Organizational Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational Case Study - Essay Example Multiple tiers of research, analysis, theories, hypotheses, and conclusions will be drawn apply the necessary programs as well as the human and other resources to successful serve all areas -- senior level managers/executives and the board of directors, full time employees, professional and paraprofessional staff, as well as the clients from the urban community -- of the organization. In a professional bureaucracy such as the Continuing Education Department, the administrator must be disseminate the department piece by piece, work group by work group, market segment by market segment to properly determine roles and responsibilities as well as levels of accountability. "Its operating core is large relative to its other structural parts - particularly the technostructure. Few managerial levels exist between the strategic apex creating a flat and decentralized profile. Control relies heavily on professional training and indoctrination." (Bolman & Deal, 2003, pp. 65-66) This approach will provide a grid and foundation for future forecast and the building of paradigms and theories to manage and develop programs in response to the needs of employees and affiliates as well as market (s) and community needs. Further segmentation, research and analyses provides greater understanding of the customers needs, trends and opportunities for innovations to serve both the communi ty outreach efforts and the staff development activities. The identification, research and analyses should provide the material to determine best practices, development of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analyses, due diligence, competition within and without the immediate market community as well as trends in the distance and continuing education industries collectively. The development of other approaches will provide the basis for understanding decline in enrollment over the last two (2) years for both the staff development and community outreach programs. It is necessary to thoroughly understand the organizational chart, gaps strategy, reevaluation of corporate missions, the identification and qualification of redundant and/or overlapping responsibilities and programs, as well as streamlining departments, funds for the programs from both the strategic and operations levels to appropriately identify, define, qualify, design, redesign, develop and imple ment effective and efficient solutions and methodologies. Leadership and Strategic Planning Any philosophy developed to properly administer policies and procedures must reflect the organizational proficiencies as well as the community's needs, as this will allow both the internal and external environment to grow synergistically and symbiotically. The objectives must be apparent in the organization's long and short term goals and be a model to develop other programs as well as a foundation on which the organization can grow in response to the community's needs. In order to approach or create methodologies that address the organizational needs, careful assessment must be made to understand corporate mission and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats (SWOT). These are areas which provide focus and bench marks in checking and reviewing environmental feasibility issues.

Black People and Young Black Man Essay Example for Free

Black People and Young Black Man Essay The narrator 1. Who is the narrator and what is the narrator’s attitude towards white Afrikaner ruling party, to blacks, and to Europeans? 2. What do these attitudes tell us about why people are divided in South Africa and in our larger world, maybe regardless of race? Van der Vyver 1. What does the action of his crying in the police station suggest to us? Are you surprised by this reaction—why or why not? Does this make him more likable—why or why not? 2. What do we learn about him by his action at the funeral? 3. What does it show us in the description â€Å"he does not let her clothing, or that of anyone else gathered closely make contact with him’ (2578). How does this moment contrast with â€Å"The farmer carried him in his arms, to the truck. He was sure, sure he could not be dead. But the young black man’s blood was all over the farmer’s clothes, soaking against his flesh as he drove† (2578)? What do we learn about Van der Vyver? The moment 1. What exactly was the moment like for Lucas and Van der Vyver before the gun went off? What does this say about their relationship? (2578) 2. Why is this moment compared to the moment that he and Lucas’s mom share at the funeral? What does it suggest to us about their relationship? (2577) To close: 1. In what way is this story about difference? About misconception? 2. What is the more tragic element of this short story in your mind?

Chaucers the House Of Fame: The Cultural Nature Of Fame :: essays research papers

Chaucer's "The House of Fame": The Cultural Nature of Fame QUESTION 7. DISCUSS THE CULTURAL NATURE OF FAME AND ITS TEXTUAL EXPRESSION WITH REFERENCE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: ORAL HEROIC POETRY, CHAUCER'S DEPICTION IN THE HOUSE OF FAME AND THE MODERN CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANON OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. YOU SHOULD FOCUS YOUR ANALYSIS ON THE INTERPLAY OF ORAL AND LITERARY TRADITIONS IN THESE CONTEXTS. Many critics have noted the complexities within Chaucer's The House of Fame, in particular, the complexities between the oral and the literary. The differences between these methods are constantly appearing; Chaucer is well aware of rapidly changing communicative practises and contrasts the preservation of utterance with the longevity of literary texts. He achieves this by discussing the nature of "Fame" and the difficulties that arise from it. "Fame" can both destroy and create. It can result in the eternal preservation of great works and their creators. However, Chaucer is quick to note the precarious nature of "fame" noting the unreliable process of attaining it and its potentially momentary existence. Every creator with their respective work/s naturally crave and desire "fame"; they want their subjects to remain fresh in the minds of their audience. Chaucer, while neither totally praising the written nor the oral, reveals how essentially the written word is far more likely to become eternal as opposed to the oral. The relative "fame" of any work is dependent on many factors. Many traditional and classical ideas result in the formation of the English canon, yet as Chaucer indicates, the "fame" of these works can easily become annihilated. The arrival of new readers with different ideals and thereby changing tradition, can reject classical or "canonical" work and their "fame" will melt into nothingness. Most stories, histories and legends that emerge from oral heroic poetry are to herald the achievement of the powerful and wealthy so that their histories will not fade from the memories of the population. The stories of Beowolf are a clear example of this, as within these stories, (whether embellished or no), Beowolf's fame and legend reaches the modern reader hundreds of years later. Clearly, Beowolf is still very much dependant on the conventions of oral traditions and written to leave a permanent reminder of Beowolf, to enforce Beowolf's fame. The use of "Hwaet" to mark the start of an oration, emphasises the continuation of oral tradition. Most oral cultures (usually illiterate), pass on stories and legends learnt from the previous generation, basically using the authority of recalled memory, not as an actual witness; rather 'I have heard it said` than 'I know this to be true`.

