Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Exploratory Factor Analysis Using Varimax Rotation Essay

Exploratory factor analyses using Varimax rotation were conducted on each of the multiple-item scales, including the exogenous constructs ( information quality, entertainment, interactivity and vividness) and endogenous constructs (cognitive engagement, affective engagement, behavioral engagement and the outcomes of this engagement-loyalty and e-WOM) as a way to refine the measures in the study. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted prior to testing the full model to identify items with poor psychometric properties and to purify the measurement model for future testing (Anderson Gerbing, 1988). A priori designations for each of the proposed antecedents of engagement (information quality, entertainment, interactivity and vividness), for loyalty, and for e-wom were employed in the analyses, given that they have been confirmed in previous studies (Mollen Wilson, 2009; O’Brien Toms, 2008; Shang et al., 2006; Shukla, 2009 ). Eigenvalues larger than one and scree plots were analyzed to assist in determining the number of factors for each construct. Additionally, the strength of factor loadings as well as face validity were analyzed to further assist in determining the items to be included for each exogenous and endogenous variables. The coefficient reliability analysis revealed that all the scales consisting of more than two items exceeded the recommended Cronbach‟s alpha benchmark of 0.70 (Nunnally, 1978). 4.4 Exploratory Factor Analysis of Exogenous Constructs 4.4.1Show MoreRelatedThe Extraction Of Factors And Factors941 Words   |  4 PagesThe extraction of factors helps to determine the loading of factors. The factor loading matrix is shown below and is estimated with two common factors. The first column of the matrix depicts the first unrotated factor and it can be analysed that the first factor puts maximum and approximately equal weights to the first, second and fifth variable. And, it puts the minimum weight to the third variable, electricity. On the other hand, the second unrotated factor places the least weights to the firstRead MoreCausal Beliefs Of The Public And Social Acceptance Of Persons With Mental Illness1443 Words   |  6 PagesSchomerus, G., Malschinger, H., Angermeyer, M. C. (2014). Causal beliefs of the public and social acceptance of persons with mental illness: A comparative analysis of schizophrenia, depression and alcohol dependence. Psychological Medicine, 44, 303-314. The present study completed by Schomerus, Malschinger, Angermeyer (2014) set out to examine how perceptions and beliefs about individuals with mental health disorders may be improved by â€Å"biological illness explanations† (p. 303). According to theRead MoreEvaluation Of Exploratory Factor Analysis Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pages4.3 Factor Analysis Exploratory factor analyses using Varimax rotation were conducted on each of the multiple-item scales, including the exogenous constructs ( information quality, entertainment, interactivity and vividness) and endogenous constructs (cognitive engagement, affective engagement, behavioral engagement and the outcomes of this engagement-loyalty and e-WOM) as a way to refine the measures in the study. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted prior to testing the full model to identifyRead MoreIdentifying Salient Factors that Affected CRM Process at Merck-Medco841 Words   |  3 PagesObjectives In the data analysis, there are two of the main objectives which will be prioritize during the research. Here are the following objectives regarding the data analysis: 1. To identify salient factors that affected CRM process at Merck-Medco - Once the obvious factors are being found, the company will be directed to develop the appropriate measures which would help to process improvement. This factors can be identified through a quantitative and qualitative method among the representativesRead MoreThe Importance Of Green Supply Chain Management1230 Words   |  5 Pagesreduction. Factor Analysis An experimental factor analysis (EFA) is employed to identify the theoretical dimensions (factors) of alertness of environmental rules/policies as well as GSCM practices. The maximum possibility method with a vari max rotation is used to excerpt the theoretical factors. Both the screen test and the preliminary eigenvalue test (eigenvalues 1) recommend two expressive factors to characterize alertness of environmental rules/policies, and four factors for GSCM practicesRead MoreOnline Shopping Behavior Of People1199 Words   |  5 Pagesshopping in India is increasing rapidly. Therefore, it has become very essential to know the key factors which influence the online shopping behavior of people and it is assessed using expletory factor analysis. It is observed that the factors like Site Characteristics, Excellent Service influence the online shoppers more. Keywords: Online Shopping, Buying Behavior, Preference Factors, Factor Analysis. Introduction: The Internet was popularized in the 1980s when Microsoft and IBM came out withRead MoreThe Psychometric Properties Of Connor Davidson Resilience Scale1048 Words   |  5 Pagesscale in the sample of Indian IT Executives. Data was collected using 25- Item CD-RISC scale from 160 employees of 12 IT firms located in Chandigarh tricity region. The result of exploratory principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation and Confirmatory Factor Analysis verified the original five factor structure as given by Connor and Davidson (2003). In this study 74% of variance was jointly explained by the five factors. The result supported the dimensionality, reliability (ÃŽ ± = 0.85)Read MoreThe Collective Self Esteem And Social Identity Theory1924 Words   |  8 Pagespsychometric properties of the CSES specifically as a measure of ethnic or racial collective self-esteem. We know of only one existing publication devoted to this subject: a series of analyses by Utsey and Constantine (2007) examining the underlying factor structure of the CSES as a measure of ethnic/racial collective self-esteem in two African-Americans samples. Before reviewing the findings of that study, we will briefly review the original validation studies for the CSES. Psychometrics of the CSESRead MoreAnalytical Techniques For Marketing : Assignment3222 Words   |  13 PagesMODULE TITLE: ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR MARKETING ASSIGNMENT TITLE: EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS NAME: WEI CHENG LIM STUDENT NUMBER: 120490488 DEGREE TITLE: BA MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT WORD COUNT: 2493 WORDS â€Æ' TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION NUMBER AND TITLE 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. THEORY 4 2.1 DATA REQUIREMENTS 5 2.2 THE EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS MODEL 7 3. APPLICATION TO MARKETING 8 4. METHOD 10 5. RESULTS 12 6. MARKETING IMPLICATIONS FOR RESULTS Read MoreEmployment Trends and Job Satisfaction in the Oil and Gas Industry5686 Words   |  23 Pagesoftheoretically relevant work relating to these trends and a study examining the expected effectsthese trends might have on the employment environment in the oil and gas industry. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was focus-qualitative using interview groups. The results of these focus groups indicated that the oil industry is experiencing a period of consolidation and downsizing. Reasons cited for these trends included depressed oil prices, minimized revenues, and decreased cash flows

Monday, December 23, 2019

The Glorious Day Of Abraham Lincoln - 942 Words

The glorious day of Abraham Lincoln born in February 12, 1809. Years went on and Abe grew taller and more of a president. The day had come for the Election Day; and Abraham Lincoln was running for president. He was elected and went forth as a great president. Some of the actions Abe made many people angry. One person is known as John Wilkes Booth. He made him so angry; he had the attentions of assassinating him. Day had come to when Abe was shot. The time period was very happy and joy full because the war had ended. A week later, Abe was assassinated. The environment in the north was very much depressing. People were sad and felt like they lost a family member; because Abe was shot and killed. It also created much anger between the north†¦show more content†¦From Abraham being killed; Andrew Johnson was up next in line to be president. That was a major turning point. He made decisions Abe would have made which created problems and became very disliked. The first main personal to be a part of the assassination of Abe was clearly John Wilkes Booth. He was the first person to ever assassinate a president in the history of the U.S. The plan Booth had in mind was to kidnap the president. They were going to take him through back roads into the town Richmond and have him traded from certain things. But before the play had started, Booth had the idea to kill him instead. So he told his three other men who are Lewis Powell, Herold, and Atzerodt what they last minute change of plans were. So he had each of those men kill a certain member of the party. They were all going to strike at 10:15 P.M. Clearly, Booth and his men were major key players in the assassination. The men also showed Booth routes and back ways to help Booth escape like I mentioned earlier. Clearly, President Lincoln was a major key player. He was the one who was getting assassinate; if he was never alive or president. None of this would have happened and changed the future. He was also the one who upsetted Booth and many other people. Abe wasn’t liked that much; people actually didn’t like him and seen how he changed everything until he was killed. He being assassinated angered lots of people. It created anger between the north and the

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Behavioral Health Services Free Essays

