Thursday, December 26, 2019

Spousal or Domestic Abuse Free Essay Example, 2750 words

The case was analyzed from the reflective theoretical perspective, even as it was framed by the appropriate legal guidelines and informed by professional ethics. Upon holding this case as a mirror into myself, I was able to bring my personal experiences as a domestic abuse survivor and my professional experience as a social worker who had previous experience and involvement with such cases into the equation. Through the microscopic reflective approach, I was directed towards asking myself such questions as to whether the data uncovered supported the allegations, in the first place and, if so, whether Mr. A functioned as a continued threat to his wife and, by association, to his children. The deployment of the binocular approach made me bring my prior professional experiences and my academic knowledge into the process for the explicit purpose of devising a solution to the identified problem. All of the stared was executed within the parameters of structured, as opposed to unstr uctured reflection. Specific attention was devoted to the maintenance of logs, research, and discussion with experts. The above-identified process led me towards the identification of several areas of concern. Starting with the fact that Mrs. We will write a custom essay sample on Spousal or Domestic Abuse or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page A acknowledged the validity of these concerns but her concern over potential separation from any of her three children, her lack of access to any money besides that which she used to take from the shop s till and cultural pressures seemed to overwhelm her.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Genesis Of The Business Model Canvas - 2110 Words

The genesis of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) consists of nine building blocks that describe a business model. They are: Customer Segments, Value Propositions, Customer Relationships, Channels, Revenue Streams, Key Partners, Key Activities, Key Resources and Cost Structure. (Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y, 2010) One of the unique features of the approach of the Business Model Canvas is that this tool allows for easy, visual representation for decision makers to think about. The tool provides a dissection of the major concerns impacting the business and also represents the direction the organization is taking through its business model. As author Dan Roam states, â€Å"visual thinking to solve complex problems† is what the BMC is all about. The Business Model Generation does have it strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps the main asset of the BMC is the visual illustration. One main drawback is the limited aim of an organization; that is, it targets profit generation and for n on-profit purposes of an organization. The benefits will be touched on below, but the Osterwalder/Pigneu business model leaves out one key ingredient. Omitting the basic fact that competition is not mentioned in this theory seems to be a glaring omission. Advancement springs from competition and so does better customer service. In our reading, the business model canvas is a great tool that fosters â€Å"understanding, discussions, creativity and analysis.† The nine basic blocks demonstrateShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"Implicit† and â€Å"Explicit† Csr: a Conceptual Framework for a Comparative Understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility13330 Words   |  54 Pagesbetween CSR in the United States and Europe and, second, the recent rise of CSR in Europe. We also delineate the potential of our framework for application to other parts of the global economy. In this paper we address the question of why forms of business responsibility for society both differ among countries and change within them. We do so by comparative investigation of corporate social responsibility (CSR), historically and contemporarily, in the United States and in Europe.1 The paper is inspiredRead MoreI Love Reading Essay69689 Words   |  279 PagesChapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Annexure I : : : : : : : : Introduction: Why Entrepreneurship What Motivates Entrepreneurship Socio-cultural Factors Access to Early Stage Finance Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Business Environment for Entrepreneurship Conclusion: Encouraging Entrepreneurship List of Stakeholders and Details of Entrepreneurs Surveyed Entrepreneurship Proï ¬ les Methodology List of Resources Glossary vii viii 1 9 21 29 49 71 89 97 105 163 165 169 Read MoreEssay about Summary of History of Graphic Design by Meggs14945 Words   |  60 Pagesfinished, Fust sued Gutenberg for payment loans and interest. o Fust won and gained possession of all Gutenberg’s printing equipment. †¢ Fust immediately entered into an agreement with Gutenberg’s skilled assistant, Peter Schoeffer, o With Fust as business manager and Schoeffer in charge of printing, the firm of Fust and Schoeffer became the most important printing firm in the world. - 100 year dynasty! Fust and Schoeffer published Psalter in Latin. †¢ First book to bear a printer’s trademark andRead MoreHemp Cultivation in China42289 Words   |  170 Pagesyour colleagues and libraries to join. We are planning to have our membership list ready in early 1996, so if you want to be included, please renew your membership soon. Remember, you must join at the Sustaining/Business level of US$ 100 to be included in the directory under your business or organization name. We have continued our policy of active participation in both the hemp domain directly and at events that overlap these concerns. Examples of these efforts include the following. ---Textile Forum

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Ethics in ICT and Role Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Ethics in ICT Virtue Role and Directions. Answer: Introduction This essay is about ethics in ICT. Virtue ethics has three directions: the ethics of care, agent-based theory and eudaimonism. This essay does a comparison between relativism and objectivism. It also critically discusses and does a comparison between consequentialism and deontology theories. Consequentialism has explored the idea of utilitarianism. Rule, duty, and obligation are the part of deontology (Pve, Warren, 2006). Rights vs. Virtue Normative ethics has three major approaches, virtue ethics is one of them. Consequentialism and deontology are contrasted into normative ethics. Duty of rules is emphasized by deontology and consequentialism derives the acts outcome by itself (Vaccara, Madsen 2009). The dilemmas of moral are approached by the ways that describe the difference between the morality approaches in the conclusion of moral. When the negative consequentialists are produced the consequentialist argues that lying is wrong, and then consequentialist makes some foreseeable consequences to make an acceptable lying. Whenever the potential of lying comes good the deontology argues that the specified lying is wrong. The moral philosophy of virtue and role of character are emphasized in the theory of virtue ethics. The normal moral advice of a virtue ethicist is In your situation, a virtuous persons act will work. Aristotle is taken as an inspiration in most theories of virtue ethics (Jung, 2008). The traits of an ideal person are found in a virtuous person, this fact is declared by Aristotle. A natural internal tendency is the way to derive the traits into a virtuous person. Once the traits are established the person will become stable. According to the character of a virtuous person, he had come across from many situations in his life. Three main directions are developed by virtue ethics since the twentieth century in its revival. These directions are the ethics of care, agent-based theory and Eudaimonism (Rauhala, Topo 2003). Virtues of eudaimonism are based on human flourishing. The performance of functioning well by ones distinctive is equated by flourishing. According to Aristotle, Reasoning is our distinctive function in the case of humans. According to an agent-based theory common sense intuitions are determined by the virtues. Admirable traits that a person observes and judges in other people, is called common sense intuitions. The feminist thinkers proposed the ethics of care predominantly. According to the third direction autonomy, justice should not be the focus point of ethics as it considers that nurturing and caring will be the focus point of ethics. Virtue ethics has some common objectives. The self-centered conception of ethics is provided in its theories because End in it is the view of human flourishing and how the other people are affected by our action is not described in its theories (Collste, 2008). In its theories, there is no clear guideline for our actions like how we will act in some specific situations. Its theories give a self-seeking commencement of principles due to human prosperous is viewed as a finish in him and does not adequately judge the level to which our procedures affect other populace. Relativism vs. Objectivism States, whose ethical principles are valid, are viewed into relativism. But the states are differentiated by individuals and culture. Here individuals are defined as subjectivism and culture is defined as conventionalism (Nordkvelle, Olson 2005). Ruth Benedict, a conventionalist, argues that as different principles are held by different culture, so it becomes difficult to judge them. Different moralities of different cultures are equally valid. For Benedict, morality means: The habits that socially approved by a convenient term. The end of relativism is subjectivism. Many criticisms are raised for this argument by the judgment questions such as how the behavior of another person can be judged by one society or individually (Gyaniak- Kocikowsta 2007). In western culture, the terrorists are definitely aberrant but those terrorists are saint of their culture. Louis Pojman accuses the conventionalism towards subjectivism. He also argues that if the reformers of the society are not aberrant then they are also not immoral according to their culture. The reformers or the terrorists are not behaving correct according to other culture but are correct as per their culture, whether or not their acts are right? These types of issues normally arise in conventionalist level, and these issues become more powerful in subjectivist level. Any law and court system becomes useless if the subjectivism is true. The subjectivist corrects all behavior, it cant deplore terrorism and murder because these acts cannot be accepted in the situation of altruism and love (Carts on, Stahl, 2011). Solipsism is a state of subjectivity in which every permissible action is taken as good as another. If these types of problems occur at the conventionalist stage, they are more influential at the subjectivist stage. If subjectivism keeps true, then any courtyard structure or regulation is ineffective, since the only level by which a male can be judged is he, and whether or not he upholds his values. Fundamentally, all actions are correct to the subjectivist. So, the subjectivist cant even censure terrorism or murder since these activities are as acceptable and valid as altruism and love, so long as they are a element of the persons ethical values. Someones thinking decides the view of the moral in which the specific person depends for right and wrong actions. Two states or levels arise for this: The thinking of a specific individual about his moral that what is right and what is wrong, which comes in subjectivism. These thinking facts can be changed by the situations or actions for that specific individual. Conventionalism is dependent on the society. The rules and regulation that the people follow in specific culture, are called moral of that culture, that moral comes in conventionalism. What is wrong and right does not depend on an individuals thinking that fact comes in objectivism. The concept of objectivism can be understood by two theories (Floridhi Sanders, 2010). First is duty based theories and second is consequentialist theories. Duty based theory is also known as Deontological theory. According to this theory the decision of wrong and right is taken according to the rules of the act. Consequentialist theory is also known as teleological theory. It specifies the rules for acts according to the situation. Consequentialism Vs Deontology End justifies the means, this fact is the idea of consequentialism. Terminology is put in for more eloquent, this means that determinative of action, morality is the consequence. According to John Stuart Mills work, there are many roots of consequentialism, the idea of utilitarianism is also espoused by it (Floridhi, 2002). According to Mill, if the actions promote happiness then its proportion is right and if the actions reverse the happiness then its proportion is wrong. This statement is qualified by the other statement of John Stuart Mill, the Statement is the happiness is not only promoted for the agent even the happiness should be promoted to every person who is connected with that action. Consequentialism is typically related withdeontological, in that deontology forms the wrongness or rightness of one's behavior from the nature of the behavior himself rather than the results of the demeanor. It is also related to the virtue ethics, which concentrates on the nature of the agent slightly than on the character or consequences of the activity himself, and ethics related to pragmaticwhich treats ethics like knowledge: advancing publicly above the path of many lifetimes, like any ethical principle is subject to amendment. Consequentialist theories fluctuate in how they describe ethical activities. Normative ethical position is called deontology or deontological ethics that judge the action morality according to the rules or a rule that is based on actions adherence. Sometimes deontology is described as rule, duty, and obligation, these are based on ethics because duty bind you to your rules (Duquenoy, Mattens, Patuignani, 2010). Consequentialism, pragmatic and virtue ethics are commonly contrasted to deontological ethics. In this terminology, consequence is less important than the action. D. Broad gives a specialized definition to deontology and the current was firstly described by the term Deontological in his book. To judge the conduct for its wrongness and rightness, the consequences use the ultimate basis of ones conduct, for this normative ethical theory is held in a class of consequentialism. Thus, a good outcome will be produced by using a morally right act from a consequentialist stand point (Tavini, 2001). Conclusion Virtue ethics is a major approach of normative ethics. Consequentialism and deontology are contrast of each other. Relativism has many states according to the principle of actions. The rules and regulations of moral for a person are decided by the thought of the specific person. The societys moral is decided by the peoples behavior of that society. Subjectivity is major end of relativism. The idea of consequentialism is The mean of an action is justified at the end. References Pye, G., Warren, M. (2006). Striking a balance between ethics and ICT governance.Australasian Journal of Information Systems,13(2). Vaccaro, A., Madsen, P. (2009). Corporate dynamic transparency: the new ICT-driven ethics?. Ethics and Information Technology, 11(2), p.113-122. Jung, I. (2009). Ethical judgments and behaviors: Applying a multidimensional ethics scale to measuring ICT ethics of college students. Computers Education, 53(3), p.940-949. Rauhala, M., Topo, P. (2003). Independent living, technology and ethics. Technology and Disability, 15(3), p.205-214. Collste, G. (2008). Applied Ethics and ICT-systems in Healthcare. Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Medical Informatics, 29. Nordkvelle, Y. T., Olson, J. (2005). Visions for ICT, ethics and the practice of teachers. Education and Information Technologies, 10(1-2),p. 21-32. Grniak-Kocikowska, K. (2007). From computer ethics to the ethics of global ICT society. Library Hi Tech, 25(1), p.47-57. Carsten Stahl, B. (2011). IT for a better future: how to integrate ethics, politics and innovation. Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, 9(3), p.140-156 Floridi, L., Sanders, J. W. (2002). Mapping the foundationalist debate in computer ethics. Ethics and information Technology, 4(1), p.1-9. Floridi, L. (2002). Information Ethics. Philosophy in the Contemporary World, 9(1), p.39-45. Duquenoy, P., Martens, B., Patrignani, N. (2010). Embedding ethics in European information communication technology curricula. The" backwards, forwards and sideways" changes of ICT, p.127-135. Tavani, H. T. (2001). Information and communication technology (ICT) ethics: a bibliography of recent books. Ethics and Information Technology, 3(1), p.77-8