Boom of Credit Cards

Credit cards have become such a familiar feature of the life style in the world that it is difficult to imagine a consumer economy functioning without them. The credit cards are nowadays the most convenient of all types of payments. The boom of the credit card industry has affected everyone in the world of the â€Å"plastic money†. That was the name given to the credit card right after it was invented. Nowadays, the â€Å"plastic money† occupies a very important place in the economy of the country. â€Å"Settlements indicates that the number of credit cards in circulation increased 34 percent between 1988†¦.. The data also show that the value of credit card transactions increased 98 percent during the same period† (Yoo, p. s. 1997). A lot of reasons explain the fact that the credit cards are holding the most important place in the wallet and purses today. Behind these reasons , is hiding a crucial social phenomenon that has very bad consequences in the country, credit card abuse. Despite the measures taken by the officials, statistics prove that the number is increasing everyday. Today, Visa and Master card occupy an important place in the credit card marketplace but the pioneer in the business remains to be Diners Club. In 1949, as the luncheon tables were cleared at the Major†s Cabin Grill, a popular New York restaurant of the period whose location next door of the Empire State Building was then a considerable asset, three men sat huddled over a prime table off to one side †¦. In their excitement, they called over Major, the proprietor and asked him how much he would pay for business that he would not ordinarily get. Without flinching, Major replied â€Å"7 percent† , number that established a major industry (Lewis, 1990). ` Those three men were Alfred Bloomingdale, Frank Mc Namara and Ralph Snyder. They conceived a plan for a new type of credit card. Unlike the retail and gas credit cards, which were restricted in use to those industries, theirs would be â€Å"universal† card that allowed its holders to purchase goods and services at different places across the country. An industry was born, Diners Club As a matter of fact, the period right before the First World War, was the first year for a new industry, the credit card industry. Those first credit cards were not really credit cards as they are today because they served only for limited needs. They could be used only on a very low level. The use of credit cards by retailers began in 1914†³ (Lewis, 1990). Since that date there was an inconceivable growth of credit card production. Prior to World War I, few hotels, oil companies and department stores issued credit cards. Then in 1931 the airline companies introduced the credit cards in their business (Lewis, 1990). The evolution and the expansion of the card went lide the speed of light. The most important step was the introduction of the credit card to the Internet in the 90†³s. Today, Web servers enable payments by credit card. A credit card transaction over the Internet is one of the most common types of payment. If a merchant has an account with a merchant bank that offers Internet credit card processing, he would be able to accept credit card payment over the Internet (http://search. netscape. com). â€Å"There was an increase of $78 billion over 1994, in just one short year. We†ve been tracking it since 1980, and we†ve never seen that kind of increase before. † (Glenn, 1984, pp. 857-68). What are the reasons that explain the fast increase of the use of the credit cards? As one reason that might explain the phenomenon, some people may think that carrying a credit card is much easier than having cash or a checkbook in their wallets or purses. There is no doubt that the â€Å"plastic money† doesn†t bother in a wallet or a purse because of its tiny size. Another reason that may explain the credit card fever is that it allows its holders to spend the money they haven†t got yet. Actually, it looks like free money, although it really isn†t. That is the case of the college students who have credit cards and whose parents will pay the debt their child has created. The strongest argument that could be also the main reason the t explains the increasing number of credit card transactions is that a lot of low income-persons are carrying â€Å"plastic money† and are using it widely but not wisely. When the time for paying off the balance due comes, a lot of people do not have enough money to clear their bills. Here is the beginning of a cycle that probably will never stop (Kathy and Bill B. â€Å"s case) until the credit card company or the banks realize that their customer†s debt is growing every month. Before any reaction of the creditors, the debt has reached an unbelievable amount. As a result of a non-payment of the bills, the problems in the credit card industry began. In addition to lost or stolen cards and billing errors, an uncontrollable phenomenon was born in the industry, fraud. Two major aspects determine the fraud in the industry, stolen cards and the black market created around the â€Å"plastic money. † In fact, counterfeiting credit cards has taken an important turn during the 60s. As expected, not long after they had instituted the unsolicited credit card programs in the late 1960s, the bank began to experience significant losses due to fraud (Lewis, 1990). Statistics prove how fast the fraud went up in the industry. In 1964, the U. S. Post Office investigated only fifteen cases of credit card fraud. Four years later, in 1968, that figure shot up to 360, and the following year, it more than doubled to 762. In 1970, Andrew Brimmer, one of the Federal Reserve Board†s seven governors, showed that bank charge card losses had increased 50 percent that year to $115. 5 million or $3. 4 percent of $3. 4 billion in outstanding credit card debt (Lewis 1990). In 1971, the Los Angeles Police Department made public its first reported of counterfeiting credit cards. The counterfeiters, two women and one man who apparently had knowledge of at least one bank numbering system used authentic blank cards stock to succeed their operation (Lewis, 1990). The very fast assumption of the abuse in the credit card industry made the banks and the credit card companies think about finding solutions that could stop this terrible phenomenon. Since the major source of losses in the industry was stolen cards, it was very hard for the credit card companies to find a solution that would stop fraud. The fraud in the credit cards industry had had an important impact in the economy of the United States such as financial losses. In 1973 alone, credit cards losses were estimated to be $288 million-or 1015 percent of the total credit card sales (Lewis, 1990). The delinquency rate has risen four quarter in a row for the first time since 1991†¦.. At the end of 1991, $3. 4of every $100 owed on credit card was delinquent, up eight percent from 1994 (Business Journal of Charlotte, 1996). Whose responsibility was it? In large part, the banks themselves were responsible for their continuing losses. In their desire to market their cards as actively as possible, they were reluctant to tarnish the image go the credit card by publicizing stories of thefts and losses , so they hid the information not to alarm potential cardholders(Lewis, 1990, p. 8). The government may be held responsible as well because the government issues cards to the members for government travel expenses only. Unfortunately, those cards have been used for the purchase of liquors, jewelry and flowers (Fritz, S. 1996, March 16). That is another â€Å"ugly face† of credit card abuse. The people who were supposed to help the country to overcome the problems abuse intensify the situation. As the industry was growing, the banks and the credit card industries did not think of any alternative that would stop an eventual fraud in the industry. The lack of management was one of the major sources of the problem. As one solution that had to be found, the credit cards companies invented the secured credit card that allows the customer to spend not more than what he or she has in his or her bank saving account. That seemed to be a good solution to stop the fraud but criminals are so good that they devised ways to tap into potentially lucrative market. By the mid 1970†³s, the credit card companies installed their own law enforcement to fight credit card fraud, the Association of Credit Card Investigators (ACCI). The role of this unit o the credit card companies was to have a better management of the growing number of customers. One measure initiated by the ACCI that proved effective was a combination of a post mailer with dual dating on the credit card. A dual dating enables the credit card Company to delay the effective starting date of the card until after it should have been received by the cardholder. The post mailer informed the intended cardholder that a card had been mailed to him or her and that the credit card Company should be notified if it had not yet been received. As a result to the important measures taken by the credit cards companies, 75% drop in fraud in the first years (Ventura, 1992). Another preventive measure adopted by the credit cards companies was a warning bulletin alerting the banks and merchants to fraudulent cards. All the major credit cards companies did not approve this kind of measure. On one hand, American Express, Diners Club felt that the warning bulletins were necessary to control fraud as well as the misuse of cards by delinquents and overspenders. On the other hand, Visa took the position that warning bulletins were not necessary and that sending postcard was enough. Statistics proved later that Visa was losing a higher percentage of its charge volume from fraud than American Express and diners Club(Lewis, 1990). The solution on the federal level would be an abolishment of the government credit card system as suggested republican George W. Gekas (R-Pa)(Los Angeles Times, 1996, March 16). In spite of the tough measures taken by the banks and the credit card companies, losses due to fraud continued throughout the 70s. As the 80†³s approached, the credit card companies overcome most of the legal and operational problems such as billing errors and the development of an efficient nationwide up-to-the-minute authorization system. A wide laws and regulations system now govern the functioning of the industry but still the fraud is inevitable. This number is still increasing due to the corruption of our society. The only way you can help to stop this is by changing the whole system. But then there will be some people who will pursue their illegal actions, and will find a way to abuse other systems also.

Illustrate and Critically Discuss the Representation of Gay People in Television Sitcoms or Soap Opera.