Mental illness refers to any condition or disease affecting the human brain that has an impact on a person’s thinking, feelings, behavior, and his interaction with other people and his environment. The symptoms of mental illness vary from mild to acute, depending on the exact illness involved; however, if mental illness goes untreated, the individual affected often finds difficulty, or inability in coping with their daily activities in life (MedicineNet, 2008, para. 1). We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Health Services or any similar topic only for you Order Now Physical illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes are commonly easy to diagnose via a simple blood test or a diagnostic examination. This, unfortunately, is not the case with mental illnesses. The doctor would have to rely on the symptoms of the individual (e. g. how long they have been present, how severe they are, etc. ) and conduct a physiological examination to gather further information or to verify their initial diagnosis (National Institute of Mental Health, 2005). Although mental illnesses cannot be prevented, they can be treated using medications and various forms of therapy. Deinstitutionalization The deinstitutionalization of mental health patients during the 1960s was enforced to close down the operation of state mental institutions and was first believed to be a win-win situation for everyone—the conservatives wanted to cut costs, and the liberals envisioned the freedom of the residents of these institutions whom they believe are being treated involuntarily (Failer, 2002). However, disaster resulted from this movement. Huge numbers of obviously mentally-ill individuals materialized on the city streets. These individuals were dirty, wearing torn clothing, having hallucinations and talking to themselves or yelling at others, and on the whole, acting in a weird manner. Majority of the discharged patients were transferred to nursing homes, deteriorating neighborhoods, proprietary homes, and low-cost housing. The patients confined in nursing homes increased from 19-44% from1950 to 1970 (Kramer, 1975). Particularly affected by the nursing home conditions were the elderly who received short shrift because they were not admitted to custodial institutes and for months, they were forced to stay in acute care centers waiting for placement in cheaper and more suitable institutions. Also, a huge percentage of the discharged patients had nowhere to go because they no longer had families, or their families did not want to take them in. Deinstitutionalization resulted in the hindrance in the continued care and treatment of the mentally ill. Integrated Health Care Mental health services are integrated into primary health care services as doing otherwise implies a number of disadvantages. Without mental health providers, there would be no one to conduct diagnostic, capacity, cognitive, and personality assessments for differentiating normal body processes from adjustment reactions, medication side effects, pathology, or a blend of these problems. Also, behavioral and mental health problems would not be properly diagnosed and treated. Mental health experts are also needed as their expertise would contribute to the design, execution, and assessment of patient outcomes and team care. Depending on the degree of illness of the mentally-ill patient, other health and social services might be needed. Some simply needs a place where they would not accidentally hurt themselves. Others may just require therapy. Some need a place where there are people who will see to it that they are taking medication properly. Some mental illnesses are associated with physical illness, emphasizing the need for primary health care services. Some need social services such as vocational rehab, family support groups, and day care centers. The Managed Care Approach On the whole, managed care involves paying for what is â€Å"adequate† and what is â€Å"medically necessary†, using the cheapest alternative. The Center for Mental Health Services (CHMS) outlines its possible benefits and drawbacks: Advantages 1) Better facilities, with more proficient medical professionals. 2) Expanded alternatives, consisting of support services and treatment options. 3) Money saved may be used for making health insurance cheaper. Disadvantages 1) Patients with long-term mental illnesses may require not just short-term acute care (the preferred alternative in managed care). 2) The symptoms of the patient may worsen if hospitalization is denied without offering options for intensive care. 3) Difficulty in protecting confidentiality. 4) Difficulty in the continuity of care for patients who receive short-term treatments at different locations. Mental Health Care Funding The three governmental sources that provide benefits for mental health care include Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Veteran Affairs. The following outlines the populations eligible for these programs. Note, however, that these are the ‘basic’ descriptions of who are eligible. Eligibility would still depend on various specific factors and criteria. Medicare Eligible populations include: – individuals aged 65 and above, – individuals under age of 65 with certain disabilities, and – individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease, regardless of age (US Department of Health and Human Services). Medicaid Eligible populations include certain low-income individuals who qualify for an eligibility group recognized by the laws that vary according to state (US Department of Health and Human Services). Department of Veteran Affairs. Eligible populations include veterans actively engaged in one of the seven uniformed military services. If a veteran has been discharged from the military, he/she can still be eligible if the discharge was not due to dishonorable service (GovBenefits. gov). Recommendations 1) Have primary health care practitioners undergo mental health training or instigate collaboration with mental health experts. This allows primary health care practitioners to attend to the health needs of mentally-ill patients, and the mental health needs of patients with chronic or infectious diseases. 2) Develop a system for identifying the exact need of the mentally-ill patient before he/she is admitted. Incorporate clinical and behavioral assessments to determine whether the patient needs medication, counseling, therapy, or a combination of these. 3) Develop and provide rehabilitation programs, therapies, and counseling for the patients and their families and friends. 4) Develop recording systems that permit the continuous supervision, assessment and updating of the patients’ mental health activities to gather data that would be used for service improvements. References Failer, J. (2002). Who qualifies for rights? Homelessness, Mental illness, and Civil Commitment. Cornell University Press. GovBenefits. gov. VA – Health Care – Basic Medical Benefits Package for Veterans. Retrieved August 14, 2010 from http://www. govbenefits. gov/govbenefits_en. portal? _nfpb=true_pageLabel=gbcc_page_category_nfls=falsebid=303mode=report Kramer, M. (1975). Psychiatric Services and the Changing Institutional Scene. Rockville, Maryland. MedicineNet, Inc. (2008). Mental Illness Basics. Retrieved August 13, 2010, from http://www. medicinenet. com/mental_illness/article. htm National Institute of Mental Health. (2005). Information about Mental Illness and the Brain. Retrieved August 13, 2010, from http://science. education. nih. gov/supplements/nih5/mental/guide/info-mental-a. htm The Center for Mental Health Services. Managed Mental Health: What to Look For – What to Ask. Retrieved August 14, 2010, from http://mentalhealth. about. com/library/ken/blmmh. htm US Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid Program – General Information. Retrieved August 14, 2010, from http://www. cms. gov/MedicaidGenInfo/ US Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare Program – General Information. How to cite Behavioral Health Services, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Project Management Office for Processes - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theProject Management Officefor Policies and Processes. Answer: Introduction A is a group within a business agency of organization concerned with defining and maintaining standards for management of projects is known as a Project Management Office (PMO). The aim of the project management office is standardization of project methods, policies and processes (Pemsel Wiewiora, 2013). The correct implementation of the PMO helps in getting returns on investment by strategic assessment of the loopholes within the organization. Body: Types of PMO: Supportive PMO- The supportive PMO acts as an effective framework acting as an on-demand guide providing assistance in the handling and management of different projects and likewise. As commented by Joslin Muller (2015), supportive PMO can be implemented in organization where additional control is necessary. Controlling PMO- The controlling PMO may be used in organizations where there is a need to control the activities, procedures and documentation of the organization. As mentioned by Too Weaver (2014), the project offices are passed through constant reviewing by the PMO excising control. Directive PMO- The model is implemented in organizations with highly complex work cultures, where the organization is providing support in diverse fields and areas. As asserted by Kutsch et al. (2015), the management of the project here is dependent upon availability of distinctive expertise along with resources. In this respect, each of the managers reports to the directive PMO that helps in maintaining consistency. Functions of PMO There are a number of important functions of PMO such as: Reporting to the upper management the status of the ongoing project Development and implementation of standardised methods To monitor and control the performance of projects Development of professional competency by planning training Conclusion The current study takes into consideration the different types and function of Project management Office. The optimum utilization of project management method helps in standardising business processes. This could be done by directing the expertise and the resources towards the management of the different projects within an organization. References Beringer, C., Jonas, D., Kock, A. (2013). Behavior of internal stakeholders in project portfolio management and its impact on success.International Journal of Project Management,31(6), 830-846. Joslin, R., Mller, R. (2015). Relationships between a project management methodology and project success in different project governance contexts.International Journal of Project Management,33(6), 1377-1392. Kutsch, E., Ward, J., Hall, M., Algar, J. (2015). The contribution of the project management office: A balanced scorecard perspective.Information Systems Management,32(2), 105-118. Martinsuo, M. (2013). Project portfolio management in practice and in context.International Journal of Project Management,31(6), 794-803. Pemsel, S., Wiewiora, A. (2013). Project management office a knowledge broker in project-based organisations.International Journal of Project Management,31(1), 31-42. Too, E. G., Weaver, P. (2014). The management of project management: A conceptual framework for project governance.International Journal of Project Management,32(8), 1382-1394.

