“East of Eden” by John Steinbeck Essay

The prosecution will begin by establishing the character of the defendant, and further prove that the criminal acts committed by Ms. Catherine Ames were not random, but rather a part of a cynical mindset that deliberately caused harm. Catherine Ames was without a doubt, a stunning work of beauty with the power to make all heads turn everywhere she went. She have lovely gold hair, big hazel eyes, pointy small chin along with a delicate nose, and high cheekbones giving her a heart shaped face. She was an adorable child that became an irresistible woman with the power to make all man fall head over heels. With a timid smile and a soft spoken voice, this appears to be the perfect woman. However, let us not be fooled by her angelic appearance. Catherine Ames is a cruel, manipulative, sadistic being who knows how to get anything she wants through the lust from men. She was able to use her beauty to her advantage even as a young child. The very first incident was when Ms. Catherine Ames used her wittiness and manipulative skills to inflict moral and physical pain to two boys. The boys received immense punishments for actions that she herself encouraged, but declared herself a victim to preserve her reputation. Cathy used her sheer beauty and manipulation to seduce her Latin teacher James Grew. When she had James Grew’s heart in the palm of her hand, she denied him any affection or love, making him commit suicide. Cathy took an educated kind man and turned him into rubble just because she could. As Cathy grew she became more destructive and morally impotent. It became quite clear that Cathy had no respect for authority when she ran away from home and went to Boston. She was pushed to the edge after being caught trying to run away from home and was beat and punished. Driven by agitation she stole all her father’s money out of his safe. She cleaned the cellar and stuffed papers all around the edges of the foundation to block the draft. She oiled the hinges, the lock of the kitchen door and the hinges of the front door. She continued to prepare, on the night of the crime, she put on an old apron to protect her clothes and found a jelly jar and carried it to the carriage house. She then found a chicken, cut its head off, and filled the jar halfway with the blood. She then buried the evidence of the chicken.  She then took off the apron in the kitchen and put it on the stove. She poked the coals until the apron caught on fire. Again before leaving she hid the evidence of the jelly jar. She remorselessly locked her parents in their house and set it on fire. Her parents sad death did not make Cathy shed a tear as she was looking into a new exciting career: prostitution. When she meets Mr. Edwards she is keen to provoke him to become sexually attracted to her. After he puts her up in his own house, keeping her from his wife and providing for her, she begins to steal from him. She also locks him out of his own house and takes control of his property. When he realizes something horrible about Cathy, he attempts to get her drunk one night. While drunk she stabs him with a broken wine glass. Driven by her intoxication, she stabs him in the cheek and sends him running away from his own house. Her impulsive and evil nature was evident through her actions that night. After a bad run in with the whoremaster Mr. Edwards, Cathy successfully manipulated Adam Trask to fall in love with her. After Adam had provided Cathy with unconditional love and support during her weak time, she repaid him by sleeping with his brother Charles behind Adam’s back. After they moved to California to start off new Cathy and Adam had their twins she coldheartedly did not want to look at them claiming â€Å"No. I don’t want them† After she recovered from giving birth, she abandoned Adam and the twins. After abandoning her husband and children Cathy became a working girl in a whorehouse. Now under the alias Kate, Cathy manipulated Faye the owner of the whorehouse into signing a will giving everything to Cathie upon Faye’s death. After, slowly and painfully killing Faye, Cathie assumed control of the whorehouse. When it was thought that Cathy could not go any lower, when her son Caleb discovered the truth about her and wanted to be a changed man, she told him he can’t and he will become exactly like her as he grows up, sinful and damned. It’s quite clear that Cathy is not a noble human being with good intentions. Her life has been filled with nothing else but hatred for others and schemes to get as much money as possible. Evidence presented here after show the  criminal acts that Cathy has committed throughout her life, crimes that she admitted to performing without remorse. Cathy had committed crimes against law of the nation and crimes against religion as well. Even though she is no where near of being religiously moderate, she still followed the religion of Christianity for her marriage to Adam Trask. Cathy did commit some major felonies toward God such as committing adultery. First, adultery means having sexual relations between an individual who is married and someone who is not the individual’s spouse. In Christianity, adultery is considered a major sin which shows betrayal and lack of trust by that individual in the marriage. In the last two lines of Chapter 11, it states â€Å"Suddenly Charles laughed. â€Å"The Poor bastard,† he said, and he threw back the blanket to receive her.† Cathy did not care if she slept with Charles. Better yet, she does not embrace her marriage by sleeping with Charles. She is an embodiment of pure evil driven by self-hatred, desperation, and a love of pain, and Cathy destroys lives without any sen se of remorse. She wanted something to satisfy her cruel nature and did so behind Adam’s back. In the bible, Cathy is directly compared to Eve when Eve eats a forbidden fruit and introducing sin into the world. Cathy did the same by committing a forbidden act of trust and friendship. This proves to show the hypocrisy that exists in Cathy with no moral influence or structure. Cathy, without mentioning anything to her husband Adam, tried to abort her two children with a knitting needle while Adam was out obtaining information on his plot of land. If that isn’t terrible enough, Cathy gives the reason that she has a family history of epilepsy and did not want to pass it on to her children which is a blatant lie. This attempt at abortion was a complete secret from Adam until she was found unconscious due to a great lose of blood. Cathy tried to murder her unborn children while Adam was away and didn’t even tell him that she was pregnant in the first place. This was a disgusting act of attempted murder upon two completely helpless and vulnerable unborn children in which Cathy should be punished for. After Cathy attempted to murder her unborn children Cathy moved onto bigger and more horrific things. She attempted to murder Adam, her husband. A week after the birth of newborn twins, Cathy decides that she is going to abandon them and leave Adam alone. Before leaving, Cathy pulled out a handgun and shot Adam. Luckily she had bad aim and only hit him in the shoulder but we all know that she was aiming to kill him. After Cathy shot Adam, she ran out of the house and out of Adams’ life forever. This is the second time Cathy attempts to murder someone in her life. First it was her unborn children, and now her husband. Cathy is nothing but a murderer and cares for nothing but to inflict pain upon others. Another sin in which Cathy tries to commit is suicide. Suicide is not illegal by law in the nation except for some states, but this act of killing oneself is considered a sin and a crime against god. One of the commandments states that specifically â€Å"Thou shall not kill† which can pertain to a person’s life or their own life. In page 554, Cathy takes her own life by using a cyanide pill. This by far is much is strongly against the teachings of God and it goes against one of his commandments. God said there will be consequences for whoever commits suicide and that would be punishment in hell. Cathy may have her reasons to commit suicide, such as arthritic pain, low self esteem, and a painful life. However, this is the life she chose to follow as being sick and maliciously evil towards others which caused the downfall for her life.