Illustrate and critically discuss the representation of gay people in television sitcoms or soap opera. As the issue of representation is central to this essay, it is important to note that there have been problems with identifying a definitive meaning of ‘representation’. Several theorists have commented on the concept of representation. Stuart Hall (1997: 61)) defines representation as ‘the process by which members of a culture use language†¦to provide meaning’.From this meaning, he says, we can already see that ‘representation’ cannot possibly be a fixed, unchangeable notion. While culture and language evolve and grow with human society, the same must therefore be said of the perceptions of ‘representation’. Gillian Swanson (1991: 123) backs up Hall’s theory, observing that ‘there can be no absolute version of ‘how things are’ but only many competing versions’. She continues: Ideas about what people are like and how they are meant to be understood already prevail in our culture.They give meaning to our sense of self and allow us to position ourselves in relation to others. Such meanings and attitudes are reproduced in representation but the way representations are constructed is as important as the ideas and meanings they project, since they offer positions for us, through which we recognise images as similar, or different from, ourselves and those around us. We continually define ourselves in changing relations to those meanings; images change over time and the meanings which are legitimated by the social or cultural context change as well.The general idea of ‘representation’ then, not only changes over time, but may also have several different interpretations at any given point. Alexander Doty and Ben Gove (1997: 84) argue that when discussing homosexual representation in the mass media and popular culture we must look ‘beyond understanding the â₠¬Ëœmass’ or ‘popular’ as necessarily meaning a mainstream media or culture that only addresses millions of heterosexuals’. They acknowledge another, ‘alternative’ mass media that runs parallel to the ‘mainstream’ mass media but has been pushed to the sidelines in the past.A conservative viewpoint would state that this is because the mass media should convey the will and desires of the ‘majority’ and therefore should not be made to positively represent anything that contradicts the society’s dominant ideology. However, Doty and Gove note that in recent years the lines between these ‘mainstream’ and ‘alternative’ mass media have become blurred with, for example, the screening of programmes written, starring and watched by lesbians, gays and queers on television.Having said that, this by no means implies that there is less of an issue to be raised by the representation of homosexuality on television. The most obvious issue surrounding this is, of course, the stereotyping of gay characters on television and, in particular, television sitcoms. While gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters did not appear in television sitcoms until the 1970s, modern television sees an entire genre of situation comedies featuring gays.These types of programmes are no longer written by the homosexual for the homosexual, but have become integrated within Doty and Gove’s ‘mainstream’ mass media. They discuss the importance of being aware of who finances, creates, publicises and exhibits a certain programme, and how these factors might affect the way that programme represents ‘queerness’. For example, the two creators of the ‘gay-best-friend’ sitcom Will & Grace are Max Mutchnick, who is gay, and David Kohan, who is straight.Arguably, the way in which ‘queerness’ is represented here may have benefited from having a homosex ual and a heterosexual input. This way, the show has more chance of appealing to a wider ‘mass’ audience. Consequently, it is possible that the gay, lesbian or queer characters featured in television sitcoms may have been tailored, in a sense, for a heterosexual audience. This could go some way to clarifying why Will & Grace, unlike many other similar sitcoms of its kind, has become so popular. Stephen Tropiano holds a simpler view, claiming that ‘the success of Will & Grace really comes down to one thing – it’s funny.What separates Will &Grace from the gaycoms that only last a few months has little to do with its politics and more to do with the talent of the performers and the quality of the writing and direction (mainly, James Burrows, one of the best in the business). ’ Swanson notes the ‘extreme and caricatured way in which [stereotyping] draws on commonly-held impressions and assumptions’. It may be assumed that the views Sw anson talks about are ‘commonly-held’ by the dominant, heterosexual audience that the mass media is seen to address.If this is the case, then this may account, in part, for some of the stereotyping of gays in television sitcoms. A more positive (and therefore acceptable) representation would make the programme much more accessible to a much wider audience. But what could be regarded as a ‘positive’ image of gays and lesbians in television? Doty and Gove note that many of the images regarded as ‘positive’ by, and that received praise from critics and watchdogs were ones that played down homosexuality or ignored the issue altogether, depicting gays as being ‘just like everyone else’ in their attempts not to make it a focal point.On the other hand, those images where gays were more explicitly depicted fared no better. Joshua Gamson (1998: 21) found that studies of the portrayals of gay men and lesbians in film and television ‘ha ve soundly demonstrated how homosexual lives have been subject to systematic exclusion and stereotyping as victims and villains’. For example, Gamson cites Vito Russo’s The Celluloid Closet, in which Russo argues that television has produced ‘stereotypical conceptualisations of AIDS that vilify gays and legitimate homophobia’. Doty and Gove take this a step further, observing that:By the late 1980s and 1990s, the recurring televisual image of gay men with AIDS sparked heated critical debates over exactly what kind of image it was: ‘negative’, because it depicted homosexuality as a victimhood that, yet again, ended in death; or ‘positive’, as it encouraged sympathy and even admiration for gay men through images of their courage in the face of death. They identify a bit of a grey area concerning the labelling of the representation of homosexual images as ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ in that different people wi ll look at these images from a variety of perspectives; there can be no universal interpretation of any given image.The same can be said of trying to define ‘realistic’ images of gays, lesbians and queers on television. Doty and Gove observe that there are two ways in which people recognise these ‘real’ images; some note that text expressively marks the imagery through dialogue or by showing physical or sexual activity. Recent examples of this are Matt Fielding (Melrose Place), Simon and Tony (Eastenders) and Beth Jordache (Brookside). Other people feel that realistic images do not need to use explicit text to gauge a character’s sexuality on the basis of other signs.Many viewers see characters like Mr Humphries (Are You Being Served? ) and Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess) as being gay, lesbian or bisexual. These two binary explanations of what constitutes as a ‘realistic’ image of queerness shows the difficulty in even defining what Ã¢â‚¬Ë œreality’ is for gays, lesbians and queers. It is difficult to define a ‘typical reality’ or, to put it another way, to recognise a general gay ‘identity’ in which to categorise them. Essentialist theorists state that they are bound together by the fact that their identities are determined by their sexuality.Donald Hall (2003: 42) suggests that such theorists would argue that ‘same-sex desiring individuals have always existed and that however much their context may have changed, they were, without a doubt, aware of their sexual desires and they must have thought of themselves as belonging to a distinct group of similar individuals’. While it makes sense that the individual would have been aware of their sexual desires, constructionist theory would perhaps note that historically they may not have been aware of any sense of belonging, rather one of detachment due to the cultural influences in society at the time.Constructionist theory, say s Hall, emphasises language and belief systems in order to determine identity. Richard Dyer (2002: 19) observes, rather importantly, that ‘a major fact about being gay is that it doesn’t show†¦the person’s person alone does not show†¦that he or she is gay’. He argues that there are ‘signs of gayness’ such as expressions, stances and clothing that ‘make visible the invisible’. Typification is a near necessity, says Dyer, for the representation of gayness, which he argues is the product of social, political, practical and textual determinations.He deduces that the social factor is an integral one from which gay people can be recognised: The prevalent fact of gay typification is determined by the importance of a social category whose members would be invisible did they and the culture not provide lifestyle signs with which to make recognition possible†¦It is probable that most gay people are for most of their lives in fact invisible. Acting and dressing gay may only be an evening or weekend activity; in particular, it may not be practised at the workplace, or for married gays at home either.Equally, many people who are homosexual may never identify with the various gay lifestyles, never, in this sense, define and produce themselves as gay. What Dyer conveys here is that to be classed as ‘gay’, a person must be able to identify with not only the inner, biological aspects of ‘gayness’ (as put forward by essentialism) but also with the cultural aspects around them (as suggested by constructionism). This in itself is quite stereotypical because of the presumption about what is ‘gay’. Those who do not conform to this ideal are classed as ‘invisible’.Accordingly, the images we have been seeing of gay characters in television sitcoms may only be representations of certain types of gay people, and it is difficult to know whether or not these people are a majority or a minority. Will & Grace attempts to deviate from the stereotypical notions of ‘gayness’ through its two gay main characters, Will and Jack, and provide an insight into ‘invisible’ gayness. James Keller (2002: 124) describes the two main male characters as ‘foils representing diversity within gay masculinity, a diversity which argues for and against gender stereotypes about gay men’.The name ‘Will’, Keller says, signifies resolution and courage while the surname ‘Truman’ suggests that Will is a ‘real man’. This is also put across in the way he dresses. As an attorney, his conservative style and uptight personality mean that Will shows little of the usual stereotypical traits that signal to an audience that he is gay. Keller compares him to the modern sensitive male (such as Ross Geller in Friends), and his primary relationships focus mainly on women, namely Grace.The name ‘Jack’ is reminiscent of a joker or jester, a clown basically. While ‘Truman’ represents composure and respectability, ‘McFarland’ implies waywardness and outlandish behaviour. Tropiano asserts that, similarly to Will, Jack ‘isn’t exactly gay either: he’s hyper-gay’. Keller describes Jack as ‘silly, irresponsible, immature, narcissistic, effeminate, insulting and promiscuous’, the epitome of the negative stereotypical gay male, ‘made lovable by humour and childlike unselfconsciousness’.Their apparent contradictory personalities are, says Keller, the ‘respective embodiments of the familiar and the unfamiliar, although, paradoxically, what is coded as familiar here is actually unfamiliar in the history of gay representation’. He notes that Will is presented as the ‘norm’ whilst Jack is portrayed as unusual among gay men in a respectable, middle class situation. While Will is offered as th e ‘preferable alternative’ to the stereotype of the gay man, because Jack is much funnier and more stylish than Will he could, points out Keller, easily also be a preferable alternative.This presentation of two very different types of gay men, both preferable to the stereotype, serves to not only expand the culturally accepted notion of ‘gayness’ (as part of its political agenda) but also works as a hook to keep its audience interested (the main function of the programme). In addition to this, Will and Jack have enough depth, enough layers in their personalities, to represent – arguably – a certain sense of ‘realism’. Tropiano explains ‘[Sean] Hayes and the writers have created a three-dimensional character who, beneath his somewhat shallow exterior, is a strong, confident person.As a gay man, he’s also completely comfortable with his sexuality. ’ Will, on the other hand, though smart and successful, is the cha racter that most needs personal guidance, about love and relationships in particular, and Jack is often on hand to give this advice. Between these two characters, then, are a fair number of characteristics that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight people alike would be able to relate to in some way.Furthermore, Will & Grace compromises with the dominant ideologies by making the most important relationships in the lives of the two gay characters heterosocial and quasi-heterosexual. By doing this, the problems identified in earlier ‘gaycoms’ such as Ellen (which was axed for being ‘too gay’ and overly political) are overcome and, as a result, more meaningful, contemporary representations of gay people seen in the show are able to ease naturally into cultural ideology as opposed to being forced through. Vito Russo (1987:325) argues against Richard Dyer’s (and others’) theory of invisibility.He says that ‘gays have always been vi sible†¦it’s how they’ve been visible that has remained offensive for almost a century’. Joshua Gamson supports Russo, pointing out that, until recently, gays and lesbians had very little input into their own representations. Dominant ideologies have therefore held virtually all control over how gays have been represented in the past, leading to negative stereotypes of gays. To remedy this, Gamson argues that ‘more exposure is the answer’. However, this in itself poses problems, such as when considering the positive/negative images approach.Doty and Gove note that its critics have suggested that ‘most definitions of what constitutes a ‘positive’ image would restrict the range of gay and lesbian representation as much as so-called ‘negative’, stereotypical images do, by encouraging only bland, saintly, desexualised mainstream figures who might as well be heterosexual’. But herein lies the problem: dominant c ultural ideology has, throughout history, commanded how gay people are represented in society and on television, and only recently have they been able to acquire some control themselves.After a period of trial and error, the television sitcom Will & Grace, with its innovative balance of hetero and homosexual political comedy, could be making its mark on society. During this time, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders have been continually trying to become fully accepted as part of mainstream culture. However, the images approach has been criticised for attempting to do just that. In an ever-changing culture, is the gay community in a state of confusion about which direction it wants to go, and how it wants to be represented when it gets there?References †¢ Craig, Steve (1992). Men, Masculinity and the Media. London: Sage Publications Ltd. †¢ Dyer, Richard (2002). The Matter of Images: Essays on Representation. London: Routledge †¢ Gamson, Joshua (1998). Freaks Ta lk Back. Chicago: University of Chicago Press †¢ Hall, Donald E. (2003). Queer Theories. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan †¢ Hall, Stuart (1997). Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London: Sage Publications Ltd. †¢ Keller, James R. (2002).Queer (Un)Friendly Film and Television. North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. †¢ Lusted, David (edited by) (1991). The Media Studies Book: A Guide For Teachers. London: Routledge †¢ Medhurst, Andy and Sally R. Munt (1997). Lesbian and Gay Studies: A Critical Introduction. London: Cassell †¢ Tropiano, Stephen (2002). The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV. Kent: Combined Book Services Ltd. †¢ Russo, Vito (1987). The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies. 2nd Ed. New York: Harper & Row

Battle of Hastings essays

Battle of Hastings essays Why did the Normans win the battle of Hastings? The battle of Hastings took place on October 14th 1066. It was between Harold Godwin and William the Duke of Normandy. William won for a number of reasons but here are just two of them. William had more men as well as having more time to prepare. King Harold did not have time to prepare properly for the battle because he had to fight Harold Hadraada and his brother Tostig at Stamford Bridge. After the battle of Stamford Bridge, Harold Godwin heard some bad news. This was that William had invaded. Harold had to march his men south very quickly. Many of his men were exhausted so he had to leave so he had to leave them behind. Some of Harolds best soldiers the housecarls had been injured or even killed in the battle so Harold had a weak army, which was mainly made up of farmers. On the other hand, William had more time for preparations. He had to wait a long time for Harold Godwin to arrive in the south, during this time William could prepare and make up tactics for the battle. After two whole weeks of waiting Harold Godwin eventually reached the south. As soon as William saw him the battle commenced. During the battle, the English fought hard and well but sadly not all was gained. William had more cavalry who wore chain mail armour and fought with spears and bow and arrows. This was an advantage to William because Harold had a few house carts and the rest were all farmers who he picked up on the way to the battle of Hastings, also Harolds men had to fight with spears and battle axes. The Normans eventually won by using an old trick of pretending to retreat. This old trick was pretending to Harold that they were giving up because they had been beating. The Anglo-Saxons were over the moon so when the Normans started to walk away Harolds men ran down Senlac Hill and started chasing them away but unfortunately William and his men...