Friday, November 29, 2019

The Four Political Parties Of Canada Essay Example For Students

The Four Political Parties Of Canada Essay The Four Political Parties of CanadaIn a country as vast and as culturally diverse as Canada, many differentpolitical opinions can be found stretched across the country. From the affluentneighbourhoods of West Vancouver to the small fishing towns located on the eastcoast of Newfoundland, political opinions and affiliations range from the leftwing to the right wing. To represent these varying political views, Canada hasfour official national political parties to choose from: the Liberals (who arecurrently in power), the Progressive Conservatives, the New Democrats, and theReform Party. What is particularly interesting is that none of the latter threeparties compose Her Majestys Official Opposition in the House of Commons. TheBloc Quebecois, a Quebec separatist party who only ran candidates in theprovince of Quebec in the last federal election in 1993, won 54 seats in thatprovince, and claimed the title of Her Majestys Loyal Opposition over theReform Party, who garnered only 52 seats. Because the Bloc ran candidates onlyin Quebec, it would be difficult to think of them being a national politicalparty, even though they hold a significant number of seats in the nationallegislature. This paper will examine the significant early history of Canadasfour main national political parties, and then will analyse their current state,referring to recent major political victories/disasters, and the comparison ofmajor economic policy standpoints, which will ultimately lead to a prediction ofwhich party will win the next federal election in Canada. We will write a custom essay on The Four Political Parties Of Canada specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Starting on the far left, there is the New Democratic Party of Canada. Todays modern New Democratic Party was originally called the Co-operativeCommonwealth Federation (CCF), and was founded in 1932. Originally led by a manby the name of James Shaver Woodsworth, the CCF was formed by several radicalfarming groups who found out that they had more similarities with each otherthan just their destitution. The 1920s had been a dark period for radicals andunions within Canada; poverty and significantly lower wages for workers wereprevalent, and apathy regarding these issues was rampant. When the depressionwove its destructive web across Canada in the 1930s, proponents of capitalismwere staggered, but their left-wing opponents were too busy coming to the aid ofthe victims of the depression, and could not deal with the capitalistseffectively. When the CCF was officially formed in Calgary, they adopted theprinciple policy of being a co-operative commonwealth, in which the basicprinciple regulating production, distribution and exchange will be the supplyingof hum an needs instead of the making of profits. (Morton, p.12, 1986)Meanwhile, in Eastern Canada, a group of scholars formed the League for SocialReconstruction (LSR), and gave the Canadian left a version of socialism that wasrelated in some respects to the current social and economic situation in Canada. In 1933, the CCF had its first major convention in Regina, Saskatchewan, and theoriginal policy platform first proposed by the CCF was replaced by a manifestoprepared by an LSR committee and originally drafted by a Toronto scholar, FrankUnderhill. The Regina Manifesto, as it is known as today, put emphasis oneconomic planning, nationalisation of financial institutions, public utilitiesand natural resources, security of tenure for farmers, a national labour code,socialised health services and greatly increased economic powers for the centralgovernment. (Morton, p.12, 1986) As a supplement to the feverish mood createdby the convention, the Regina convention concluded by saying no CCF Governmentwill rest content until it has eradicated capitalism and put into operation thefull programme of socialised planning which will lead to the establishment inCanada of the Co-operative Commonwealth. (Morton, p.12, 1986). The CCF triedto garner more popular support later down the road, and after cal ling itself theNew Party in 1960, it changed its name officially to the New Democratic Party(NDP) in 1962. Over the years, the NDP has become a large force in Canadianpolitics, becoming an alternative to the Conservatives and Liberals. (Morton,pgs.12-27, 1986)Even to the casual Canadian political observer, the NDP is generallyregarded as the party at the bottom of the political barrel at the federal level. In the last Canadian federal election in 1993 under the leadership of AudreyMcLoughlin, the NDP went from holding 43 seats in the House of Commons to only 9. McLoughlin resigned, paving the way for the election of the former leader ofthe Nova Scotia NDP to the federal post, Alexa McDonough in 1994. On theprovincial level, however, the NDP has experienced some success of late. Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have had (or currentlyhave) an NDP provincial mandate. (Guy, p.384, 1995)On the policy front, the NDP seem to be most concerned with a plan forfair taxes now. (fairtaxnow.html, 1997) According to the NDP, its timebanks and big corporations paid their fair share so we can better affordhealth care, education and other services for middle class and workingfamilies. (fairtaxnow.html, 1997) Some of the key points of the NDPs fairtaxes now campaign include a minimum corporate tax, a minimum wealth tax, anend to tax breaks for profitable corporations that lay people off, an end tocorporate deductions for meals and entertainment, and increased federal auditingand enforcement of existing corporate taxes, (fairtaxnow.html, 1997) to name afew. Of course, these recommendations for taxation reform reflect the typicalleft-wing, socialistic standpoints that the NDP has stood for ever since itsinception. Moving further towards the centre of the political scale, the currentfederal governing party in Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, is found. Liberals in an independent form started to be elected to the variouslegislatures around the country in the middle of the 1800s, with a formal partybeing created in the late 1800s. The purpose of forming a formal party was aresponse to the increasing popularity of the Conservatives in Canada; therural Clear Grits of Upper Canada, the anti-clerical rouges, and the reformelement in the Maritimes came together gradually as the Liberal Party.(McMenemy, pg.10, 1976) In its early years, the Liberal Party reflected thevarious demographics of religion and geography among the voting public in Canada. With widespread support in Canadas rural areas several years afterConfederation, the Liberal Party opposed protectionism and supported commercialreciprocity with the United States. It also opposed MacDonalds program ofrailway construction. Led by Sir Wilfred Laurier, the Liberals supportedunrestricted reciprocity and suffered for it in the election of 1891.(McMenemy, pg.12, 1976) The Liberals policy on trade annoyed industrialists,who were intimidated by the prospect of unlimited trade. British Loyalistsregarded the trade reciprocity as being anti-British. In the latter part of the1890s, however, Laurier adjusted the partys policy on trade reciprocity. Inthe budget of 1897, the Liberals neatly undercut the Conservatives byintroducing the principle of a minimum and a maximum tariff. A chief result ofthis Liberal protectionism was to give British goods a preference in Canada.(McMenemy, pg.12, 1976) Another significant move made by the Liberals was in1903, when Prime Minister Laurier an nounced the construction of a secondtranscontinental railroad. Lauriers minister of railways dissented on the ideaand in turn was sacked by the Prime Minister. By the election of 1904, theLiberals had acquired MacDonalds railway and tariff policy and could thereforewear the previously Conservative mantle of party of nationaldevelopment.'(McMenemy, pg.12, 1976) The Liberal Party of Canada currently forms the federal government ofCanada. Their current leader, Jean Chretien, was elected to succeed John Turnerin 1990. Around the time Chretien was elected leader, questions within andoutside the party were raised regarding the political baggage that Chretiencarried from previous Liberal governments. Despite the controversy, Chretienwon his partys leadership quite comfortably, and returned his party toprominence once again in 1993 by forming a federal government with a largemajority in the House of Commons. Looking back, this current Liberal mandatehas weathered relatively little criticism until recently. One of Chretienscampaign promises in 1993 was to scrap the Goods and Services Tax (GST) if theLiberals were to form a government. To complement that promise by Chretien,Sheila Copps, another prominent Liberal from Hamilton, Ontario, vowed to resignif the GST was not scrapped under a Liberal mandate. Three years into theLiberal mandate, controversy began to rise over Chretiens and Copps promisesregarding the GST. Copps eventually resigned after much criticism, and won backher seat in her Hamilton riding in a by-election several weeks later. Chretienwas subjected to large amounts of public criticism, especially during one of CBCTVs electronic town hall meetings. Chretien argued the fact that theLiberals never said that they were going to scrap the GST, and that peopleshould read their policy guide, the Red Book, to find out where exactly theLiberals stood on the issue of the GST. Chretien argued during this debate thatthe Liberals wanted to replace the GST instead of scrapping it. Earlier clipstaken from the parliamentary channel and radio interviews seemed to contradicthis claim that the Liberals wanted to replace the GST. We hate it and we willkill it! (the GST) were the exact words that came out of Jean Chretiens mouthduring a debate in the House of Commons over the GST, before the Liberals tookpower in 1993. Since the federal election has not been called yet, it has yetto be seen whether or not the Canadian public has lost any faith in the currentPrime Minister. .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 , .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .postImageUrl , .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 , .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:hover , .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:visited , .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:active { border:0!important; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:active , .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6 .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua8448be0522ce9b01d8bd0b7d39e24b6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Renaissance and its Humanistic Principles EssayThe Liberals have made the economic revival of Canada one of their toppolicy platforms, so much so that in the online edition of the Red Book,economic policy is chapter one. The Liberals explain their approach toeconomic policy by saying that they will focus on the five major problems facingthe current Canadian economy: lack of growth, high unemployment, high long-termreal interest rates, too high levels of foreign indebtedness, and excessivegovernment debt and deficits. (chapter1.html, 1997) In the online edition ofthe Red Book, the Liberals also state that the better co-ordination of federaland provincial tax and economi c policies must be achieved in the interests ofall Canadians.we will work with the provinces to redesign the current socialassistance programs, to help people on social assistance who are able to work tomove from dependence to full participation in the economic and social life ofthis country.and that Canadians are entitled to trade rules that are fairthat secure access to new markets, and that do not undermine Canadiancommitments to labour and environmental standards. (chapter1.html, 1997)There is also a brief section about the Liberals plan to create many more jobsfor Canadians, which was one of their large campaign platforms during the 1993election. (chapter1.html, 1997)Right of centre on the political scale, the Progressive ConservativeParty of Canada can be found. The Progressive Conservatives (PCs) were, intheir fledgling years, known as the Conservative Party (and before that, theLiberal-Conservatives), and was founded before the Liberal Party of Canada,making it the oldest po litical party in Canada. While it is difficult to pin-point a precise date of origin of the Conservative Party there is neverthelessgood reason for regarding 1854 as the inaugural year for the political groupwhich has continued to this day as the conservative element in Canadianpolitics. (Macquarrie, pg.3, 1965) In 1854, John A. MacDonald, who was tobecome Canadas first Prime Minister ever, led the Conservative Party to officeand began the process which established a nation in the northern part of thiscontinent and set the pattern for that nations political institutions.(Macquarrie, pg.4, 1965) Since Confederation, many events in Canadian politicshave held vast significance in Canadas history. For example: Confederation(1867), Hudson Bay territories joining the dominion (1870), Arctic Islands addedto the dominion (1880), the defeat of reciprocity (1911), the enfranchisement ofwomen (1918), the providing of universal suffrage under the Dominion ElectionsAct (1920), the Statute of Wes tminster (1931), and finally, the addition ofNewfoundland to the Dominion (1949). It is interesting to note that all ofthese significant political occurrences were made under Conservative Partymandates. (Macquarrie, pg.2, 1965) It has been said that if Canada had anIndependence Day it would be December 11, 1931, the date of the proclamation ofthe Statute of Westminster under the regime of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett.(Macquarrie, pg.3, 1965) The Statute of Westminster repealed the Colonial LawsValidity Act and gave Canada absolute legislative autonomy except as requestedby Canada in the case of amendments to the British North America Act.(Macquarrie, pg.107, 1965) This was a recognition of an establishment which waslong overdue. Before the Statute of Westminster was implemented in 1931, it wasunder the rule of another conservative Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, inwhich Canada took its largest steps towards having full independence andcomplete national sovereignty. Vigorously and successfully he (Borden) assertedthe equality of nations comprising the Commonwealth. (Macquarrie, pg.3, 1965)In December of 1942, the Conservative Party met at a leadership convention inWinnipeg, and after some prodding by one of the candidates, John Bracken, thename of the Conservative Party was changed to that of the ProgressiveConservatives, in order to reflect the partys progressive goals and intentions. (Macquarrie, pg.122, 1965) Under the name of Progressive Conservative party,John Diefenbaker led the party to the largest landslide victory in the historyof Canadian politics in 1958, just one year after the Diefenbaker government hadwon a minority government. (Guy, pg.393, 1995)In recent years, the Progressive Conservatives have been dealt severeblows at the polls. In 1993, the Progressive Conservatives went from having themajority government in the House of Commons to a mere two seats: current PCleader Jean Charest in Sherbrooke, and Elsie Wayne in Saint John. The PCs canattach their massive defeat in the 1993 election to nine years of rule by BrianMulroney. Mulroney won two large majority governments in 1984 and 1988, but inthe 1988 term, his fortunes turned south. His government was responsible forthe implementation of the hated Goods and Services tax, the Free Trade Agreementwith the United States, and the Meech Lake Accord. Several months before the1993 federal election was cal led, Mulroney stepped down as party leader, whichpaved the way for the election of Kim Campbell, then Justice Minister, to thepost of Prime Minister. Campbell was the first female Prime Minister of Canada,even though she was not elected by the general voting public. Her early days ofcampaigning were regarded as successful for herself and the party, but in thelatter part of the election campaign, debates over whether or not Campbell was acompetent leader were raised. Her trip-up in the late stages of the electioncampaign set the stage for the Custer-like wiping out of her party; she was evensoundly defeated in her own riding of Vancouver Central. Even though thefederal party was decimated, provincial PC parties seemed to hold their ownduring the federal dark times. Currently, there are Progressive Conservativeprovincial governments in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. PEI Conservatives won the most recent election, going from only one seat in thePEI legislature to a majority. The Conservatives in Ontario were also recentwinners. Under the leadership of Mike Harris, the Ontario Conservatives oustedthe Ontario NDP in the 1994 provincial election in a landslide victory, perhapsbringing on a second wave of the Big Blue Machine in years to come. Eventhough the Conservatives were given a serious setback in the 1993 federalelection, their commitment to policy-making has not been affected. They havedrafted a Tory Top Ten list of policies that they will campaign with during thenext federal election. Their number one policy standpoint on the Top Ten is taxcuts for jobs: Canadians today are overtaxed. The high tax burden is killingjobs and reducing Canadas competitiveness. We need to create lasting jobs andrekindle the entrepreneurial spirit. Tax cuts will inject life back into theCanadian economy by promoting investment, consumer consumption and jobcreation . (library4.html, 1997) On the income tax front, the PCs are alsocommitted to giving Canadians a 10-20 per cent personal income tax cut, whichwould be phased in over their first term in office. They have also given thesituation regarding the federal debt and deficit a fair amount of thought. Theyintend to balance the federal budget within their first mandate in office, andthat by the time the deficit is eliminated through spending cuts, specifictargets for reduction of the federal debt must be set with measurablemilestones. (Designing a Blueprint for Canadians, pp.6-7, 1996) Finally,their overall economic policy states that Canada should constitute an economicunion within which goods, services, persons and capital may move freely. Anymeasures which unduly discriminate between individuals, goods, services andcapital on the basis of their origin or their destination should beunconstitutional. The strengthening of the Canadian economic union is crucial tofostering economic growth, the flourishing of a common citizenhood, and helpingCanadians reach their full potential. (Designing a Blueprint for Canadians,pgs.40-41, 1996) On the whole, it would appear to the unbiased reader that theProgressive Conservative Party of Canada knows exactly what it stands for. .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d , .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .postImageUrl , .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d , .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:hover , .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:visited , .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:active { border:0!important; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:active , .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2186c93308f57542e69bb033c16b585d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Media violence EssayEven further to the right side of the political scale, the relativelynew Reform Party of Canada can be found. On the last weekend of October in 1987,306 delegates from Western Canada converged on Alberta, in order to found theparty. These people were fed up with the traditional Liberal/Conservative rulein Ottawa, and wanted a party that could effectively represent the concerns ofWestern Canadians. (Harrison, pgs.110, 112,114, 1995) The delegates facedthree tasks as they met that weekend: to decide upon a name for the party, todevise a constitution, and to pick a leader. The delegates chose the partysname the Reform Party of Canada the first day. (Harr ison, pg.114, 1995)On the second day of the convention, the party started the process of selectinga leader. There were three potential candidates: Preston Manning (the currentleader), Ted Byfield, and Stan Roberts. Byfield was not entirely comfortablewith the idea of being the Reform Partys leader, however, and wanted tocontinue to run his own personal business. A theory that came out of theconvention was that this leadership race was a battle between Roberts oldpolitical style and money against Mannings grass-roots populism. (Harrison,pg.117, 1995) There was also some controversy over the amount of money Robertsspent on his hospitality suite at the convention, which was an estimated $25000. Manning was regarded as being quite frugal, spending around $2000. Even thoughthe difference in the amount of money spent between the two main candidates wasrather large, Manning was regarded as being the stronger of the two candidates,having the unquestionable allegiance of many of the delegates. (Harrison,pg.117, 1995) Roberts knew of the immense support Manning had, and it wasrumoured that he was going to bring in a significant amount of instantdelegates (Harrison, pg.117, 1995) to push him over the top. The Manningcamp got word of this idea, and subsequently closed delegate registration on theFriday night of the convention (it was supposed to run until Saturday morning). This action sent a Roberts supporter by the name of Francis Winspear into a rage,severely criticising the decision to suspend registration and accusing theManning camp that some membership money had been unaccounted for. Withanimosities rising, Jo Anne Hillier called a meeting between the two sides onSaturday night to attempt to resolve the disputes. The attempt atreconciliation failed. (Harrison, pg.117, 1995) The next morning, during anemotional speech, Roberts decided to drop out of the race, all the whilequestioning whether or not the party stood true to its founding principles ofintegrity and honesty. He referred to Mannings supporters as fanaticalAlbertans and small-minded evangelical cranks. (Harrison, pg.118, 1995)This left Preston Manning as the first (and current) leader of one of Canadasnewest political parties, the Reform Party of Canada. In its short history to date, the Reform Party of Canada has had somesuccess federally, and has weathered its share of criticism. In the lastfederal election, they won a total of 52 seats, almost beating out the BlocQuebecois for the title of Her Majestys Loyal Opposition, who won 54 seats. The Reform took one seat in Ontario, one seat in Manitoba, four seats inSaskatchewan, 22 seats in Alberta, and 24 seats in British Columbia. (Guy,pg.434, 1995) There was some debate at the beginning of the Liberals mandatefrom the Reform Party whether or not a separatist party (Bloc Quebecois) shouldbe allowed to be the opposition in Parliament, but the Bloc remained as officialopposition. Lately, however, a Bloc MP resigned his seat, leaving the Bloc witha one seat lead over the Reform Party in the race for official opposition. Thenext federal election should be very interesting, as these two parties mightbattle it out for the right to be opposition again. One moniker that the ReformParty wears that could damage their hopes of ever being the opposition or thegovernment is the fact that many Canadians have the stereotype that Reform MPsand supporters are red-necked hillbillies from out west. A little while back, aReform MP by the name of Robert Wringma made comments of a racial natur e towardsblack and aboriginal people. Wringma suggested that if he were a shopkeeper,and if his patrons were offended by blacks or aboriginals working up in thefront of his shop, he would make sure that the black or aboriginal person(s)working for him would be in the back of the shop while his racist customers wereon the premises. This prompted outrage from minority groups and the generalCanadian population, and Preston Manning was eventually pressured into kickingWringma out of caucus. That particular incident summed up the Reform stereotypeof extreme right-wing views, and it should also be interesting whether or notthis subject surfaces again during the next federal election campaign. On the Reform Partys web page, the policy section is entitled a 6point plan to build a brighter future together. (summary.html, 1997) Theirnumber one priority is to create growth, opportunity, and lasting jobs throughsmaller government, an end to overspending, and lower taxes, to make governmentsmaller by eliminating waste, duplication, and red tape to save $15 billion ayear, and to balance the budget by March 31, 1999. (summary.html, 1997) TheReform Party also intends to give the public tax relief, by having lower taxesfor all Canadians: $2,000 by the year 2000 for the average family, an increasein the Basic Personal Amount and Spousal Amount, cut capital gains taxes in half,cut employers U.I. premiums by 28%, and eliminate federal surtaxes and last butnot least, flatten and simplify the income tax system. (Summary.html, 1997)Their plans for the Unemployment Insurance system are not all that extravagant,but on the home page, they are quoted as saying that they are going to: returnUn employment Insurance to its original purpose: protection against temporary jobloss. (summary.html, 1997) These economic reform policies seem to be relatedsomewhat to the Progressive Conservatives economic reform policies, but they donot go into nearly as much detail as the Conservatives do. Politics in Canada is an extremely volatile business. One day a partycan be on top of the world, and the next day they can be the scourge of theplanet. Politics in Canada has a long and interesting history, so much so thatthis paper has barely even scratched the surface. While the New Democrats andReform are gathering support in different areas of the country, it must beremembered that the only two parties to ever hold federal office in this countryhave been the Conservative and Liberal parties. From examining the variouspartys web pages, it seems that the Liberals and Conservatives have the mostdetailed policy platforms, the Reform Party is simply lacking the detail of theConservatives and Liberals, and the New Democrats have little information toresearch at all. History tends to repeat itself, especially in elections inthis country, and it would not be surprising if the Liberals won another federalmandate this year. The Conservatives look like they are making the long trekback to p rominence, but the Reform Party and New Democrats seem to be treadingwater. The real test that will determine which paths these parties will takeduring the trek into the 21st century, however, will be made in the soon-to-be-called Canadian federal election. Democracy will speak out once again. BIBLIOGRAPHY(1996) A Fresh Start for Canadians Online. Available:http://www.reform.ca/FreshStart/summary.html 1997, Feb.25. Guy, John J. People, Politics and Government. Scarborough: Prentice Hall, 1995. Harrison, Trevor. Of Passionate Intensity. Toronto: University of TorontoPress, 1995. (1996) Liberal Party of Canada Online. Available:http://www.liberal.ca/english2/policy/red_book/chapter1.html 1997, Feb.25. Macquarrie, Heath. The Conservative Party. Toronto: McClelland and StewartLimited, 1965. McMenemy, John, Winn, Conrad. Political Parties in Canada. Montreal: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1976. Morton, Desmond. The New Democrats, 1961-1986. Toronto: Copp Clark Pitman Ltd.,1986. (1996) New Democrats of Canada Online. Available:http://www.fed.ndp.ca/fndp/fairtaxnow.html 1997, Feb.25. Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Designing a Blueprint for Canadians. Ottawa, 1997. (1996) Progressive Conservative Youth Online. Available:http://www.openface.ca/PCU/library4.html 1997, Feb.25.