Privacy and Social Networks Essay

â€Å"Privacy seems to encompass everything, and therefore it appears to be nothing in itself† (Solove, 2008, p. 7). It is an oversimplification to define privacy as all what an individual owns. With the evolution of new technologies nowadays, it is very hard to define privacy because it varies from one person to another and from one culture to another (Solove, 2008). With the rise of social networks during the last decade, new views about privacy started to emerge due to its special mechanism in sharing information. Social networks enable users to instantly share information, thoughts, photos, products and videos with the many users in the network at once. Unlike other means of communication, the information in social networks can spread to hundreds of users in seconds. Then, the users who received the information may share it among their network, and then further to other networks, which will end up in spreading the information to millions of people in no time, just like a chain reaction. This new mechanism of sharing, which is becoming faster every day, raised new concerns about privacy among individuals and organizations. In spite of all these concerns about the personal privacy on the social networks, social networks websites are the most visited websites in the internet. For example, Facebook has reached 901 million monthly active users in April, 2012 (Hachman, 2012). Although social networks enables an easy sharing of private information about individuals or low profile information about organizations, individuals and organization should not be afraid of using social networks due to privacy concerns, and instead they should be more public and utilize the social network. Being public and open to the world is better than being private and closed because it enables people to learn from others personal experience. Naturally, any individual or organization benefits from communicating with others. Nevertheless, communication with others, regardless of the mean of communication, usually involves giving away some private information to the other. However, social networks empowered the world a new mean of communication that benefits all the users in the network by sharing private information. For example, an individual can share some previous experiences such as overcoming an illness, eating habit, or making a project. Being afraid of sharing experience, because of privacy, would only deprive others from benefit of these experiences. According to Tapscott (2012): Fully 20 percent of all patients with the fatal disease ALS share intimate information about their treatment and condition on the network PatientsLikeMe. com. And tens of thousands of others with rare diseases who use that website report that sharing has helped them better manage their illness. Because the social network enabled them to share information about their medical conditions, which is very private information, they supported each others with valuable information about their disease and inspired each others with their experience. Social networks enhanced collaboration, which in return brings benefits to all individuals, at the cost of personal information. Some may argue that because of posting private information on social networks, some employee may suffer from being fired from or being denied for a job. In other words, social networks negatively affect employment because they allow the employers or managers to access an employee’s or a job applicant’s private data. For example, Andrews (2012) states in her book that a high school teacher, called Ashly Payne, was asked to resign because she uploaded a photo of her on Facebook drinking an alcoholic drink even though it is legal to drink in her country. She also claims that employers â€Å"will not hire someone whose Facebook page includes photo of that person drinking or in provocative dress† (p. 122). However, the information on social networks could not be used against an employee or a job applicant because it is considered unethical and illegal. First, it is unethical to judge a worker from the personal aspects rather than working skills. Besides, Jarvis (2011) defines privacy as â€Å"the ethics of knowing† and publicness as â€Å"the ethics of sharing† (p. 110). Therefore, it depends how the individual interpret others information. On the other hand, employers can also look into a job applicant’s profile in a social network to see his/her previous experience in work. Second, it is illegal to make ecision on an employee or a job applicant based on social networks personal information. Furthermore, this act is considered discrimination and the company can be sued for this action (Waring & Buchanan, 2010). Therefore, employees and job applicants should not be afraid of posting information in social networks. Social network is a safe place to share private information with others. The main issue is that private data on the social network is accessible anytime and anywhere. Without a doubt, the privacy of individual’s profile data in the social network should be protected to make the network a safer place for sharing. Therefore, many social networks provide powerful tools to control the access on private information. First, social networks do not grant access to other users profile data anonymously. In order to access any data even if it is public, the individual needs gain the social networks trust by registering an account in the social network. This enables the social network administration control over the social network. Second, the user can choose who is able to view his/her profile private information and what information others can see. For instance, the user can block accounts, specify groups and set privileges. Third, social networks also provide a help center to report abuse of the services such as spamming, bullying or hateful speeches. The social network administration can stop any account permanently or even take legal action if an individual is reported abusing others privacy. Finally, most social networks provide a parental control to help parents control how their children use the social network. Since social networks rely on the trust between the users, these tools does not only make a social network a safer place, but also trustworthy. Richters and Peixoto (2011) performed a research to show the transitivity of trust in social networks. They found out that people decide who to trust based on other peers who trust. To emphasize this to the topic, users trust only specific users over their private information and thus they trust the social network. Conversely, trusting the social network increases the trust among the users. In addition, trustworthiness implies a social network safety, which in return means users being more comfortable sharing their information using the social network. For example, one of the reasons that made Facebook the most successful social network is the trustworthy of the users. According to Jesdanun (2006, as cited in Fogel & Nehmad, 2009), because Facebook was only restricted for students, the users felt safer to share data through the social network. Nowadays, Facebook is open to the public, but they are very strict in term of network safety. In fact, Fogel’s and Nehmad’s (2009) research statistics showed that â€Å"those who had social networking profiles had significantly greater mean scores†¦ indicating that they believed Facebook is a more trustworthy social network† (p. 175). For any social network to be successful, the social network has to maintain the trust of their users through the safety of the social network. Therefore, social networks are trustworthy over the users’ private in the social network. Despite of these control tools, some may argue that social networks still a potential threat to the users’ privacy. For instance, many believe that social networks made a fertile ground for identity theft and stalking. People usually fear the technology; because social networks are also considered one of them, every possible problem falls under the umbrella of privacy concerns on social networks. Privacy, however, is not only controlling the data access, but also controlling how it is used or interpreted (Boyd, 2010). Let us discuss these problems one by one. First, identity theft occurs when someone steals someone’s secret information and pretending to be that person. According to Jarvis, â€Å"[the identity theft issue] is less an issue of privacy than larceny† (2011, p. 96). Assuming it is an issue of privacy, suppose someone hacked someone else’s account or page on a social network, thus accessing or using the victim’s information. Should this be considered the social network fault? The user, the victim, probably did not take security precautions to protect what he/she considered a private data. Additionally, the social network provides tools to retrieve, to report or to suspend a stolen account. Second, stalking is obsessively observing an individual’s behavior or information. Unfortunately, stalking can mostly be from those who have access to the profile information such as friends and coworkers. However, it still depends on how they interpret the information. For example, if someone knew that his friend is getting divorced, he decides whether to support him, help him, or stand against him. Social networks’ databases do not only contain data about their users, but also how the users interactions with the social networks and other users. Therefore, the data in social networks are very valuable as some refers to it as â€Å"the new oil†. Social networks use these data, through data mining, to improve its services and to gain revenue. Most social networks gain revenue from targeted advertising. For example, if a user often reads about cars, or writes posts related cars, the data mining system is going to assume this user is interested in cars. Therefore, the social network shows that user advertisements related to cars within the user’s living area. Social networks created a new marketing option that helps the companies to expand their production and services (Andresen, 2011). On the other hand, data mining and targeted advertisement raises new privacy concern in social networks. For example, some users may feel uncomfortable when these advertisements are based on some information that were marked as private, a personal chat with a friend for instance. However, data mining and targeted advertising does not violate privacy laws or ethics. According to Seltzer research in data mining ethics (2005) â€Å"like most statistical methodologies data mining by itself is ethically neutral† (p. 1441). This is mainly because the data mining process is carried on by computer programs, which will not interact with these data the way a human would. They will not develop any judgment or feelings about the user no matter how sensitive the data is. Moreover, social networks provide advertisers with anonymous statistical data. In other word, advertisers do not know the identities of users in the statistics provided by the social network. In conclusion, social networks are new powerful tool for communication with the others. The data on the social networks are can easily be accessed anywhere and anytime, and therefore this created a controversial debate between privacy and the social networks. However, being afraid of using social networks would have only deprived the benefits of using these tools. Besides, employees and job applicants should not be afraid of using social networks because their information in social networks could not be used against them as it is considered illegal and unethical to be used against them. Nevertheless, social networks provide powerful tools to control over the user’s private information, thus implying that the social networks are trustworthy over private information. In sprit of all privileges control tools, many people believe that the social networks can cause problems such as identity theft and stalking. However, these problems are not necessarily due to social networks, but instead it is due to how people interpret the information in the social networks. As a result the, the user should be more careful when posting a sensitive data and think before sharing any information. Finally, because social networks databases contains tremendous amount of data, social networks created a new form of business using these data while protecting the identity of the data. Therefore, individuals and organization should not concern privacy when using social networks and utilize its benefits.

