooked by investigators with even the best intentions. Within this concept of latent failures, Reason described three more levels of human failure. The first involves the condition of the aircrew as it affects performance. Referred to asPreconditions for Unsafe Acts, this level involves conditions such as mental fatigue and poor communication and coordination practices, often referred to as crew resource management (CRM). Not surprising, if fatigued aircrew fail to communicate and coordinate their activities with others in the cockpit or individuals external to the aircraft (e.g., air traffic control, maintenance, etc.), poor decisions are made and errors often result. Figure 1. The Swiss cheese model of human error causation (adapted from Reason, 1990). But exactly why did communication and coordination break down in the first place? This is perhaps where Reasons work departed from more traditional approaches to human error. In many instances, the breakdown in good CRM practices can be traced back to instances of  Unsafe Supervision, the third level of human failure. If, for example, two inexperienced (and perhaps even below average pilots) are paired with each other and sent on a flight into known adverse weather at night, is anyone really surprised by a tragic outcome? To make matters worse, if this questionable manning practice is coupled with the lack of quality CRM training, the potential for miscommunication and ultimately, aircrew errors, is magnified. In a sense then, the crew was set up for failure as crew coordination and ultimately performance would be compromised. This is not to lessen the role played by the aircrew, only that intervention and mitigation strategies might lie higher within the system. Reasons model didnt stop at the supervisory level either; the organization itself can impact performance at all levels. For instance, in times of fiscal austerity, funding is often cut, and as a result, training and flight time are curtailed. Consequently, supervisors are often left with no alternative but to task non-proficient aviators with complex tasks. Not surprisingly then, in the absence of good CRM training, communication and coordination failures will begin to appear as will a myriad of other preconditions, all of which will affect performance and elicit aircrew errors. Therefore, it makes sense that, if the accident rate is going to be reduced beyond current levels, investigators and analysts alike must examine the accident sequence in its entirety and expand it beyond the cockpit. Ultimately, causal factors at all levels within the organization must be addressed if any accident investigation and prevention system is going to succeed. In many ways, Reasons Swiss cheese model of accident causation has revolutionized common views of accident causation. Unfortunately, however, it is simply a theory with few details on how to apply it in a real-world setting. In other words, the theory never defines what the holes in the cheese really are, at least within the context of everyday operations. Ultimately, one needs to know what these system failures or holes are, so that they can be identified during accident investigations or better yet, detected and corrected before an accident occurs. The balance of this paper will attempt to describe the holes in the cheese. However, rather than attempt to define the holes using esoteric theories with little or no practical applicability, the original framework (called the  Taxonomy of Unsafe Operations) was developed using over 300 Naval aviation accidents obtained from the U.S. Naval Safety Center (Shappell Wiegmann, 1997a). The original taxonomy has since been refined using input and data from other military (U.S. Army Safety Center and the U.S. Air Force Safety Center) and civilian organizations (National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration). The result was the development of the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). 1.2. Accident investigation methods During the last decades, a number of methods for accident investigation have been developed and described in the literature.The selection of methods for the needs of our study was made on the basis that they are described in the literature, they show the evolution of accident investigation over time and they are either widely used or recently developed. Based on these criteria, the following methods were selected: 1.2.1. Fault tree analysis (FTA) FTA was developed in the early 1960s by the Bell Laboratories (Ferry, 1988). In FTA, an undesired event (an accident) is selected and all the possible things that can contribute to the event are diagrammed as a tree in order to show logical connections and causes leading to a specified accident. FTA is more an analytical tool for establishing relations; it does not give the i

Othello, The Moor of Venice Essay examples -- Shakespearean Literatur

Othello, the Moor of Venice is one of the major tragedies written by William Shakespeare that follows the main character, Othello through his trials and tribulations. Othello, the Moor of Venice is similar to William Shakespeare’s other tragedies and follows a set of specific rules of drama. The requirements include, following the definition of a tragedy, definition of tragic hero, containing a reversal of fortune, and a descent from happiness. William Shakespeare fulfills Aristotle’s requirements in this famous play. Aristotle the famous philosopher outlined several requirements in which a play or piece of drama is to follow. The first rule that is met in Shakespeare’s play is that Othello is considered tragic hero, which every tragedy must contain. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be a man in a position of power who is a good person and makes a mistake during the timeline of the play due to a tragic flaw. Othello’s major flaw can be seen as jealousy: â€Å"Othello has often been described as a tragedy of character, as the play’s protagonist swiftly descends into a rage of jealousy that completely destroys his life†("Othello"). Othello is shown he is a good man within the first few scenes of the play: â€Å"She wished she had not heard it; yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man† (1.3.162-163). This line in Act I spoken by Othello, is an indication that he is a good person although it may appear that he has stolen Desdemona away from her father. Othello speaks that although he has taken Desdemona as his wife without Brabantio’s consent, he is a good person for stating his reasons for his actions as well as standing his ground. After Othello’s marriage to Desdemona, the conflict is started when Iago insinuates t... ... Works Cited Catherine Bates, "Weaving and Writing in Othello," in Shakespeare Survey, Vol. 46, edited by Stanley Wells, Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp. 51–60. Dreher, Diane. "Shakespeare's Cordelia and the power of character." World and I Apr. 1998: 287+. Fine Arts and Music Collection. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Newton, K.M. "Othello: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. "Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-687. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Shakespeare, William. Othello, the Moor of Venice. Literature. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 368-455. Print. Othello, The Moor of Venice Essay examples -- Shakespearean Literatur Othello, the Moor of Venice is one of the major tragedies written by William Shakespeare that follows the main character, Othello through his trials and tribulations. Othello, the Moor of Venice is similar to William Shakespeare’s other tragedies and follows a set of specific rules of drama. The requirements include, following the definition of a tragedy, definition of tragic hero, containing a reversal of fortune, and a descent from happiness. William Shakespeare fulfills Aristotle’s requirements in this famous play. Aristotle the famous philosopher outlined several requirements in which a play or piece of drama is to follow. The first rule that is met in Shakespeare’s play is that Othello is considered tragic hero, which every tragedy must contain. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be a man in a position of power who is a good person and makes a mistake during the timeline of the play due to a tragic flaw. Othello’s major flaw can be seen as jealousy: â€Å"Othello has often been described as a tragedy of character, as the play’s protagonist swiftly descends into a rage of jealousy that completely destroys his life†("Othello"). Othello is shown he is a good man within the first few scenes of the play: â€Å"She wished she had not heard it; yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man† (1.3.162-163). This line in Act I spoken by Othello, is an indication that he is a good person although it may appear that he has stolen Desdemona away from her father. Othello speaks that although he has taken Desdemona as his wife without Brabantio’s consent, he is a good person for stating his reasons for his actions as well as standing his ground. After Othello’s marriage to Desdemona, the conflict is started when Iago insinuates t... ... Works Cited Catherine Bates, "Weaving and Writing in Othello," in Shakespeare Survey, Vol. 46, edited by Stanley Wells, Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp. 51–60. Dreher, Diane. "Shakespeare's Cordelia and the power of character." World and I Apr. 1998: 287+. Fine Arts and Music Collection. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Newton, K.M. "Othello: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. "Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-687. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Shakespeare, William. Othello, the Moor of Venice. Literature. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 368-455. Print.

How media affects us Essay

Media affects everyone’s life that comes Into contact with It. There are many disadvantages and advantages to media and advertising. This essay will talk about the advantages and disadvantages evolving around the media. A few advantages that this essay will talk about is that media can target a global audience as they can reach outto us and that it can be used tor educational purposes to help people learn all around the world. A few disadvantages are that It can be manipulated very easily and hat it can easily tell us exactly what to want. hat to wear, how to think. taking away our freedom. An advantage Is that the media and advertising can reach a global audience, informing anyone. anywhere and anytime. Most people read or see advertising and media on the internet, which is mostly accessible to a large audience, allowing more and more people to be exposed to it. This can be useful as it can inform a lot of people around the country and world If there Is a disaster, allowing t hem to give aid o the unfortunate victims. For example, the typhoon in the Philippines that happened mid-2013 and the mega earthquake in Japan were able to show images, videos and stories to people in other countries that otherwise have known nothing about It and would not have been able to help. A disadvantage of media and advertising however, is that the media and be manipulated extremely easily. For example, if you look to the right you can see an example of this. It Is Just one Image, yet can give the audience a very different viewpoint. From one side It looks like they are giving aid and water to a poor man and on the other it looks as if they are going to kill him or take him as hostage. Another example of this would be in magazines that are trying to sell. Some might write about a couple’s night out as a lovely story, whilst another might write about how they were fighting the whole time. They will usually Just write a story that will grab the reader’s attention.