Monday, November 25, 2019

History of Photography †Humanities Essay

History of Photography – Humanities Essay Free Online Research Papers History of Photography Humanities Essay The Early Days Photography was first used by Sir John Herschel in 1839. This was also the year the photographic process was made public. Prior to 1839 about ten individuals had tried to make a photograph, however only four were successful. They were: Joseph Nicephore Niepce, Louis J.M. Daguerre, Hippolyte Bayard and William Henry Talbot from England. All of them used techniques which had been known for some time but hadn’t before been successful. The first technique was optical. Scientists had previously discovered that light passing through a small hole in a darkroom projects an inverted image on the opposite wall. The hole was replaced by something which makes the image sharper and brighter. This was called a lens. By the eighteenth century the dark room was replaced by a portable box. The next technique was chemical. During 1727, Johann Heinrich Schulze found out that the right chemicals turned dark when exposed to light. The first attempt to use these chemicals to make the image was unsuccessfully made by Thomas Wedgwood in the 1800s. The Daguerreotype which was bought by the French and made public on 19 August 1839, produced a picture on metal. In comparison the Calotype, which was invented by Talbot in 1840, produced a negative photo on paper. A positive of the picture was made on a sheet of chemically sensitized paper. This was an advantage because any number of positives could be made from the one negative. MASS PRODUCTION Frederick Scott Archer’s process substituted glass for Talbot’s method. The mass production of Albumen Prints of very fine detail was possible. Until 1880 this method was in popular demand for portraits and strange places. Most of the 19th century photographs were in this category. THE MODERN CAMERA The Kodak camera which was first introduced in 1888 caused huge changes to the world of photography. The camera was preloaded with film for up to 100 photos. When you finished the film, the whole camera was returned to the factory were the film was developed, printed and the camera was reloaded. The camera cost just $1.00, while each roll of film was only 10 cents. The first optical range finder came onto the market during 1916. The Super Kodak 620 was introduced in 1938. This was a very expensive snapshot camera because the exposure control method was fully automated. World War II however stopped production of these cameras. The process of automatic functions on most cameras was completed in the late 1970s. This was when the first generation of â€Å"point and shoot† cameras appeared to the general public. These cameras were so easy to use even a beginner photographer could take decent pictures. Imaging with photographs began with the invention of a large box where light could produce images. Photography itself began with photographers inserting silver coated glass plates into large boxes. They discovered that chemicals reacted with the silver plates that could create an opposite image when treated with other various chemicals. Using specialized paper with more chemicals could produce the positive photographs. Many of the pictures of Abraham Lincoln were produced through this time-consuming process. It became necessary for many photographers to find a simpler process. The next major step in photography was the invention of film. A lot of the early processes still used today employed the loading of large cameras with large amounts of film. During World War II cameras became more like they are today. The single lens reflex allowed photographers more opportunity to focus and choose images that were in the distance. The Polaroid camera was invented around the 1960s and this made it even easier for the hobbyist by having one sheet of paper, which could be pulled out and developed instantly after the photo was taken. Silicon chips were added to the cameras and this automatically controlled the shutter speed, focus and lighting. Around the 1980s nearly every home had at least one camera. Today, the choices of camera for both the amateur and professional are endless, from expensive for the professionals to the disposable camera. Digital cameras are also available. They produce images ready for web sites and are also instant so you can view the photo you just took on the LCD screen. Most photo developers offer a choice of either prints, slides or on a CD-Rom so you can edit your photos taken with a digital camera. Research Papers on History of Photography - Humanities EssayRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanWhere Wild and West MeetMind TravelBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementGenetic EngineeringIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Friday, November 22, 2019