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Problem with Mr. Gunes

Jake was a 14year old boy of average build and height with the most outstanding feature about him being his long curly brown hair. While he was not overly enthusiastic about school and education in general, he showed as much dedication to school as could be hoped for from a 14 year old. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem with Mr. Gunes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For this, his parents and teachers alike were grateful since the teenage years were the most chaotic as the students underwent phases of rebellion and identity crises. However, Jake’s relatively smooth sailing in school turned turbulent following the introduction of Mr. Gunes, the new math teacher. While Mr. Gunes was a capable math teacher, his communication skills were far from ideal. Mr. Gunes was from Turkey and having lived in the USA for relatively little time, his English still held a very heavy Turkish accent. This made it v ery difficult for most of the students in his math class to understand him. Mr. Gunes’ dark skin, coal black hair and rather bushy eyebrows made him physically different from the other members of the school community. This accentuated by his thick Turkish accent made it hard for most students to concentrate in his class. The incident with Jake occurred during one of Gunes’ evening math classes. Gunes was busy explaining the concept of volume to an audience of mostly distracted students. Jake in particular was busy fantasizing about how he would spend the coming weekends with a goofy smile on his face. â€Å"Do you care to explain what is funny?† Mr. Gunes who had noted Jake’s distraction asked in his thick accent. Jake did not get the significance of the question as a result of his absent mindedness. The teacher’s heavy accent did not help matters either and instead of funny, Jake had heard â€Å"furry†. He found the question amusing and im mediately burst out laughing.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"So you think I’m funny?† asked a now visibly irate Gunes. â€Å"You tell me if you think I’m very funny!† Jake decided to answer the question despite the absurdity of it. â€Å"A bear is furry, I do not think you are furry† answered the slightly confused Jakes. At this answer, the whole class burst out into laughter. Now this was not the first time that Jake had misinterpreted Mr. Gunes’ questions as a result of his accent therefore answering wrongly and causing the whole class to burst into laughter. Mr. Gunes decided that he had had enough of what he perceived to be Jake’s insolence. â€Å"Follow me to the principal’s office right now,† demanded an angry Gunes. Even though Jake did not catch every word that the teacher said, he got the message this time round since the teacher pointed out and stormed off in fury. At the office, the principal listened to the accusations that Gunes made against the student. He also listened intently as Jakes explained that it was all a misunderstanding since Mr. Gunes’ accent made it especially hard for him to follow what he was saying.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem with Mr. Gunes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While the principal sympathized with Jake, he was obligated to suspend Jake and ask him to come with his parents the following week. This was because Gunes was one of the best mathematics teachers in the district and siding with Jake would have caused Gunes to consider leaving the school since he had been bringing up the issue of Jakes making the students laugh at him many previous times. However, the principle made a point to assure Jake that he would not get into any trouble as a result of th is suspension. Jake on his part was happy to get a few days off school and the fact that he was not going to be punished for it greatly appealed to him. This essay on The Problem with Mr. Gunes was written and submitted by user Beckett Jennings to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Washington Adventist University Admissions Data

Washington Adventist University Admissions Data Washington Adventist University Description: Washington Adventist University, WAU, is a private university affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The university occupies a 19-acre campus in Takoma Park, Maryland, about seven miles from downtown Washington, D.C. (see other D.C. colleges). The universitys diverse student body comes from 40 states and 47 countries. Washington Adventist takes its Christian identity seriously, and students will find an active spiritual life on campus with regular convocations, student-led vespers, and prayer groups. WAU is made up of three schools: the School of Arts Social Sciences; School of Health Professions, Science Wellness; and School of Graduate Professional Studies. Professional Studies programs cater to working adults, and roughly a third of WAU students are 25 or over. WAU students can choose from 47 bachelors degree programs, 9 masters degrees, and a wide range of academic minors. Nursing is by far the most popular program at WAU. Academics are supported by a 7 to 1 student / faculty ratio and small classes. Academically talented students should check out the WAU Honors Program for access to special classes, research experiences and cultural opportunities. Student stay active outside of the classroom through involvement in a range of student clubs and organizations as well as intramural and intercollegiate athletics. The Washington Adventist University Shock compete in   the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). Admissions Data (2016): Washington Adventist University Acceptance Rate: 33%Washington Adventist University has test-optional admissionsTest Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 360 / 470SAT Math: 360 / 480SAT Writing: - / -Whats a good SAT score?ACT Composite: 14  / 21ACT English: 15 / 22ACT Math: 15 / 16Whats a good ACT score? Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 1,090  (911 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 41% Male / 59% Female77% Full-time Costs (2016- 17): Tuition and Fees: $23,400Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $8,930Other Expenses: $1,100Total Cost: $34,630 Washington Adventist University Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 50%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 49%Loans: 33%Average Amount of AidGrants: $11,541Loans: $6,251 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Business Administration, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Genreal Studies, Health Care Administration, Nursing, Psychology Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 75%4-Year Graduation Rate: 17%6-Year Graduation Rate: 38% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Track and Field, Basketball, Cross Country, SoccerWomens Sports:  Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Washington Adventist University, You May Also Like These Schools: Union College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWalla Walla University: Profile  Bowie State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphOakwood University: Profile  Coppin State University: Profile  Hood College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphDelaware State University: Profile  Towson University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphAndrews University: Profile  Howard University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph   Washington Adventist University Mission Statement: see the complete mission statement at  https://www.wau.edu/mission-statement/ A WAU education is faith based and student focused. The University offers more than 32 majors and academic programs leading to associate, bachelor and graduate degrees. You will experience small, lively classes taught by faculty who are committed to your success. Special options include the honors program, pre-professional programs, bridge program, capital summer session, study abroad, internships for credit and a special first year experience program to assist incoming freshmen in the transition to college life.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

