Monday, September 30, 2019

Fantasy’s Inability to Overcome Reality Essay

Although Williams’s protagonist in A Streetcar Named Desire is the romantic Blanche DuBois, the play is a work of social realism. Blanche explains to Mitch that she fibs because she refuses to accept the hand fate has dealt her. Lying to herself and to others allows her to make life appear as it should be rather than as it is. Stanley, a practical man firmly grounded in the physical world, disdains Blanche’s fabrications and does everything he can to unravel them. The antagonistic relationship between Blanche and Stanley is a struggle between appearances and reality. It propels the play’s plot and creates an overarching tension. Ultimately, Blanche’s attempts to remake her own and Stella’s existences? to rejuvenate her life and to save Stella from a life with Stanley? fail. One of the main ways Williams dramatizes fantasy’s inability to overcome reality is through an exploration of the boundary between exterior and interior. The set of the play consists of the two-room Kowalski apartment and the surrounding street. Williams’s use of a flexible set that allows the street to be seen at the same time as the interior of the home expresses the notion that the home is not a domestic sanctuary. The Kowalskis’ apartment cannot be a self-defined world that is impermeable to greater reality. The characters leave and enter the apartment throughout the play, often bringing with them the problems they encounter in the larger environment. For example, Blanche refuses to leave her prejudices against the working class behind her at the door. The most notable instance of this effect occurs just before Stanley rapes Blanche, when the back wall of the apartment becomes transparent to show the struggles occurring on the street, foreshadowing the violation that is about to take place in the Kowalskis’ home. Though reality triumphs over fantasy in A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams suggests that fantasy is an important and useful tool. At the end of the play, Blanche’s retreat into her own private fantasies enables her to partially shield herself from reality’s harsh blows. Blanche’s insanity emerges as she retreats fully into herself, leaving the objective world behind in order to avoid accepting reality. In order to escape fully, however, Blanche must come to perceive the exterior world as that which she imagines in her head. Thus, objective reality is not an antidote to Blanche’s fantasy world; rather, Blanche adapts the exterior world to fit her delusions. In both the physical and the psychological realms, the boundary between fantasy and reality is permeable. Blanche’s final, deluded happiness suggests that, to some extent, fantasy is a vital force at play in every individual’s experience, despite reality’s inevitable triumph.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Rondell Data Corporation

The Rondell Data Corporation was founded in 1920 to manufacture the electrical testing devices invented by Bob Rondell. Over the years, Rondell built its reputation as a source of â€Å"high-quality, innovative designs†. Delays in releasing the new Model 802 wide-band modulator has begun to put that reputation at stake and caused increased pressure among production and engineering staff. (Daft, pg 531-538) Rondell operates with the functional structure (Daft, pg 107), that doesn’t appear to function effeciently. The Director of Engineering has seen high turnover having had a new leader each of the past three years.It appears that this position is been designated as the company â€Å"scapegoat† (McGinnis, 2009) and therefore being blamed for all the problems that Rondell is facing with releasing the 802 modulator. Rondell has failed in adapting to the changing environments (Daft, pg 149) that can keep the company moving in a forward direction. There is an appearan ce that the company’s departments still operate in their specific silo’s (BusinessDictionary). According to the Production Supervisor, Dave Schwab, â€Å"to be efficient, production has to be self-contained† and â€Å"other departments should be self-contained as well†. Daft, pg 537) As such, they do not share needed information across departments or assist in problem solving by offering solutions based on their department observations.A prime example lies in the opening portion of the case study in which Frank, the Director of Engineering services, received a message back that the model released for production â€Å"can’t be produced either†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . (Daft, pg 531). While the reader is not given the full content of the message, I was left with the assumption that it did not go much past what is shown. Ideally, the note would have contained information that said â€Å"this can’t be produced because†¦. however, if we try to†¦. †. Not only would the message relay the problem as to why the design couldn’t be produced, it might provide a direction for engineering to pursue. â€Å"People at the grassroots level are often able to see and interpret changes or problems sooner than managers†. (Daft, pg 151) Rondell continues to be mired in it’s past successes. The culture leaves it difficult for them to change based on the established view points of their leaders – the old timers. (Daft, pg 188). Doc wants to move at his own pace and to do â€Å"his own thing† (Daft, pg 532).He doesn’t feel the same pressure as his boss and doesn’t have a sense of accountability to the company. Frank Forbus was just the latest in the line of scapegoats to go through Rondell. Jim Kilman most likely would have been successful but the sense is Rondell is extremely reluctant to change. Rondell should research other organizational structures such as a horizontal structure (Daft , pg 125) which would promote team work and collaboration throughout the organization to stop the engineering revolving door and restore the company’s reputation.References BusinessDictionary. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 10, 2012, from BusinessDictionary. com: http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/silo-mentality. html Daft, R. L. (2008). Organization Theory and Design (Vol. 10). South-Western Cengage Learning. McGinnis, A. (2009, November 24). The Scapegoat Theory; Are You or Someone You Know a Scapegoat. Retrieved November 10, 2012, from Yahoo Voices: http://voices. yahoo. com/the-scapegoat-theory-someone-know-a-4951510. html? cat=5

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The causes of the wage gap between men and women in the United States Research Paper

The causes of the wage gap between men and women in the United States - Research Paper Example Recent statistics show that a typical American female employee working full time gets an estimated 77 cents for each dollar paid to a male worker. This implies that women make approximately 77 percent of the wage earned by men working the same duration of time. The latter statistic is annual, while weekly data places this estimate at about 82.1 percent. Irrespective of the varying nature of the statistics, the irrefutable fact is that there is significant inequality between men and women in terms of wage allotment. The gender-oriented wage disparity has spurred interest among scholars and other stakeholders, to determine its possible causes. This paper provides insight into the wide array of causes of compensation inequality between the two sexes put forth by various scholars. Various approaches have been utilized by researchers to determine causative factors of the gender wage gap. Key among these approaches is multivariate statistical analysis, as well as, focused analysis of statistics. The former examines multiple variables to estimate the extent to which a combination of factors contributed to the general wage gap, while the latter examines specific determinants of wage adjustment aimed at catering for cost differences associated with various workers. From the multivariate perspective are possible causational factors like widespread discrimination in the American labor market, as denoted by scholars like Ruiz and Rivera (2009), as well as, occupational disparities pointed out by Boraas and Rodgers (2003). These and other potential causes of the gender compensation gap are addressed in detail in the subsequent subsections. Judging from trends in the work environment, women and men have opted for notably distinctive occupations. Consequently, the proportion of female workers varies significantly among diverse occupations. Various terms have been utilized by researchers to characterize this tendency including occupational sorting,