A Song Analysis by Walt Whitman

The poem, A Song, by Walt Whitman appears in Leaves of Grass. This edition collection of poems appeared in 1867. It is the workshop for the other versions that followed. â€Å"A Song† is not as well-known as some of Whitman’s other songs. This one like many of his poems celebrates comradeship and nature. It appears in the Calamus section of the 1867 book. It does not appear in later additions. The poem praises the soldiers who fought for America’s freedom. The emphasis on comradeship grows throughout the four stanzas. It starts with life-long love grows to manly love and ends with high-towering love. He uses lots of images from nature as well including â€Å"trees along the rivers,† â€Å"along the shores,† â€Å"all over the prairies. † This emphasis of the water is no coincidence as ships and those that worked on them fascinated Whitman. He loved ride the ferries and spend time along the East River in New York state. His patriotic side shines through this poem too with phrases like â€Å"the continent indissoluble,† â€Å"divine magnetic lands,† â€Å"O Democracy. † His ideals of a united nation present in the poem, contrast with the country as it really was, with racial problems and disputes between the North and South. This ideal grew out of his visits with wartime veterans after seeing the harm that segregation did to the country. At very young age, this ideal emerged through his friendship with Tom Paine, who wrote Common Sense. Whitman wrote this poem shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation produced the freedom that many questioned could ever occur. Keats, Bryant, and Emerson inspired much of his poetry and followed their examples especially in his newer editions of Leaves of Grass. In â€Å"A Song,† music tries to ring through the words. Whitman was a master at matching images with musical sounds. The reader can almost hear the river through the trees or the song of the prairies. In the poem, his love for music reaches out to people. Music is universal and brings people of all races together. Whitman seems to say that through song all nations can achieve these things. By replacing the â€Å"I† in this poem with songs or song, the reader sees how important song and music became to Whitman. Whitman was largely self-taught learning his trade as a teenager. He worked in a print shop. He learned much about journalism and grew to love writing in all its forms. Among other things, he was a schoolteacher, a journalist, an editor. He also wrote fiction and essays.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Marijuana and Prostitution Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marijuana and Prostitution - Coursework Example The process of using one’s body to eaer money has been done in the olden ages and the pre historic times since the advent of the man into the earth. As of now, prostitution is not legalized in many jurisdictions all over the world. Countries such as the Netherlands have been able to legalize prostitution due to their progressive ideas and the fact that it is a huge way of making money through taxing this profession. In the following paragraphs I will explain whether prostitution is like any other crime, and if not then why do we need to legalize the oldest profession in the world. Question: 1 Whether Prostitution is like any other crime in the world? Prostitution is the art of providing the pleasure of sex on a continued basis for a long time. It has often been remarked that prostitution is like any other crime, but when one has a closer look at things and analyses them from a different perspective, one arrives at a conclusion that prostitution is not like any other crime. To commit a crime, there are two essential components, which have to be fulfilled by the person committing the crime. The first is the fact that there should be Mens Rea, and the second is the fact that there should be Actus Resus. Mens Rea is the guilty mind, while actus reus is the act committed by the guilty mind. A guilty mind under the definition of criminal law would constitute a mind which has negativism imbibed in it along with having a wrong intention of doing things in his/her favour. Prostitution is not connected with the guilty mind at all, if it was then having sex in the bedroom would also constitute to having a guilty mind and would have therefore been labeled as a crime. The imperative understanding which needs to be made here is that prostitution is nothing but providing the services of sex, and nothing else. We avail the services of law, other pleasure seeking services, then under the same perspective and the same context we also seek the services of Sex, and therefor e nothing wrong should be perceived in that context. Prostitution should be legalized for two significant reasons. The first one is the fact that there is no inclusion of any sort of guilty mind in the process of availing these services. The primary reason for availing this service is for pleasure seeking purpose and not from a criminal intention. The second reason is to have a check on the spread of STDs, especially AIDS. If prostitution is legalized all over the world, especially in countries such as India and South Africa, then it would help dramatically in having a check on AIDS along with the process of the controlling the same. Question 2: Whether Marijuana should be legalized? Yes, Marijuana should be legalized. In the United States, Marijuana has already been legalized in Colorado and Washington. This is just the beginning. The primary reason behind the legalization is again the same as prostitution. There is no criminal intent or any element criminality in the use and distr ibution of the drug. There have been many theories as to why marijuana was banned in the first place, but it must be understood and examined by the scholars that marijuana was the first drug of its kind, which provided pleasure to the human mind and brought him relaxation. The use of Marijuana for personal consumption has to be legalized in more places in the USA. The process can be initiated by having decriminalization legislation in place, and then once the response is understood and the feedback is received, then the process of legalization can be initiated. All this will happen in due course of time, and therefore although we need to keep moving slowly, we need to make sure that we move in the right direction. The benefits of legalization of Marijuana will be in a huge number. First of all, it will add as a source

Monday, November 18, 2019

Organizational Behavior Terminology and Concepts Paper Term - 1

Organizational Behavior Terminology and Concepts - Term Paper Example (Robbins, & Judge, 2010). Similarly, it has become possible for organizations to manage a clientele from all parts of the world since no matter how far they are, they are always just a click away. This technological revolution, however, along with all its marvels, brings numerous challenges for the organizations as well, which need to be handled proactively. One such challenge is that of delegating an effective and efficient organizational behavior uniformly throughout the organization. (Robbins, & Judge, 2010). Organizational behavior basically encompasses everything pertaining to human interaction and their relationships in any particular organizational setting. (Kinicki, & Kreitner, 2006). It includes intra-organizational interaction (i.e. among employees of all levels), inter-organizational interactions (i.e. with partners, competitors, distributors, suppliers, etc.) as well as extra-organizational interaction (i.e. interaction with customers). (Hellriegel, & Slocum, 2007). It de als with the culture that prevails within the organization, the relationships the employee share with each other as well as with various stakeholders and the image a company exuberates as a whole. (Kinicki, & Kreitner, 2006). ... (Keyton, 2010). It is a set of norms and principles pertaining to the behavior of the employees and their interaction with each other as well as the stakeholders. (Schein, 2004). It is the general environment of the organization that stems from the various values and attitudes defined by the organization. The organizational culture may be weak or strong. A strong culture inculcates an environment of unity and mutual trust. Employees tend to align themselves with the organizational values and rules and adhere to them strongly. (Robbins, & Judge, 2010). Organizational commitment is higher, employees take ownership of what they do and there is higher employee motivation and loyalty. (Keyton, 2010). In order to induce a strong organizational culture, the organizational values should be clearly defined and should be uniformly followed across the board. The consequences should be similar for all and the compensation should be equitable. (Hellriegel, & Slocum, 2007). Source: (New Horizons, 2009). http://www.nhorizons.ca/en-change-culture-change.asp Ideally, the values should be properly listed down. Moreover, the employees should be reminded of them in a polite and interesting manner every now and then. Various team building exercises and sessions may help strengthen the culture. (Schein, 2004). However, one drawback of a strong culture may be the presence of Groupthink, that is, when everybody tends to follow or agree with what one member of the group does or says in order to avoid mental effort as well as conflicts. (Keyton, 2010). This can be avoided, though, through encouraging the employees to voice their opinions and concerns on an individual basis instead in the form of a group. (Schein, 2004). Organizational

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Treating Students Fairly Essay Example for Free

Treating Students Fairly Essay I think it makes much more sense to treat all learners differently. I think of it as a parent. If I have 4 children it is my responsibility to address each child’s needs. You can raise all children in the same home and they will all 4 walk away with a different experience and interpretation of what went on. I see the classroom the same way. A relationship should be built from the beginning. This way the students know that everyone in the classroom has different needs and I will do my best to meet them all. There is no favoritism just fairness. This has to be explained and revisited throughout the school year. There is a definite overrepresentation of African Americans in special education. I think the contributing factors are their environment, some not all are coming from single parent households and the value of education has to be examined. I think it is a sad state of affairs. Children who misbehave are not necessarily behavior problems. I think the genetics are different from African Americans and their counterparts. The diet is different as is the influences around them. More needs to be done to stop this but it won’t be easy. To start with a culturally responsive classroom I think there should be some ground rules set. Different cultures should be explored and discussed as a class. That would be best practice. In addition there should be pictures that reflect diversity around the classroom. Behavior and motivation will follow suit if addressed early. I think the students will see how the teacher responds and in turn respond the same way.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Mystery of Kurtz in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness :: Heart of Darkness Essays

The Mystery of Kurtz in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Many works of literature not readily identified with the mystery or detective story genre nonetheless involve the investigation of a mystery. Sometimes finding out the answer of the mystery can illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole. This is present in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. The mystery in this novella is about a character named Kurtz. Kurtz was an English man who traveled to the Congo in search of excitement, money and experience. To many people back home, he was known to be a loving intelligent young man. In Congo he was also known as being very intelligent, but also as being insane. The question is what happened to Kurtz how and why he let his self go insane. In a way you can say that he found the â€Å"heart† of his â€Å"darkness,† embraced it and could not escape it. In dealing with Kurtz many questions became visible for an example towards the end of the book what did he mean by â€Å"the horror, the horror!† was he referring to what he witnessed and experienced while he was in command of his ivory station or was he talking about the civilization of Europe and how he did not wish to return? Perhaps he saw Europe as being his darkness and the Congo being his light or vice versa. When reading each page, a sort of investigation begins in trying to figure out how Kurtz became insane. However, that investigation was not fully closed because in the end no one knew what had happened to him. In a way his character presented the idea that perhaps the darkness, his darkness was his own and was all along in him waiting to come out. Because there were other men living and working in the Congo who had not become insane as he did, such as the Russian trader or the ivory company’s accountant.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Lego Group, Marketing and Operation Management Report