Administrative theory and practice management

As Dougherty (2008) reports, whites will make up less than half of the U.S. population by 2042, sooner than expected. Therefore, organizations will have to adjust to the new situation. Market globalization reinforces the importance of intercultural communication, since majority of big corporations employ people from a variety of backgrounds.For this reason, management of diversity is one of the most important human resources tasks. Visionary and effective diversity management reduces the probability of conflict in organizations and increases the organization’s efficiency, productivity, and employee satisfaction.‘Managing diversity’ is a concept that refers to ‘a planned, systematic and comprehensive managerial process for developing an organizational environment in which all employees, with their similarities and differences, can contribute to the strategic and competitive advantage of the organization, and where no-one is excluded on the basis of factors un related to production’ (Performance Associates, 2004, ‘Managing Diversity: A Definition’, para. 1).Development of healthy, tolerant and productive organizational culture is only possible under the conditions of visionary intercultural management: ‘When there is weak leadership and management of diversity within an organization, a variety of problems and issues can arise’ (Sonnenschein, 1999, p.25).As a leader of my company, I have to pay greater attention to values shared by people from different backgrounds. Not only does everyday life differ across the globe, but also leadership style and workplace ethics vary from country to country. I should acknowledge the impact of diverse workforce on market and realize the fact that successful companies should go to great length to avoid multicultural business clashes.In the contemporary workplace, failure of an organization can be in many cases attribute to ineffective management of diversity. A successful m anager is characterized by tolerance and cultural sensitivity.As concerns practical measures aimed at utilizing the potential of a diverse workforce, there is a number of ways to manage diversity in the workplace. First of all, the process starts with recruitment. Underutilized minorities, women, and disabled citizens often possess unique skills crucial to a company’s success.It is important to make the job look attractive to the abovementioned groups and encourage them to come to an interview. It is also necessary to ensure that interviewees are not stereotyped on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, skin color, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Finally, it is a must to make all the appropriate arrangement for disabled employees starting with the day of interview.However, managing diversity is different from affirmative action. Many companies construe the concept of managing diversity as color blind (and sex, disability etc. blind) judgment of applicants based on their q ualifications. It means that being different would not harm someone’s chances of recruitment but will give him or her no unfair advantage over the rest of the applicants.Secondly, developing intercultural skills among managers and employees is of paramount importance. In a multinational environment, employees are likely to have different experiences and sums of knowledge. Problems might include misunderstanding of basic terms of cooperation and prejudices against other team members. To avoid them, management should establish a clear framework for cooperation and enforce ethical standards.Intercultural awareness and competence among managers and employees can be achieved through specific training programs. Managers can understand the culture of their employees better by gaining insights into its origins, including history, religion, and politics.Knowledge of the issues of race, ethnicity, and religion are invaluable for effective leaders. The most effective way to comprehend a different culture is to compare and contrast it with one’s own your cultural identity. People with a deep understanding of their cultural self are likely to possess strong intercultural skills.Teambuilding and enhanced communication are the first steps towards the effective use of cultural diversity for competitive advantage. Teambuilding activities can improve socialization and counter negative perceptions employees might have about their colleagues, especially those from a different background.Finally, there should be certain institutional adjustments made for effective management of diversity. Many companies have set up special position of Equity Officer responsible for monitoring workplace situation; employees can also report cases of discrimination to this person. If discrimination cannot be stopped by conventional dispute resolution methods, Equity Officer is mandated to take appropriate legal action.It is of paramount importance to communicate to employees that any vi olation of equity or workplace ethics will be immediately and severely punished.If a company succeeds in building an inclusive work environment, it will be able to attract and retain a talented workforce, reflecting the growing diversity of worldwide business community, and encourage creative thinking and cooperation. In such an environment, mutual respect is the key principle, and every employee's contribution is valued.Diversity management can be an effective way to tackle many problems facing many contemporary organizations, including high stress levels among employees, low job satisfaction, absenteeism, and high turnover.People centered organizations strive in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Given the fact that the half of American population will be nonwhite in several decades, my company should adopt a corporate culture where no superiority or domination of a certain ethnic group is tolerated.The change process might be complicated, since all employees are C aucasian and have tenure with the company. The inclusion of employees from other ethnic groups should be gradual; this process should be constantly overseen by the manager.New hires might feel uncomfortable in the all-white environment, therefore they should be given support and assistance from the management at the initial stage of their employment. Yet it is also of paramount importance not to make other employees perceive this support and assistant as discriminatory against them.While the transition might be complicated, I can build on such assets of my company as strong corporate culture and effective communication between the management and employees.Therefore, diversity should be regarded as a strategic resource for successful organizations. Managing diversity is one of the most crucial human resources tasks in the contemporary workplace, given the changing demographical landscape of America and worldwide globalization.ReferencesDougherty, C. (2008). â€Å"Nonwhites to be Maj ority in US by 2042.† The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2008, from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121867492705539109.htmlPerformance Associates. (2004). ‘Managing Diversity.’ Retrieved May 3, 2008, from http://www.performanceassociates.co.nz/diversity.htmlSonnenschein, W. (1999). The Diversity Toolkit: How You Can Build and Benefit from a Diverse Workforce. New York: McGraw-Hill.  