Friday, September 27, 2019

Organisation that fail to plan are in essence planning to fail' Essay

Organisation that fail to plan are in essence planning to fail'. discuss this statement. in your answer consider types of organisational plans, and the link be - Essay Example act that the company’s mission and vision statements are chalked up when it is in the early stage and thus the whole concept of finding out what it wants from its different processes and activities, whether or not to go for the short term incentives or substitute the same for the long term gains and a host of other things that come in line with these points as well. [DEAN, 2002] Organizations in the present times are doing their utmost in order to know more and more about their valued customers. For this, they have devised certain strategies which are in line with the values that their business has set for itself. These values are thus deeply intrinsic within the mission and vision statements of the company. In order to gain further knowledge about the customers, research is being given proper emphasis which would eventually discern the exact basis for the customers to come and make that vital purchase. [McNAMARA, 2007] Even when the same has been done, the need is to find out how the same customers can be retained and in what manner they will come back for the repeat purchase of the product. Organizations do their best to conduct research which will harness their business outcomes as well as help them achieve positive results in the light of unbroken grounds, at least in the marketing and business circles. They want to reach out to the customers in whatever capacity they can and for that they aim to find out the best and most efficient means possible. In order to gain this deeper understanding, they are seeking in depth research from third party research affiliates like A C Nielsen, Dunn & Bradstreet and others. These research companies find the exact basis for the company to reach out to the potential customers as well as hit upon the ones who are actually buying the competitor products and are simply unaware of their product or do not want to use theirs due to certain malice, prejudice, immoral or disliked advertising campaigns and a host of other reasons as

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Corporate Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Corporate Entrepreneurship - Essay Example Having started in the year 1988, this company started out as a small unit with four tailors and has now gone ahead to become one of the most prestigious names in interior decoration in the state of Orissa. The demand for Dipti's products grew and there was a market for interior decoration. By 1993, Dipti was busy undertaking several turnkey projects for complete furnishing of guest houses, hotels, as well as the Governor's residences in the state of Orissa. Orissa is a small state in the Eastern part of India. It is cut off from any major development that takes place elsewhere in the country. For this reasons, Dipti wanted to shift. Following are the problems that she has encountered: Before laying down the formal plan of action, it is necessary to understand the elements that will be involved in the strategy that has been developed later in the paper, from the perspective of the company. This will help us understand the exact application of the theories through the length and breadth of the paper. A major part of Dipti's plan of action must include following a strategy based on gaining competitive advantage as well as achieving sustainable entrepreneurial growth. Let us first examine competitive advantage to see how and where it will fit in with the overall growth and expansion of the Anukul group. Michael E Porter has paved the way for re... Difficulty in managing HR: Dipti does not know the local language and hence she has had a problem with finding employees. Bangalore is a big city and she still needs to cross a variety of learning curves in order to know the market and prospective clients. Competitive Advantage and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Growth: Before laying down the formal plan of action, it is necessary to understand the elements that will be involved in the strategy that has been developed later in the paper, from the perspective of the company. This will help us understand the exact application of the theories through the length and breadth of the paper. A major part of Dipti's plan of action must include following a strategy based on gaining competitive advantage as well as achieving sustainable entrepreneurial growth. Let us first examine competitive advantage to see how and where it will fit in with the overall growth and expansion of the Anukul group. Michael E Porter has paved the way for revolutionary strategising trends and a whole new perspective on competition through his competitive advantage theory. In the corporate world, Porter's first book Competitive Strategy (1980), which he wrote in his thirties, became an international best seller, and is considered to be an authoritative piece of work on corporate strategy. The book, which has been published in nineteen languages and re-printed approaching sixty times, changed the way business leaders' minds worked. Further, it remains a guide of choice for strategic managers on a global scale. Apart from being rich in lessons about why and how industries, regions, and nations succeed or fail, this book is of great value as

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Low Cost Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Low Cost Airlines - Essay Example The emergence of budget airlines is directly attributed to the transformation of the global business environment. The major drivers which facilitated this trend are: the deregulation of the European air travel sector; the establishment of the European Union; the 9/11 tragedy; the rapid technological advancement; and change in customers' lifestyle and preferences. It is irrefutable that the deregulation of the European airline industry primarily contributed to the rise of low cost carriers. It can be recalled that deregulation has lowered the barrier to entry in the industry as well as enhanced the competitiveness of the players which are previously receiving subsidy from the government. This, in turn, largely contributes to the cost efficiency of airline operators allowing them to charge lower prices to passengers. The establishment of the European Union affects the airline industry has the same effect like the deregulation of the sector. This has opened up markets and lowered operat ing costs, encouraging the proliferation of low cost carriers (Sorensen 2006). ... Lastly, technological advancement has significantly enhanced company's efficiency. It can be recalled that the internet technology has lowered the airline's costs in terms of booking and servicing customers by eliminating travel agent costs. This has paved way for huge costs savings which cut down the cost of airline operations (Sorensen 2006). It can be seen that all of the aforementioned factors which paved the way for the emergence and wide acceptance for low cost air travel have altogether pushed the prices of airline operation down allowing the fast entry of prospective players and allowing industry participants to price more competitively. It can be seen that the business model employed by a typical budget airline is primarily affected by these changes in the external environment of companies. A low cost carrier which competes in the European airline industry typically a business model which offers only a single passenger class and a single type of airplane which is usually an Airbus320 or Boeing737 which allows the company to cut on training and servicing costs. Budget airlines also typically employ a very simple fare scheme which rewards early reservation by increasing the fare charged as the plane fills up. There is usually no reserved seating in order to allow customers to choose their own seats thereby encouraging early and quick boarding. In order to drive down operation costs, technological innovation particularly the internet is used in order to eliminate the huge commission usually passed on to travel agencies. Budget airlines also prefer flying on secondary and simplified routes as well as having relatively shorter flights and faster turnaround times. Budget airlines, unlike

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Web 2.0 and a Small or Medium-sized Business Essay