FOUNDATIONS OF MANAGEMENT (PART A) LEGO Group Marketing and Operations Management Report Prepared: For: LEGO Group By: Eva Gaal On: 17 November 2008 Introduction At the request of the LEGO Company, this report advises the company on the expansion of its operation based on market segmentation, appropriate marketing mix, new product design and development, including total quality management for outsourcing new partners. LEGO Group is the fifth-largest toy manufacturer of the world and has operated successfully for 75 years; however, it has had some problems in the last couple of years. To solve these problems, LEGO introduced a seven-year strategy plan, which consists of some fundamental changes regarding to the processes, procedures and structure of the company. This strategy so far has been executed successfully as shown in the financial results; however, LEGO is going to face some more challenges in the future. (LEGO Annual Report 2007, 2007). 1. / Market segmentation ‘Market segmentation is defined as the subdividing of a market into distinct and increasingly homogeneous subgroups of customers’ (FM-A, 2004, p. 3) and ‘it centres on the assumption that customers demonstrate heterogeneity in their product preferences and buying behaviour’. (Green, 1977, Wind, 1978, cited in Dibb, 1998, p. 394). ‘The business did actively segment its market’ (Dibb, 1998, p. 399), as LEGO identified itself from the very beginnings as a toy manufacturer it therefore automatically determined its marketing segmentation approach. In the children's toy market the primary segmentation base is the age (the older the more complex product); however, the real buyers are the parents (e. g. LEGO Duplo). Such an approach is popular because it is convenient, clear-out, easy to implement and stable over time. ’ (Curran and Goodfellow, 1989, p. 23, cited in Dibb, 1998, p. 399). During the company operation LEGO identified more and more secondary segmentation variables (FM-A, 2004) such as †¢ gender (dollhouse for girls: LEGO Belville and robots, football stars for boys: LEGO Sports, LEGO Racers), †¢ geographical area: level of income and purchasing power (matured countries – more complex products like Technic, Bionicle, developing countries – simple products like Duplo, Creative Building) education (different product rages for classroom education and for child development at home) †¢ psychographic, lifestyle: reflects the parents believe in the importance of education and creativity of the LEGO produc ts LEGO related its products directly to this segmentation group and positioned them in the certain markets. Why is market segmentation important? Identification of market segments, physical product configurations and brand positioning (LEGO positioned itself as a premium brand) are the most important decisions that companies face in the global marketplace. (Hassan et al. , 2003). LEGO identified country-wide segments and targeted them with its products range, based around the importance of education and creativity. Universal segments across country boundaries are considered as micro factors for values, attitudes, lifestyle and perception. (Hassan et al. , 2003). Even if market segments can be identified as LEGO did, it does not necessarily mean they are attractive or that a suitable marketing mix can be designed for each segment. This can be one reason why LEGO had difficulties in early 2000, however, ‘there is a lack of quantifiable evidence about the impact of segmentation on business performance’. Dibb, 1998, p. 396). The other reason could be that despite the well documented benefits which segmentation offers, businesses continue to encounter implementation difficulties. (Dibb, 1998) Marketers are using intuition rather than systematic analysis to identify segments (Wind and Cardoza, 1974, cited in Dibb, 1998) – follow their competitor s (LEGO started to create high-tech toys) with the lack of critical analyses about their attractiveness to the business. By recommendation it is that LEGO should review its segmentation approach including identification of segment profitability and life cycles (see Appendix 1. ; collection of segments data; global buyer based vs country based features etc. to identify new market opportunities and niches. Although there is a lack of quantitative research on the question of segmentation success factor, there are guidelines that divide 3 part (before – during – after) segmentation process, Kotler’s check-list and attractiveness criteria (Abratt,1993, cited in Dibb, 1998), (see Appendix 2. ). The result of this analysis should then be applied in the development of the existing segments (e. g. argeting older age-groups 20+, enter into new markets e. g. in Asia or identify new segments) to make decisions about targeting and to determine positioning. (Dibb, 1998). 2. / Marketing Mix After the market has been successfully segmented, target segment selected, and positioning strategies created, the marketer needs to proceed with development of the marketing mix. (Goldsmith, 1999, p. 181). The marketing plan consists of the eight main elements below which are the major areas to achieve and expand the sales and profit goals (see Appendix 3. ). Some of them are unique for Technic products (like product & price) but some of them cannot be separated as they are associated to the brand (cost-effectiveness). Product LEGO’s vision is that the Group will increasingly refine and improve its product range to enable its new product range to compete (LEGO Annual Report 2007, 2007), for example with the many electronic toys on the market, other companies are determined to reach buyers. Therefore in the 1970’s LEGO started to launch the Expert Builder sets, which included parts like gears, axles and cogs, which could be used to build working models of vehicles and machines (e. . cars, trucks, tractor etc. ). These products were more advanced, therefore more suitable for teenagers (12+). They were designed to help children learn creatively through play and to improve abilities to solve complex problems. In the 1980s the Expert Builder series was renamed to the Technic series. (Regani and George, 2007). By the early 1990s h igh-tech toys appeared in the market from other companies. Therefore the LEGO Technic series had to be improved to build robots and other automated or interactive systems to keep up with its competitors. Price LEGO’s unique position is based on the high quality, durability and safety of its products, utilizing a premium branding strategy where a higher price is associated, which therefore differentiates LEGO in relation to its competitors within the current market. The Technic products consist of more complex and special elements, therefore the production cost is higher than the standard bricks. Customers are prepared to pay this higher price to get the added benefits of the special design product of LEGO. However, this higher price (? 60-? 120) completely fits into the LEGO products price range (? 20-? 200). Place LEGO uses the following channels to provide their products (including LEGO Technic products) to customers (LEGO Annual Report 2007, 2007): – distribution: two centres in North America, two centres in Europe – direct sale: brand stores, mail order business, online sales (e. g. Amazon) Promotion The LEGO brand is the sixth most well known brand in the world (HVG, 2004) and this gives competitive advantage against the competitors in the promotion activity. LEGO is using to promote the Technic products through advertising during TV children programs (e. g. Off Roader) and through sales promotion (e. g. pecial online offers, Technic Gallery). Increasingly, online reviews written by satisfied customers are used to promote their products. Other possibility to promote Technic products would be to build one of them in the brand store to demonstrate how it works. People Not only in the production have LEGO maintained a high quality, but also in the performance of the servic e for customers. By TECHNIC products is very important that appropriate training for employees is given due to the complexity of the products. Processes ‘Lego products have to satisfy all market standards regardless where they were manufactured. (Regani and George, 2007, p. 6). It also has to provide high quality technical support especially such a complex product as Technic and customer service. ‘LEGO customer service was thus awarded the prize for â€Å"Best Centre for Customer Service† in Europe. ’ (LEGO Annual Report 2007, 2007, p. 19). Physical evidence The high quality production of the LEGO product (ISO 14001) guarantees that the Technic toys can be easily assembled following the technical instructions and there are no missing parts and all elements fit perfectly well together. The assembled toy looks and works exactly as shown on the packaging. Personalisation As the newest element of the marketing mix, personalisation offers a personalised version of the brand. This has a direct impact on all other elements relevant to LEGO products. Customers who are unhappy with mass produced products can design their own individual TECHNIC product on the internet and order this more personalised version online. However, ‘personalised products may imply personalised prices’. (Goldsmith, 1999, p181. ). 3. / New product design development It may be easier to develop a personal version of an existing product than to develop a wholly new product. New products come in five versions: product improvements, line extensions, brand extensions, new brands, and new-to-the-world innovations. (Peter and Donnelly, 1997, p. 125, cited in Goldsmith, 1999). From the very beginning LEGO shows a high commitment to new products innovation. When LEGO created the first non-toxic (ABS) interlocking plastic bricks in six different colours and launched their little yellow minifigure these were new innovations and built a base of their success as LEGO was named ‘Products of the Century’ by Fortune magazine. The LEGO elements which have been manufactured since 1958 are fully compatible, therefore LEGO sets can be passed on from one generation to the next. (Regani and George, 2007). As children’s interests changed over the years LEGO had to design new high tech product ranges to keep up with the present technology. The product development takes place primarily at the company’s Billund headquarter (internal brainstorming), but the LEGO Group has bases all over the world to monitor the latest trends, review of competitors’ products and also monitor the customers’ requirements and feedback. LEGO Company Profile, 2007). Innovation and creativity can be expensive and LEGO has lots of primary limitations of its product design; therefore each design option must be evaluated and assessed against a set of design criteria. (FM-A, 2004). The new products have to comply with the existing ones. The new product has to fit to the production line, because to adjust or create a new production process has a high additional cost. LEGO Group’s motto â€Å"Only the best is good enough† and to fulfil this ambition all products have to comply with the appropriate safety and quality standards. Several activities such as quality management, environmental (green) issues, preventive action and testing on mechanical, chemical, electrical properties to ensure the product is free from hazards. Along with the high tech and licensed products LEGO should – and indeed must – concentrate on the development of its classic product lines (e. g. variety of product line extensions which are fit with the existing ones and wide range of possibilities of packaging (smaller supplementary parts are relatively cheaper for customers than bigger packs, etc. ). 4. / Total quality management for new outsourcing partners It has a lot of elements therefore hard to find the right definition of TQM. There are some interpretations which concentrate on different aspects (FM-A, 2004) like participation and quality circles (IshiKawa), quality cost, employee participation and motivation (Crosby), internal and external focus of customers, fitness for use (Juran) and Six Sigma (see Appendix 4. ) . One of the overall definitions of TQM is n effective system for integrating the quality development, quality maintenance and quality improvement efforts of the various groups in an organisation so as to enable production and service at the most economical levels which allow full customer satisfaction. (Feigenbaum,1986, cited in FM-A, 2004, p. 380). As definitions are wide and different in the practice the TQM is different company by company, however we could find some basic statements. LEGO is a good example of TQM as quality is the core of LEGO’s activity. Quality is firmly rooted in our fundamental beliefs, or mission statement, or strategy goals, and our values. As a world leader in the field of quality experience, service, and products, we focus on the customer’s perception of quality. (Regani and George, 2007, p. 6). In reflects of competitiveness and being cost-effective, it was a strategic decision to outsource its large production to Flextronics. However, outsourcing includes risks; can the quality and the time-management (JIT) be assured? What are the crucial factors of the LEGO’s successful TQM which they should absolutely recommend to their outsourcing partners? †¢ Participation: commitment at all levels Both parties have to participate to successful quality management. Senior and middle managers: |Should avoid |Should consider | |autocracy |support | |individualism |team building (team spirit) | |restrict behaviour |training | – Employees: Employees’ involvement improves morale. (FM-A, 2004). ‘We view the implementation of this policy as the shared responsibility of all LEGO employees. (Regani and George, 2007, p. 6). †¢ Culture – Adopt a quality-conscious philosophy as LEGO’s motto: â€Å"The best is good enough† – Organizational culture, LEGO established e. g. a department for Corporate Quality Control †¢ Training – Institute training on the job; self-improvement to be proud of their jobs. (FM-A, 2004). LEGO implemented a new competence model which defines the eight most important competences for LEGO employees and regularly asking their workers about their opinion of the process. †¢ Continuous improvement – ‘Quality management is the continual examination and improvement of xisting processes. ’ (FM-A, 2004, p. 382). Not enough to introduce but also need to open the continuous improvement. As LEGO meets the highest quality standards they independently show how changeable the market is. LEGO takes care to stay up-to-date in the safety requirements (EU CE, ISO). †¢ Monitoring (including preventive activities) – LEGO quality management aim to prevent defective production (18 out of every million elements are defected) therefore have to assure quality in the production process internally and externally (quality assurance), rather than inspecting goods after they have been produced. FM-A, 2004). Although the high quality production which avoids defaults LEGO carries out regular inspections of production. What can LEGO provide the company they outsourced to with? †¢ Documentation – A company quality manual may summarise the quality management policy and system. – A procedures manual sets out the functions, structures and responsible for quality in each department. – Detailed work instructions and specifications for how work should be carried out show how to achieve the desired quality standards. Training – Integrated relationship (training in LEGO’s place) – Knowledge sharing: train the trainer program (LEGO provide trainers) †¢ Monitoring – LEGO can delegate people from its monitoring team. Summary and conclusions Following the seven-year-strategy plan in the last couple of years, LEGO’s situation has already stabilized. The further expansion of the operation is possible. LEGO needs to rethink their attractiveness of the market segments and approach them to identify new market opportunities and niches. By actively using the appropriate elements of marketing mix (not only the classical 4Ps) and thinking about the product design possibilities they should also consider the existing competitive advantages of their product and the cost of fitting to the process involved. In case of outsourcing as a cost-saving LEGO needs to support its partners to keep up the quality as LEGO’s core value. REFERENCES Abratt, R. (1993) ‘Market segmentation practices of industrial marketers’. Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 22, pp. 79-84. Cited in Dibb S. (1998) Market segmentation: strategies for success. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 16/7, 1998, pp. 394 – 406. Curran, J. G. M. and Goodfellow, J. H. (1989), ‘Theoretical and practical issues in the determination of market boundaries’. European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 16-28. Cited in Dibb S. (1998) Market segmentation: strategies for success. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 16/7, 1998, pp. 394 – 406. Dibb S. (1998) Market Segmentation: Strategies for Success. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 16/7, 1998, pp. 394 – 406. Goldsmith, R. E. (1999) The Personalised Marketplace: Beyond the 4Ps. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 17/4, 1999, pp. 178 – 185. Green, P. E. (1977) ‘A new approach to market segmentation’. Business Horizons, Vol. 20, February, pp. 61-73. Cited in Dibb S. (1998) Market segmentation: strategies for success. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 16/7, 1998, pp. 394 – 406. Hassan, S. S. ,Craft, S. , Kortam, W. (2003) Understanding the new bases for global market segmentation. Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 20 No. 5 2003, pp. 446-462. HVG (2004) Bajban a LEGO Mar nem jatek [Online]. Retrieved from: http://hvg. hu/200403HVGFriss77_U. spx [Accessed 20 October 2008]. Kotler, P. (1994) Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning, Implementation and Control. (8th ed. ) Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Cited in Oxford Institute of International Finance (2004) Foundations of Management Part A. London: BPP Professional Education. LEGO (2007) Annual Report 2007 LEGO Group [Online]. Retrieved from: http://cache. lego. com/downloads/about us/annualreport2007UK. pdf [Accessed 19 October 2008]. LEGO (2007) Company Profile An Introduction to the LEGO Group 2007 [Online]. Retrieved from: http://cache. lego. om/downloads/aboutus/LEGO_company_profile_UK. pdf [Accessed 19 October 2008]. Oxford Institute of International Finance (2004) Foundation of Management Part A. London: BBP Professional Education. Peter, J. P. and Donnelly, J. H. Jr (1997), A Preference to Marketing Management, 7th ed. , Irwin, Burr Ridge, IL. Cited in Goldsmith, R. E. (1999) The Personalised Marketplace: Beyond the 4Ps. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 17/4, 1999, pp. 178 – 185. Porter, M. (1985) Competitive Advantage. New York: Free Press. Cited in Oxford Institute of International Finance (2004) Foundation of Management Part A. London: BBP Professional Education. Regani, S. and George, S. S. (2007) ‘Quality and Safety Practices at LEGO’, ICFAI Centre for Management Research (ECCH), Case Study Reference no 607-015-2007. Wind, Y. and Cardoza, R. (1974) ‘Industrial market segmentation’. Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 153-66. Cited in Dibb S. (1998) Market segmentation: strategies for success. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 16/7, 1998, pp. 394 – 406. Wind, Y. (1978) Issue and Advantages in Segmentation Research. Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 153-66. Cited in Dibb S. 1998) Market segmentation: strategies for success. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 16/7, 1998, pp. 394 – 406. BIBLIOGRAPHY Economist (2008) Toy story What European toys say about Europian views [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www. economist. com/world/europe/displaystory. cfm? story_id=10607422 [Accessed 20 October 2008]. Gronroos, C. (1994) From Marketing Mix to Relationship Marketing: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Marketing. Management Decision, Vol. 32, No. 2. , 1994, pp. 4-20. Harari, O. (1997) Ten Reasons TQM Doesn’t Work. American Management Association, January 1997. HVG (2006) Atalakuloban a LEGO-vilag Osszerakos jatszmak [Online]. Retrieved from: http://hvg. hu/200616HVGFriss1515107. aspx [Accessed 20 October 2008]. HVG (2007) Megis kell a kreativitas? Tuljutott a valsagon a LEGO [Online]. Retrieved from: http://hvg. hu/20071118_lego_hagyomanyos_eptoelem_sikeres_uzlet. aspx [Accessed 24 September 2008]. HVG (2008) Bucsu a Flextronicstol A LEGO maga gyart jatekot Magyarorszagon es Mexikoban [Online]. Retrieved from: http://hvg. hu/20080701_lego_flextronics_nyiregyhaza_mexiko. aspx [Accessed 24 September 2008]. LEGO (2008) Product Quality & Safety [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www. lego. com/eng/info/default. asp? page=safety [Accessed 20 October 2008]. Vas Nepe (2008) Ez mar korantsem jatek [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www. vasnepe. hu/gazdasag/20080703_ez_mar_korantsem__jatek [Accessed 23 September 2008]. Wood, L. (2000) Brands and brand equity: definition and management. Management Decision, 38/9, 2000, pp. 662-669. Yong, J. and Wilkinson, A. (2001) Rethinking Total Quality Management. Total Quality Management, Vol. 12, No. 2, 2001, pp. 247-258. Appendix 1. [pic] Appendix 2. Kotler’s check-list: segments should be Abratt (1993) attractiveness criteria: ability to reach buyers Appendix 3. The marketing mix Appendix 4. Six Sigma [pic] ———————– Segment profitability and life cycle Turnover Year 1970 1990 1958 2008 LEGO Brick LEGO Technic LEGO Star Wars Substantial Accessible Measurable Stable Actionable Expected market growth Competitive position Market size Market fit with organisational objectives and resources Personalisation Product Price People Processes Place Physical evidence Promotion The Marketing Plan Defect reduction Yield improvement Customer delight Profitability improvement