What Is It to Live in Time Observing Nature and Society in the Long Run of Time

What Is It to Live in Time Observing Nature and Society in the Long Run of Time Introduction Theoretical issues can be of primary importance for making certain decisions because theoretical ideas are implemented in practice. Observation of nature and society can clarify the issue of living in a certain period of time and experiences the processes that take place in natural environment, in society, and interact with other individuals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What Is It to Live in Time: Observing Nature and Society in the Long Run of Time specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As some conclusions can be based on observations, it is necessary to consider the work by Engels and Marx that analyses the relationships between individuals in society in terms of their connections to each other and types of interactions; Freud focuses on the role of an individual in a society in terms of its relations to the civilization, and Darwin emphasizes the relations of individuals in terms of natural environment and other living species that inhabit the same territory. Examination of Sources The Communist Manifesto by Engels and Marx â€Å"A specter is haunting Europe - the specter of communism† (Marx and Engels, Preamble). The first statement of the manifesto identifies the relation of people towards the period of time they live in and characterizes the relations between people. As communism is described as specter, people are either unaware or afraid of it. However, the next passage clarifies the issue and analyzes that people were aware of communism but did not know exactly the peculiarities of regime and its consequences for the world. So, one of the prominent features of this work can be considered an idea of observation enlarged on while writing. For instance, the author described the ways of production and their adjustment to the needs of contemporary people hence thinking about changes that should be made in every situation when time comes, some time is necessary to see the necessity of changes and take appropriate steps: â€Å"The feudal system of industry, in which industrial production was monopolised by closed guilds, now no longer sufficed for the growing wants of the new markets† (Marx and Engels, Chapter 1, para. 7). Thus, the author analyzes the actions of people and relations between different classes in society by observing the history and inferring from events that happen all the time. Repetition of events is the main concept that can be emphasized from Marx’s observation of society in a long period of time. Civilization and Its Discontents by Freud People need those ‘regulations which adjust the mutual relationships of human beings in the family, the state and society† (Freud 59). This is one of the examples that demonstrate how the author used observation of nature and society to infer from things he saw. The work is aimed at analysis and interpretation of the major reasons and preconditions for creation or appear ance of civilizations.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Freud noticed that all individuals have something in common and that every period of time can be marked with certain peculiar features that can be tips for creation of civilizations though every change requires a lot of time. Moreover, he analyzed the events that took place in the era such as the World War I where all technological innovations were used and the nature of order: â€Å"The benefits of order are incontestable. It enables men to use space and time to the best advantage†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Freud 70). Freud tried to explain that time is the only concept that is important because people adjust to certain life situations after experiencing difficulties. On Natural Selection by Darwin Chares Darwin contributed greatly to the development of evolutionary theory and clarified some aspects of natural selecti on: â€Å"We behold the face of nature bright with gladness, we often see superabundance of food; we do not see, or we forget, that the birds which are idly singing round us mostly live on insects of seeds†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Darwin 1). In this respect, the whole concept of theories was built using the method of observation that enabled the author to see differences and similarities in certain areas of nature and society and analyze the importance of species, selection (that was mostly compared to breeding), and evolution. The author claims that nature can make more obvious changes in the look of species than do men by breeding because of time needed for greater differences: â€Å"†¦adding up in any given direction mere individual differences, so could Nature, but far more easily, from having incompatibly longer time at her disposal† (Darwin 22). In other words, Darwin could demonstrate every point and every concept of his theories, suggestions, and hypotheses using society and natural environment as examples because the structure of the natural societies such as prides, shoal, packs, and other groups is very similar to the structure existing in human society. A long period of time was necessary to infer from observing nature and society. Conclusion Different researchers used the method of observation to examine the world, its structure, and minor groups and concepts existing in it. Thus, Darwin was not the only to focus on the origin of species but one of the first to implement the analysis of species to human beings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What Is It to Live in Time: Observing Nature and Society in the Long Run of Time specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Freud analyzed the interactions between people as he saw the war and wanted to explore the reasons and peculiarities o individuals and civilizations. So, every observation needs a long period of time to make logical and adequat e conclusions concerning the nature and society and relations between these concepts. Darwin, Charles. On Natural Selection. New York: Penguin, 2005. Print. Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and Its Discontents. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Inc., 2010. Print. Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. Manifesto of the Communist Party. Marx/Engels Internet Archive 1987, 2000. Web. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch01.htm.

Revamp Your Resume 3 Essential Tips for Receptionists

Revamp Your Resume 3 Essential Tips for Receptionists One of the most timesIn the descriptive sections of your resume, make sure youre illustrating your skills and experience, not just telling your prospective employer about them. Sit down with a friend   and brainstorm specific instances where you successfully multi-tasked in a busy office environment, organized a chaotic project or packed schedule, or communicated effectively during a stressful time. Answering a question like How would you evaluate your organizational skills by referring to a particular project you managed with flying colors will impress your future boss more than a recitation of your abilities.Finally,  as with any job, make sure you proofread carefully- even down to formatting consistency and accurate punctuation. The polish you give to your resume will speak for your ability to present clean and concise documents at work, too!

Biblical Criticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Biblical Criticism - Essay Example Biblical criticism is the general term referring to the scholarly investigation and study of biblical scriptures seeking to base grounds for discerning judgment concerning the writings. The discipline studies compositional, historical, and textual questions concerning the Old and New Testaments. In the preceding century, biblical criticism was divided into higher and lower criticism. Higher criticism concerns the study of the history and composition of biblical passages, while lower criticism concerns with closer examination of biblical texts to determine their correct or original meaning (Frigge 15). This paper seeks to discuss the forms of criticism in five ways: source, form, narrative (textual), historical and redaction. Initially, the scholars of the bible tried to harmonize the scriptures and gospels, an argument evident from the harmonization of the two narratives. Instead of harmonizing the gospels, Griesbach established parallel synoptic. The result was an ensuing question r egarding the accountability of the difference and similarities of the two gospels. This led to source criticism, with scholars trying to pin down the relationship between the sources and the synoptic gospels. Griesbach put forth an argument that Matthew was written before Mark citing the Jewish contents as the basis of the argument, but many scholars opposed the argument arguing that the book of Mark abbreviates Matthew (Frigge 68). The theory of Griesbach follows that of St Augustine, a Matthean priority proponent. On the other hand, modern scholars uphold the Markan priority and the source or framework being Mark. According to Taylor, Mark is more probable to be the source, as Luke is a quarry of stone for expanding an already existing establishment. Nevertheless, the proposal did not accurately account for the similarities between Luke and Matthew, which eventfully do not appear in Mark. H. J. Holtzmann put another source criticism theory forth in 1863. The two-source theory, Mar k Source ‘Q’ Luke Matthew, suggested that Matthew and Luke used marks to denote sources, and another common source ‘Q’. B. H. Streeter based his four-source theory on Holtzmann’s theory, with the additional argument that Matthew and Luke had some original contents in them. The four source include Mark, source ‘Q’, special M (unique material by Matthew), and special L (material unique to Luke). These theories however do not solve the mystery in its entirety. Occasionally, Matthew and Luke tend to agree with each other but against Mark. The explanations to these may be theological, traditional, or probably a different interpretation of ‘Q’ differently by Mark. Another possible argument is that one (most likely Luke) was more dependent, unlike Mark. There are also scholarly questions regarding the omission of some parts of Mark in Matthew and Luke, like the account of Jesus walking on water. Some scholars in theology, like Russ ell, believe that the omissions are not surprising. According to them, there is a possibility that each evangelist did some omission to best suit their Christological and theological needs and perspectives (Frigge 93). Another major setback in source criticism is the lack of evidence for source ‘Q’. A majority of theology specialists agree that Luke was using Matthew, as there is more Luke in Matthew than the other way round. Nonetheless, there is still the question concerning the reasons why Luke left the additions made by Matthew to Mark. At this point, the only possible conclusion is that there were different interpretations of the same source. However, existence and contents of Paul’