Web 2.0 and a Small or Medium-sized Business - Essay Example 19). One of the major and most important advancements of technology is the internet which has significantly changed people’s lives and how they do business. Specifically, internet has facilitated the development of social media and related developments under the banner â€Å"Web 2.0† which has been central to business operations in the recent times. Web 2.0 refers to the concept that uses internet network (World Wide Web) as a platform for sharing information, collaboration, user-centered design, and interoperability among individuals and companies (Lincoln, 2009, p. 11). Web 2.0 platforms give users the opportunity to collaborate as well as interact with one another as creators and users of content that is user-generated. This technology is revolutionary in the sense that it allows collaboration and interaction among users in a virtual community unlike other websites that limit consumers to passive viewing of the contents that have already been created for them (Elliot t, 2004, p. 27). Web 2.0 platforms include social networking sites, web applications, blogs, hosted services, and video sharing sites among others. The fact that social media has grown exponentially over the years means that no business can ignore it, as it is very critical to the success and performance of businesses (Shah, 2010, p. 16). This paper will discuss the potential of social media and related developments under the banner â€Å"Web 2.0† for helping a medium-sized business (Proxar IT Consulting) to communicate with customers and to share knowledge between its staff. Web 2.0 technologies use internet network (World Wide Web) as a platform for sharing information, collaboration, user-centered design, and interoperability among individuals and companies. Several studies have shown that Web 2.0 has a wide range of generic business benefits that emanates from the adoption of developments in web services, software as a service, and interpersonal computing (Nair, 2011, p. 46). The first generic benefit is that Web 2.0 can help a business improve its ranking particularly in the search result and therefore extend its presence onto other sites. This is important to any business in the sense that it builds high quality links to the company and therefore increases the exposure of the business (Chaney, 2009, p. 35). However, for this to be more efficient, the content should be made relevant to staff and existing and potential customers. The second generic benefit is that it helps in the brand management of the business and helps them to protect their reputation. Proactive use of Web 2.0 can remarkably help to build and find relationships with customers, as well as improve relationship between employees (Lincoln, 2009, p. 19). In addition, Web 2.0 is beneficial to businesses because it enhances relationships between the business, its partners, customers, and staff. Through social media, customers, employees, investors, and partners find the platform to inte ract and collaborate (Lee, 2010, p. 114). Another generic business benefit of Web 2.0 is brand awareness; it presents businesses with incredible opportunity to generate content that brands the company in good light and therefore generate brand awareness to the targeted audience (Elliott, 2004, p. 44). Social media has proved to be fundamental in building consistent presence and therefore enhances brand awareness for any business that uses it. More importantly, Web 2.0 technolog

Monday, September 23, 2019

Petroleum Economic and Oil field management 2013-2014 Essay

Petroleum Economic and Oil field management 2013-2014 - Essay Example Secondly, the natural gas industry requires a firm that has financial muscle to produce the natural gas because it is an expensive venture. Such a firm will have excessive power to dominate control, and regulation initiatives even from governments especially if it is a multinational company. The natural gas industry mainly operates through pipeline transportation and distribution aspects, which are naturally monopolistic because they are characterized by high fixed costs and long lead time making duplication uneconomical. This creates a wide barrier to entry for potential participants and competitors. They also require price and non-price regulation. Without effective regulation, the natural gas industry can develop into a natural monopoly. In fact, price regulations sometimes fail to control the prices because such prices depend on various factors such as production costs, inflation and transportation costs among others (DiLorenzo, 1996:45). In situations where governments run the natural gas industry, the industry turns to state monopoly such as in Mexico. The Mexican government introduced a program of reform in 1988. However, it was until 1995 that reform in natural gas industry began to include private companies. However, before this, state owned firms controlled the industry making it a monopoly. In fact, even after the entrance of private firms state owned firms still ruled the market making it a state monopoly (Joskow, 2007:1227). Q1 represents entire size of the market. Point E1 is the equilibrium that cooresponds to quantity at Q1 and determines the price at P1. Thus, when there is one firm only producing natural gas, the marginal cost of supply is P1 and is lower than the duopoly price P2. Thus, the presence of one firm in the market will be price efficient compared to two firms. If the natural gas industry

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The End of the Vietnam War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The End of the Vietnam War - Essay Example Nixon declared in 1969 that he would prolong the American involvement in the Vietnam War, in order to conclude the conflict and acquire â€Å"peace with honor† for the United States and for its partner, South Vietnam (U.S. Department of State, no date). Nixon defined his policy as â€Å"Vietnamization,† where the South Vietnamese aimed to attain greater combat functions, as Americans slowly withdrew from Vietnam (Simon, 2002). Vietnamization needed time, however, and to buy time, Nixon convinced the American public that the war had to be extended to attain peace. His popular vote margin in the 1968 election was â€Å"razor thin,† but to his advantage, the Democratic coalition was devastated in 1968 and political opportunities abounded (Simon, 2002). The administration maximized these opportunities through a â€Å"politics of polarization,† where they tapped the â€Å"silent majority,† while trying to isolate opponents and categorize them as differen t forms of extremists (Simon, 2002). This included defining the efforts of the anti-war movement in negative ways and maligning the media, whose role in influencing the support for the war had increased. America prolonged the war through bombing North Vietnam after failed negotiations efforts. Communist North Vietnam's leaders believed that they had time enough to delay the negotiations, which they did. In March 1972, they tried to sidestep negotiations altogether with a full-scale incursion of the South (U.S. Department of State, no date). The United States called it as the Easter Offensive and the North Vietnamese seemed to win. By late summer, nonetheless, Nixon's used American air power to dent the offensive. In response to this air power, the North Vietnamese started to negotiate once more (U.S. Department of State, no date). In early October, American and North Vietnamese representatives had a meeting in Paris. By October 11, they generated a peace agreement. The key component s included a cease-fire in place 24 hours after signing the agreement; U.S. forces and all foreign troops would pull out from South Vietnam no later than 60 days after signing the agreement; and American prisoners would be released concurrently with the pulling out of American and foreign forces. On October 22, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu stopped the talks. He did not support the cease-fire agreement, because it left thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers in South Vietnam, who could strategically continue the war, as the Americans departed (U.S. Department of State, no date). To get Thieu’s support, the Americans restarted negotiations with the North Vietnamese. The North Vietnamese got offended and negotiated other issues too and by December, the talks caved in. The War Raged On Nixon argued that with failed diplomacy, only force can be used to force Hanoi to negotiate with the United States. The President instructed his military commanders to mine Haiphong H arbor and to begin a nonstop air campaign in the Hanoi-Haiphong region. On December 26, the North Vietnamese decided to renegotiate with the U.S. on early January. On January 1973, the Americans and North Vietnamese reached a settlement and all parties signed the final agreement in Paris on January 27. America, however, was the only one who