A Lavishing Welcome-- Odyssey essays

A Lavishing Welcome Odyssey essays For years hospitality has played a huge role in the lives of many, whether they be travelers or not. Through Homers The Odyssey this statement proves to be true; hospitality affects the travels of Odysseus throughout the entire work, both to his benefit and not. Many types of hosts are presented throughout this novel, some differing greatly, but they all have an effect on Odysseus in some way. From the start of the story you get a sense of how travelers are treated in most places. When we first meet Odysseus he is being treated as a king in the land of the Phaeacians. The Phaeacians were the perfect hosts to Odysseus giving him all that he needed and helping him along his way. They sat listening to the tale of his journey for quite some time and immediately offered to help him find his way back to Ithaca. This is what every traveler hopes to come across when finding themselves stuck in an unfamiliar area. Unfortunately for Odysseus this wasnt always the case. Some of the hosts Odysseus came across seemed wonderful and welcoming on the outside, but in all reality hurt his case more than anyone else. Calypso was a perfect example of the importunate host. She treated Odysseus well, spoiling him and letting him live a life of lavishing riches, but she wanted this to be all he knew of life. A perfect host would treat Odysseus well, just as Calypso did, but this perfect host which Calypso was not-would let Odysseus leave whenever he was ready and willing. Calypso never felt a desire to let Odysseus leave and did all she could to ensure that he was stranded with her. None of this is to say that Odysseus didnt like the life he was living. It was quite possible that he enjoyed himself throughout this extravagant life, but he still yearned for his home. Calypso wasnt the only one who played the role of an importunate host; Circe fulfilled this role as well. Unlike Caly ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Gender Issues in Our Society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gender Issues in Our Society - Research Paper Example â€Å"As regards the individual nature, the woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power.† Thomas Aquinas. All because Eve disobeyed God, all women were meant to be doomed for eternity. Was it fair that they suffered because of another person’s actions? â€Å"And a man will choose†¦any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman†¦Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die.† Ecclesiasticus, 25:18, 19 &33. Women had to fight and struggle to be where they are today, and yet they still have so much further to go. In the harsh reality of it all, I feel as though men will always be seen as superior, and will always overpower women. Gender is one of the universal dimensions on which status differences are based. Since the beginning of time, women have held a lower status than men. Ano ther thing is that our society and the media, as well as entertainment sources, feed into and off of the male gender. We have to think back to realize that we all evolved from the man first off. This probably why God is thought to be a man, and all other rulers are to be men as well. That is one reason our society is more favorable towards the male gender. Since day one we have looked up to and respected man. Everything is referred to in the sense of the man. Let's use the Ten Commandments as an example. Are they biased as well? As stated in the Third Commandment, â€Å"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.†

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

A Problem In the Field of Finance Annotated Bibliography

A Problem In the Field of Finance - Annotated Bibliography Example This will provide important information and guidance about scholarly sources relating to earning management. This journal article examines the relationship between firm size and earnings management. To this end, the article is based on an empirical study into small and large organizations to identify which organizations are more prone to earnings management. The study indicates that both large and small organizations undertake earnings management to avoid presenting negative results. The study shows that most small firms undertake earnings management to avoid reporting losses. On the other hand, larger and medium sized organizations use aggressive earning management to avoid profit decreases than smaller firms. The journal involves a study of the relationship between earnings management and accounting standards. It identifies that earnings management are increasingly done in areas where organizations and business are allowed to pass judgments. These areas are increasingly being regulated by accounting standards. However firms continue to use methods of overriding accounting standards because most of these elements and aspects of earnings management causes firms to incur serious losses. Fundamentally, this journal examines the relationship between earnings management and corporate governance. It answers the question of which practices of earnings management affects earnings management and how. The study critically evaluates 100 S&P firms and their accounting practices and auditing trends between 1994 and 2003. The study identifies that in organizations where there is a strong presence of institutional investors, earnings management are minimal because there is control and care that is induced in the affairs of the firm. However, where there are many individual shareholders, earnings management is common. This study involved an examination of elements of managers’ manipulation of

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Comprehensive Plan to Improve Human Resources Essay Example for Free