Joe chaney case Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Joe chaney case - Assignment Example Likewise, it is possible for the manager to give employees some incentives for their hard work. By giving simple praise and monetary rewards, Joe can be motivated to improve his work performance and make Joe feel more satisfied with his work. Upon using the Performance Diagnostic Model, the cause of Joe’s performance problem includes: expectations and incentives problem. Joe is not motivated at work because he feels that he is being neglected by the architects because he do not have a degree in architecture and that he is only a draftsman in the company. In line with this, he stated that â€Å"no one around here respects my opinion† (Whetten and Cameron, p. 363). This is a clear sign that there is miscommunication between the manager, architects, and Joe. The lack of work incentives is also another problem that made Joe become less motivated. In line with this, Joe is not happy because his wife has to work in order to support the financial needs of his family (Whetten and Cameron, p. 363). Even though Joe is spending extra time and effort at work, he does not receive any additional monetary benefits to support the needs of his family. This makes Joe’s intrinsic outcome decline. To reshape Joe’s behavior, it is important for the manager reprimand the situation by knowing the main cause of Joe’s declining work performance. By knowing the main cause of his problem, the manager can easily develop strategies that could effectively address the main problem. To redirect Joe’s negative thoughts about being neglected or feeling less important at work, the manager should confront Joe about his declining work performance. During the discussion, the manager can express his support to Joe’s situation by giving praises for his previous outstanding work performance. This strategy will increase Joe’s feeling of being important and

Business Forms Available Under UK Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Forms Available Under UK Law - Essay Example Characteristics †¢ The sole trader possesses all the assets of the business. †¢ He or she is directly liable to any debts incurred by the business. †¢ The business is easy to dissolve since no formalities or paper works are required. Examples of some of the most known sole trader business include the Donald Trump organization, owned and managed by Donald trump who is also the founder of Trump entertainment Resorts. b) Company This is an association of individuals united by a common objective and normally come together with the intention of achieving specific goals. Companies are in two major categories; private and public. The difference between these two is that whereas public companies have the right to sell their shares to the public, private companies do not and neither do they trade their shares in stock exchange (Liu Post, 2014). Characteristics of public companies †¢ Have the right to sell shares to the public. †¢ Can trade shares in the stock exchange. †¢ Have a limited liability status. Characteristics of private companies †¢ Do not trade shares in stock exchange. †¢ Only requires a maximum of fifty members. †¢ Normally run and owned by family members and relatives Examples of public companies include Microsoft and IBM while private companies comprise of Cargill and Publix. This is a single business whereby two or more persons share ownership (BIS, 2013, p. 3). In this business, it is a requirement that each member participates in the contribution of all aspects such as capital, skills and labor. Partnerships are in three categories; Joint ventures, General and limited partnerships.

The politics by Aristotle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The politics by Aristotle - Essay Example In discussing the concept of the slave, Aristotle makes a clear distinction between those individuals who are considered slaves as a result of one nation conquering another and those who ‘natural slaves.’ Physically, Aristotle says the slave is constructed in such a way as to make him suitable for the tasks required by manual labor while the master is given a more upright carriage suitable for military life, other civic duties and managerial occupations. However, Aristotle recognizes many intellectual and spiritual differences between the master and the slave as well, making it possible for those naturally built to be slaves to have the spirit of a master and those built to be masters to have the spirits of slaves. After describing what is meant by the ‘natural slave’ and distinguishing him from the common animals, Aristotle goes on to distinguish what separates the slave from the master.To place the discussion in context, Aristotle first defines what the sl ave is within the greater society, â€Å"the slave is an animate article of property; and that subordinates, or servants, in general may be described as instruments which must first be present before other, and inanimate, instruments can be used† (Aristotle, 9-10). Within this description, the slave becomes an instrument of action essential for the functions of daily life within the household, not only serving the master, but â€Å"also belongs entirely to him, [and has no life or being other than that of so belonging]†

Civil engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Civil engineering - Essay Example The main goal of site assessment is to conduct preliminary a evaluation of the potential development and provide screening analysis. Here the construction company develops a site feasibility checklist in order to provide basic information required to determine if a site meets basic requirements and to provide basic economic analysis. This process also identifies strength and weakness of the retail project and to determine whether or not to pass to the next stage of retail development. (Plummer, F. 2007) There are stages followed in site assessment in the construction of a retail project and they include planning for site assessment, Data collection, data analysis and finally plan development and project layout. Planning for Site Assessment is important stage before designing and laying out the retail project. This will be vital for the Plan Engineer in making informative decisions about the project. Data collection about the site is the next important stage in site assessment. This stage involves a collection of resourceful information pertaining to the site. This information can be obtained from maps, existing publications and other resources. Going to the site to have a visual appreciation of the site and site features is valuable. Important information collected includes vegetative cover, soil information, topographical information, hydrological information and evaluation of adjacent properties and their land use. Analysis of the collected information on the parameters listed above to identify various needs and modification the site may require .Evaluation of the impact of that parameter may help to reduce the negative economic burden and environmental impact of the project. As data analysis takes place the Civil Engineer should be to determine the permits required for the retail project. (Plummer, F.

The politics by Aristotle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The politics by Aristotle - Essay Example In discussing the concept of the slave, Aristotle makes a clear distinction between those individuals who are considered slaves as a result of one nation conquering another and those who ‘natural slaves.’ Physically, Aristotle says the slave is constructed in such a way as to make him suitable for the tasks required by manual labor while the master is given a more upright carriage suitable for military life, other civic duties and managerial occupations. However, Aristotle recognizes many intellectual and spiritual differences between the master and the slave as well, making it possible for those naturally built to be slaves to have the spirit of a master and those built to be masters to have the spirits of slaves. After describing what is meant by the ‘natural slave’ and distinguishing him from the common animals, Aristotle goes on to distinguish what separates the slave from the master.To place the discussion in context, Aristotle first defines what the sl ave is within the greater society, â€Å"the slave is an animate article of property; and that subordinates, or servants, in general may be described as instruments which must first be present before other, and inanimate, instruments can be used† (Aristotle, 9-10). Within this description, the slave becomes an instrument of action essential for the functions of daily life within the household, not only serving the master, but â€Å"also belongs entirely to him, [and has no life or being other than that of so belonging]†

The feminization of the Community Correction Work force by Jo G Case Study

The feminization of the Community Correction Work force by Jo G. Holland - Case Study Example The research problem of this research article is whether there is balance in the community corrections work force. The study used a number of questions to facilitate a systematic enquiry into the aforementioned research problem. The first question touches on the roles women have been given while participating in the corrections workforce. The second question enquires into the barriers that women have faced while pursuing careers in the corrections work force. The third question looks into how women counter barriers while engaged in the correctional work force. Support systems that provide opportunities for the enhancement of careers are the object of the fourth question. The last question is on the opportunities that the future holds for women to grow within the community corrections work force (Holland, 2008). This study’s data analysis used mean and percentages. For example, the average age of women working in the Virginia community correctional workforce is 35 years. Besides age, location is another demographic factor checked for in the analysis include in terms of whether urban or rural. The positions that the analysis considered are deputy and chief probation and parole officer and that of the administrator. The analysis considered the elements of ethnicity and population status (minority or not). This analysis also enquired whether respondents received mentorship or not. The need for networking among the women working in Virginia DOC was assessed. The analysis measured the percentage of women who received support from other women while participating in the correctional workforce. The study checked for the highest positions that women in the correctional workforce expected (Holland, 2008). The author makes a number of conclusions. She concludes that the correctional work force needs to be expanded in order to augment organizational processes. The

George W. Bush more like T. Roosevelt as opposed to Taft and Wilson Essay Example for Free