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Catch a Fire Essay Example for Free

Catch a Fire Essay The book â€Å"Catch a Fire† is a beautiful description of the Jamaican culture, the Rastafarian faith, the growth and development of reggae music and how it all added up to make Bob Marley’s life. All of those elements of what made Bob Marley â€Å"human† will be talked about and explained in this paper. The best artists are the ones who have passed but there work still lives on and Bob Marley left an unforgettable mark on modern music, both as a reggae creator and as a cultural icon. His beliefs and values helped him become a part of the Rastafarian faith and grow into a great musician whose music is still listened to today. The author, Timothy White, did an amazing job describing Bob’s background giving his readers a much greater appreciation for Marley and his music. Jamaicans are often stereotyped as carefree and fun loving. While most Jamaicans do value a sense of humor, as well as music and dance, they also have a tradition of hard work and a strong respect for education. Bob Marley, the son of a black teenage mother and much older white father, was born in Jamaica in the village known as Nine Miles. Born early in 1945, Bob was raised by his mother and relatives and was always surrounded by tales of mysticism and spiritual beings of the Jamaican culture that influenced his daily life. Around the time Bob was born, in 1944, Jamaicans gained the right to vote because of the new constitution. (1) During this time the population grew and there weren’t much job opportunities, leading to an expanding slum population. Class, color, and ethnicity were a big deal in Jamaica and would play a huge role of where you would fit in, work, or even shop. Bob once said, â€Å"I dont stand for black mans side, I dont stand for white mans side, I stand for Gods side. †(2) The Jamaican history has not been a peaceful one, but its struggles have created one of the strongest cultures. The Rastafarian faith was one of the biggest influences of why Bob’s music and the way he lived was the way it was. It all started with Marcus Garvey, who was responsible for bringing Rastafarianism to the islands. Garvey was famous for the saying Look to Africa†¦ (â€Å"Catch a Fire† pg. 8) This statement set the stage for what will be the making of Rastafarianism. Rastafarianism got so popular that when Haile Selassie came to Jamaica in 1966 over 100,000 Rastas surrounded his plane. The late 1960’s is when Bob truly began to find himself and accept his religion and put its beliefs into his songs like â€Å"Rastaman Vibration† and â€Å"Jah Live. † Not only did the Rastafarian faith help Bob with his music, it helped him find who he really was and grow as a person. He finally started to see the beauty in life. Marley started making music in ska and Rock Steady then eventually moved towards reggae as his music evolved. Much of Marleys early work was produced by Coxsone Dodd at Studio One then he signed to Chris Blackwells Island Records label in 1971. Marleys music was one of the main reasons reggae was accepted outside of Jamaica. Although Bob couldn’t escape all the troubles of the ghetto, without music, he would have been right there in Kingston with those rude boys and bad men causing trouble. Music brought out the best in Bob and showed him the true values of life. The â€Å"King of Reggae†, Bob Marley made such an impact on the music industry with his creativity and passion he put into his music and performances. As you can see, Bob would have never made it happen without his Jamaican cultural background, his Rastafarian faith or his love for music. His thinking and beliefs were always voiced in his songs speaking of love, peace, equality and his spirituality. And, after almost three decades since his death, his music is still listened to by millions of people around the world.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Fears Of Crime And The Outcomes Criminology Essay