Justifying The State Essay

Q1 If the state is not a voluntary organisation, how can one be under any obligation to obey its commands? This is a question about justifying the state. What D. D. Raphael calls † the grounds of political obligation.1 If the state can be justified somehow then so can the commands it makes, whether it is voluntary or not. This would be a state built on individual consent; obligation to the commands of the state would flow from that consent. This essay will discuss the possibility of justifying of the state through the idea of a social contract. The state when it creates a law draws a line one cannot cross without consequences. For clarity I am talking about a serious law, specifically one that obviously has a moral base, the law against murder for example. An individualist might say ‘I have no intention of crossing that line anyway because I believe it would be morally wrong to do so’. The law in his case may as well not exist. Just by not breaking a law it can appear as though he supports it. When what he might agree with is what the law defends/upholds /represents, and that is the moral principle behind it. This is one reason why some people appear to uphold the law when in fact all they may be doing is following a personal moral code. or simply agreeing with the basic rational belief shared by most people that ‘murder is wrong or (maybe) tax for the NHS is good’ for example. I suggest this analogy can be applied when questioning many commands of the state. When I obey the state by paying taxes, I may not be doing so because I am obligated too by law but for other reasons including moral ones. Socialists (as do many others) might argue that they are happy to pay more tax in return for a wider societal benefit that includes all, i.e. as in the National Health Service. Therefore a socialist might argue that she paid her National Insurance not because the law obligates her too, but because it ‘fits her moral attitudes and outlook anyway’. The fact that she has no legal right to refuse to pay becomes relevant in this case only if she actually doesn’t. The above argument is Lockean to the extent that it â€Å"appeal[s] to the idea of individual consent.†2 It is also in part my own view, which is (I think) essentially individualist in nature, though not libertarian. The relevance of my own view to this essay is that when thinking about this question, I realised that I had no idea what my own moral position was regarding some of the most crucial problems and contradictions of political philosophy. Many of these questions require (I think) a moral stance in order to be able to make sense of them. This may seem like a non-academic approach as if I am personalising or reducing this essay to subjective notions, however the questions and issues of political philosophy are in large part moral questions and issues that therefore have as a basis, personal moral opinions. Locke’s view according to Wolff is that obligations to the institutions of the state â€Å"must be justified in terms of the will, choices or decisions of those over whom they have authority.†3 Justification of the institutions of the state that enforce obligation then is reliant on the idea that personal autonomy is of premier value. Will Kymlicka defines this as the belief that the individual is ‘morally prior’ to the community. One objection to this is the communitarian argument that the individual is not ‘morally prior’ to the community instead individuals are a ‘product of the community.’4 There are other objectors to Locke’s idea that autonomy is the primary value. Wolff writes that Bentham considered â€Å"the primary value is not autonomy but happiness †¦ whether we consent to the state is irrelevant.† 5 This utilitarian argument is that the ‘happiness’ of society, as a whole is of more value than personal autonomy or the happiness of the few or one. And that therefore one has a duty to obey the commands of the state as it pursues this goal. So if the state decides that having nuclear weapons is for the greater good (happiness) then I would be obligated to pay my share of tax for them whatever I thought. I may be against nuclear weapons or the military in general for moral reasons (pacifism for example) but my moral objection is sacrificed for the greater happiness. The problem political philosopher’s face is finding ways to solve issues like the one above. Just how does one justify the state? One theory is the idea of ‘the social contract.’ Wolff here defines the ‘project of the social contract theory.’ â€Å"The project of showing that individuals consent to the state lies behind the idea of social contract theory. If, somehow or other, it can be shown that every individual has consented to the state, or formed a contract with the state, or made a contract with each other to create a state, then the problem appears to be solved.†6 It is difficult to support the idea that the state, and thereby its commands and responding obligations, can be justified by the theory of a social contract. â€Å"The theory of a social contract tries to justify political obligation as being based on an implicit promise, like the obligation to obey the rules of a voluntary association.