Comprehensive Plan to Improve Human Resources Essay Whole Foods Market- a company that doesn’t think of itself as a company, but as a community of people working to make a difference in the world. At Whole Foods, the mission matters as much as the bottom line. But who is Whole Foods Market, and how does their Human Resource Management (HRM) play a role in the development of their culture or work environment? This comprehensive plan will describe Whole Foods Market’s history and the challenges and/or opportunities of the company. It will explore the effectiveness of the organizations current human resource practices with regard to the employees and describe strategies to improve the quality of those practices. Additionally, the impact of implementing the strategic improvements and how the organization would measure success upon implementation will be discussed. Whole Foods Market: The Organization Whole Foods Market is the world’s leader in natural and organic foods. With more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom, the organization seeks out the best natural and organic foods obtainable; while preserving better-quality standards in the industry. According to Porter and Kramer (2009), the intention of the organization is to sell organic, natural, and healthy food products to its consumers who are passionate about food and the environment. Whole Foods Market focuses on unrefined foods, health and nutrition. They are definitely not like any other grocery store. Their ultimate goal is to become an international brand identical with not just natural and organic goods, but also with being the greatest food retailer in every community in which they are located. Therefore, Whole Foods Market must purposefully plan and assess the marketing of its goods according to the demand of the customers (Whole Foods Market, n. d). For the last thirteen years, team members at Whole Foods Market, named their company as one of Fortune magazine’s â€Å"100 Best Companies to work for. † In 2010, they were ranked number eighteen. Whole Foods is acknowledged for its team-based operations and employee-oriented work culture, which are considered to be the foundations of its development and success within the industry (Whole Foods Market, n. d. ). Whole Foods Market takes pride in setting themselves apart from their competitors within the industry. No matter how much the company excels in size or makes changes to the organization, the organization supports change by establishing and maintaining seven core values. According to Whole Foods Market (n. ), the core values are â€Å"selling the highest quality of natural and organic products available, satisfying and delighting customers, supporting team member happiness and excellence, creating wealth through profit and growth, caring about the community and environment, creating an ongoing win-win partnership with suppliers, and promoting the health of stakeholders through healthy eating education. † Included in these core values are open communication and transparency, education and training, and staff empowerment. No matter how large a company Whole Foods Market becomes, they preserve what makes them unique through these core values. Whole Foods Market: Challenges and Opportunities As with many organizations, the past economic down turn has caused many organizations to face a lot of challenges and to make difficult business decisions. Whole Foods Market created a permanent modification in how they operate many vital areas of the business. This year, 2010, the company’s business model includes continued focus on vital areas of the company by focusing in on purchasing with regards to the business while creating more worth for the consumer regarding pricing (Whole Foods Market, n. d). In the letter to the stakeholders (2009), Mackey, CEO desires to stay focused on dropping operating cost without harming the customer experience. Additionally, he states that as an organization they are committed to being better custodians of capital and producing free cash flow on a yearly basis. In the future, Mackey foresees new smaller stores that are less expensive, and an increase return on invested capital. A recent 2009 SWOT Analysis of the organization from Datamonitor (2009) listed some additional opportunities such as the recent strategic acquisitions that helped in strengthening their market position. These acquisitions also help the organization to expand its operations in the natural and organic foods markets as well as increase its client base and the number of product categories. One acquisition in particular is the merge with Wild Oats Market in 2007. Other opportunities recorded by Datamonitor (2009) include the growing demand for private label products. Recent economic conditions have warranted companies to offer less expensive private label products as an alternative to the customers’ needs. Whole Foods Market: Human Resource Management Strategies What makes Whole Foods stand out from others in the industry is not a single management process but a distinctive managing structure which includes Human Resource Management support. According to Rose and Kumar (2006) it is important that organizations utilize HRM practices that make best use of its employees, and that is just what Whole Foods Market has done. For example, at Whole Foods, the basic organizational unit isn’t the store but small teams that manage departments such as fresh produce, prepared foods, and seafood. Teams are consulted on all store-level decisions and they have been given a degree of independence that is very unique in the industry (Whole Foods Market, n. d). According to Hamel (2006), each team makes decisions concerning stock, and new hires. Bonuses are paid to the teams, not to individuals. Members have access to comprehensive fiscal information, including the details of every coworker’s wage. Whole Foods Market has been very successful with their ability to recruit and retain good employees. The recruiting process is exceptionally unique. According to Whole Foods Market (n. d), applicants are generally screened by store management or by a human resources person through a preliminary interview. Once the individual is screened for overall job skills and qualifications, the application is referred to the appropriate department managers for a final interview. The final interview process may be conducted by a team or panel depending on the position. Team member’s partaking in group interviews is one way the company puts its culture of empowerment into action. Hamel and Breen (2007), state that this recruiting process is used for all new employees; including those hoping to join teams at Whole Foods’ center of operations, such as the national IT or finance groups. Additional HRM practices include the organizations focus on compensation and incentive based rewards. According to Erickson and Gratton (2007), this is one of the main components of their rewards system within the organization. Each team’s compensation is directly linked to how well that team functions. Team performance is considered in terms of overall productivity; profit-sharing based on those numbers are added directly to each team member’s compensation. Teams are responsible for a different product category or aspect of store operations such as customer service, prepared foods, or grocery, among others. Whole Foods believes in a company-wide awareness of sharing the fate of the business by combining the wellbeing of team members as directly as possible with the interests of the shareholders. The organization uses a gain sharing program to reinforce concept. This program rewards things that members of the team can control such as work efficiency which gives members a direct stake in the victories of the company (Whole Foods Market, n. d). Whole Foods also encourages stock ownership options in plans such as the Team Member Stock Option Plan. Within this plan, all members are entitled to receive a grant of stock options each year. According to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2007), the grant has two components: the Annual Leadership Grants identify and motivate team member performance; and the Service Hour Grants identify team member service within the Company. Another plan is the Team Member Stock Purchase Plan. Through payroll deductions, all non-seasonal team members with at least 400 service hours may choose to buy unlimited shares of stock at 95% of market worth on the purchase date. Whole Foods Human Resource practices are effective because the culture allows for an atmosphere of transparency, with open books and open people. These processes include the organizations team process which allows for autonomy and a high level of responsibility of line staff. Through such a practice, members use their decision-making authority to take part in driving the business forward. Additionally, the team process promotes healthy competition, trust between members. Whole Foods Market: Recommended Strategies for Improvement Although Whole Foods HRM practices seem successful, there is room for improvement. The following strategies are recommended in the area of team implementation and practices: * If the organization maintains the team concept it is important that management ensures that members do not to obstruct the team authority over the individual. Members should merely feel responsible to each other, but still free to be themselves. Members should also be recognized as individuals. Individuals have a need to be recognized for hard work and individual achievement. Providing a reward system for individual milestones and achievements might also allow for successful company performance. * The organization should provide opportunities for personal growth and promotion through training and education. * The organization should ensure that there are no cliques within the teams. Cliques could make it difficult to maintain cohesion and cooperation within the team. Management should also ensure or encourage subtle unsanctioned norms that steer the actions of team members, saying what’s suitable and what’s not suitable behavior especially within the recruitment process in which members choose their team members. * The organization should periodically evaluate the alignment of team compensation and incentives for the work that is likely to be performed. * HR should monitor changes in team compensation systems to ensure the organization’s compensation is clearly understood by staff and that any changes, including team incentive pay, is also communicated. HR should ensure that employees within the team are able to see and understand the goals of the team, and gain an understanding of his or her importance as a member. These improvement strategies can only make Whole Foods Market more successful than they are already. These improvements will drive the business success, by assisting in promoting productivity, by increasing job satisfaction and retention, and by increasing profits within the organization. Whole Foods Market: Plan Evaluation and Measurements Before implementation of new strategies, employees will be informed of the proposed implementation and changes. Managers will ensure that staffs understand what is being implemented and the impact to employees if any. The success of this plan will be evaluated by reviewing the success of the implemented strategies periodically to ensure continuous improvement. The evaluation of the strategies will include internal assessments and/or employee surveys/questionnaires. The internal assessments and/or employee surveys/questionnaires will be aimed to ascertain the employees’ satisfaction of those methods and strategies. Results of the evaluation and measurements will be compiled and reviewed by the organizations HR team. The team will seek to: (1) determine if implemented strategies are predictive of organizations mission and business plan, (2) understand how implemented strategies improved or did not improve current HR practices and finally, (3) determine if there is a relationship between the implemented strategies and overall retention and job satisfaction. If the results are satisfactory, strategies will continue to be implemented monitored and reviewed. Results that are unsatisfactory will be discussed with employees to determine why the implemented strategy was not a success and to determine necessary changes if applicable. Whole Foods Market: Conclusion In conclusion both management and HR play an important role in the strategy and betterment of Whole Foods Market. This organization has already established a culture that reduces fear and increases trust. The company prides itself in the transparency between management level staff and line staff. Implementation of these strategies will only assist to increase employee satisfaction and retention.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Mark Twain of Huck Finn - Satire :: essays research papers

Mark Twain, a famous American writer-satirist wrote many books highly acclaimed throughout the world. For his masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the literary establishment recognized him as one of the greatest writers America would ever produce. This novel is about a teenage boy by the name of Huck Finn whose father is an alcoholic. Because of his violence, Huck runs away and finds a runaway slave Jim. Instead of turning Jim in, Huck goes against society and makes a decision to help Jim break free from slavery. As they travel together, Huck learns more and more about Jim and starts to understand that the common stereotype of black people is wrong. Huck sees there is no difference between Jim and any white man he knows except for skin color. Risking his life and overcoming many difficulties on the way, Huck succeeds in freeing Jim. Focusing on racism, alcoholism and mob mentality, Mark Twain uses his enthusiastic style of writing and satirizes the three traits throughou t the novel. Many words the book contains are full of vivid disgust towards black slaves. Every single line talks about how white people despise and refuse to accept the black race. Answering Aunt Sally's question about whether or not anyone is hurt Huck answers, "no mum, just killed a nigger."(Twain 213) This is the one and only acceptable way to talk about black people in the "white" society. In addition to this, not only is the black people treated differently from the white, they are also considered to be one's property. "He is the only property I have," (Twain 122) Huck is perforce to say in order to save Jim. This is the only way to get through without the essence of suspicions. Though Huck shows racism in public as society teaches him, deep inside he understands that Jim is a great person. Through the eyes of Huck Finn, Mark Twain shows that there is more to people then looks and race, showing the importance of beliefs and character. Alcoholism is another human weakness. Twain satirizes in his novel, constantly accentuating the drunk and violent father of Huck in a very negative manner. "I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn't too drunk to get there,"(Twain 27) said Pap with a racist remark, implying the fact that he will never vote anyway just because the government let one very intelligent black professor vote.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Is It Moral for Corporations to Test Cosmetics on Animals?