The Fears Of Crime And The Outcomes Criminology Essay The outcomes of the fear of crime were for very long time overlooked by criminologists and psychologists and only in last 25 years fear has become a important research topic (McGarrell et al 1997). Recently, more attention has been put on this matter which is now recognised as a growing phenomenon which significantly influences the quality of life. Some may argue that the fear of crime is a consequence of individual having contact whether directly or indirectly with criminal events (Sparks, 1992). Saying that, it is important to remember that the indirect contact with crime may occur through the media representation or interpersonal communication and have a damaging effect on individuals quality of life. Worrying fact is that many researchers such as Hindelang (1974), Fowler and colleagues (1974) or Boggs (1971) have established that the relationship between the levels of fear of crime and experience of it are two different things. This means that although, the number of reported cri mes continues to drop and according to statistics, the chance of becoming the victim of crime is the lowest it has been for last twenty years (Home Office, 2009), society is increasingly becoming more anxious about safety (Home Office, 2006). Therefore, from this observation it can be speculated that the fear of crime is the problem itself, not the crime. So, this essay will firstly introduce to overview of the crime and the fear of it, including statistics and the lack of accordance between what has been found about the crime levels and the fear of crime. Secondly it will engage with theoretical assumptions related to the topic and critically evaluate theoretical assumptions. Thirdly, this paper will demonstrate the influence of the mass media on the increase of the fear of crime. And finally, it will draw the relevant conclusion based on proposed arguments and clarify that the fear of crime is a problem in its own right. To begin with it is relevant to familiarise with statistics of the actual levels crime, the fear of it and demographic groups. According to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) the relationship between these three aspects is rather not proportional. As found by Skogan (1976), the fear of crime is more common within the demographic groups which were least frequently victimised such as women or elderly. He found that although, the most incidents of victimisation were reported by young, Black male this group is least fearful of becoming a victim of crime. Instead, older females, both Black and White have been accounted to be most fearful of crime (Skogan, 1976). Many researches challenged this inconsistency and for instance, Stinchcombe and colleagues (1977) introduced the idea of vulnerability in order to explain the higher levels of fear in the elderly and women. Briderman (1976) however, made the connection between the primary fear of crime and strangers and came up with the hypothesis that fear of crime is the fear of strangers. However, this theory can not be confirmed in practice. Although women are being told from the young age to be conscious of strangers, they are actually more likely to become a victim of an intimate partner, friend or another relative than by a stranger and according to study by Rennison (2001) fifty four percent of violent assaults reported by women are carried out by someone known to the victim. Although, there is a noticeable progress within the victimization perspective which has occurred in recent years in order to distinguish difference between the fear, worry, risk and concern the results did not change drastically (Sparks, 1992). Analysing the more recent statistics it can be noticed that this kind of demographical segregation of fear is still prevalent (Home Office, 2006). In general, according to the findings from the British Crime Survey in 2008/09 it has been found that 16 percent of people, who were asked, thought that they were very likely to become a victim of crime; however it has been found that only 2 percent were actually a risk (Home Office, 2006). Moreover, the segregation of crime, such as personal/property, single/multiple or direct/indirect was designed to improve the understanding why some demographic groups are more fearful of becoming a victim, however in fact did not have much effect in practice. The following part of this paper will link the issue of the fear of crime to the broader theoretical assumption and introduce to different models of victimisation. The earliest research on the fear of crime was based on the victimisation model which linked the fear of crime to experience of it (Snell, 2001). Although Skogan and Maxfield (1981) documented that association, others found that such as connection does not exist or the impact of victimisation on the level of fear is minimal (Liska et al, 1988). Furthermore, this model was repeatedly questioned as those who are at the highest risk of victimisation are least fearful and those who are at the lowest risk are the most concerned about becoming a victim (Skogan, 1976). Therefore the Indirect Victimisation Model was developed. This theory assumes that people who recognize themselves as the most defenceless and vulnerable to crime, such as elderly or women, will have the highest levels of fear (Snell, 2001). The Community Concern Model, firstly recognised by Taylor and Hale (1986) assumes that the level of the fear increases within the communities which report their neighbourhood as less satisfying due to the loss of the social control over them. There is a lack of attachment between the neighbours what increases the fear of victimisation within own neighbourhood (Snell, 2001). However, it can be argued that by introduction of CCTV or the Neighbourhood Watch and therefore increase of the social control could cause even higher concern of criminal activities in the area and therefore, higher fear of crime. The Subcultural Diversity Model theorises that the fear of crime increase if living close to someone whose has got a different cultural background (Snell, 2001). The study suggests that foreign behaviour due to the cultural beliefs may become difficult to understand and therefore fearful (Merry, 1981). Secondly, it is important to acknowledge the power of media representation, or rather we should say, misrepresentation, which increase the level of the fear of crime. According to the study by Surette (1998) who measured the impact which media representation has got on the fear of crime, it has been found that readers of those newspapers which tend to report crime in dramatised and excessive way are more fearful of crime. The concept of the moral panic feed by the mass media was firstly acknowledge by Cohen(1987) who described it in the term of amplification of the perception of disorder between the Mods and Rockers. The relationship is that similarly, the tabloid press is responsible for the misrepresentation of the actual level of crime by focusing on selective crime news which win the audience and therefore sell the newspaper. He also believed that by the increase of misrepresentation by the media can increase the level of reporting crime and therefore pressure the police to incre ase arrests (Cohen, 1987). Therefore, it needs to be recognised that through the exaggeration and overrepresentation, media can stir up public indignation and create the social problem and moral panic in society. Even more worrying is the fact that although the media covers only those erratic stories not sensible ones, the majority of people, when asked about the actual level of crime; attribute their knowledge to TV and newspaper gossip (Williams and Dickinson, 1993). This use of the limited information gained from the unreliable sources such as media is also called symbolic interactionism (Ferraro, 1995). However, as it has been noticed by Yin (1980), media representation of crime has got the most influence on the elderly people especially if the victim of the story was also an elderly person. Therefore, that is another example of the fear being greater that the actual level of crime as older people are least likely from all demographical groups to experience the victimization (Lee, 1982). That may be attributed to the fact that elderly are not to be seen on the busy street on Friday night as most of young people, therefore they less likely to become victimise. Lawton (1981) suggested that vulnerability of elderly may become the foundation of the fear of crime. He also researched that during the criminal activity such as robbery of physical attack, elderly are more likely to experience serious physical injuries which in effect may lead to helplessness and dependency which they may fear more than the crime itself. Consequently, that can have an effect on the quality of life of elderly. It has been speculated that if the incident of attack on older person took place outside his/her home that may lead to this person fearing to stay out the house for any reasons. The same can be hypothesised about the burglary. If elderly persons house was robbed while they were not there, they may not want to leave the house again as they feel they should stay in and protect they belongings in case of another robbery. Therefore, it shows the loose of control, freedom and quality over their lives and some may say isolation from society. The study by Hough (1995) is a great example of life deprivation due to the fear of crime as he found that among women age 60 who live in the city more than one in ten never went out after dark. The media representation of crime is also accountable for the formation of social exclusion which is mainly concerned with inequalities between different groups of people and different areas. It has been argued by Young (1988) crime itself is an exclusion: as are the attempt to control it by barriers, incarceration and stigmatization (p. 26). It has been found that the fear of crime whether on the street or at home is higher among poor population than privileged (Home Office, 2009). That may be due to the fact of allocation, as residents of housing estates are more likely to witness the violence on the street or antisocial behaviour in their local area in comparison to privileged population. Crime is seen both as a product of social exclusion and a cause of it, where social exclusion is seen as a series of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, hight crime environments, bad health and family breakedown. (Pantazis et al 2006, p.275) Furthermore, it is fundamental to acknowledge the current concern about terrorism which by the attack on the innocent, civilian people made the society realise that we are all potential victims. However, in this case it is the government and the military officials who with the facilities of mass media deliver information, or rather we should say, fear to society (Balkin, 1979). Some may argue that crime is politically popular as it sets out new moral targets for the government which can use it as a tool during the campaigns. However, in fact it is another example of creation of the moral panic which separates differences between nationalities and therefore limits social mixing between them and increases fear, paranoia and the mistrust between different groups (Cohen, 1987). Meads (1934) has argued that there is an existence of the generalises other in society which recognises us as good and them as bad. Therefore there is a tendency to exclude them for our security due to the fear of crime from them and that is an evident example of social exclusion. Summarising, the primary purpose of this essay was to indicate that the fear of crime is a problem itself not the actual level of crime. It has been demonstrated that although the level of crime is falling down and is at the lowest point for last twenty years, public fear of victimisation is growing up. Statistics from the British Crime Survey (BCS) and Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) have been used in order to demonstrate that paradoxical phenomenon. In order to validate the statement that the fear of crime is a problem in its own right and to help with understanding why some groups are more fearful of crime than others, the theoretical models have been included. These, demonstrated that some populations due to the physical inability to defend themselves also called vurnability (women, elderly) or social and economic position may fear the crime grater than others (man, privileged). Moreover, this essay has critically evaluated the media misrepresentation of the act ual crime level and how that falsification can shape the moral panic and social exclusion in society. It has been also acknowledged that the concern about terrorism acts, which are often used by politicians during campaigns, is responsible for increasing the level of the fear of crime is society. Overall, it has been learnt that the fear of victimisation is greater than the actual level of crime therefore the fear of crime is a problem in its own right because it affects peoples lives and controls their everyday actions. It is suggested for the society to not relay on the media representation and discontinue thinking about being victimised since as the real statistics show it is not very likely to become a victim of crime. However, it is important to remember that the fear of crime may also not always be a negative thing as it may encourage assertiveness and prompt the implementation of preventative measures.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay Comparing Solzhenitsyns Gulag and Camus The Stranger (The Outsider) :: comparison compare contrast essays