†7 If there were such a contract (based on the idea that the state is a voluntary organisation) the problem of individual obligation to the state would be solved. One could join (or leave) institutions of the state at will, and not be subject to state penalties. This is clearly not so. To clarify this further I can ask a different question: how much like a voluntary association is the state? The consensus among political philosophers is I think that the state is not a voluntary organisation. To be born is to be joined to it. As Raphael says â€Å"the universality of the states jurisdiction makes its compulsory character more pervasive and more evident. â€Å"8 Individuals are inextricably linked to it in many ways, for example through the financial/legal institutions. Neither of these institutions are voluntary, they both carry obligations that are enforceable by law. For a comparison I will examine what I think a voluntary organisation is. The obligations I have to the UEA regarding my degree, I agreed to honour. They were stated, I accepted. This does not mean I think the UEA is perfect. Just because I am obligated, (I agreed to the UEA rules) does not mean I cannot criticise the parking problem. What is important is that I chose to join. My obligations to the UEA are voluntary, and I can withdraw from them voluntarily and leave the university should I choose. This is not possible in the case of the state. â€Å"[I] am subject to the rules whether I like it or not.†9 As a general philosophical attitude I am ‘nervous’ or sceptical of organisations people are forced to join or have to remain joined to, this includes the idea of a state. This could be framed as, (if this sentence makes sense) ‘I do not like the idea that there is a group I am unable not to join’. These reasons might help to explain why I am ‘generally sceptical’ of some of the motives of our own state. So where does this leave us? The above contentions highlight some of the problems of the social contract theory. The central objection to it is that the state is not voluntary therefore there can be no ‘mutually agreed contract.’ Nor has there historically ever been one. As Wolff observes, if there ever was a social contract â€Å"What is the evidence? Which museum is it in?†10 The idea of a hypothetical contract is an attempt to solve this problem. It does not rely on any formal notion of â€Å"actual consent, be it historical, express, or tacit.†11 The hypothetical contract relies on hypothetical consent. If hypothetical consent were possible it would provide a moral reason for political obligation. That is the ingredient the question this essay is discussing implicitly implies is missing. The idea asks us to imagine a position from where we could successfully negotiate a social contract. Rawl’s idea is a very complex one that effects many issues. In his Theory of Justice, Rawls sets out primarily to establish â€Å"what moral principles should govern the basic structure of a just society.†12 Rawls Theory of Justice suggests a set of specific moral principles that he hopes will achieve this consensus view. It is these principles that critics of the theory in the main object to. What they are concerned with is the kind of society that would emerge from behind any veil of ignorance whatever its character. For the purpose of this essay the idea of a ‘veil of ignorance’ which is subject to many conditions, is the device Rawls uses to argue for consent. If people can agree on what would be just, (which he argues is possible using the principles he suggests) from behind a ‘veil of ignorance’ the consent reached would be a voluntary contract. Again the problem remains, what principles really constitute a ‘just society’ are not clear. Objections to Rawls ideas include the ‘libertarian critique.’ Kukathas and Pettit13 argue that for principled libertarians like Nozick the state that would emerge from Rawls’s theory â€Å"is bound to seem inherently evil.†14 Nozick’s objections are based on his libertarian view that â€Å"Individuals have rights, and there are things no person or group may do to them (without violating their rights)†15 To conclude is this essay is very difficult; the argument I have tried to demonstrate is that one cannot be under any obligation to obey the commands of the state using the social contract model. I have argued that the social contract fails because it is not consensual. I have also tried to show that the idea of hypothetical contract cannot work because the ‘veil of ignorance’ still does not produce consent because people cannot agree on what the principles of a just state are. One can only be obligated to obey the commands of the state (I think) when its principles are consensual. Bibliography Chandran Kukathas and Philip Pettit, Rawls, A Theory of Justice and its Critics, (Polity Press 1990) Kymlicka, Will, Contemporary Political philosophy. Raphael, D D, Problems of Political Philosophy, (Macmillan press 1990) Wolff, Jonathan, An Introduction to Political Philosophy, (oxford University Press 1996) Colin Dunlop His II Political Philosophy Dr Kathleen Stock 04-04-03 Q1 If the state is not a voluntary organisation, how can one be under any obligation to obey its commands? 1 Raphael, D D, Problems of Political Philosophy, p175 2 Wolff, Jonathan, An Introduction to Political Philosophy, p38 3 Ibid.p38 4 See Kymlicka, Will, Contemporary Political philosophy, Ch5 (I think) his discussion â€Å"multiculturalism and communitarianism.† 5 Ibid.p38 6 Ibid.p43 7 Raphael, D D, Problems of Political Philosophy, p182 8 Ibid.p181 9 Ibid.p181 10 Wolff, Jonathan, An Introduction to Political Philosophy, p44 11 Ibid.p44 12 Chandran Kukathas and Philip Pettit, Rawls, A Theory of Justice and its Critics, p36 13 Ibid. See chapter 5 † The Libertarian Critique† 14 Ibid.p74 15 Robert Nozick quoted by Chandran Kukathas and Philip Pettit in, Rawls, A Theory of Justice and its Critics, p76