Is it moral for corporations to test cosmetics on animals or to use animals for medical experimentation? Pain is pain, and the importance of preventing unnecessary pain and suffering does not diminish because the being that suffers is not a member of our own species. (Peter Singer,  Animal Liberation) Human beings†¦.. who are we? Are we Gods or we are just the top of the food chain on Earth? Do we have rights to harm other nonhuman species? These and many other questions I have in my head when I see how cruel we are sometimes to each other and even harsher toward the other nonhuman beings.Personally, I treat animals with respect because I consider them to be reasonable creatures that are in many perspectives similar to us, human beings. I am confident that animals have emotions; they can feel pain and happiness like we do. As we can see this is not enough for us to consider them our â€Å"little brothers. † From ancient times, many animals are being used for satisfying human’s different needs, such as food, transportation, and materials. Nowadays, human beings use animals not only for abovementioned purposes, but also for cosmetics and medical experiments.All these experiments definitely cause harm to animals. Majority of human population believes that all these experiments are the required attribute for all pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies. They believe that these practices can prevent many people from suffering by testing all new medicine and cosmetic products on animals first. According to this I can say that animals’ sufferings caused by people became moral issue for our last generations. In my essay I will use the work of Peter Singer â€Å"All animals are Equal,† because his work covers most of the aspects that I agree with.The main purpose of this essay is to emphasize that nonhuman beings have many similarities with human beings and they need to have basis rights for life without pain. It means that human beings must understand that all species are equal and it is immoral to make them suffer. There are similarities between human beings and animals that can be taken into account. In this case, I consider that main feelings that are possessed both by human and by nonhuman beings are pain and happiness. It is obvious that animals that surround us can experience pain. Just imagine if you kick a dog with your leg, the dog will moan and probably will un away with its tail between its legs. If this dog would not suffer from that kick it would not try to prevent that pain from occurring. On the other hand, imagine the same dog running towards her master, spinning her tail and running around him, licking his hands, jumping and sending many other positive signals that represent happiness. By visualizing these two images you can easily understand that animals have basic feelings like we do. For some people this might sound like nonsense if I say that people are equal to other species that are inhabiti ng our planet. I will not take into consideration some biological features of the beings.I want to look at this problem from the moral perspective. Today it is acceptable by many developed countries around the world for women have equal rights with men. We consider that this is a right thing, but think for a moment that essentially males and females are not the same. I mean they have equal rights but not all rights applied for both men and women, due to physiological differences or other factors. For example, P. Singer mentioned in his work that women have right to abortion so in order to make them equal to men, males also must have the same right to abortion (P.Singer, p. 172). However, men do not need this right since those instances never occur. According to this example, equality does not particularly mean that men and women have all the same equal rights. It means that they have the same rights in regards with to what they have in common. Concerning cosmetics and medical experi ments on animals I can definitely say that it makes animals suffer. Let’s take medical experiments of new drugs. Nobody knows what is going to happen when any external substance is implemented on an animal.There are certain medications tested on animals and that caused the death of the animals. For example, one of the scandal cases is the sheep Dolly that died because of the cloning experiment. Obviously there is a big chance for the animals to die after certain tests are performed on them. Nevertheless, human beings still accept the fact that some species other than humans can justifiably suffer in order to possibly save some human being’s lives. However, animals that are involved in those experiments will receive nothing in return but suffering because the only purpose of those experiments is to help people.So, regarding cosmetic experiments, those animals suffer not for the sake of saving some human’s life, but for the sake of helping a number of people to lo ok more beautiful. For instance, before introducing a new cosmetic product such as shampoo to the market a product should go through the series of tests, the part of which is animal testing. Even this single product can harm a large number of animals. Looking more attractive, in my mind, is not worth causing pain to other species. I want to say, that the number of animals’ suffering is greater than the pleasure that human beings receive.In other words the degree of harm is higher than the degree of happiness. Some people might say let’s think about the morality that animals have. The main principal of their lives is to survive. Most of them survive by killing and eating other animals. Let’s take lions as an example; they kill other animals to feed their prides. In other words, they hurt other species to make their own lives flourish. If we can call this their â€Å"morality†, then medical experiments are the right thing to do, because human beings are the part of the same biosphere as lions and other animals are.As a result of these experiments many lives of the human beings were saved. Without the experiments on animals it would be impossible to reach the constant improvements and developments in medicine. If we talk about equality with animals in this perspective then we are equal to them, since we act according to their â€Å"morality. † All these arguments are related to utilitarianism. Utilitarian theories are dealing with selection of the action that will result in the maximum good for the greatest amount of individuals (Encyclopedia Britannica).Regarding animal testing from utilitarian point of view I can say that this is not right thing to do. Since it can be moral only if it delivers the greatest good to greatest number of individuals I can calculate how many individuals are better off in this case. For example only in France in 2005, 12,117,583 animals were used for medical experiments (Andrew Knight, p. 651). Takin g in account that this number represents the quantity of animals that were used by only a single country, I can definitely say that the total number of animals used for experiments in the whole world is much greater than human population.Moreover, not all people received benefits from those medical experiments, but all animals tested suffered or died. Talking about the previous example of analyses of lions’ morality I want to mention that in that case lions kill not more than two zebras to feed more than ten lions. On basis of this, greater good delivered to greater number of individuals. The professor of Oxford and Warwick universities and also the former head of Medical Research Council Colin Blakemore states that many irredeemable human diseases like Alzheimer’s multiple scleroses would never be possible to vaccinate without using all possible tools.In this case, experimental animals are one of the tools that are needed for the research of those diseases (Colin Blak emore). This claim proves that animal testing is one of the main research attributes. Therefore, in order to provide seriously ill people with quality medications, pharmaceutical companies have to test new drugs on animals. It is obvious, that fifty years ago it was normal for researchers to use animals for medical and cosmetics experiments, because they did not have any alternatives. It is known, that today’s technologies have features that can substitute usage of animals.If it is possible to use other means than animals why people do not do that? It seems to me that until animal tests are regarded as moral by human beings this practice will continue. Moreover, there will be a lot of different arguments that will support the idea of animal experiments. Yet, the fact that we can do medical experiments in 21st century without torturing animals is obvious. It is immoral to cause pain to a human by another one. The main reason for that is that human can suffer. Everyone in his o r her life experienced pain and know what it is.So, it became immoral thing to harm other people. Moreover, every person has a right to not experience pain from other individuals. In other words people are bounded by their rights and morality from making other people suffer. We are protected by rights and by laws not to be harmed, but animals are not protected by those rights and human morality. Nevertheless, they can suffer like we do. In this case both human and nonhuman beings experience relatively the same feeling of pain. Since the pain is the one factor that makes us similar to animals, why other species do not have rights to not suffer?One of the reasons why animals do not have some equal rights with people is probably because all those concepts of equal rights were created by human beings. It becomes obvious that human beings are selfish in this perspective. If you are the man it does not mean for me that you can decide for others what to do with their lives. What about the fact that human beings are the part of the biosphere of our planet. I think this is immoral to not take into account that animals can suffer like we do. In these circumstances I agree with P. Singer as he introduced an example about an orphaned infant.He said that â€Å"would be experimenter ready to make his experiments on orphaned infant if it would the only option to save many lives. If experimenter would be against using orphaned infant for experiments, then his readiness to use animal is simple discrimination. † But many adult animals are more receptive to pain than human infants. (P. Singer, p. 176). This is not good and people must understand why they have to do something about it. I agree that this practice is hard to change. Still, looking back in the history there were many practices that were accepted to be moral.For instance, I want to mention slavery and discrimination of African American or women. All of these cases were perceived to be normal at those times, bu t now moral values have changed. It means that there is a chance that people will comprehend the pain that we cause to nonhuman beings. People cannot decide for animals what to do with their lives. It is not moral to benefit one by harming another one. In this case all experiments on animals must be reformed. However, it is rooted deeply in our moral values system, so this values need to be changed as they were changed in other cases similar to this one.Human moral issues are changing all the time. Just recall the time when all people we classified by skin color or other signs. It was normal to discriminate black people only because they have a different skin color. Going back we can see that white people at those times would never accept that they are born equal to black people. It took a lot of time to change those beliefs. Now Barak Obama is the president of USA while a century ago this fact would appear implausible. It means that it is possible to change moral believes of human beings by giving them enough arguments for that.According to this I can definitely say that there are enough arguments that can be used to prove that animal experiments can be reformed. I want to conclude that the problem of animal experiments is related to each individual. According to utilitarian theory the animal experiments are not a right thing to do, because harm of these experiments is greater than the positive outcome. Number of ruined animals’ lives, is much greater than the number of saved human beings’ lives. The only way to prevent animal usage is to persuade people that this is inapplicable in our modern community.As I mentioned there are many ways, including technological improvements, to not use animals for medical experiments. The technology of 21 century allows constructing virtual models of live organisms that are able to predict a reaction of a tested medicine. This argument can cause the change in human beings’ morality, and animals will get equal rights with humas, by taking into consideration their abilities to experience pain and happiness like we do. Moreover, our morality is the subject that can be changed, as we can observe by looking back in the history.We need to start doing it, because we are the most intelligent creatures on the Earth and the future of many animals is in our hands. Work cited 1) Blakemore, Colin. â€Å"Should We Experiment on Animals? Yes. †Ã‚  The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 29 Nov. 0028. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. . (I trust this web site, because the author seems to me very intelligent, since he is the professor of Oxford and Warwick universities and also the former head of Medical Research Council Colin Blakemore) 2) Knight, Andrew. Systematic Reviews of Animal Experiments Demonstrate Poor Human Clinical and Toxicological Utility. †Ã‚  ATLA -NOTTINGHAM-  35 (2007): 641-60. Print. 3) Peter Singer, â€Å"Chapter 14: All Animals are Equal† in Hugh LaFollette (ed. ), Ethics in Practice. 171-180 4) Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation. New York, NY: New York Review of, 1990. Print. 5) â€Å"utilitarianism. †Ã‚  Encyclop? dia Britannica. Encyclop? dia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclop? dia Britannica Inc. , 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. .