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House Essay

Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House is about â€Å"domestic politics† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2).   Ibsen created a seemingly perfect atmosphere, enough to make one believe that marital bliss exists in such a setting.   As Hurwitt (2004) narrates, â€Å"the whole household contributes to the impression of marital bliss† (p. D-2). However, as the play progressed, it slowly becomes obvious that Ibsen wanted to show more than the problems of a married couple.   He evidently wanted to paint a socially significant picture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The play’s story is domestic in scope, primarily because two of the main characters are husband and wife.   Nonetheless, the play did include broader issues.   It showed how society in the 1800s view marriage, the functions assigned to man and wife, and the limitations it gave to women in general.   It is also climactic in structure. The three main characters are Nora and Torvald Helmer, and Krogstad.   The gist of the play revolved around them.   Nora is the play’s heroine; the beautiful loving wife and doting mother.   Torvald is her husband, who works as a manager in a bank.   Then there is Krogstad, the character responsible for the past to slowly unfold and for the story to begin.   A few years back, when Torvald was sick, Nora was forced by circumstance to borrow money from Krogstad.   She kept that from Torvald, and she was scared for him to find out.   Now that Torvald is manager, he could now also fire Krogstad, who also works at the bank. Krogstad now threatens Nora that he will reveal her secret if she does not help him keep his job.   Nora then talks to her husband and tries to put in a good word for Krogstad, but to no avail.   Thus, the past is revealed to Torvald through the letter, and the real story begins.   Torvald is outraged, and begins calling Nora names.   What she has done is out of duty to her husband, being the obedient wife that she is.   Instead of thanking her, he greets her with anger.   Torvald is simply infuriated. By the time he forgives her, however, Nora has had a realization and decides his forgiveness no longer matters.   Nora undergoes a drastic transformation, a change in her individual persona that Torvald did not expect.   Hurwitt (2004) describes Nora as, â€Å"so animated in her kittenish sexuality, so maddeningly delightful in her teasing manipulations, and so punishingly fretful in her fear of discovery – that the stillness in her final disillusionment is enormously eloquent† (p. D-2).   Nora is the doll referred to in the title.   She was Torvald’s doll: she was his possession, his play thing.   She was under his control, and was extremely dependent on him.   Their home is the house; â€Å"the room is very much Nora’s dollhouse domain, as indicated†¦by the child’s table, chairs and tea set downstage† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2). All her actions, decisions and choices are made by her husband, and she operates on his demands.   Everything she is involved in is mere play, because she is but an object.   His husband cannot even discuss serious matters with her because she herself is not taken seriously.   This is until she decides to leave everything behind and free herself from the prison that is her marriage.   She walks out the door and never looks back.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ironically, in contrast with Torvald’s treatment of her wife, the overall quality of the characters is serious, simply because it mirrored a serious social problem.   The majority of the play can be considered tragic, except the hopefulness described by Nora’s escape.   The characters are simple.   At the same time, they hold meaning and weight because not only are they telling the story of a problematic marriage, they are also trying to discuss gender issues. The other aspects of the play also helped in clearly conveying the message.   The language used was easy to understand.   It remained faithful to the language Ibsen used, one that was neither shallow nor overcomplicated, yet it revealed real life emotion.   It was â€Å"emotional, thematic, and metaphoric† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2).   The stage set-up was also instrumental in bringing the message to the audience.   In a play, usually these things are overlooked.   Yet if one pays enough attention, the setting call also help tell the story and make the play come to life. Hurwitt (2004) observes, â€Å"A box constrained within boxes of social strictures, the Helmers’ tidy living room is redolent of the genteel poverty from which Nora dreams her husband’s new job as a bank manager will allow them to escape† (p. D-2).   The living room is then responsible for telling the viewers the social status of the family.   There were no special techniques used, no special music. With an already weighty play to speak of, it would be unnecessary to overembellish it.   In the instance of viewers, it was interactive in a sense; the play’s â€Å"deliberate pacing somewhat undercuts the tension, leaving room for audience members to make their own vocal contributions on opening night, rooting for Nora to get out and slam that door behind her† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2).   The audience had been able to contribute to the play. In the end, Ibsen’s play is as personal as it is communal.   The family is the basic unit of society, and affairs between husband and wife are private matters.   Nonetheless, these matters are also influential in the social sphere, hinting that the problems of individuals are also characterized by issues in society.   Everyone should watch A Doll’s House because Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece is as relevant then as it is now.   References Hurwitt, R. (2004, January 16). ACT draws out sexual politics in ‘Doll’s House.’ San Francisco Chronicle, p. D-2.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