Animal Testing

Animal Testing Essay Animal TestingThis theme song to a popular cartoon is a farce dealing with experiments carried out on animals. In the cartoon one mouse is made very smart and wants to take over the world while the other is clearly not as smart. While the cartoon makes jokes, the reality is that mice and other animals re being used for medical tests every day. For some people this testing brings up ethical questions. One of the biggest questions: is it really necessary to take the lives of animals in the name of science and for the betterment of humanity? For animal rights activists, like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the answer is no. PETA pressures labs into halting experiments because they believe that animals are not to be used by humans for food, clothing, entertainment, or to experiment on (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 1). Its stance is that any testing is painful, inhumane, and unnecessary when alternatives are available. The PETA website says that animals, like humans, have interests that cannot be sacrificed or traded away simply because it might benefit others. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 2-3). Essentially, PETA is of the opinion that animals and humans should have identical rights. In their press releases PETA puts out pictures of rabbits with open flesh wounds and dogs with rashes on their skinsall in an attempt to disgust people into sympathy for their cause. In actuality the number of lab animals used has been cut in half in the last 25 years (James-Enger 254). Of the animals used, 90 percent are rats and mice (James-Enger 1). Moreover, 11 million animals die each year in animal shelters (Americans for Medical Progress 2) and an astounding 95 percent of the animals that die in America do so from human consumption (James-Enger 254). The reason that animal testing is appropriate is that there are regulations in place to minimize testing and pain, the alternatives are insufficient for now, and most importantly the information obtained from experimentation is irreplaceable. While animal rights groups such as PETA advocate abolishing all animal testing that inflicts pain on animals, proponents of testing cite laws and regulations which minimize pain and discomfort. PETAs position is based on the belief that humans are not superior to animals (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The vice president of the Humans Society of the United States (HSUS), an animal rights group that is nearly as extreme as PETA, has been quoted as saying the life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration (Americans for Medical Progress 2). If, as PETA and HSUS say, animal and human life is equal, then putting an animal through any pain is immoral. However, there are laws in place to minimize discomfort and inhumane treatment. The laws limit the amount of distress and pain an animal is subjected to. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the body that governs animal test ing, must approve all tests (United States Department of Agriculture 2). The USDA must also authorize the numbers and types of animals experimented on (United States Department of Agriculture 2). Tests can no longer be performed if conclusive data is already available. In 1991 it was discovered that Procter and Gamble had performed experiments on 300 guinea pigs when the data the tests was to obtain was already available (Animal Testing by the Cosmetic Industry 2). This is just one of the situations that newer animal testing legislation would have prevented or at least deterred. A fifty-point criterion for assessing pain is in place (United States Department of Agriculture 3). These points include everything from vocalization of pain to apparent depression. If there is no clear criteria then it is assumed that procedures that cause pain in humans also cause pain in animals (United States Department of Agriculture 50). When an animal must be restrained it is to be limited to brief pe riods of around three minutes (United States Department of Agriculture 3). This is similar to the procedure followed when a doctor holds a child to administer a vaccination shot. For all surgeries and painful tests, sedatives and anesthetics must be utilized (United States Department of Agriculture 49). If the test will leave the animal permanently damaged, euthanasia must be administered before the anesthetic wears off (United States Department of Agriculture 48). For humans this topic is still being debated, but animals are put to sleep every day when an owner or veterinarian decides the quality of the animals life will be too low for it to go on living. These few but important changes in animal research legislation have aided in improving animal welfare. PETA believes that the benefits of animal research do not outweigh the costs when alternatives are available; proponents argue that those alternatives are not effective. PETAs stance is that animal life is too valuable to risk on experimentation especially when there are alternatives, such as false human skin grown in culture, computer programs, and using human subjects. Taking a few skin cells and growing them into small squares of skin produces the false human skin. This piece of skin can be used to test irritation reactions to different chemicals. It is being used in the cosmetic industry, which has all but ceased animal testing. One problem with the false skin however is that it can only be exposed to water-soluble chemicals or it suffers extreme damage (D.E. 168). Furthermore, it currently contains no melanocytes, the chemicals that give skin its color, or immune cells (D.E. 168). It is not known how or if these substances effect any laboratory setting, but it is desirable for any experiment to mimic real life situations as closely as possible. Another alternative to actual animal experimentation is using computer simulations. These programs are like encyclopedias of chemical information. They can only run simulations based on information on chemicals and reactions that are already known. This is an obvious problem with this alternative. Computer simulation software cannot accurately predict the effects of enough situations and theoretical chemical combinations to be heavily relied on. What it comes down to is that there currently is no viable replacement for live, responsive cells. Jack H. Botting and Adrian R. Morrison point out that there are no basic differences between the physiology of laboratory animals and humans (Botting, Morrison 85). These similarities are what scientists need for experiments to be accurate. The matches are never perfect, but animal experiments are a good place for researchers to start looking for answers to questions that are important to human health care. Another proposed alternative to animal testing is to use human subjects. PETA suggests using people who have particular ailments who would be willing to participate in experiments. The problem with this alternative is that it is not scientifically sound. When conducting a scientific experiment, all variables must be controlled, and running tests on random human subjects does not give reliable results. Assuming that a researcher could find enough people to run an experiment, there would be too many extraneous variables, such as the subjects environment, genes, and other pre-existing conditions. With lab animals the complete medical history is known, the entire life of each animal is documented. Also they are selectively bred to produce genetically similar subjects. Simply put, lab animals are a cheap, reliable source of information. The benefits gained from animal testing are too widespread to ignore. Everyday life has been changed for the better because of this testing. As 1990 Nobel Prize Laureate Joseph E. Murray, M.D. said, Animal experimentation has been essential to the development of all cardiac surgery, transplantation surgery, joint replacements and all vaccinations ( Americans for Medical Progress 1). The numbers to back up this claim are that over 440,000 open-heart surgeries are performed and 11,000 kidneys are transplanted every year, not to mention that animal experimentation has made possible the salvation of 20,000 kidney dialysis patients each year (Botting 1). Also, the ability to test on animals has made possible the relatively safe and successful use of dangerous chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer (Americans for Medical Progress 1). Drugs such as this cannot be tested on humans because of their strength and potential for killing in inappropriate doses. If the proper dosage were not known, the results would be inaccurate and could be lethal. Many antibiotics and vaccines used today were developed and tested through animal research, as were insulin to control diabetes and nearly all modern anesthetics (Botting 1). It is hard to imagine life without some of these lifesaving drugs, or even the ones that do not save lives, just make life a little more bearable. It is likewise significant to note that animal testing has benefited animals as well. When a pet owner takes his or her animal to the veterinarian to receive shots, chances are that those shots are available because of animal experimentation. Heartworm, feline leukemia, rabies, anthrax, and tetanus are all preventable because of animal testing. PETA and HSUS are honorable institutions with admirable goals, but they are over idealistic and overzealous. That fact can best be described by the following quote: Animal rights activists blocked for two years research aimed at stopping transmission of HIV from mother to child. That research ultimately demonstrated how AZT can prevent babies from getting AIDS (Americans for Medical Progress). Sometimes the good of the many outweighs the good of the few. This does not mean that animal testing should go unchecked. Suffering is kept to a minimum by legislation and advancements in testing alternatives. As these alternatives progress, the number of live animals needed for testing will gradually decrease and eventually the need for them will hopefully be eliminated. But in the meantime, animal testing is too important to stop. The benefits waiting to be had are too important and any possible drawbacks are too insignificant to allow a halt in animal research. BibliographyBibliographyAnimal Testing by the Cosmetic Industry. (20 March 1999). Animal Research Saves Human and Animal Lives. Americans for Medical Progress. (20 March 1999). Animal Research Holds the Key to Saving Human Lives. Americans for Medical Progress. (20 March 1999). Ball, Matt and Anne Green, and Jack Norris. Veganism as the Path to Animal Liberation. The Animals Agenda Sep/Oct 1998: 44-45. Botting, Jack H. and Adrian R. Morrison. Animal Research is Vital to Medicine. Scientific American. 187 February 1997: 83-85. D. E. Skin Stand-Ins. Scientific American. September 1990: 168. James-Enger, Kelly. Beyond Animal Testing. Vegetarian Times. October 1998: 254. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. (20 March 1999). 21 Things You May Not Know About the Animal Rights Movement. Americans for Medical Progress. (20 March 1999). U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Animal Welfare Report Fiscal Year 1997. READ: The Terminal Man Essay

Examining the alleged barriers to acceptance of credit cards Essay

Examining the alleged barriers to acceptance of credit cards - Essay Example However, in order to understand whether this is accurate, one must examine the characteristics of the cash-carry banking culture and also investigate how consumers determine risk in this area. It is somewhat of a bold statement to contribute the aforementioned factors as being legitimate barriers to credit card acceptance. Why is this? Schmith (2008) provides statistics of the explosive growth in credit card penetration across the world. In some countries, credit card usage has outpaced total national growth (i.e. GDP) and the trend in consumer credit card usage continues to escalate significantly (Schmith 2008). There is more evidence, rather, that disruptive innovations in the market place, such as mobile payment systems, are providing a new incentive for consumers to reject credit cards in favour of more modern technologies associated with payment and banking. A disruptive innovation is one defined as a product or service capable of supplanting or transforming an established marke t (Christensen and Raynor 2003). Hence, evolutions in payment systems, such as electronic banking or mobile banking, are transforming available options, making switching costs very low for consumers to select alternatives to credit cards. Do, then, risk perception and cultural characteristics of the cash-carry banking culture actually serve as barriers to credit card adoption? Research indicates that there are far too many explanatory factors for why consumers might reject acceptance of credit cards that are aligned with specific market beliefs and market needs. These factors include the appropriate design of advertising communications by a marketing business, competition...This is aligned properly with many consumer behavioural models that illustrate the processes of selection, organisation and interpretation that involves much psycho-social influence both inherent and stemming from the external environment. Thus, particular segments that do see risk associated with involvement in credit cards, either social, economic, or perhaps privacy related would have different motives from other markets that find trust and reliability in the rather mature credit card industry. The cash and carry consumer, one that values traditionalism in the financial services industry, might be adaptable to accepting credit cards if their evaluative criteria finds an appropriate match with the messages and other related stimuli provided by marketing entities. At least theory would seem to dictate this, but again without knowing exacting market characteristics, a well-justified hypothesis would be difficult to produce. However, there is ample evidence that credit card usage continues to explode and research did not uncover any legitimised data that cash and carry cultures and risk establish barriers to credit card adoption.

Ford Motors as the Best Company to Work with Essay

Ford Motors as the Best Company to Work with - Essay Example This research is being carried out to evaluate and present reasons why Ford Motors is the best. The company pays competitive salaries without delay. This is because the company always makes profits which it uses it to remunerate its employees. The minimum wage for the ordinary worker ranges from $1700 to $450k for the managers. Many people are seeking to be employed in an organization that makes profits and has increased sales. This is because their jobs are secured. The company makes profits through increased sales. Employees are motivated by the on the job training. This means that there is always an opportunity for the employees to have more knowledge. Employees are given incentives such as a provision of laptops for the jobs. They are also given some of the vehicles to use to cruise to their places of work.Houses are given free of charge once an employee. Extra hours are paid accordingly so as to encourage them to work extra hard. The promotion is given to hard work and performan ce. This encourages them to put more effort so as to perform so as to get the promotion. The company is also concerned of the employee through having health Insurance , pension plan, maternity and paternity leave and vacation & time off (sick days)