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Compare and Contract the Giver

Compare and Contrast If I had to pick a world over my society and Jonas’ Society I would pick Jonas’s world. The reason I would pick Jonas’s world because one, in our world we get to pick or spouses but yet 50% of the time spouses get divorced. In Jonas’s world we are chosen a spouse by the committee and they will match us with the perfect couple. On page 48, the Committee of Elders could take up to years before they find a perfect spouse for you, which means that there will be no fights between husband and wife.I also think How they create Families in our world are created differently in his World. In our world we get to keep our baby and yet sometimes we can get unwanted babies otherwise in Jonas’ world we get to have one girl and boy but yet apply for it. There’s only one reason that is I don’t get in Jonas world. On page 44, the page states that when you loss someone you will chant there name throughout the day softer and softer as the days goes by but yet they will replace him with another child with the same name I think that’s somewhat a good idea yet not a good idea.It is a good idea because one, they have a big celebration for the loss but sadly Replaces them. On the other hand, in our world We celebrate our deaths with funerals and memorials and we never see them again. I don’t think replacing someone else in Jonas’ world will literally replace the person who passed away. So, to wrap it off I would rather live in Jonas’s world for a nice healthy drama free life.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Customer and Extended Marketing Mix Essay Example

Customer and Extended Marketing Mix Essay Example Customer and Extended Marketing Mix Essay Customer and Extended Marketing Mix Essay Essay Topic: Extended Process is another component of the extended marketing mix. It is basically associated with the customer service; how does the business, in this case the restaurant, deal with the customer from the first point to the last one. Marketing nowadays has become much more complicated and having a product and a place without having a successful process will not help in developing a relationship with the customer. Therefore the interaction with the customers is crucial, since a decision made by customers always decides their choice in the next time. It requires a proper encounter, good communication, the right action and a suitable resolution. Furthermore, the aim of the restaurant is to build a long-term relationship with its customer and to support them on a continuing basis. Process mainly covers some steps such as procedures, controls, accessibility, information flows, payments, bookings and speed and timing of delivery. Procedures, from the entrance in the restaurant, have to be followed effectively in order to achieve customer satisfaction. In Nandos, there is a welcoming host who accommodates customers on to a table and provides the menus. The second step is for the customer to go to the counter, make the order by giving the table number and paying the amount required. After this, the customer is supposed to collect the cutlery and any sauces or dressings. After the order is brought to the table and the food is consumed, the customer can order additional items such as deserts, without having to go to the counter again. This is the stage where self-service and the traditional one are blended. In terms of controls and accessibility, Nandos provides its customers with a website and a telephone system which supports the customers effectively, moreover if any complaints or complements, they can be send to their site. Bookings can be made through the phone if a big table is required or at busy times, in our case, weekend at lunch times. A distinctive fact from most of other restaurants is that the food takes very little time to be served since the chicken is half cooked, stored in some special ovens they use to keep it warm and placed straightforwardly on the grill. Evidently, the busier the place the longer the food will take, however not more than 25 minutes. The main focus on the restaurant is what and how to benefit a customer, which has a direct effect on the customers’ evaluation of enjoying and determining whether they will come back or not. Consequently, if the process sector is carried out effectively, the customer will patronize again. (don’t do delivery but take away†¦relevant in the process part )

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The 5 Best AP Chemistry Books Full Expert Reviews

The 5 Best AP Chemistry Books Full Expert Reviews SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The more challenging the subject, the more helpful it is to have a good review book. Since AP Chemistry is considered one of the most difficult classes in the AP canon, it's smart to pick up some additional resources to aid in your studying. There are quite a few popular review books out there, but some are more useful than others. In this guide, I'll provide detailed descriptions of the best AP Chemistry review books so you can choose the right one based on your needs as a student. What’s in This Guide? These are my recommendations for the best books students can use to prepare for the AP Chemistry exam (and review concepts throughout the year). For each book, I’ll list pros and cons, sum up my opinions, and provide a rating out of 10 based on how helpful it is for students. The first three AP Chemistry books are your best bets for a comprehensive and effective review of the course material. The last two supplemental review books are ones that you might consider buying for extra practice materials or additional study strategies on top of a couple of the more essential review books. At the end of this article, I’ll sum up my findings and tell you which review book or books you should get based on your goals, studying timeline, and familiarity with the material. The Best AP Chemistry Book for Long-Term Review 5 Steps to a 5 (McGraw-Hill) Price: $12 print, $10 digital Pros Four practice tests (two in the book, two online) Provides study plans that you can customize to fit your needs Gives you access to an AP Planner app that can be used alongside the book (the app also includes daily assignments and extra practice questions) Important equations are listed at the beginning of each content chapter Sticks to covering only what you need to know for the test Has friendly and understandable explanations of complex concepts Practice quizzes and a glossary are included at the end of each chapter Cons A few typos in the questions and answer explanations Summary This might be the best AP Chemistry review book available. It’s aligned well with the current format of the test, and it isn’t too skimpy or too dense with information. It also provides great instructions for structuring your studying, which is helpful if you consider yourself less of an organized student. You could also throw down some extra dollars for the elite version to get a set of five-minute activities designed to reinforce important AP Chem facts and ideas, but honestly, the regular version is perfectly adequate for most students' needs. Rating: 9.5/10 The Best AP Chemistry Book for Short-Term Review Crash Course (REA) Price: $13 print, $10 digital Pros Good test-taking tips for both multiple-choice and free-response questions Focuses exclusively on what you need to know for the exam Thorough in its explanations while sticking to the point and not becoming too long-winded Aligns well with the most recent updates to the AP Chemistry curriculum Cons Doesn’t offer many practice materials May have too narrow of a focus for students who want a review book that will help them on smaller in-class tests Summary This is a strong AP Chemistry review book due to its intense focus on the most important concepts to understand before the test. There’s a reason why it's called "Crash Course": it's meant to be used for a quick review, so it covers the material as efficiently as possible without any fluff. If you’re looking for help with more specific in-class assignments, you should probably supplement it with another book, but overall it’s a great tool to have in your arsenal. The only complaint I’ve seen is that, similar to 5 Steps to a 5, it doesn’t contain a ton of practice problems. You may have to turn to additional resources to test your knowledge further. Rating: 9/10 The Best Book for Practice Questions: AP Chemistry Practice Questions (Sterling Test Prep) Price: $24 print Pros 900 practice questions Great coverage of all the topics and types of questions you’ll see on the exam Useful test-taking tips at the beginning Online resources frequently and consistently updated (every 4-6 weeks) with user feedback! Cons It’s basically just practice questions with a couple of testing tips, so there’s no content overview or advice on how to structure your studying Summary This book is exactly what it says it is. It's an awesome practice resource that can be used alongside other review books. It’s also great if you already feel confident about the concepts but are looking for some extra practice. Rating: 9/10 for quality of questions, but you need to get another review book if you still don’t fully understand the material Supplementary AP Chemistry Review Books Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam (Princeton Review) Price: $14 print, $12 digital Pros Good advice on how to create a study plan and approach different types of questions Content is organized by the six "Big Ideas" of the course (major themes of AP Chemistry that were established in the most recent updates to the curriculum) Two full-length practice tests as well as practice multiple-choice and free-response questions at the end of each content chapter Sticks to what you actually need to know for the exam Practice problems are high-quality and replicate the content of the exam fairly well Cons Some students complain that it’s too sparse on answer explanations, particularly for math calculations It goes through the content relatively quickly and tends to skim the surface on a lot of topics People have noted that there are some factual errors in the book Summary This book is good for practice problems and light review if you already have a solid handle on the material. It's not so good if you’re still confused about complex concepts. Overall, it's a useful review book, but it's not one that will cover all of your bases if you're looking for more guidance. Rating: 7/10 Barron’s AP Chemistry 8th Edition Price: $25 print Pros Six practice tests (three diagnostic tests, three full-length practice exams) Helps you to effectively identify where you need improvement Cons Some errors in practice tests Goes outside the scope of the material you need to know for the test so could be a bit of a time-waster Questions more difficult than the real test (although this could be a positive depending on how you see things) Summary This review book has a big problem with errors in its practice tests. It also covers too much material, so it will over-prepare you for the AP exam. If you want a challenge and are really interested in chemistry, you could potentially benefit from this book, but I don't think it's as strong as the other titles on this list. Rating: 5/10 Which AP Chemistry Book Is Best for YOU? If you plan on buying a review book, you should make sure it fits your needs first. Most students will find the 5 Steps to to a 5 or Crash Course books helpful. I’d recommend 5 Steps to a 5 if you have at least a few months before the test and are still feeling confused about many of the concepts. Crash Course is better if you have less time to prepare and want a quicker review of everything you need to know. If you get the Crash Course book, you should also consider buying the book of practice questions from Sterling Test Prep to hone your skills. In fact, I think anyone would benefit from having a book of practice questions as a resource in addition to a traditional review book. The books from Princeton Review and Barron’s are moderately helpful, but they wouldn’t be my top choices. If you’re an intense student and are interested in learning more detailed information about chemistry, you might like the Barron’s book. If you’re just looking for an efficient review of the topics on the test, however, it's not the best resource. Cracking the AP Chemistry exam is slightly more helpful, but it goes a little too far in the opposite direction and skims over some of the material. I don’t recommend it for students who are still struggling with complex concepts in chemistry. Overall, I think you should start with one or two of the first three books in this article, and branch out into the others if you need more practice materials! What's Next? Read this article to learn more about the AP Chemistry exam, including its format, content, and scoring guidelines. Taking the Chemistry subject test in addition to the AP exam? Find out how subject tests and AP tests differ and which are more important for college. Need some help organizing your AP Chem studying? We have the ultimate AP Chemistry study guide and notes to study with, along with this primer on how to balance chemical equations. Still not sure whether you should sign up for two or three AP classes next year? This guide will tell you how many AP classes to take based on your goals for college. Considering the pre-med track in college? We have advice for how to start preparing for pre-med in high school here, along with this rundown of the 7 books you should read as a pre-med student. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Analysing the learning and development strategies of an existing Case Study