Camus' Stranger and Solzhenitsyn's Gulag      Ã‚  Ã‚   We must tell them what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here. 1    The dying words of Betsie ten Boom to her sister Corrie in the Ravensbruck concentration camp reveal a strength and victory even in great oppression. Historically, Christianity is full of voices crying victory in the midst of the terror. Elijah and David hiding in caves, the prophets of the Babylonian captivity, St. John's Apocalypse during the Domitian persecutions, the confessions of Foxe's martyrs all testify to God's power and truth even in the most severe circumstances. However, much twentieth-century writing sides with a view of God similar to that of Albert Camus--God either does not exist or is evil. The oppressive evil of our age is often used to prove divine indifference. Nevertheless, literature coming out of severe oppression often says the opposite. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn shares that for many the experience of injustice and oppression makes a person appreciate truth much more. And with truth comes a more orthodox Christian view of life.    Life's Suffering Proves God Does Not Care    Camus wrote, "An injustice remains inextricably bound to all suffering, even the most deserved in the eyes of man."2 Suffering and injustice should demonstrate divine indifference to any "thinking person."    Knowing whether or not man is free involves knowing whether he can have a master ... For in the presence of God there is less a problem of freedom than a problem of evil." You know the alternative: either we are not free and God the all-powerful is responsible for evil. Or we are free and responsible but God is not all-powerful.3    Seeing the promises of both Christianity and Socialism as offering hollow hopes, Camus opts for the "happy" state of "no hope." At least, then, the problem of suffering and injustice is understood when the thinker partakes of "the wine of the absurd and the bread of indifference."    Meursault's Indifference Camus illustrates this well in The Stranger. Meursault is a prisoner. He killed a man in cold blood.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Eleanor Roosevelt Essay -- President Politics Papers

Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt’s work has made a significant impact on the interpersonal domain. Her work touched the lives of millions of Americans and influenced many aspects of American politics. She was a master of her domain, interacting with millions and breaking down many barriers. Her work can be considered creative because it was so unconventional. She took on roles that were considered untraditional for women, and with an innovative approach. I admire her work as a leader, a woman, and a creative individual. Although I cannot imagine having as far reaching an impact as Eleanor Roosevelt, I hope to be strong in the interpersonal domain. As an organizational leadership major, the traits of the interpersonal domain would be strong assets for me in any career. On any level, I have a deep appreciation for her ability to help people and change lives. Eleanor Roosevelt is a master of the interpersonal domain because she could interact with anyone and she touched the lives of millions. Childhood and Early Experiences Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 11, 1884 (Youngs 26). Her parents were both from prominent families, part of the ‘Old New York and Hudson River’ aristocracy. Many of her ancestors had played significant roles in American history (Lash 6). Her mother, Anna Hall Roosevelt, had been a debutante, and was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. Eleanor’s father, Elliot, was a sportsman, and a handsome man (Youngs 15). Eleanor was an intelligent and happy child, who was doted on by her parents. While she spent time with her parents, she was also close to her nurse, who played a large part in raising her. Eleanor’s first language was French... ...ew York: Penguin Books, 1992. Gardner, Howard. Creating Minds. New York: Basic Books, 1993. Goodwin, Doris Kearns, â€Å"Eleanor Roosevelt.† Time. 13 Apr. 1998: 122+. Lash, Joseph P. Life Was Mean to be Lived. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1984. Means, Marianne. The Woman in the White House. New York: Random House, 1963. Roosevelt, Eleanor. The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. New York: Harper And Brothers Publishers, 1937. Scharf, Lois. Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady of American Liberalism. Boston:Twayne Publisher, 1987. Steinberg, Alfred. Mrs. R.: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1958. West, J.B. Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies. New York: Coward, McCann, and Geoghegan, 1973. Youngs, J. William T. Eleanor Roosevelt: A Personal and Public Life. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Greek Column :: Architecture Architectural Essays History

The Greek Column A French champagne cognac with a Centaur trademark, called Remy Martin, is featured in several magazine advertisements resting on a column in various positions. The one being analyzed in this article shows the bottle of Remy Martin and a pair of glasses placed on top of a column so tall that it reaches above the clouds. It invites the viewer: "Want to come up for a drink sometime?" At the bottom right corner, the Centaur logo is repeated, along with a short description of its origin and a complimentary video offer. Found in the October issue of Vanity Fair, it targets adult women readers who, perhaps, want a fashion enlightenment. Both the column and the slab on top of it appear to be made out of concrete, covered with plaster, whitewashed, and then it was given a chipping effect. Its purpose is to support the bottle of Remy Martin and the glasses for someone who can reach high enough for a drink. The use of the column in ancient architectures, however, do not include exhibiting a beverage. From the remarkable Roman Pantheon, dated from the second century B.C., to the Chartres Cathedral in France, which began construction in the mid-twelfth century A.D., the column is widely used according to different tastes and architectural purposes. It is a Greek creation emerged from the Archaic period between 6oo-480 B.C., during which the two elevation designs from Greek temples, called the Ionic and Doric orders, came into form. The Corinthian order is the third classical Greek architectural order originally used in interiors, which began to appear around 450 B.C. The Greeks used columns in architectures including the Parthenon, the Tholos and the mausoleums, sometimes in pairs and sometimes in colonnades. All three orders, occasionally with various different modifications, were adapted by other civilizations such as the Romans and the Etruscans. They were erected in temples, Cathedrals, Forums, on city streets or even in residents as a supporting device for arches, entablatures , ceilings or roofs. They are also incorporated in reliefs for tombs and cathedrals and expressed in Roman wall paintings. For example, the bedroom walls in the House of Publius Fannius in Boscoreale were decorated with images of columns in fantastic Roman cityscapes. (Stokstad, p.162-213, 223-283, 553-556.) The column used in the Remy Martin advertisement does not clearly belong to any classical Greek order or its later variants. However, it resembles a down-sized column of the Doric Order because of its recognizable Doric-like capital, though its components are only representative.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Alison watt and Picasso