Do you feel that a manager can motivate employees Why or Why not Assignment

Do you feel that a manager can motivate employees Why or Why not - Assignment Example Managers are therefore responsible to create a working environment that is contributory to the working of individual workers and their actions can have a direct impact on the motivation level of employees. Ranging from their relationship with the subordinates to the handling of complex organizational tasks, the managers have to perform a wide array of activities on routine basis. Human interaction is a very challenging aspect of managerial positions and it is essential for managers to face this challenge in order to allow the working of organization in a smooth manner. One prime importance of effective working relationships is the impact that these relationships can have on the productivity of organizations. If healthy relationships exist between managers and the working staff, the workers get their desired motivation and hence the productivity of an organization increases which is of course the central aim of every organization. On the other hand, poor working relationships can contribute to demotivation and employees can therefore hinder the progress at organizational level. This paper will take into account the role that managers can play in motivating employees and attempt to expl ain why I feel that managers can motivate employees. The managerial leadership can perform a key role in motivating employees. Managers can take a number of actions that can serve to improve the performance and hence result in enhanced outcomes of the activities of the organization (Lee, 2007). Since the actions taken by Managers can directly affect the lives and working pattern of employees, managers are in a position to motivate employees. The main driver of daily activities is the economic interest of individuals and organizations. Managers can work to align the economic interest of employees with the performance of organization (Kirkman et al, 1999). Provision of incentives that provide monetary compensation upon achievement of certain targets can be

Finance - British Petroleum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Finance - British Petroleum - Essay Example There were many reasons that affected the BP share prices during beginning of 2011. The issue that had highly impacted the BP share prices was the decision taken by Transocean Ltd after conducting an internal investigation. Transocean Ltd is the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor whom the BP had contract with. They provide the most versatile fleet of mobile offshore drilling machineries to assist customers find and utilise efficiently oil and natural gas reserves. Transocean Ltd announced on June 22, 2011 the release of an internal investigation report illustrating the reasons behind the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20, 2010. Transocean operated and owned the Deepwater Horizon rig that was drilling on the oil well in the Gulf of Mexico and their report had an impact on the BP prices the following weeks. In the opinion of Transocean, HP was to be held accountable for the disaster at the rigs as HP was controlling the drilling process at the oil well . The report explains that some of the inaccurate decisions made by HP resulted in the massive explosion on the oil well. According to the findings of the report the reason behind the explosion was the preparing a wrong design of the well, which was carried out by BP, together with an ineffective cement program. The guardian reports this; â€Å"the explosion and the oil spill was the result of a succession of well design, construction, and temporary abandonment decisions that compromised the integrity of the well and compounded the risk of its failure; the Swiss firm, Transocean Ltd, also said that many of the decisions were made by well owner BP in the two weeks before the incident† (The Guardian, 2011). Lacombe (2011) said that the report of Transocean can affect the BP share prices as it indicated that the decisions of BP included narrowing of the geological window in order to keep the drilling safe. Moreover, at the end of the week the BP share prices had declined to arou nd 437.15p (Yahoo Finance, 2011). However, after the sudden decline in the BP share price due to the Transocean report, the company was seen prospering in the market. Weatherford International was the first contractor whom the British Petroleum had been in association with at the Macondo oil well, and the business association continued for quite a long time. And when the financial management of the Weatherford International had taken the decision to clear all the settlement claims with the British Petroleum, the decision created a great effect on the PB share prices. In fact, Weatherford International was the first contractor whom the company was intending to make settlement with, and it was of great significance as the settlement process was moving forward and would potentially create a positive effect on BP share prices. Moreover, the financial management of the company decided to clear all its association at the Macondo oil well which has been the prime target at the oil spill at the Gulf of Mexico during last year. As Lacombe (2011), points out, when the good news about the Weatherford International’s settlement with British Petroleum at Macondo oil well was spread around, the BP share prices increased by 16.1p and was closed at 445.7p. Apart form these, Mitsui of Japan, one of the minority partners of the BP Company at the oil well, also made the decision to settle its claims with the company soon after the Weatherford I

Business Management - Work and Private life relating to Motivation and Essay

Business Management - Work and Private life relating to Motivation and Stress in Organization - Essay Example These needs are divided into higher order and lower order needs. Self-actualization and esteem are the higher order needs, while social, safety, and psychological are the lower level needs (Cherry). Higher order needs tend to be more important as workers move up the corporate ladder. Imagine a new worker starting out at corporation. This person does not have any friends among his colleagues. The individual will be motivated to accomplish social bonds with his fellow workers. Another theory that explains motivation in the workplace is Adam’s equity theory. The equity theory states that people will act to eliminate any felt inequity in the rewards received from their work in comparison with others. An example of equity theory in action would be the case of one worker receiving preferential treatment from the boss. The rest of the staff will feel that the actions of the managers are unfair. A third theory of motivation is Vroom’s expectancy theory. Expectancy theory states that motivation is determined by individual beliefs regarding effort/performance relationships and work outcomes (Valuebasedmanagement). Companies that reward their employees for achieving higher levels of performance are aligned with expectancy theory. Due to the pressures of the workplace many employees suffer from stress. Stress can be defined as tension from extraordinary demands, constraints, or opportunities (Schermerhorn, et al., p.409). Stress is an unwanted occurrence because it reduces the work performance of the workers and it negatively impacts the health of a person. Workers can feel either constructive or destructive stress. An example of constructive stress occurs when a person gets a promotion and is starting out his/ her new duties. The person will feel stress because the individual is not accustomed to the new job and the person is overly excited about the opportunity. Destructive stress has a negative impact on the performance and attitude of the

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ORANGE TELECOM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF ORANGE TELECOM - Essay Example Its brand Orange Business Services caters to the telecommunication needs of multinational companies and is very successful at that (Orange Telecom, n.d.). Orange grew tremendously over a short spell in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It started off as a mobile phone brand and moved on to become one of the leading providers of broadband, content and other related services worldwide. Orange competed with brands like Intel and L’Oreal for the title of World’s most powerful brands by Millward Brown Optimor in 2010 and reached the 50th rank after climbing 14 spots from 2007. Markets like those in Luxemburg and Tunisia have acceded to the kingdom of Orange and this accounts for the huge increase in the customer base of Orange. Orange Telecom’s presence in Africa and Middle East is quite noticeable and includes 19 countries with 60 million customers and 16,700 employees (Orange Telecom, n.d.). Orange France had 80,000 employees at the end of 2010. Orange has a strategic plan called Conquests 2015 under which it will develop a new organizational model in order to improve even more in areas involving well bei ng of employees, economic performance and satisfaction of customers. The prime reason behind this plan is to position Orange as the number one telecom operator in France in terms of customer care (European Network for Women in Leadership, 2011) Profitability Ratios: The gross profit margin for Orange Telecom is showing a rather fluctuating trend from 2006 to 2010. The profitability decreased as it was 59.49% in 2009 and fell to 58.68% in 2010. This fall can be attributed to the fall in revenue as well as the increase in cost of sales in 2010. As seen in the horizontal analysis (appendix), revenue percentage growth is negative in 2009 and 2010 as a result of which gross profit decreased in both the years and so did the gross profit margin. The overall trend for the operating profit margin has been

Using Metaphors in Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Using Metaphors in Organizations - Essay Example This essay stresses that metaphorical way of looking at an organization is a very useful way of understanding the organization, developing new concepts and theories that can help in better management and growth of the organization. This can potentially have a very positive influence on the society and environment as well. The discussion above explains how two different metaphors for the same organization can create completely different perceptions and theories in terms of their operations, people, customers and stakeholders. This paper makes a conclusion that emphasis on metaphors can be considered as one of the oldest, most deeply embedded, even indispensable ways of knowing in the history of human consciousness and also form the basis of some of the most central ideas of understanding a concept. In fact, many theorists have agreed with the three reasons Ortony. These theories state that metaphors provide a compact version of an event; they enable people to predict characteristics that are unnamable, and; they are more vivid emotionally, sensorially and cognitively because they are close to perceived experience. In spite of the power embraced by metaphorical expressions, their exploitation creates lot of misunderstanding of the concept. The positive outcomes of metaphorical expression of organizations as brains can be attributed to the sophistication in information processing systems used by the organization, their capacity to handle huge data, and their ability to think and act strategically.