Analysing the learning and development strategies of an existing organisation - Case Study Example Reference is made specifically to learning and development (L&D), a tool used by managers in most organizations for increasing employee performance. In practice, it seems that firms choose different approaches for promoting L&D. The various aspects of learning and development are analyzed and evaluated in this paper. The case of Wal-Mart is used as an example to show the level at which L&D can promote organizational success. Table of contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Learning and Development strategies in Wal-Mart 4 2.1 Overview of Learning and Development strategies in Wal-Mart 4 2.2 Is L&D in Wal-Mart strategic? 6 2.2.1 Characteristics of L&D in modern organizations 6 2.2.2 When L&D is strategic? 7 2.2.3 At what level L&D in Wal-Mart is strategic? 8 2.3 How is learning and development delivered in Wal-Mart? 9 2.3.1 Common methods for the delivery of L&D in modern organizations 9 2.3.2 L&D delivery in Wal-Mart 10 2.3.3 Problems in regard to the delivery of L&D in Wal-Mart 11 2.4 Is L&D in Wal-Mart effective? 12 2.4.1 Which are the common criteria of effectiveness of a L&D scheme? 12 2.4.2 Is L&D in Wal-Mart effective? 12 2.5 Evaluation of existing L&D strategies in Wal-Mart. 13 3. Conclusion 15 4. Recommendations 17 References 18 Appendix 21 1. Introduction The incorporation of effective learning and development (L&D) strategies in modern organizations can ensure that their activities will be effectively supported in regard to all their phases (Armstrong 2008, p.175). According to Armstrong (2008), L&D, as developed in companies with different characteristics, focuses on the development of a learning culture and the promotion of organizational learning’ (Armstrong 2008, p.175). Organizations that emphasize on L&D become ‘learning organizations’ (Pedler, Burgoyne and Boydell 1991, cited in Fee 2011, p. 44), a term used for describing those organizations that ‘facilitates the learning of all its members’ (Fee 2011, p. 44). The charac teristics and the role of L&D are presented in this study. Reference is made to a particular organization, Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart, a US-based firm, has particular emphasized on L&D, as a tool for securing its position in the global market. The review of the firm’s L&D strategies has led to the following assumption: the organization’s current efforts for promoting L&D can be characterized as satisfactory. However, it is clear that more initiatives would be taken, especially since the organization is interested in further improving its position in the global market, as explained in the sections that follow. 2. Learning and Development strategies in Wal-Mart 2.1 Overview of Learning and Development strategies in Wal-Mart In order to evaluate the effectiveness of L&D strategies of Wal-Mart it is necessary to review the key aspects of L&D, as developed in the particular organization. Then, the particular aspects of the firm’s L&D schemes, such as the methods of delivery, the problems involved and the level of effectiveness can be discussed and appropriately analyzed. According to the organization’s website, in Wal-Mart L&D is a continuous process, and not just a tool for periodically supporting the organizational performance (Wal-Mart, Careers 2012). In the context of the hiring process, a profile is developed for every employee entering the organization (Wal-Mart, Career

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Rule of Law in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Rule of Law in China - Essay Example I venture to guess rational analysis is ill-suited to the investigation of value matters which are, after all, more instinctual than cognitive, and more emotive than logical. (Wong 12) Â  The laws of a particular country Wong says, are informed by its values, and its values are characteristic of the entire course of its history. America appears to have found many of its values, character traits, and individualism in its revolution against Britain, and in its Protestant background, while Chinas more communitarian consciousness dates back to Confucius himself. (Wong 13) Â  If this is to accuse America of linear thinking when it comes to law, Wong draws the contrast with China even deeper when he adds that Chinas loyalty to its past is not so much or only a preservation or continuation of that past through time. It is more than Imperial China, and Confucius before her, was observant and appreciative of a kind of indeterminacy and immediacy coloring human legal affairs, a very un-judicial mixing of the winds and the currents that are seated only in "human nature ("renin") and heavenly providence ("timing").." (Wong 18) Â  Thus the system of law and its associated court and police processes in China arises in a country and a people "with no history and tradition of democracy, privacy, and individualism." (Wong 20) There is instead "Qing," "Li" and "Fa" or QLF, dating from Imperial China and signifying a complex, spiritual, and markedly oriental way of understanding and approaching life which cannot be detailed here except to say that a very significant part of it is an emphasis on rites that reflect the "essence of human nature." (Wong 29) The knowledge and understanding of these presumably mystic rites and their connection with right conduct are cultivated in the individual all along by education and not by simply knowing the law.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Integration - Causal Chains and Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Integration - Causal Chains and Strategy - Essay Example Under the following section, each quadrant is briefly discussed, followed by their causal linkages and last part of this article provides a nine-step framework to develop such balanced scorecard system in technology-based organization. Analysis As mentioned-above balanced scorecard, system works based on four perspective such as organization capacity, internal processes, customers and financial perspective. Organizational capacity relates to the concept of increasing the capacity of the business such as production capacity, material capacity, project capacity, etc. In order to meet the demands from the customers, it is essential that the organization must have sufficient capacity to fulfill that order. Internal processes relates to the concept of how effectively the organization can perform a certain job or fulfill customer’s demand for instance. How departments are managed and integrated, how internal controls work together, etc. are the core issues highlighted through intern al processes. Third perspective solely relates to customers. Customers are most important stakeholders of any business such that their preferences, tastes, dispositions, likes and dislikes, etc. paly a profound role in developing the most adequate business strategies. From this perspective, the organization needs to assess the current demands of the customer, how to satisfy them, how to retain their loyalty, how to provide after-sales services to them, etc. are focused through this perspective. Last, but probably the most important perspective of a balanced scorecard is the financial perspective such that every organization needs to improve its financial performance and position. For this purpose, the organizations use financial ratio analysis as a technique of evaluating their performances. Some important financial ratios under this perspective include return on investment, return on assets, return on equity, net profit margin, etc. Challenges faced by Technology Organizations Befo re establishing the causal linkage between the balanced scorecard perspectives within the technology organizations, it is of crucial importance that the characteristics of technology organization are studies first. Technology organizations are the ones which can be differentiated from other organizations especially in terms of challenges that they face (Rohm and Moinoski, n.d.). Following are some of the typical challenges faced by the technology-based organizations: Their product cycles constantly and rapidly contract. They constantly have to recruit, retain and reward the best technology talent. These organizations have to make and communicate the timely and critical decisions relating to product development. They have to track the customer’s perspectives such that they have to track the customer’s featured demands and their corresponding models. They have to deal with disruptive technologies which can, not only wrap up the product but the entire business. Integratio n of Causal Chain Keeping in mind the above challenges that technology-based organizations face, the balanced scorecard system is developed through a strategy. The strategy can be referred as integration of causal chain between these four perspectives of balanced scorecard (BSI, 2007). This strategy aims at developing the organizational capacity first. The investment in organizational ca

Monday, October 28, 2019

My Trip to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island Essay Example for Free

My Trip to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island Essay This tourist location is nationally known. Thousands of people a year come to Mackinaw City to enjoy the view of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. They also come to drive across the five mile long Mackinaw Bridge. It is a small town with hotels on every street. As I first arrived into Mackinaw City I noticed the Mackinaw Bridge far off in the distance. The colors of the bridge were a pale peach color with a hint of pale yellow. The bridge was always visible from any part in Mackinaw City because of how big it was and how tall it stood. As I looked around I saw hundreds of hotels surrounding the roads. Going down the road hundreds of people were walking to places whether it was to go to get ice cream or to go to a small grocery store. Hotels were lined up on the shore of Lake Huron. Luckily, we were staying at one of those hotels. The people there were very nice and courteous. As we walked into our hotel room, which was on the third floor, the light from outside shined through the balcony doors. I walked out on the balcony and on my left you could see the Mackinaw Bridge clear as day and on he right you could see all the ferries headed to Mackinaw Island. After we got settled in we headed down to the beach. The water was freezing cold but it was still fun because every time a ferry passed by huge waves of water would travel up to the shore and crash into it. I was excited because the next morning we got to take a ferry under the Mackinaw Bridge and to Mackinaw Island. The ferry went fast and there was a lot of wind which made it colder than it actually was but it was still fun! As we got further away from Mackinaw City the more you see of it. It was a beautiful sight. As the ferry got closer to Mackinaw Island you could see more and more people walking around the island. There were no cars at all, all there was, was trolleys being pulled around by horses. Entering the island you notice the buildings are very historic and old. There were a ton of hills. The island is like one big circle. A small beach area was on the island and in the distance you could see the Mackinaw Bridge. As the sun was shining down on the island it make the lake glisten and it made it bluer than it would be if it was cloudy. The streets were filled with people riding bikes and getting on the trolleys. While you were on the island you could walk up a bunch of stairs up to Fort Mackinac. It is a historical landmark where the attack of 1812 happened. As you walk around Fort Mackinac you see a group of people reenacting the historical event that happened there. Being that far up on a hill, you could see all of Mackinaw Island. The sun made everything shine brighter. Going here was very relaxing and you werent worried about anything. It was like all that weight got lifted off your shoulders and you were free to have fun and do what made this a very memorable vacation for me, which I will never forget.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Allies For Freedom :: Essays Papers