George W. Bush more like T. Roosevelt as opposed to Taft and Wilson Essay President George W. Bush’s post September 11th policy certainly shows great resemblances to President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy more than that of Taft or Wilson. Roosevelt had a more stern policy, encouraging the forceful defense of the nation and the spreading of democracy and Christian ideals to less fortunate countries. This was very much so a direct correlation to what Bush tried to do Taft’s policy emphasized economic ideals in that he argued the US should lend out money and help countries elevate their economic status in order for the promotion of peace and prosperity throughout the world. Wilson’s policy emphasized morality, and the â€Å"nice guy† standpoint of how the US should carry out obligations. Consequently, President George Bush’s policy is a better reflection of President Theodore Roosevelt’s policy more than Taft’s or Wilson’s policy because of the military and political ideals that the two policies share. President Bush’s post September 11 policy reflects Roosevelt’s is because of the swift, stern actions that Bush’s administration took after the attacks on the nation. As Bush sent the troops over to Iraq quickly and in great numbers, the administration sent a candid and stern message. The United States would not stand for an attack on its soil, and those who did so would receive grave punishment for their actions. This message echoes the morals behind the â€Å"big Stick† policy. Just as Theodore Roosevelt once said, â€Å"Speak softly and carry a big stick.† Theodore Roosevelt believed that power was an important and unavoidable thing in foreign affairs. He also noted in his addition to the Monroe Doctrine (called the Roosevelt Corollary) that if any nation in the Western Hemisphere appeared in a political or fiscal situation that would allow for European control, the US should intervene. With an imperialistic outlook on the world, Roosevelt made the US a nation that constantly intervened and helped Latin American countries avoid European interference in the Western Hemisphere. Examples of this lie in Theodore Roosevelt actions when he made Cuba a protectorate, took Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as when he ventured out and involved the United States in the counterinsurgency of the Philippines all in order to fortify the existence of democracy and Christianity and help the individuals of the nations govern themselves. These ideals and policies were mirrored in Bush’s actions when the US troops inhabited the Middle East, and the Bush administration took it upon itself to take advantage of their occupancy of the lands by spreading its ideals of democracy and ‘correct’ political procedures. By doing this, the Bush Administration had essentially identified these locations in the Middle East as lesser fortunate nations, deemed themselves fit to help these regions, and force their ‘help’ past the governments of the regions and to the people. This decision and series of actions greatly resembles the actions and opinions of Roosevelt’s Corollary. Taft’s policy by contrast, was more of the United States venturing out to foreign land allowing for each foreign nation’s gradual acquiring of political and economic power through US investment in the countries’ infrastructures, which has little to do with Bush’s initial choice to attack the Middle East after September 11. Taft used Dollar Diplomacy, instead of military force. He wanted control and to aid businessmen in the US, and was in strong favor of solving problems via economic means rather than militarily. He saw his policy as humanitarian, for stabilization improved the living scale and conditions. For instance, in Nicaragua during 1912, the government would default on its debts, which might mean European intervention. The US offered to loan money (by private men) if the US could have some supervision over Nicaraguan finances. Bush’s post September 11 policy does not mirror this because he was in favor of military force and making it known militarily that the US could not be attacked without grave punishment. Wilson however based his policy on Morality. Bush’s post September 11th policy did not wholly reflect Wilson’s policy because Wilson’s Missionary policy aimed more in the direction of seeking peace and prosperity by means of creating pathways for institutions to branch out globally while Bush’s aim after the September 11 attacks was to retaliate forcefully and brutally (neither of which was peaceful). For instance, when the Japanese attempted, in the notorious Twenty-one Demands (1915), to reduce China almost to the status of a Japanese protectorate, he persuaded them to modify their conditions slightly. The Twenty-One Demands required that China immediately cease its leasing of territory to foreign powers and to ascent to Japanese control over Manchuria and Shandong (Shantung) among other demands. Such persuasion as opposed to attack and forcefully making the US point reveals the difference between Bush’s and Wilson’s policy. Consequently, it is evident that President Bush’s post September 11 policy best resembles Roosevelt’s â€Å"big stick† diplomacy. Roosevelt’s policy was based on pragmatism as well as the idea of the nation’s obligatory retaliation to threats and attacks on the nation’s soil. His belief in the United States’ obligation to help foreign nations in need of political/military assistance is also a part of his policy. After the September 11th attacks, each of these ideals was echoed in President George W. Bush’s new foreign policy in that he reacted to the tragedy through military retaliation and force. Additionally once occupying the lands, the Bush administration chose to assist the Iraqi people and help them acquire the democratic ideals the US holds so dearly.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Shareholder Value Approach Finance Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Shareholder Value Approach Finance Essay Nowadays shareholder value approach reflects to a modern management philosophy, which implies that an organization measures its success by enriching its shareholders. Shareholders or stockholders are individuals or institutions that owns in a legally form shares of a corporation. They are considered to be a subset of stakeholders, which are all individuals or communities, who have a direct or indirect interest in the business entity (e.g. suppliers, customers, government, competitors etc.). The philosophy of the shareholder approach attempts to increase the organizations value by enhancing firms earnings, by increasing the market value of corporations shares and by increasing also the frequency or amount of dividend paid  [1]  . Furthermore according to many business analysts shareholder value approach provides managers with clear mission and it facilitated decision making. Whether is it reasonable or not for the managers and the overall welfare of the organization, this is something, which is analyzed later on the seminar paper. All these objectives, companies strive to achieve, make this value analysis a traditional business measurement used in business today. The idea is that shareholders money should be used to earn a higher return than it could by investing in other assets with same amount of money and risk. It was developed in the 1980s by Alfred Rappaport and it can be used to estimate the value of shareholders Stake in a company or a business unit and also as basis for meeting and evaluating strategic decisions. Furthermore there is a pervasive consensus that managers should strive to maximize shareholder value and by doing so helps the organization to maximize social welfare. According to Hansmann and Kraakman, 2000, most widespread arguments is that corporate managers should act exclusively in the economic interest of shareholders and that the best means to this end, the pursuit of aggregate social welfare, is to make corporate managers strongly accountable to shareholder interest. In fact a precious tool for measuring all the above is the Shareholder Value Analysis, which follows later on the seminar paper, examining also the advantages and disadvantages of its implementation and function. Furthermore will be discussed the financial arguments and the reasonability of the Shareholder Value Maximization as long as relationship between the shareholder value, ethics and social responsibility as well. SHAREHOLDER VALUE ANALYSIS Shareholders value analysis (SVA) is also known as value based management. Its lead by the principle that the management of a company should take into consideration the shareholders interest and advantages before meets any decision, set short-term or long-term objectives and decide companys strategy as well. SVA is a characteristic substitute for trade business measurement, which has improved a lot by time passing. Due to the fact that companys value is calculated based on the value returned to its shareholders, in the past had been criticized for being either short-term measured or only based in past figures. SVA takes a longer-term view and is about measuring and managing cash-flows over time.  [2]  The shareholder value is calculated by estimating the total net value of the company and dividing the figure by the value of shares. Once the value has been calculated the company can set targets and objectives for improvement and measure also its managing performance. For a successful implementation of shareholder value analysis first managers should understand and calculate the organizations shareholder value and gain top management commitment. SVA believes that to assess business performance though maximization of shareholder value is an objective to be accepted by the top management to be achieved and part of the root of the organization. Furthermore managers should identify the key value drivers of the organization and set performance targets providing a framework also with assigning responsibilities to individual managers, reviewing the financial performance of the business and developing strategic plans. To continue with, the approach should be communicated and the staff must be trained. In many case in order to effectively reach the SVA companies are willing to change also the organizations information systems to monitor and measure performance. It is important also to mention that the creation of sustained value will require permanent moni toring and thats mainly the reason for the managers to monitor review progress and refine the targets.  [3]   ADVANTAGES OF SHAREHOLDER VALUE ANALYSIS Shareholder value analysis has as principal that the management of a company should first consider the interest and the advantage of the shareholders, before it meets any decision. The Advantages of Shareholder Value Analysis are performed as follows: It provides a long term financial view on which to base strategic decisions It provides a universal approach that is not subject to the particular accounting policies that are adopted. It is therefore internationally applicable and can be used across sectors It forces the organization to focus on the future and its customers, in particular the value of future cash flows. DISANDVANTAGES OF SHAREHOLDER VALUE ANALYSIS However disadvantages of the shareholder value analysis are performed as follows: Estimation of future cash flows, a key component of SVA can be extremely difficult to complete accurately. This can lead to incorrect or misleading figures forming the basis of strategic decisions. Development and implementation of the system can be long and complex. Management of shareholder value requires more complete information than traditional measures.  [4]   PRINCIPLES AND DECLARATION ABOUT SHAREHOLDER VALUE MAXIMIZATION The commitment of an organization among shareholders is not a theoretical future goal of an organization but is very often stated to the companys mission statement. Usually firms aim at shareholder value creation and maximization when they make claims such us we create value for our shareholders, we want to provide excellent return for our shareholders, and we have a responsibility to our shareholders. Our mission is to remain a strong and independent financial services organization creating value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we do business, while maintaining the highest standards of business ethics. Mission statement, Chemung Canal, Trust company Many academics through the years had an overall perspective that managers should strive to maximize shareholder value and that doing so maximizes social welfare. According to this belief managers should act in the economic interest of their shareholders and thats the fundamental objective of the shareholders. As the shareholder value is difficult to influence directly by any manager, it is usually broken down in components or value drivers, such us revenue, operating margin, cash tax rate, Investment in Working capital, Cost of capital and competitive advantage period.  [5]  Though it is important to mention that quick profit doesnt give return to shareholders; usually competitive advantage takes care of it. If a business choose to sell lower standard products to reduce cost and gain quick profit it may have the danger that its reputation will be destroyed, will lose competitive advantage and the price of its shares will be reduced. Is the shareholder value maximization a healthy defined target for the organizations? Nowadays no country, not even the shareholder-friendly USA has a legal requirement that managers act absolutely in shareholders advantage and in fact the law makes it legal for directors to consider also other interest. Although firm that are willing to have an openly commitment to shareholders seem to do better in comparison with others, there is no case that make shareholders value maximization the societys most desirable corporate target or that competitive markets for goods, capital and labor pressure managers to seek on that specific goal.  [6]   Furthermore, markets are incomplete; meaning that profit maximization is not well defined and possible conflicts of interest cannot be prevented or in many cases resolved. Under this assumption financial researches have shown that stakeholder-oriented firms are usually more successful than shareholder-oriented firms, because market forces are forcing them to do so. What role do market forces play in the shareholder value maximization? Competitive markets are playing a significant role to this argument because they can push managers to act on interest of all stakeholders. Usually they are pushing inefficient firms to cut costs and focus on customer needs rather than shareholders interest. Managers can survive the challenges of competition even though they do not maximize economic profits; but capital markets have this role. It seems that capital markets do not leave managers another way but maximizing shareholders interest and doing so maximizing companys welfare. If investors with many shares of an organization feel that share are going more and more down and start losing money, they may try to take action and influence the decision making, which could mean that managers are risking their jobs. All in all the combination of the different market forces are those, who can affect or even force managers to act in advantage of stakeholders. A mentioned the basic principles of shareholder value maximization are not clearly defined for the market and even if so, are not in many cases reasonable and possible in the real world. Corporate social responsibility is one of the main targets organizations are focusing, because it keeps them competitive and acting in an ethical way can also achieve the maximization of shareholder value. Let us take a closer look to CSR and how can affect the overall shareholder value approach. SHAREHOLDER VALUE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY How managers and organizations respond to ideas of corporate responsibility is expressed by the idea that organizations have external environment with an interest in, or who are affected by what the organization does. Additional to this are the ethical investors advocating care for the natural environment. With the term ethical investors are mined those people who are investing only in businesses that meet specified criteria of ethical behavior. These stakeholders can affect in a negative way the organization and its environment if they disapprove managers policies among things like: Negative publicity in local and national media Direct action and protests Threats or actual legal action Withholding planning or other permissions necessary for operations If managers can satisfy shareholders expectation they will maintain their support and they will also increase shareholder value. If not investors will flee from unethical companies or those who are not respecting the responsibility among stakeholders, mistreating for example their employees or the environment. Characteristic examples are Nike, Union Carbide and Exxon Mobil. The expectations of the financially centered investors are not only high return on investment but strong corporate responsibility and reputation as well  [7]  . After all corporations have a strong social and environmental impact and role. Businesses need the approval of the society to make profit and as follows to return value to its shareholders. If policymakers, investors and executives want to address corporate responsibility, the corporate governance must be coupled with global corporate social responsibility, which can be defined as business practices based on ethical values and respect for the internal and external environment of the company, such as employees and committees.  [8]   It is important to mention that being social responsible in a proactive way can create an opportunity for the firm to strategically alter production and translate innovation into competitive advantage. This is consistent with Russo and Fouts (1977) who successfully mentioned that environmental management and the associated performance outcome are integral parts of effective management, whereby a pollution prevention policy builds organizational commitment and increase employee productivity and participation. In that way they show also a link between the level of social responsibility and the return on invested shares. Managers dont face a tradeoff between financial performance for the shareholders and eco-efficiency and investors may be able to usefully incorporate environmental information into investment decision.  [9]   However shareholders cannot simply rely on market forces to ensure corporate responsibility because although market has encouraged more and more organizations to act in consideration of social responsibility, market forces have not been sufficient to ensure such a behavior over times. In many case we see that such responsible organizations may have higher costs, which may allow competitors to gain market share. Does a social sustainable environment return value on shareholders? Finally is there any relation between companies on best practices in an ethical way and the returned value on their shareholders? In some cases highly ranked companies do outperform the market (e.g. Filbeck, Gorman and Preece, 1977) while in some other case the returned value on their shareholders is significantly low (e.g. Kolodny, Laurence and Ghosh). Many of the socially responsible studies center among big organizations are performed to diversified stock market indices.  [10]  Many economists do not find statistically significant difference between the earnings of socially responsible funds compared to more traditional funds. In fact many big organizations in India have made a research over the past ten years in order to explore this relationship between dimension of ethics and CSR and shareholder returns. According to National Stock Exchange of India social responsible companies are not expected to perform higher than companies focused only to the economical welfare. CONCLUSION To sum up, shareholder value is something more than a simple organizational approach; its a management philosophy reflecting on the overall firms success, providing managers with a clear mission and facilitating decision making. The most important tool for enhancing this managerial approach is the shareholder value analysis, which gives managers all the principles needed in order to take shareholders advantage into consideration before any decision making and also provides them with practical steps in order to increase firms and investors value from top to the bottom. On the other hand, shareholder value approach often need estimation of future cash flows, which can be very difficult to complete and the development of such a system can be complex for an organization. According to many mission statements of firms, the increasing of shareholders value maximizes social welfare. But this can be reasonable only with the correct strategies and objectives in order to increase profit, gain competitive advantage and consequently return value to the investors; quick profit through lower quality products can damage not only firms reputation but also reduce the price of the shares. Although there are not legal requirements for the organizations in most countries to act in advantage of shareholders interest, and shareholder value maximization is not a clear target for the modern economies, capital markets are the ones which force managers to do so. It is important to mention that this factor is not the most important one for organizations to win competitive advantage, because they mostly have to take under consideration all stakeholders; however is one that could threat their jobs, when investors see their shares undervalued. Closing and adding to all the above external environment is affected in the same way and maybe more in comparison to the internal one. Ethical organizations and those, who are acting on interest of corporate social responsibility and consequently can affect positively the stakeholders (including customers, communities, society etc.), are able to gain ethical investors and maintain their support. For any business action society is the one, which will give the approval to make profit and as follows return value to the shareholders. Shareholder Value Approach is a strategic thinking in modern business management. It shows the balance between competitive advantage, value creation and business strategy. I would like to close this project with a phrase that George S. Day, executive director of the marketing Science Institute Cambridge, successfully generates: For a strategy to win in the marketplace, it must create sustainable advantage; only when a strategy wins in the marketplace can it generate sustained shareholder value.  [11]  