Alison watt and Picasso In this essay I'm going to investigate two portrait painters, Alison Watt and Pablo Picasso. I will be writing about their lives and influences. The first artist I will be writing about is Alison Watt. She was born and raised In Greengrocer in 1965, 18 years later and she is still studying in Glasgow School of Art for a further 5 years. At the national gallery in London Watt was the associate artist holding a spectacular exhibition of her own Phantom in 2008.Watt was well known for portraits of herself and others holding cups plates etc, she came to the publics attention in 1987 when he won an award for the National Portrait Gallery's. Watt was also well known for drawing female nudes and figures usual neutral colors, dryly painted lost of her portraits were done using oil paint on a canvas. As far as I am aware Alison Watt was known for painting portraits I have not heard of watt sculpting. She was also awarded an OBEY, she was the youngest female artist to b e awarded a solo exhibition at SIGMA.Alison Watt was quite original she interpreted her own ideas in her into paintings. Such as the paintings ‘Hunger and the horses head' l. This paintings watt has duplicated herself and she has also placed random niter s in Radio places. The Alison watt painting I will be writing about is ‘The native boy', It was made in 1990, made with oil paint on a board. Alison Watt has modeled herself I'm this painting, I chose this painting because its very neutral and doesn't have too much going on.This portrait is close up so you can't see of the sitter is sitting or standing it Just shows the face and neck. I would say everything in the portrait is mostly all the same proportion in terms of scale. N the background it was Just some simple leaves and what looks like to be a wall. The foreground and the background don't look Joined together it looks like Watt is standing in front of something. You can only see the top parts of the sitter and the background as it is a close up. The only thing that's being cut out is the rest of the figure.I think if I was there whilst this being painted you could smell nature and paint. You could probably here birds chirping and the wind blowing as it looks like an area where you would hear these surroundings. It looks as painted around midday. It does seem like a calm place and a very peaceful place . The lighting on the face is quite bright but the background is darker. I think it is a natural light. The light is coming from straight in and because if this I think it is during the day almost evening, but also I think it is winter because it looks quite cold.The light does cast shadows around the face I think it's there to show some form and atmosphere, so the face doesn't look flat. The mood in this painting is quite dull and dreary and Watt doesn't look very happy , which I think has an effect on what the DOD which comes across as winter. Although sometimes winter is bright it will always has that effect which makes the atmosphere dull and tense. The expression on Alison Watt definitely has an effect on the mood of the painting because it Just looks as if she's depressed and wants to cry.The sitters position is unrecognizable as you can't see the shoulders all that you see is the neck and above the only way you can tell the mood is by the facial expression. As mentioned you can't see the sitters clothes but from the hairstyle it looks quite classy and old fashioned. I think the artist hose the color scheme because it isn't a very complex painting So the color of the painting being neutral I believe is relevant to the painting. Watts brush stokes in the background are part of the painting they are almost unseen , it almost looks edited to look smooth,but the face is more textural you can see a few brushstrokes.Also on the face you can see where it has tried to be blended. I think the brush strokes are looser on the background and more controlled on the face etc where you need detail. I am oblivious to how much time was spent on This painting as they are to skilled be able o tell. But, personally I think Watt may have spent less time on this painting compared to the other painting. As this painting isn't as complex and not extremely detailed. The piece itself I would say is textural but around the cheekbones you can see dots/dabs used to blend the cheek and skin color.Watt seems to have used life like style or realistic, because it doesn't look fake and are elements where it Just looks airbrushed. Neutral colors have been used in this painting. I think Watt used these colors to give it the look of a real person. I think because of these colors that is why t made me decide the painting realistic/lifelike piece. I don't think they have am effect on the mood or atmosphere. Also I think the color scheme makes parts of the face such as the nose and mouth stand out.I honestly couldn't choose between whether this image is hot or cold. At the first look I would definitely say cold but if you look closer at the painting the face gives it a warm sensation. Watt used pattern in empty and dull areas. Pattern was used well around the face using leaves and curls. Also where there is a big plain space of wall a ribbon has been added and I hint without these features it would be really empty. The pattern used was regular and uniform nothing is out of the ordinary. In this painting the pattern is subtle.Although there is no definite outline ,you can see the different shapes and where watt has used two different colors side by side with a crisp edge. I think the painting is really bland. There is nothing really interesting going on. It is really amazing though how good an artist is when they make it look so simple. I think Watt is good but I dislike this painting. I don't think this is the best piece Alison Watt has done, cause the rest have something interesting In it which makes you remember it and makes you wonder about the painting. The other artist I'm going to investigate is Pablo Picasso.Picasso was a Spanish artist, boor in 1881 who was the son of an art teacher and showed artistic talent at a very young age. When Picasso was 19 he went to live in Paris to study new styles and to pick up new styles. The blue period was a famous period of Picasso. As the color blue symbolisms depression, when Picasso best friend committed suicide Picasso went into deep depression this is what was now as the blue period, where all the paintings are in shades of blue, have religious undertones and the subject matter is unhappy in nature.In 1973 Picasso was taken from us and he was one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. During Picasso blue period it was his friend Casemate who influenced Picasso. During the rose period when mostly shades of pink were used he was experimenting with gouache , the subject of matter was the circus and during the cubist period it was ad African masks which influenced Picasso. The cubist pe riod was when Picasso id his most original work , he took simple African masks which inspired him and turned them into paintings which are famous today.These kind of painting break away from the rules regarding realism and perspective. Some of the faces are distorted. Picasso was only known for doing portrait and figure paintings to my knowledge. Oil paint on canvas is Picasso most chosen way to work. The art work I will be focusing on is the weeping woman. It was made in 1907. I'm not able to tell what size the artwork is. I do not know the name of the sitter nor do I now that its actually a person who Picasso has Just made into his own idea or whether he painted this from his head.I chose this painting because I painted it in primary school and its his most known painting or the only painting I had ever heard of. The portrait is full length and the figure in the painting is in able to tell if she is sitting or standing as you can only see the top half of her body but I'm assuming she's sitting. It is a close up and the head takes up most of the portrait so the head is definitely the biggest object in the painting. In the background it is Just simply a wall. The foreground and background do look Joined together because the woman isn't ad.You can see a bit of the sitter and a bit of the background. I can Just see a cartoon woman crying that is literally all I think if I was to imagine myself in the painting. I can hear a woman crying and smell lots of paint. You can't tell the time because it isn't a realistic painting. I'm guessing something has happened as there is a woman in tears, it feels awkward and depressing , not a very nice place to be. There is no lighting in the painting. I think the mood and atmosphere is sad and awkward. It's expression and the body language of the sitter also the painting itself is about a woman crying.I would describe the mood of the sitter as upset and you can't see the shoulders. You can see spate hands as if she was holding a tissue up to her face to wipe her nose/eyes. She is multicultural I can't see any of her clothes. I have no idea why Picasso chose this color scheme. The artists style is cartoonist and abstract to me. You can't see the brushstrokes. I don't think he worked on this painting as long as he did the others, he others Just look as if they have been thought through more carefully. The painting is flat, I don't know what textures have been used.