How A Student Can Get an A or an F in Freshman English Essay Example for Free

How A Student Can Get an A or an F in Freshman English Essay Most students know the answer to the question as to how one gets an A or an F in Freshman English class. The reasons are basically the same with how one gets either grade in their other academic subjects. Also, after going through different English classes from grade school to high school, the student should have more or less gathered ideas on how to ace or fail the subject, the criteria almost similar for each grade level of English classes the differences mainly on the difficulty level of the lessons and the complexity of the skills and performance required from the students. This essay will point out several of these factors by which the freshman student can get an A or an F in his first English class in college. These reasons are interrelated but not interdependent with each other. Meaning, the presence of all these factors in one student makes it most probable for him to get an A but the lack of one or some of them do not mean that the student would fail to get an A. An important fact to point out is that A and F occupy the extreme ends of a grading scheme, with A being the best grade and F being the worst that a student can get. It follows therefore that the reasons why a student gets an A in Freshman English are the opposites of the reasons as to why another student gets an F. Like most English subjects, Freshman English entails a lot of reading. This is to develop further the reading and comprehension skills that students have been training for since they started learning the alphabets in kindergarten. Reading is a continuous exercise that is sharpened with practice or gets rusty with the lack of it. Teachers realize this. Some reading assignments in Freshmen English include literary texts, books and articles. Students that read assigned texts diligently and religiously according to when they are supposed to be read—or even do advance and extra reading—get A during evaluation quizzes. Those who are lazy or those who rely on reading summaries when the teacher required the reading of the whole text, more than often get the F. Aside from reading, the subject requires a lot of writing on the part of the student. Freshmen English teachers like to assign paperwork for various reasons. To test whether the student read the required story, novel or essay, the teacher would assign a book report, a reaction or analysis paper of the text. Another reason is to exercise the critical thinking skills of the student. The teacher would assign papers on a variety of topics, both about the subject matter discussed in class and other topics he deems relevant for the student to know and think about. To enhance the creativity of the student, the teacher could require him to write a poem, personal essay or story. Students who comply with these writing assignments and who exert the effort to conduct research when necessary can get an A. The students that simply submit something just for the sake of complying with the requirement, or who do not submit papers at all, get F. Paying attention to the teacher’s lectures and listening to what are being discussed during class hours is another area that differentiates the A from the F student. The textbook does not contain everything that needed to be learned. The role of the teacher is also to supplement the knowledge that can be acquired through the textbook. Usually, the items that appear in quizzes and test are those which the teacher emphasizes during lectures. Also, listening to class lectures is actually a substitute for studying independently. Any student would realize that if he listens carefully during class discussion, he would not need to study as hard anymore since when all the senses are involved in the learning process, like what happens during a class discussion, more learning occurs. The student who gets A know this fact. The F student crams during exams because he prefers to daydream during class hours or be absent altogether. Genetics also play a role in differentiating the A student from the F student. It is unfair but it is a recognized fact that a high IQ can also be inherited. Smart parents usually bear smart kids. The intelligence can even be subject-specific. A father who loves Math could have a son who loves numbers as much as him. A student who loves English may have a Dad who also loves the subject and this passion is simply being passed on to the child—an A student in English. If the student is predisposed because of his genes to be naturally good in communication activities and this talent is accompanied with diligence, he will get an A in freshman English. Getting an A or an F in Freshman English is not always because of factors that pertain to the student. The environment in which the student lives in can also play a part in determining whether he would get the best or worst grade in the subject. Teachers who inspire their students to do their best usually do make them perform their best. A boring English teacher encourages absenteeism and slack among students. Nobody wants to sleep in the classroom but the droning voices of some English teachers just induce sleepiness. Meanwhile, some students might begin the semester hating English, but this could change given the right motivations from the teacher such as interesting discussions, topics that cater to the interest of the student’s age group, and interactive activities that stimulate their creativity and multiple intelligences. A fact is that if many students in a class get an A after the semester, for certain the character of the teacher and his teaching methodologies had something to do with it. Home culture is also a reason why some students can get an A while others get F in Freshman English. A home which is rich in literary texts and reading materials are beneficial to the English student. A young person who grows up with a family who encourages the development of good reading habits among its members would have fewer problems getting an A in English class because he would already have developed one of the major skills required in the subject. More so, if the individual also writes for a hobby. The home training would also be complete if the parents are supportive of their children’s studies especially their interest in the subject. Students who get F usually lack follow-up and attention at home. Nobody tells them to study or encourages them to read. Finally, friends can also have something to do with the grade one gets in a subject. They are actually very influential with regards to whether the student would still have time to study, be interested with matters that pertain to school, and aim for good grades. If aside from the usual teenage activities one’s friends also encourage reading amongst themselves, conducting group studies, helping out in doing class assignments and projects, and getting the best possible grades, the student would have better chances of getting an A in his English class. The factors enumerated above are basic yet important reasons as to how a student can get an A or an F in Freshman English class. Knowing them, applying them in one’s life as a freshman student, or adjusting some things that do not apply to the individual, could be helpful in his getting a better grade when the report card comes out at the end of the semester.

Abstract Emerging Technologies Essay Example for Free

Abstract Emerging Technologies Essay Emerging Technologies and the use of Wireless technology in them is a growing demand and a reason for concerned for any IT department.Who ever pioneers this concept must be ready to evolve making fast and quick decisions both at lower and upper management.Allocating resources for equipment that will help meet the demand and also strategizing how the company will go forward.One thing that I have seen especially with the company that I work for which is a leading telecommunications company in the world is that there are still rules and procedures that were implemented during the end of the 2G era to the start of the 3G era. These were very successful during that time but currently they are absolute and they need to be replaced based on the current technology and current situations on the ground now. The importance of such procedures being investigated will help to focus the organisation on success and how to meet them.Since this is a competitive market how you move the company to respond to the growing market will help us maintain our market share and also grow our market share.Wireless technology is now a part of many households and am not referring to their cell phones.From Blue Ray players, TVs tablets ,cameras,refrigerators, rice cookers and the new cars are just a typical example of one household and all what they have and more that depends on wireless technology.How do we support all these devices making sure they have throughput and very little latency The objective is to bring the support and implementation part of these technology by asking the correct questions.How can we effectively deploy these technologies and the same time support them and provide the best customer service for our customers.We have to take a lot things into consideration when talking about the implementations. At what rates is the deployment going to take how much data will be allocated to customers based on need. Another important part also is are we going to be supporting some of these device like OnStar on Ford or we just provides the wireless and the end user does the support eg a PC.These are very important as there are contracts that have to be drawn to clearly specify where and when our responsibility starts and ends.