Dna Identification System :: essays research papers

The Australian society would not benefit by the introduction of a DNA signature identification system for all citizens over the age of 18. This is the same thing as the Australian Card, which was stopped being released in the mid 1960’s. There were a number of reasons for this, as some being the government would know everything about you but maybe the government know more about you then you think. But is it all really that bad? Maybe it would help us as we could use it for identification purposes instead of carrying around a driver’s license or maybe a birth certificate it would all be held on this one card. Would the identification system be a benefit or not. It will defiantly change the way we do things. The DNA Identification System does have its benefits, as it would help in the medical department. If you were rushed to hospital from a car accident and you are unconscious the doctor will know if you were allergic to the anaesthetic or if you were a private patient or not. This would also help in the crime department, as it would store the whole of the Australian population of individuals over the age of 18. This would have all the information about each individual these would include their DNA, and other vital statistics. At the scene of the crime there is usually fingerprints or some kind of DNA trail left behind. The police would use this DNA to log into the database to track down the criminal. It would also tell the location of where that criminal is to make it easier to find them. The system also has its problems, Lets say that you were a carrier of a disease but it does not affect you at any way at all, this could effect your employability as your employer could have access to your information. This would destroy our right to privacy. “The right to privacy is one of the fundamental rights of any civilised society'; As quoted in the video ‘You have no secrets’ All of your information would be stored on a database, which would be accessible from the Internet.