An Introduction to Virtue Ethics

An Introduction to Virtue Ethics â€Å"Virtue ethics† describes a certain philosophical approach to questions about morality. It is a way of thinking about ethics that is characteristic of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, particularly Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.   But it has become popular again since the later part of the 20th century due to the work of thinkers like Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, and Alasdair MacIntyre. The Central Question of Virtue Ethics How should I live?   This has a good claim to being the most fundamental question that you can put to yourself.   But philosophically speaking, there is another question that perhaps has to be answered first: namely, How should I decide how to live? There are several answers available within the Western philosophical tradition:   The religious answer:  God has given us a set of rules to follow. These are laid out in scripture (e.g. the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, the Koran). The right way to live is to follow these rules. That is the good life for a human being.Utilitarianism: This is the view that what matters most in the world in the promotion of happiness and the avoidance of suffering.   So the right way to live is, in a general way, to try to promote the most happiness you can, both your own and that of other people– especially those around you–while trying to avoid causing pain or unhappiness.Kantian ethics: The great German philosopher Immanuel Kant argues that the basic rule we should follow is neither â€Å"Obey God’s laws,† nor â€Å"Promote happiness.† Instead, he claimed that the fundamental principle of morality is something like: Always act in the way that you could honestly want everyone to act if they were in a similar situation. Anyone who abides by this rule, he claims, will be behaving with complete consistency and rationality, and they will unfailingly do the right thing. What all three approaches have in common is that they view morality as a matter of following certain rules. There are very general, fundamental rules, like â€Å"Treat others as you’d like to be treated,† or â€Å"Promote happiness.† And there are lots of more specific rules that can be deduced from these general principles: e.g. â€Å"Don’t bear false witness,† or â€Å"Help the needy.† The morally good life is one lived according to these principles; wrongdoing occurs when the rules are broken. The emphasis is on duty, obligation, and the rightness or wrongness of actions. Plato and Aristotle ‘s way of thinking about morality had a different emphasis. They also asked: How should one live? But took this question to be equivalent to What kind of person does one want to be? That is, what sort of qualities and character traits are admirable and desirable. Which should be cultivated in ourselves and others? And which traits should we seek to eliminate? Aristotles Account of Virtue In his great work, the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle offers a detailed analysis of the virtues that has been enormously influential and is the starting point for most discussions of virtue ethics. The Greek term that is usually translated as â€Å"virtue† is arà ªte.  Speaking generally, arà ªte is a kind of excellence. It is a quality that enables a thing to perform its purpose or function. The sort of excellence in question can be specific to particular kinds of thing. For instance, the main virtue of a racehorse is to be fast; the main virtue of a knife is to be sharp. People performing specific functions also require specific virtues: e.g. a competent accountant must be good with numbers; a soldier needs to be physically brave. But there are also virtues that it is good for any human being to possess, the qualities that enable them to live a good life and to flourish as a human being. Since Aristotle thinks that what distinguishes human beings from all other animals is our rationality, the good life for a human being is one in which the rational faculties are fully exercised. These include things like the capacities for friendship, civic participation, aesthetic enjoyment, and intellectual enquiry. Thus for Aristotle, the life of a pleasure-seeking couch potato is not an example of the good life. Aristotle distinguishes between the intellectual virtues, which are exercised in the process of thinking, and the moral virtues, which are exercised through action.   He conceives of a moral virtue as a character trait that it is good to possess and that a person displays habitually.   This last point about habitual behavior is important.   A generous person is one who is routinely generous, not just generous occasionally. A person who only keeps some of their promises does not have the virtue of trustworthiness. To really have the virtue is for it to be deeply ingrained in your personality. One way to achieve this is to keep practicing the virtue so that it becomes habitual. Thus to become a truly generous person you should keep performing generous actions until generosity just comes naturally and easily to you; it becomes, as one says, â€Å"second nature.† Aristotle argues that each moral virtue is a sort of mean lying between two extremes. One extreme involves a deficiency of the virtue in question, the other extreme involves possessing it to excess. For example, Too little courage cowardice; too much courage recklessness. Too little generosity stinginess; too much generosity extravagance. This is the famous doctrine of the â€Å"golden mean.†Ã‚   The â€Å"mean,† as Aristotle understands it is not some sort of mathematical halfway point between the two extremes; rather, it is what is appropriate in the circumstances. Really, the upshot of Aristotle’s argument seems to be that any trait we consider a virtue as to be exercised with wisdom. Practical wisdom (the Greek word is phronesis), although strictly speaking an intellectual virtue, turns out to be absolutely key to being a good person and living a good life. Having practical wisdom means being able to assess what is required in any situation. This includes knowing when one should follow a rule and when one should break it. And it calls into play knowledge, experience, emotional sensitivity, perceptiveness, and reason. The Advantages of Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics certainly didn’t die away after Aristotle. Roman Stoics like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius also focused on character rather than abstract principles. And they, too, saw moral virtue as constitutive of the good life– that is, being a morally good person is a key ingredient of living well and being happy.   No-one who lacks virtue can possibly be living well, even if they have wealth, power, and lots of pleasure. Later thinkers like Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) and David Hume (1711-1776) also offered moral philosophies in which the virtues played a central role.   But it is fair to say that virtue ethics took a back seat in the 19th and 20th centuries. The revival of virtue ethics in the mid-late 20th century was fueled by dissatisfaction with rule-oriented ethics, and a growing appreciation of some of the advantages of an Aristotelian approach. These advantages included the following. Virtue ethics offers a broader conception of ethics in general.  It doesn’t see moral philosophy as confined to working out which actions are right and which actions are wrong. It also asks what constitutes well-being or human flourishing. We may not have a duty to flourish in the way we have a duty not to commit murder; but questions about well-being are still legitimate questions for moral philosophers to address.It avoids the inflexibilities of rule-oriented ethics.  According to Kant, for instance, we must always and in every circumstance obey his fundamental principle of morality, his â€Å"categorical imperative.† This led him to conclude that one must never tell a lie or break a promise.   But the morally wise person is precisely the one who recognizes when the best course of action is to break the normal rules. Virtue ethics offers rules of thumb, not iron rigidities.Because it is concerned with character, with what kind of person one is, virtue ethics pay s more attention to our inner states and feelings as opposed to focusing exclusively on actions. For a utilitarian, what matters is that you do the right thing–that is, you promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number (or follow a rule that is justified by this goal).   But as a matter of fact, this is not all we care about. It matters why someone is generous or helpful or honest. The person who is honest simply because they think being honest is good for their business is less admirable that the person who is honest through and through and would not cheat a customer even if they could be sure that no one would ever find them out. Virtue ethics has also opened the door to some novel approaches and insights pioneered by feminist thinkers who argue that traditional moral philosophy has emphasized abstract principles over concrete interpersonal relationships. The early bond between mother and child, for instance, could be one of the essential building blocks of moral life, providing both an experience and an example of loving care for another person. Objections to Virtue Ethics Needless to say, virtue ethics has its critics. Here are a few of the most common criticisms leveled against it. â€Å"How can I flourish?† is really just a fancy way of asking â€Å"What will make me happy?†Ã‚   This may be a perfectly sensible question to ask, but it really isn’t a moral question. It’s a question about one’s self-interest. Morality, though, is all about how we treat other people. So this expansion of ethics to include questions about flourishing takes moral theory away from its proper concern.Virtue ethics by itself can’t really answer any particular moral dilemma. It doesn’t have the tools to do this. Suppose you have to decide whether or not to tell a lie in order to save your friend from being embarrassed. Some ethical theories provide you with real guidance.   But virtue ethics doesn’t. It just says, â€Å"Do what a virtuous person would do† which isn’t much use.Morality is concerned, among other things, with praising and blaming people for how they behave.   But what sort of character a person has is to quite a large extent a matter of luck.   People have a natural temperament: either brave or timid, passionate or reserved, confident or cautious. It is hard to alter these inborn traits. Moreover, the circumstances in which a person is raised is another factor that shapes their moral personality but which is beyond their control.   So virtue ethics tends to bestow praise and blame on people for just being fortunate. Naturally, virtue ethicists believe they can answer these objections. But even the critics who put them forward would probably agree that the revival of virtue ethics in recent times has enriched moral philosophy and broadened its scope in a healthy way.