Allies For Freedom Introduction The reason I choose â€Å"Allies For Freedom† is because I am very interested in slaves and how they gained their freedom. I also wanted to learn about the famous â€Å" john brown† and everything this man did to change history. This book looked interesting to me because it covers not only just john brown but also other allies for the slaves. I wanted to see the different views of the people during slavery. This book also interested me because I knew he was raised in Ohio and I thought to relate to his views from being born and raised in Ohio also. This is a very important subject in history. Slavery changed American history and how we view things today. This book helps us see and understand that not all people were for slavery and there were people willing to give or risk their lives to do something they believe in. the main person this book is about is john brown. To me he is a hero that opened up opportunities for many blacks and slaves. John brown was a main leader for abolitionist. He led Harpers Ferry with 21 men. They cut telegraph wires, and then made their attack. First the captured the federal armory and arsenal. Then the Hall’s Rifle Works, and supplier of weapons to the government. Then they got 60 citizens of the town and held them as hostages. Hoping that their slaves help them in the fight, but none did. Brown also led a murder of five proslavery men. He led many abolitionists like himself in the fight against slavery. Benjamin Quarles, the author of â€Å" allies for freedom†, was a noted author, editor, and historian, and the first African American to be published in what became the journal of American history. He has written many books on slavery and abolitionists. He tried, through his books and writings, to show the Declaration of Independence and the rights it gave to the blacks and slaves. Benjamin Quarles is a very experienced author. He has written many book and novels on the topic. I think that the purpose that the author was trying to give the reader was to inform and educate them about slavery and abolitionists. The author tells about john brown and how he stood up for slaves and the equality of all men. Benjamin Quarles points out all the problems about slavery and America during this time.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Consumer Theory and X1

: Hal R. Varian. Intermediate Microeconomics, A Modern Approach. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 1 BUDGET CONSTRAINT Consumer theory —- how consumers buy their goods? Economists assume: consumers choose the best bundle of goods they can afford. Two aspects: —-Consumers choose the most preferred goods. —-They are limited by economic condition. The Budget Constraint Consumption bundles: ( , ): a list of numbers of goods and services. X = (x1, x2, †¦, xn,) In the case of two goods: good 1 and good 2. Bundle of goods: X = (x1, x2) Prices of goods: (p1, p2),The amount of money the consumer has to spend: m. The consumer’s affordable consumption bundles, (x1, x2) satisfy p1x1 + p2x2 ? m. —-The budget set of the consumer ( ) . good 2 m/p2 O m/p1 good 1 Two Goods Are Often Enough Composite good —-take x2 as everything else, the dollars spent on other goods. For example, x1: consumption of milk in quarts per month. The budget constraint will take t he form p1x1 + x2 ? m. The case of n goods Budget constraint: p1x1 + p2x2+†¦+ pnxn ? m. Properties of the Budget Set Budget line( ): p1x1 + p2x2 = m. Vertical intercept: m/p2Horizontal intercept: m/p1. Slope: – p1/p2 Economic interpretation of slope: For the bundle (x1, x2): p1x1 + p2x2 = m. After a change in bundle (? x1, ? x2): p1(x1+? x1) + p2(x2+? x2) = m. good 2 x2 ?x2 ?x1 O x1 good 1 Subtracting the first equation from the second gives p1? x1 + p2? x2 = 0. This gives The number of good 2 the consumer must give up when he increases his consumption of good 1 by 1 unit, and keeps the money spent unchanged. Opportunity cost of consuming good 1—- in order to consume more of good 1 you have to give up some consumption of good 2.Budget Line Changes How the budget line changes when prices and incomes change? Change in income Change in m results in a parallel shift of the budget line. Intercepts m/p2 and m/p1 will change. Slope – p1/p2 keeps unchanged. good 2 m/p2 O m/p1 good 1 Changes in prices Increasing p1 will not change the vertical intercept, but p1/p2 will become larger. good 2 m/p2 O m/p1 good 1 What happens to the budget line when we change the prices of good 1 and good 2 at the same time? Proportionally: (tp1)x1 + (tp2)x2 = m.What happens to the budget line when we change the prices of good 1 and good 2 and the consumers’ income at the same time? good 2 m/p2 O m/p1 good 1 Proportionally: (tp1)x1 + (tp2)x2 = tm. Some observations: If one price declines and all others stay the same, the consumer must be at least as well-off. If the consumer’s income increases and all prices remain the same, the consumer must be at least as well-off as at the lower income A perfectly balanced inflation cannot change anybody’s optimal choice. 2 PREFERENCES Consumer Preferences( Consumer ranks consumption bundles by his satisfaction from use of goods, irrelevant to the prices. The case of two goods Given any two consumption bund les, X=(x1, x2) and Y=(y1, y2), the consumer can rank them in one of three possible ways: (x1, x2) is strictly better than (y1, y2); (y1, y2) is strictly better than (x1, x2); (x1, x2) and (y1, y2) are indifferent. Two basic relations: [pic]: strictly preferred( ), (x1, x2) [pic] (y1, y2): the consumer strictly prefers (x1, x2) to (y1, y2). ~ : indifferent ( ) (x1, x2) ~ (y1, y2). he consumer is indifferent between (x1, x2) and (y1, y2). A composite relation: [pic]: weakly preferred ( ) (x1, x2) [pic](y1, y2): the consumer prefers (x1, x2) to (y1, y2) or is indifferent between (x1, x2) and (y1, y2). Assumptions about Preferences Axioms about consumer preference (weakly preference): Complete( ). Given any X-bundle and any Y-bundle, consumer can say that (x1, x2)[pic](y1, y2), or (y1, y2)[pic](x1, x2). Reflexive( ). Consumer should say that any bundle is at least as good as itself: (x1, x2)[pic](x1, x2). Transitive ( ).If a consumer feels that (x1, x2)[pic](y1, y2) and (y1, y2)[pic](z 1, z2) then he feels that (x1, x2)[pic](z1, z2). Indifference Curves Weakly preferred set: all of the consumption bundles that are weakly preferred to (x1, x2). Indifference curves( ): —-The boundary of weakly preferred set; Good 2 x2 O x1 Good 1 Further assumptions Well-behaved preferences( ): Monotonicity ( )—- more is better. If that x1 ( y1, x2 ( y2 and that x1 ( y1 , x2 ( y2 at least one hold, then (x1, x2) [pic] (y1, y2) —-indifference curves have negative slope.A indifference curve is the set of bundles for which the consumer is just indifferent to (x1, x2). Good 2 O Good 1 Convexity ( )—- averages are preferred to extremes. If (x1, x2) and (y1, y2) are indifferent, then the bundle ([pic]x1+[pic]y1, [pic]x2+[pic]y2) is strictly preferred to (x1, x2) and (y1, y2). —-indifference curves are convex. Good 2 O Good 1 Examples of preferences Perfect Substitutes( ) The consumer is willing to substitute one good for the other at a constant rate. Goo d 2 O Good 1Perfect Complements( ) Goods that are always consumed together in fixed proportions. Good 2 O Good 1 Discrete Goods( ) x1 : a discrete good that is only available in integer amounts. Suppose that x2 is money to be spent on other goods. Good 2 O Good 1 The Marginal Rate of Substitution Marginal rate of substitution (MRS, ): slope of an indifference curve. —- measures the rate at which the consumer is just willing to substitute one good for the other. MRS = [pic] Note: MRS is a negative number. Good 2 (x2O (x1 Good 1 The other form of MRS MRS =[pic] Good 2 x2 O x1 Good 1 Behavior of the Marginal Rate of Substitution Describe the indifference curves by the MRS. Perfect substitutes: the marginal rate of substitution is constant. Perfect complements: the MRS is either 0 or infinity, and nothing in between. In general case: Monotonicity: indifference curves must have a negative slope, i. e. negative MRS. Convex: the marginal rate of substitution decreases as we increase x1, —-diminishing MRS. ———————– [pic]

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Money Is the Root of All Evil

Money is the root of all evil. Many of us grew up hearing that money is the root of all evil, but that is not really what scripture teaches us. Money is neither evil nor good. It is only what happens with money once it is in our hands that gives it qualities of either good or evil. Money can be many things, depending on how we relate to it. We need to understand the difference between a physical currency that is the basis for our lives and a material desire that is driven by greed. It is a fact that money makes the world go round and this is how we bargain for food, shelter, education, travel and just about everything in life has a price.Money is the reward for our work that allows us to enjoy the good things in life. It is the foundation for our social organizations and the donations to churches and charitable organizations that allows them to become established and function properly within our communities. From this point of view, money is not the evil; it is just a source of our s urvival. From the other hand, the love of money can destroys our lives. Not only money by themselves, but the desire of them. The greediness can destroy individuals, break up homes and even bring down nations.When the love of material possessions, social status and political power are the driving force behind our desire for money, we become rooted in evil. People can also make money there god. It depends on whether money is in control of the person or the person is in control of the money. It is clear, when money is in control of person it can make a lot of harm. To sum up, I should say that money is not evil, as I think. It's just the greed that's in the hearts of those who want it for needless riches and power that gives money the label of being evil.