Eu Membership Advantages And Disadvantages To Uk Economy Economics Essay

Eu Membership Advantages And Disadvantages To Uk Economy Economics Essay Creating a level playing field for trade across Europe requires harmonised legislation in many areas of work and life, from social policies to health and safety legislation to the regulation of advertising. What looks fair to some can seem heavy-handed to others. Getting the right balance demands constant constructive engagement. Successive British governments have had little doubt that the benefits to the UK economy outweigh any problems, and make it important to continue to push forward our role in the EU. The EU has cemented peace between European nations after centuries of war. It has used that peace to build the largest single market in the developed world, bringing greater prosperity to all member states (including the UK). When the whole of Europe speaks together we have more clout on the world stage. Looking out in the world today we can see strong growing economies such as China and America, both have millions of inhabitants and strong currencies. With the EU membership in place and more joining the UK will stand a greater chance against these two large forces. We are stronger in trade negotiations if we negotiate as one economic bloc, and diplomatic initiatives, designed to improve our security, can be more effective with the support of European partners. As well as economic benefits joining countries together in union with each other will hold many political benefits. Its founding is a step towards European integration, to prevent war in the union. Its a well known fact that countries that trade effectively together dont wage war on each other, this means peace throughout Europe and beyond (we hope). Nato and the alliance with the United States remains the guarantee of defence for most European countries. Access to EU Funds Extra funds and grants are available to businesses in order to improve economic welfare in high unemployment and deprived areas. The European Social Fund provides funds for vocational training, helping to create jobs. The programmes work through direct spending on transport and other infrastructure, and on training people and helping them learn new skills. Several parts of the UK have benefited from these funds, including Northern Ireland, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, and West Wales and the Valleys. Freedom to trade and work The single European market is the worlds largest free trade area. Europes businesses enjoy a home market of 490 million people, selling goods and services without tariffs or other trade restrictions, and to common safety standards. The market has created more competitive services, greater choice and lower prices, supporting wealth and job creation. It has lowered business costs, and opened new opportunities. 67% of UK trade is within the EU (compared to 16% for the USA), and the UK benefits from inward investment from companies within the EU. For many it has also increased the burden of red tape. Such regulation is one of the areas where Britain is looking for improved performance. The Commissions better regulation agenda is starting to see results, assessing the impact of new regulations, simplifying and even cancelling existing ones. Some may argue that the main benefit of the EU is free trade. Some argue back that the UK could retain the benefits, even if it left. For example, Switzerland is not in EU but benefits from EU trade. Co-ordinated economic policies The EU provides a forum where member countries can share best practice and learn from others experiences helping to ensure that European businesses can compete effectively in global markets developing the right infrastructure for a successful modern economy. Although some may favour the new infrastructures others find them less appealing or find them-selves less suited to the change. Like the UK government favours adopting the Euro in principle, but will only join when the economic conditions are right. Others still disagree the Euro should be adopted at all. Freedom, security and justice EU member countries are working together to create an area of freedom, security and justice across Europe. All of the member countries, except the UK and Ireland, have agreed to scrap their border controls with each other. They allow citizens to travel freely without checks at the internal borders. The UK and Ireland have a right to choose whether to sign up to EU laws on border controls, immigration and asylum. The UK and Ireland play a proactive role with other member states in working to tackle illegal immigration and abuse of the asylum system. Increased Immigration as a single market requires free movement of labor. This has led to an inflow of immigrants from Eastern Europe; this has placed a strain on housing and other amenities in the UK. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) The CAP has been reformed, but arguably it still is an inefficient method of subsidizing the declining agricultural sector. For a long time the EU has maintained target prices for agricultural goods above the market price; this has various disadvantages: Higher prices for consumers Higher Tariffs on Imports required, this has been a stumbling block to trade High prices encouraged oversupply. EU had to buy surplus that was created. Expensive for EU Taxpayer. CAP budget accounts for nearly 50% of total EU budget. It costs UK  £14 billion per year. The CAP alone is 50% of the EU budget, and costs the UK  £14 billion per year, with most of this money going to French farmers. The EU subsidises farmers, but penalises them for growing too much which leads to higher food prices. The UK has a relatively small but efficient agricultural sector; therefore it benefits the least from CAP. Higher Utility Prices and EU Law EU law allows foreign companies to buy UK utility companies, who then said to overcharge us. The EUs high renewable energy targets will cost British families  £750 in higher energy prices. Water bills are also rising by 20%, because of new EU regulations. Laws being imposed on UK businesses and citizens from decisions made in Brussels, which may benefit some member states but have a negative impact on the UK. Action on the environment On the environment, it is vital to work together to tackle serious common problems that cross national borders, such as pollution. The EU is strongly committed to sustainable development and the Kyoto agreement on tackling climate change. Action to tackle environmental problems can create jobs and benefit the economy, for example by encouraging companies to make renewable-energy technologies like solar panels, hydrogen cells and wind turbines. This will help make the EU a leader in a growing global market. Explore one area of economic activity in the UK which EU membership has and does affect. The Carphone warehouse (CPW) was founded in 1989 to bring mobile services to consumers. They have grown from a handful of stores operating exclusively in the UK, to a European-wide platform of over 1500 stores in 10 countries. The EU gives the UK access to the worlds largest single market consisting of 27 countries with over 490 million potential customers. CPW like all UK businesses currently have access to trade freely in all of the 27 member states. Thanks to the EUs free trade area and a customs union the Single market works for businesses by ensuring that everyone is competing on a level playing field and able to move resources freely amongst member states. The EU promotes free trade among member states while acting as a protectionist bloc against the rest of the world. The customs union of the EU: Establishes a free trade area between states. Erects common external tariffs to charge on imports from non-member countries. Free trade areas have been achieved by the elimination of trade restrictions. Many businesses like CPW have found this to open doors into new markets. Government figures in fact show trade within the EU has risen by 30% since 1992. Without out these areas many businesses including CPW would not be able to trade goods and services with the rest of Europe (or do so as easily). As well as free trade the common market also means complete mobility of funds and labour. A British citizen has the freedom to work in any of the European countries and vicar versa. For CPW this provides the skills of labour required to compete efficiently and the opportunity to gain EU funds if necessary. The absence of border bureaucracy has cut delivery times and reduced costs. Before the frontiers came down, the tax system alone required 60 million customs clearance documents annually: these are no longer needed. For CPW and traders alike it means there is no need to submit any tax declarations or customs declarations at all. Increase in trade and increase in competition, these factors drive innovation and better efficiency between firms. This in turn not only benefits the consumer but improves infrastructures and communication. With IT and telecommunications improved and more accessible CPW is able to speed up distribution times for example. The development of common standards for equipment; means being able to invest and operate in distant EU countries is becoming easier and less risky. Firms that learn to compete more effectively can benefit from economies of scale. Open trade policy makes EU firms match the world best Stable exchange rates cement the internal market. Internal market rules embody a high level of environmental protection. Basic workplace rights, will bring economic prosperity accompanied by better living and working conditions.(this however is argued y some people to be bad for business). The road haulage market is being liberalised by eliminating bureaucratic red-tape. Shipping services between member countries are also to be provided on equal terms and as competition on air routes increases the result should be lower fares. For CPW the transportation of goods from one country to another has become easier and cheaper. Lower fares could benefit businesses in lots of ways, through reduced costs in flights for business meetings or travelling to and from premises in the EU, reduced costs in transporting goods from one country to another and service businesses could benefit from more people travelling (tourists) due to cheaper flights. Banks and securities houses are able to provide banking and investment services anywhere in the EU allowing for numerous opportunities for growth and expansion. Elimination of trade restrictions covers the following areas: Physical barriers (e.g. customs inspections) on goods and services have been removed for most products. Companies have had to adjust to new VAT regimes as a consequence. Technical standards (e.g. for quality and safety) should be harmonised. Governments should not discriminate between EU companies in awarding public works contracts. Telecommunications should be subject to greater competition It should be possible to provide financial services in any country. It should be free movement of capital within the community Professional qualifications awarded in one member state should be recognised in others. The EU is at taking a co-ordinated stand on matters related to consumer protection All of these factors contribute towards a level playing ground making it fair and competitive for business to run. In all, a mutual recognition principle means that in most cases companies can do business across the EU by complying with the rules in their home Member State. Discuss how EU institutions can benefit a UK organisation. EU institutions can benefit UK businesses in many ways; their main aim is to ensure that everyone is competing on a level playing field. In order to achieve this level playing field the countries that make up the EU remain independent sovereign nations but share in the decision making process and work together to make sure legislation and regulation is carried out. The EUs decision-making process in general and the co-decision procedure in particular involve three main institutions: The European Parliament (EP), which represents the EUs citizens and is directly elected by them. The Council of the European Union, which represents the individual member states. The European Commission, which seeks to uphold the interests of the Union as a whole. This institutional triangle produces the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU. In principle, it is the Commission that proposes new laws, but it is the Parliament and Council that adopt them. The Commission and the member states will then implement them, and the Commission ensures that the laws are properly taken on board. Two other institutions have a vital part to play: the Court of Justice upholds the rule of European law, and the Court of Auditors checks the financing of the Unions activities. The powers and responsibilities of these institutions are laid down in the Treaties, which are the foundation of everything the EU does. They also lay down the rules and procedures that the EU institutions must follow. The Treaties are agreed by the presidents and/or prime ministers of all the EU countries, and ratified by their parliaments. It is The European Commission that acts as an executive of the EU. The commission is first and foremost the guardian of the treatise. It is an impartial body which sees to it that the treaties, and decisions based on them, are correctly applied. It can initiate infringement proceedings against any member state and may, if necessary refer matters to the European court of Justice. It can also impose fines on individuals or companies, notably when they act in breach of the commissions completion rules. The main tasks of the commission are to: Ensure that community rules and principles of the common market are observed. Make policy proposals to the council of ministers Enforce the implementation of legislation Administer Community expenditure EU Competition Policy The purpose of the EU Competition Policy is to defend the SEM Single European Market, eliminating restrictive practices. Stifling competition (EU has rules to prevent this) Collusion by price fixing and cartels (article 81) Miss allocation of resources Protects inefficient firms Reduces technical development Barriers to entry of new firms To prevent the abuse of a dominant position (article 82) To regulate acquisitions and mergers (European Merger Control Regulation 1989) Restrict state aid to Indigenous firms Governments shouldnt be bailing out lame duck businesses State aid Commission can prohibit if it adversely affects the EU Ensures governments do not unfairly favour their own national businesses The EU Social Policy The aim of the EU Social Policy is to create a level playing field and covers legislation that covers: Equal opportunities for men and women Working conditions Health and safety at work (All of this contributes to the harmonisation of working rights and employment conditions) The European Social Fund Was setup to invest in high unemployment and deprived areas, to provide funding for vocational training and help create jobs. Businesses are able to funding to invest in deprived areas and may be eligible for further grants from governments. Conclusion This means that in most cases thanks to the EU institutions companies can do business across the EU by complying with the rules in their home Member State. This saves time and also creates a sense of standardisation in which all competition is not stifled by one country having an advantage and all domestic competition is seen as fair. Explore the attraction of EU membership to potential members The further enlargement of the EU benefits existing member states. With each previous enlargement the EU has emerged stronger, more confident and more capable of acting on the world stage. Importantly, an enlarged EU will help us tackle threats which cannot be confined by geographical borders, from climate change and organised crime, to the fight against terrorism.   Close cooperation with our neighbours is a major force for dealing with such challenges. Whilst this explains how the existing states have benefited it should also highlight the benefits of further unity. Potential members will benefit in the same way. Who are the candidate members? Croatia Turkey Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Further enlargement enhances economic efficiency, drives innovation, provides funding and a level playing field for business.   For example, by increasing its internal market Turkey will improve their ability to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by globalisation. Many of the newer members of the EU have economies with much lower costs, making them attractive sources of production for businesses in this country; potential candidates will be in same situation or will benefit from work. If they join many workers from their states will come to work in the UK where wages will more than likely be higher, as well they will have access to the rest of the EUs states. For their economies membership to the EU is a means of stability growth. An enlarged EU also invites wider and richer cultural discussion and creativity. An exciting example of this is Enlarge your Vision the 2010 Young Journalist Award launched by the ECs directorate general for Enlargement. Conclusion The attraction of EU membership to potential countries can in fact be placed into two main parts: Economics Security. To conclude this, it can be seen that there are many advantages for a nation to become a member of the European Union. This is supported by the Cecchini report, which gives a rise of evidence to believe that there is a significant increase in GDP as a result of the common market produced by the integration of EU Countries. Obvious outcomes of a rise in GDP will increase the standard of living in these EU countries. Discuss the possible enlargement of the EU and the factors impacting on such possible Enlargement. Any European country which respects the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law may apply to become a member of the Union. The Treaty on European Union sets out these conditions. Next in order to apply they need to fulfil the economic and political conditions known as the Copenhagen criteria, according to which a potential member must: Be a stable democracy, respecting human rights, the rule of law and the protection of minorities Have a functioning market economy Adopt the common rules, standards and policies that make up the body of EU law The EU will assist potential countries in taking on EU laws and then they will provide a range of financial assistance to improve their infrastructure and economy. The potential benefits and problems of enlarging the EU are likely to come from many directions. Ranging from the beneficial outcomes of increasing economies of scale, to the potential danger that poorer EU nations will have to receive large budgets from existing EU nations. In addition, the EU must be able to integrate new members: it needs to ensure that its institutions and decision-making processes remain effective and accountable; it needs to be in a position, as it enlarges, to continue developing and implementing common policies in all areas; and it needs to be in a position to continue financing its policies in a sustainable manner. Another key component of integration is harmonization of key areas of policy involving coordination of policies on business and competition regulation, environmental policies, taxation, and fiscal and monetary policies. The threats to existing members are as follows: Existing members are afraid that their markets will be swamped by cheap imports from these countries. The markets which are most at risk are politically sensitive markets, such as agriculture and textiles, where the EU has traditionally imposed high tariff barriers to protect domestic industries. There is a fear that the contributions of rich countries to the EU budget would rise considerably following enlargement. If much poorer countries join the community, and regional and CAP payments are maintained. It is inevitable that there will be large budget transfers to the new members, paid for by existing members. Some countries fear that enlargement will delay plans to move towards even greater economic and political union. It would be difficult, for instance to implement a single currency in 1999 if in that year three countries joined the Union. Movements of labour and capital can also pose problems. There is a fear that capital would move to newly joined cheap labour countries whilst workers would move in large numbers from these countries to existing member countries, attracted by much higher wages . These points indicate large potential problems of new members joining the EU. The main one possibly being the inability for nations to reach Total Economic Integration. The reason behind this may lie in the fact that different economies in the EU will require different monetary and fiscal policies. While countries like the UK may need higher interest in order for people to save money and reduce consumption in order to wane inflation, a country like Hungary would require a lower interest rate in order to increase consumer expenditure and increase aggregate demand, hence increasing GDP. These problems are likely to cause conflict among policies. It is also shown that the UK, France and Germany have a vast advantage in terms of GDP in comparison to the Czech Republic and Hungary (potential EU members). This causes concern regarding the requirement for a convergence in economies within the EU regarding monetary policy. In June 2008, the French President Nicola Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the EU cannot enlarge beyond 27 states without reform of the institution of the current Treaty of Nice rules. Such a reform would happen if the Lisbon Treaty comes into force. Assess how enlargement of the EU may affect UK business in general and a specific organisation in particular. In this part of essay we will investigate how expansion of the EU will affect Carphone Warehouse in the future. The enlargement will: Bring down barriers to trade and business. UK companies will benefit from access to the largest single market for trade and investment in the world. Benefit UK consumers, giving them access to a wider range of goods and services at lower prices. Encourage GDP growth in both the candidate countries and the present EU 15. Require institutional changes within the EU itself. It also concludes that: The success of enlargement depends upon candidates being properly prepared so that they enhance the single market. Effective implementation of single market rules is vital and will help the candidates compete in the EU. Extending the single market will not just increase the number and scope of opportunities; it will also simplify doing business, as candidates introduce EU legislation and practices. This aim is reflected in the EU position that any transition periods granted to the candidates on entry should be exceptional. EU-funded pre-accession programmes offer real commercial opportunities for UK firms. As their economies grow and their consumers become more prosperous, the candidate countries offer great opportunities for UK trade and investment. Market liberalisation in areas such as telecoms and energy should also accelerate this process. The potential benefits and problems of enlarging the EU are likely to come from many directions. There are three main aspects of enlargement we will be looking at: Commercial opportunities Cheaper labours force Investment. Commercial opportunities As CPW is a UK organisation and already well established they will be faced with a lot of commercial opportunities by expansion of the EU. With more countries added to the EU they will of course be able to reach more customers. The immediate goal of the 1957 treaty of Rome was the establishment of a single or common market. If Turkey becomes a member state of the EU, they need cancel obvious barriers to trade such as tariffs or duties firstly. Then, it also should removal non-tariffs barriers which should also be integrated with current of the EUs policy. Therefore, the products of British companies will go into new and big market easier than before. They also can invest into new member states in which will have a lot of new investment opportunities. Therefore, now we can say the expansion of the EU into Eastern Europe can increase export opportunities for British companies. Cheaper labour force For British companies including CPW labour force will be cheaper. As the UK has a high living standard more and more cheaper job seekers, who are living poor Eastern Europe nations, will flow into British labour market. This means CPW can hire workers with low wage requirements. This will allow them then to reduce working costs so the can increase their products competitive advantage. Investment Access to more investment. The United Kingdom is still one of the most important financial centres in the world, The integration of the Central and Eastern European countries into the European Union is a win situation: The integration will increase wealth and prosperity in the new Member States and will stimulate economic growth in the current member states. An extra 100 million consumers will be part of the Internal Market. The remaining tariff barriers between the countries will be removed. Legal and technical trade barriers will vanish. The possibilities for trade and investment will be further enhanced and the expected high economic growth rates will radically enhance the purchasing powers of consumers in the candidate countries. Increasing trade will be a valuable contribution to the functioning of the enlarged the EU and the economic development of the entire continent. The enlargement has special significance for the United Kingdom. For the new members, accession to the EU implies great potential for increased trade and cooperation. This is a golden opportunity for British companies. During the last 10 years many British exporters and investors have secured strongholds in these markets, increasing exports dramatically. The present research shows, however, that the current level of trade only scratches the surface and that British trade with the new member countries can be multiplied many times over.