Rejuvenating a Mature Business

The last two decades has seen a revolution in management accounting theory and practice due to the challenges of the competitive environment in the 1980s. Kaplan and Johnson (1987) identified the failings and obsolescence of existing cost and performance measurement systems which led to re-examination of traditional cost accounting and management control systems. Conventional financial and management accounting methods have developed primarily as a result of corporate legislation in the 1930s forcing companies to provide externally published financial accounts. Management accounting is primarily focused as a decision making tool for running a business, hence they require more flexibility. According to Kaplan management accounts have become a subset of financial accounts and that they reflect more on the external rather than internal requirements of the company. Most of the managerial decision-making and control systems in use in the late 1980s were described by Johnson and Kaplan as stagnant. As a result, they went onto research in new accounting systems raising the profile of internal accounting systems by use of financial and non-financial measures although their work was seen as controversial by Drury but is now considered of key importance to manufacturing industries aiming to become world class. This essay aims to discuss the ways in which new management accounting techniques can bring life into mature businesses, in particular those using non-financial measures. Most companies still use the same cost accounting and management control systems that were developed decades ago in a competitive environment drastically different from today. These systems have major drawbacks described below: They distort product costs i.e. absorption of production overheads into product costs for the purpose of stock valuation. The external financial reporting process was purely driving this allocation of overheads for stock valuation. They do not produce the key non-financial data required for effective and efficient operations, hence they are of little help to operating managers† seeking to reduce costs and improve productivity. The data produced reflected on external reporting requirements far more than the reality of the new manufacturing environment. Failure to provide accurate product costs as they were distributed by simplistic and arbitrary measures usually direct labour based. The short term profit pressures led to a decline in long term investment. These poorly designed or outdated systems can distort the realities of manufacturing performance. As companies become more efficient by using new technologies, labour costs are accounting for a smaller proportion of a company†s overall cost, hence the allocation of overheads to labour hours will become irrelevant and counter-productive to the company†s operations. The most enduring management accounting innovation was the return on investment (ROI) measure which provided an overall measure of the financial performance of each operating units or the entire company. The ROI, initially developed by Du Pont and General Electric in the early 20th century, came about due to the excessive focus on achieving short-term financial performance. As ROI control was introduced, managers aimed to achieve good performance by making operating and investment decisions on developing new and better products/processes, increasing sales and reducing operating costs. But it later became evident that during hard times, when sales were decreasing and operating costs were increasing, ROI targets could still be achieved through financial entrepreneurship by reducing discretionary expenses and exploiting accounting conventions. The creation of wealth through these activities will not help companies survive as world-class competitors. Problems of ROI are only surfacing now because of: the difference in size of organisations, changes in the competitive environment and the rapid movement of technology less pressure for short-term financial performance in the last two decades current managers have little knowledge of their organisation†s technology hence they rely on creating value through accounting activities Cooper and Kaplan introduce the Activity Based Costing (ABC) systems for manufacturing expenses as a replacement for traditional cost allocation systems. ABC is an internal accounting system designed to track overheads to cost units. ABC attempts to track overhead costs to units as accurately as possible hence the concept of the cost driver is essential to this system. A cost driver is a unit measure of a particular overhead that can be assigned to a user of that overhead. For example, in attempting to allocate administration overheads to products, the cost driver may be the number of invoices generated for that product. Hence the product generating most invoices will acquire the largest share of the administration overhead. There does not have to be one driver per overhead. There can be more drivers per overhead if they are relevant to the organisation. The ABC model is shown below: A more accurate means of allocating overheads means that product costs can now be more accurately assessed. ABC analysis allows companies to discover profitable products that have not been properly exploited because the correct costs had not been appreciated. If unit costs are based on budgeted capacity rather than actual, ABC highlights excess capacity because only consumed capacity is allocated via cost drivers. Hence there is a now a measure of excess capacity. This takes away the focus of meeting budgets at all costs and instead focuses on continuous improvement. Product costing is not the only use of ABC. By finding appropriate drivers and cost units, overheads can be assigned to anything that uses them. This allows sales and marketing costs to be assigned both to the products and customers. Traditional systems do not take into account costs generated by customers. For organisations concerned with customer focus, ABC will give valuable insights into customer behaviour. The other benefits of using ABC are its focus on continuous improvement, its measurement of activities at the process level, its provision of accurate cost data including those generated by the customers, and it is geared for the medium term (3-5 years). An extension of ABC is Activity Based Management (ABM), where using the cost drivers, a deeper understanding of the process is enabled. By measuring activity and costs, ABM has a system to monitor continuous improvement and manages a business from a process perspective rather than a departmental one. Therefore it can make decisions based on accurate process level information. A greater understanding of factors critical to the success of manufacturing organisations is needed. Accounting researchers can play a critical role in this effort by attempting to develop non-financial measures of manufacturing performance like quality, productivity, inventory innovation and workforce . A particular challenge is to de-emphasise focus on short-term financial measures and develop indicators that are more consistent with long-term competitiveness and profitability. The challenge of improving a firm†s manufacturing performance is particularly relevant to managerial accountants as they are supposed to provide information for planning and decision making. Therefore, measurement systems for today†s manufacturing operations must consider the following non-financial indicators of manufacturing performance: Quality is emerging as perhaps the most important factor if companies are trying to excel as world-class competitors. U.S. firms typically inspect quality into products whereas Japanese manufacturing is dedicated to eliminating all product defects. Quality is planned and thought into the product at all stages of manufacture including design and supplier specifications. Further commitment is required in training employees, maintenance of equipment and integrating with suppliers. With this embedded into the processes the goal of achieving zero defects can be achieved. Executives claim that manufacturing costs decrease as quality increases thus a continuous drive to reduce product defects will enhance the long run productivity of the production process . Managers tend to use the economic order quantity (EOQ) model which helps in determining the cost balance between an additional set-up (for a new production run or change of product) to the cost of holding inventory. If set-up costs could be driven to zero and by just-in-time inventory control systems implementation firms would hold less inventory and raw materials. These would result to lesser costs in holding material that has no value being added to it. In addition, reducing uncertainties in deliveries from suppliers through close co-ordination can enable factories to run without any raw materials in stock. Reducing machine breakdowns also contributes significantly toward reducing work-in-process (WIP). Thus by investing in information systems and integrating with suppliers, inventory costs can be reduced significantly and accurate information on the company†s manufacturing performance can be obtained. Productivity measures for manufacturing performance have not yet been considered as part of the information that will help managers in decision making and control activities. These measures should be a supplement to financial measures that highlight improvements. Developing new productivity measures would thus be a fruitful field for accountants. There are companies present whose competitive strategy is based on the introduction of new products with unique characteristics, rather than producing mature products with lower costs. These companies will only succeed if their products are introduced at the right time and have features that are desired by their customers. Companies that are forced to produce these products on existing line, due to lack of space, will have to directly monitor the performance, quality and delivery and disregard traditional measurements which put an emphasis on efficiency. The attitudes, skills and morale of employees are important if companies are to succeed in achieving their goals. Investing in skills training, conducting surveys of employee attitudes etc by human resources are all critical if employees are to share company goals. It is clear from the above indicators of manufacturing performance that non-financial measures are essential in rejuvenating mature businesses to become world-class. Executives are also aware that traditional accounting measures like ROI can give misleading information on continuous improvement and innovation which current competitive environments demand. Managers want a balanced presentation of both financial and operational measures which led Kaplan and Norton to devise a balanced scorecard that incorporated both such measurements. The scorecard aids the building of a comprehensive picture of the company†s health and effectiveness in achieving its goals. The balanced scorecard includes financial measures that produces results on actions already taken and is complemented by operational measures on customer satisfaction, internal business processes, innovation and learning activities. It is these operational measures that will fuel the performance of future financial measures. The balanced scorecard yields several benefits, including the ability to bridge the gap between objectives of high level executives and those of front-line workers whose performance is ultimately responsible for reaching the company†s goals. Rather than focusing on short-term financial results, which can blind management to internal efficiency and lead to continued revenue losses, chief executives can benefit by using the balanced scorecard as a strategic management system for translating strategy into action at all levels of the enterprise.

Stability of Characters in to Build a Fire and the Tell Tale Heart

Henry James’ argues that a character is only as interesting as their responses to a particular situation, can be supported by using any written works that a student may encounter, given that the story has at least one character. I intend to prove that the instability of the main characters in each story will ultimately be their downfall. The story â€Å"To Build a Fire† by Jack London is about a man struggle with nature and his inability to trust his human instinct, and In Edgar Allen Poe’s story â€Å"The Tale-Tell Heart† is about a man who proclaims he is not crazy but plans and executes the murder of an old man. In the beginning of â€Å"To build a Fire† the man realizes how cold the weather is outside but he only sees this as a fact and not a threat to his health. Jack London writes â€Å"As he turned to go on, he spat speculatively. There was a sharp, explosive crackle that startled him. He spat again. And again, in the air, before it could fall to the snow, the spittle crackled in the air. Undoubtedly it was colder than fifty below-how much colder he did not know. But the temperature did not matter. † (120) This is one example where the main character ignores his human instinct and doesn’t bring items that would cover his face and cheekbones. Also read The Story of an Eyewitness Essay Analysis Any man with common sense knows to bring the right items for the journey if he’s going to be traveling in weather that will be colder than fifty degrees below zero. While on this trip the man is accompanied by a dog that follows the man on his unadvised journey. The dog uses its natural instinct to outlive the man on this trip. The dog is a native husky and I believe represents pure instinct in this story in which the man doesn’t use at all. The dog knows to bite the ice off of his feet so that they do not become frozen from the harsh conditions. He buries himself in the snow when the man cannot start a fire because his hands are too cold to pull his matches out of his pocket. With the dogs keen since of smell he knows when the man is dying and understands that the man wants to kill the dog so that he can insert his hands inside the dog’s carcass to warm him up. In this environment the dog is actually smarter than the man because he uses his natural instincts to stay warm and keep himself alive. In â€Å" The Tale-Tell Heart† the narrator in which is assumed to be a man takes care of n old man who I perceived to be rich. For some strange reason, the narrator was obsessed with the old man’s eye. â€Å"It was open-wide, wide open-and i grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness- all a dull blue with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man’s face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, preci sely upon the damned spot. †(414) The old man was going to be murder for his pale blue eye. For seven straight nights at midnight the eye was closed. It wasn’t until the eight night when the narrator accidently woke the old man up and once the narrator saw that blue eye he began to grow furious and knew that that was the night he had to kill the old man. Normal people would have a look of disgust on their face after committing a murder, but the narrator smiled and then would try and convince himself that he was not mad. After murdering the old man the narrator begins to hear voices in his head. Those voices told him the eye was evil, and that he was doing the right thing. He would also hear a groan of terror many nights at midnight. The narrator could also hear the old man’s heart, even after he had been murdered. It is impossible to hear a person’s heartbeat with the naked ear. He also thought the police officers were laughing at his horror of the heartbeat. The voices caused him to murder, and then caused him to give into the police when he easily could have gotten away with it. These two main characters both have obstacles to conquer in their own ways. In â€Å"To Build a Fire† the main character is fighting and resisting the obvious signs that tell him he should not make the trip in that inclement weather but proceeds anyway. I believe that the man is so arrogant that it makes him ignorant. It seemed to me that the man felt like he was bigger and better than anyone on this planet and not even nature could endanger him. For that very reason was why the man could not make it to his destination, but the dog in which he tried to kill not only survived but also made it to the destination. In â€Å"The Tale-Tell Heart† instead of a fight with nature the narrator is fighting with the voice inside his head or yet another personality. I believe that by day the narrator was a normal man who really cared about taking care of the old man, but by night his alter ego would kick in and basically talk control of his mind. That is why the story keeps going back and forth with trying to convince the reader of his sanity. Although both of the stories are different, the main character mind frames are both fragile and unstable. The may not be fighting the same fight but they are fighting something whether it be nature or the voices in there head. Throughout both of the stories the characters do thing that make the reader wonder. It just goes to show how unstable each character is.