Hispanic, Worker, Student, Mother Essay -- Graduate College Admissions

Hispanic, Worker, Student, Mother    I am the only girl and middle child in a family of five siblings. As is common in Hispanic culture, my status was automatically placed below that of my brothers by virtue of my gender alone. Even as a teenager, I was not allowed to go out to movies alone with my friends; my younger brother was sent to keep an eye on me and report back to my mother. Needless to say, I was also not permitted to date in high school. At that time, without the social life afforded to other girls my age, I turned to academics.    Captivated by muckrakers, yellow journalism, and the sheer power of the printed word, I discovered through journalism my love for writing. The idea of writing something that would get the attention of my teenage peers, or anyone for that matter, appealed to me. In one column I wrote about gang activity at my high school. I argued for tougher disciplinary measures for gang members and against ineffective administrative procedures in dealing with gangs. However, one did not disrespect gangs in the school paper and expect it to go unnoticed. While my adviser feared for my safety, he agreed to run the column anyway. The day it ran, I walked into school with my head held high and prepared for the worst, but it never came. Instead I got people talking; talking about changes. I had succeeded in what I had intended for my writing. My senior year I became a correspondent for the El Paso Herald Post and earned an internship for the summer after graduation. Although I served as more of a gopher than a writer, no task was too small. I loved the opportunity to hang around the newsroom and witness seasoned veterans at work.    When summer ended I was terrified at the prospect ... ...e I had loved in academics. I needed to do more for my daughter and myself. In the summer of 1996, 1 walked off the job and back into the classroom.    Unlike the scared, sheltered girl fresh out of high school, I was now a single mother, a little older but far wiser. While I had longed for my mother's approval when I began college, I now had the admiration of my daughter. As her role model, I'm obligated not merely to teach her about responsibility but also to show her what is right through my actions. I have balanced academics, a child, a household, and a job (sometimes two jobs) every semester while continuing to have my writings published and making the best grades of my academic career. The decisions to keep my daughter and to raise her alone could have devastated my academic career, but instead they made me into a strong, dedicated, and balanced person.

Enron Corporation Essay -- Business Management History Essays

Enron Corporation Before filing for bankruptcy in 2001, Enron Corporation was one of the largest integrated natural gas and electricity companies in the world. It marketed natural gas liquids worldwide and operated one of the largest natural gas transmission systems in the world, totaling more than 36,000 miles. It was also one of the largest independent developers and producers of electricity in the world, serving both industrial and emerging markets. Timeline Enron began as Northern Natural Gas Company, organized in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1930. The company's founding came just a few months after the stock market crash of 1929, an unusual time to launch a new venture. Several aspects of the Great Depression actually worked in Northern's favor, however. Consumers initially were not enthusiastic about natural gas as a heating fuel, but its low cost led to its acceptance during tough economic times. High unemployment brought the new company a ready supply of cheap labor to build its pipeline system. The 1940s brought changes in Northern's regulation and ownership. The Federal Power Commission, created as a result of the Natural Gas Act of 1938, regulated the natural gas industry's rates and expansion. 1944: Acquires the gas-gathering and transmission lines of Argus Natural Gas Co. 1945: Argus properties are consolidated into a subsidiary called Peoples Natural Gas Co As time went on Northern kept expanding through acquisitions. First in 1967 it made an acquisition with Protane Corporation, a distributor of propane gas in the eastern US and the Carribbean. In 1976, Northern formed Northern Arctic Gas Company, a partner in the proposed Alaskan arctic gas pipeline, and Northern Liquid Fuels International Ltd., a supply and marketing company. 1980: Northern changes its name to InterNorth, Inc. Its attempted hostile takeover of Crouse-Hinds Co., an electrical products manufacturer, is thwarted by Cooper Industries. Northern Overthrust Pipeline Co. and Northern Trailblazer Pipeline Co. are set up to participate in the Trailblazer pipeline. Creates two exploration and production companies, Nortex Gas & Oil and Consolidex Gas and Oil Ltd. 1982: Forms Northern Intrastate Pipeline Co. and Northern Coal Pipeline Co. Establishes InterNorth International, Inc. to oversee non-U.S. operations InterNorth made an acquisition of enormous proportions in 1... ...d then they reported a $ 1 million charge in total. Then there was the project to build a natural gas 900 kilometer pipeline in Mozambique to Gauteng, South Africa which cost $700 million. Enron's contract is now considered overpriced. Nevertheless, Enron must pay for the gas even if it does not take possession of it and Enron has no customers for the gas. I feel that Enron had luck on it’s side for a while and were able to conquer all these different markets for a while. But they wanted too much power and money, much too fast for some of the markets they entered they had to dish out billions of dollars in up front capital investments on hard assets. . These capital investments were not expected to generate significant earnings or cash flow in the short term. This put pressure on Enron’s balance sheet. I would of not tried to expand so rapidly and gave time for my projects, mergers and aquasitions to progress and then expand instead of rushing. I would of not spent so much time and money on contributions to political parties trying to gain deregulation and to stop gov’t oversight. I would of done things properly and legally that way gov’t oversight would of not been a problem.

Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation Essay -- Philosophy Learnin

Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation The theory of constructivism rests on the notion that there is an innate human drive to make sense of the world. Instead of absorbing or passively receiving objective knowledge that is "out there," learners actively construct knowledge by integrating new information and experiences into what they have previously come to understand, revising and reinterpreting old knowledge in order to reconcile it with the new (Billett 1996). The cognitive structures that learners build include procedural knowledge (how--techniques, skills, and abilities) and propositional knowledge (that--facts, concepts, propositions). Often neglected are dispositions--attitudes, values, and interests that help learners decide: Is it worth doing? Knowing how and that is not sufficient without the disposition to do. Other key features of knowledge construction are functional context, social context, and usefulness. The process works most effectively when it is embedded in a context in which new knowledge and skills will be used. Research on thinking and learning reinforces the idea that people learn through interaction with others (Johnson and Thomas 1994). Although learning is a matter of personal and unique interpretation, it takes place within the social context. In addition, learning must be useful to the learner; intrinsic motivation emerges from the desire to understand, to construct meaning (Billett 1996). Using a constructivist approach, teachers facilitate learning by encouraging active inquiry, guiding learners to question their tacit assumptions, and coaching them in the construction process. This contrasts with the behavioralist approach that has dominated education, in which the teacher dissemina... ...." Journal of Technology Studies 20, no. 1 (Winter-Spring 1994): 33-45. (EJ 494 218) Lynch, R. L. Designing Vocational and Technical Teacher Education for the 21st Century. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1997. Parnell, D. "Cerebral Context." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 3 (March 1996): 19-21, 50. (EJ 519 286) Rahn, M. "Lively Connections." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 5 (May 1996): 33-35, 60. (EJ 522 561) Schell, J. W., and Babich, A. M. "Tech-Prep and the Development of Higher-Order Thinking Skills among Learners with Special Needs." Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education 16, no. 2 (Fall 1993): 6-13. (EJ 472 196) Stevenson, J., ed. Cognition at Work: The Development of Vocational Expertise. Leabrook, Australia: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 1994. (ED 380 542) Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation Essay -- Philosophy Learnin Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation The theory of constructivism rests on the notion that there is an innate human drive to make sense of the world. Instead of absorbing or passively receiving objective knowledge that is "out there," learners actively construct knowledge by integrating new information and experiences into what they have previously come to understand, revising and reinterpreting old knowledge in order to reconcile it with the new (Billett 1996). The cognitive structures that learners build include procedural knowledge (how--techniques, skills, and abilities) and propositional knowledge (that--facts, concepts, propositions). Often neglected are dispositions--attitudes, values, and interests that help learners decide: Is it worth doing? Knowing how and that is not sufficient without the disposition to do. Other key features of knowledge construction are functional context, social context, and usefulness. The process works most effectively when it is embedded in a context in which new knowledge and skills will be used. Research on thinking and learning reinforces the idea that people learn through interaction with others (Johnson and Thomas 1994). Although learning is a matter of personal and unique interpretation, it takes place within the social context. In addition, learning must be useful to the learner; intrinsic motivation emerges from the desire to understand, to construct meaning (Billett 1996). Using a constructivist approach, teachers facilitate learning by encouraging active inquiry, guiding learners to question their tacit assumptions, and coaching them in the construction process. This contrasts with the behavioralist approach that has dominated education, in which the teacher dissemina... ...." Journal of Technology Studies 20, no. 1 (Winter-Spring 1994): 33-45. (EJ 494 218) Lynch, R. L. Designing Vocational and Technical Teacher Education for the 21st Century. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1997. Parnell, D. "Cerebral Context." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 3 (March 1996): 19-21, 50. (EJ 519 286) Rahn, M. "Lively Connections." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 5 (May 1996): 33-35, 60. (EJ 522 561) Schell, J. W., and Babich, A. M. "Tech-Prep and the Development of Higher-Order Thinking Skills among Learners with Special Needs." Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education 16, no. 2 (Fall 1993): 6-13. (EJ 472 196) Stevenson, J., ed. Cognition at Work: The Development of Vocational Expertise. Leabrook, Australia: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 1994. (ED 380 542)

War is A Such a Waste

War is unquestionably a noticeable presence throughout the history of the human race. In the last century alone, violence and anger has stretched worldwide twice. Little skirmishes constantly erupt. Even terrorism is a form of war. Everyone wants to be in charge, and have everything go their way, resorting to violence and fear tactics to achieve this. But is it worth it? Are the lives, and economy, including both time and resources, really worth sacrificing in order to gain political achievement? The most obvious waste in war is the lives. Thousands die, on both sides, and even lives that have nothing to do with the issues involved. In an ideal world, only soldiers and leaders would be the ones to suffer. However, more than just these two groups are injured, and killed in combat. In open war, soldiers, nurses, and animals working for both sides of the army die. Also, civilians, including old men, women, and children that happen to be too near the action, are also slaughtered. The surrounding environment, flora and fauna suffer grievously. Bullets, bombs, gases, poisons, and tanks have all caused more than their share of lives to be ended in the name of benefiting some goal. The worst are all the innocent lives that our lost. This is not only a modern thing, since warfare began those too close to the front line, or in some way threatening the cause, have been murdered. Their is often wartime â€Å"battles† with the word, massacre, attached to the name. In these cases, often soldiers, police, or militia attack and slaughter unarmed civilians, who are often only protesting a simple thing, using non-violentmethods. A well-known case at the moment is in East Timor. They voted for freedom, and our now being hunted down in the streets, shot if seen walking through the town. And when speaking of waste of lives in war time, it is impossible to not bring up World War II. The notorious death camps can not escape mention. Millions were gathered from their peaceful homes, and brought to these camps to be worked and starved to death, if not immediately beaten, shot, or gassed. Over 6 millions Jews alone lost their lives in this senseless ways. This is not even counting the gypsies, Slavs, and handicapped that were suffering in similar ways in the hopes of reaching a goal, in this case, the goal of purifying Germany. Time is also wasted in several ways. First, the progress forward people could be making usually stops during war, or is at least limited to new weapon making technology. The government doesn†t support certain organizations as much as in the past, and there are sometimes just not enough people to work the man-hours necessary. Time is also wasted, in a less direct way, by the things people miss out. Like education for example. War time education is of much poorer standards than education in peace. This will later affect the economy, when untaught children make their way into the business world. Resources are also squandered during war. Raw materials, such as those from mines, are often put into making weapons, which serve only one purpose, to kill. They are then lost in the blood and violence. In history, materials are often recalled to be melted down and reformed into things useful to the war effort. Manufacturing on peaceful items is halted, and turned over to the construction of airplane parts, tank, bullets, etc. Farming suffers, setting back the nation. There is not enough money in the national budget to pay to help small farmers, or farmers families whose main provider went off to work. Money is wasted, going towards the war budget instead of science, education, and other divisions set forth to better the future for the whole of humanity. It is questionable, however, whether these are truly wasted. It†s is clear, and unarguable that many things are squandered and spent in a time of war. However, if all negotiating fails, perhaps they aren†t such a waste. Lives are a terrible thing to waste, but it is better to lose thousands, than to lose millions. It still is not right that things should die, when they are not even involved. But if the battle that took their lives had not taken place, who knows what their lives would have become. When you have a person who will not listen to reason, breaks any deal you make, and wholly ignores what†s right and wrong, force is sometimes the only thing they understand. The time spent is one of the most difficult, because there is no way to get it back. If people do not take a break from their jobs to fix the evils in the world, who knows if they†re job would still be there down the road. The resources are not unlimited, but if not spent on materials for war, then the military would stumble, unable to withstand the powerful, better equipped adversary. These things are wasted, but war, as a whole, is not a waste.