Artificial Intelligence Related to Wall-E Robot Essay

1. Technological Advancement presented in WALL-E that are existing A. Voice Command This technological advancement presented in the movie is using the voice to execute primarily commands in which we are telling on what should be done. B. Search Command This technological advancement presented in the movie is using also our voice in which the said technology is arranging or systematizing an orderly search object in which the user is wish to know. C. Pattern Recognition This technological advancement presented in the movie is using using pattern schronization in which the agent is moving through patterns in which in provides where the agent direction and avoding collision to the other agent that have another pattern to follow. 2. Technological Advancement presented in WALL-E that are possible to happen A. Eve – flying robot This technological advancement presented in the movie is a robot in which capable of flying attach with scanner sensor and a weapon . This advancement would be possible because we do have some agent(s) that have sensor attach to them and agent that use in that has weapon use in military combat. B. Accel – ship This technological advancement presented in the movie can sustain life specifically human life in space for many years and attach with different system or technology. As presented in the movie they live in the space for 700 years living with sustanable oxygen and gravity balance. This techonology is possible in a way that that are the same to the experience of our astronouts discovering in the space and with the technology use in some science museum in which they can adjust gravity for us to experience space. And now we do have sensors and system that use in the ship ,likely some , thus it is possible for the human race to have. C. Transportation like a speed of light This technological advancement presented in the movie in which tha accel(ship) is returning to earth like a speed of light. It is possible because we do have now this technology boosting to space in which we can go to mars less than the usual frame time .

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Not My Best Side Essay

Fanthrope’s poem is divided into to three separate parts as the points of view of the three different characters. The first part is told fromà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½9 the dragon (or â€Å"the monster†)’s point of view, here the author used personification, providing the dragon with feelings and an opinion of his own, therefore giving him human-like features; he’s feeling a bit cantankerous towards the artist who painted him given that he didn’t give him a chance to pose properly thus only portraying his ‘bad’ side. Furthermore, he’s saddened by the thought that the other characters aren’t taking him seriously, he generates the idea that the fact that his â€Å"victim† (the girl) only holds him by a flimsy string is a way of emasculating him or taking away his pride in a way. The second part in the perspective of the girl being rescued and in this case, the author gives it a bit of a twist because the reader would normally expect the girl to want to be saved from the horrible monster, but she doesn’t! In fact, she’s actually mad at the knight for trying to save her because she was enjoying the dragon’s company; instead of being terrified of the monster she finds him â€Å"nicely physical and sexy† Finally, she doubts the credibility and attractiveness of the knight and says she prefers the dragon. The last part of the poem is from the standpoint of the knight who’s stabbing the dragon and trying and save the princess in danger. He feels offended that the princess doesn’t want to be saved by him even though he has diplomas in â€Å"Dragon Management and Virgin Reclamation†, his horse is the latest model and he has all the newest, safest and coolest artillery and armour. Windows of wonderment (My own version of Not My Best Side) Part 1- I still wait for him everyday. Mother holds me up against the cold hard window pane while I stare infinitely into the open space in front of me. I gaze upon our driveway hoping to see his car drive in, to hear the soft clacking of his shoes, the gentle wheezing of his breath or the breezy tone of his words. Mother sighs and looks away while a single tear trickles down her left cheek; I pretend not to notice whilst she hastily wipes it away and lets out a tiny sniffle. Everyday I purposely put together excuses, explanations, to reason his agonizing absence; I foolishly blame myself, my poor mother and yet every time I regrettably come to the same conclusion, it’s not our fault. By now, I know I should know better but I still have hope, that someday he’ll come back to us, someday I’ll see have face again, his deep blue eyes and his smooth silk-like skin, but until he does I’ll just repeat the same excruciating ritual of waiting, waiting and forever wondering. Part 2- I still hold him up against the window. I know I shouldn’t, and it will only make everything worst but I still do. Every time, his little face lights up and that constant frown that lingers upon his face seams to disappear. Just for a few seconds, his hope is restored, as he stares out to the unknown. I can see his mind drifting off, the wheels in his head turning, trying to come up with any and every possible explanation for his father’s absence, but it’s when he’s smacked across the face by the bitter truth of reality that his expression abruptly changes back to what it was, and the only words circling his mind are â€Å"he’s not coming†. I know I should protect him from such pain and suffering, but what’s a pitiable mother to do when her permanently scarred son keeps reaching out for the affection of that devil-like brute he calls his father? It’s not fair on him, or me. The dream of a normal life is lost alongside with hope, trust and belief. This is the pain of abandonment that leaves an innocent child hopelessly enduring pain and suffering, waiting, waiting and forever wondering.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Criminal Justice Integration Project

Criminal Justice Integration Project University of Phoenix Javon Lewis, Prysanthum Armstrong, Brigit Williams, and Deon Hagerty AJS/502 Harry Kirk, Instructor November 12, 2012 Criminal Justice Integration Project There are many prison facilities that are ran privately today. These facilities are known to better rehabilitate those convicted upon entering society again. Team B has developed a private prison to house those individuals who are convicted of committing crimes. Team B has also implemented different programs within the facility in hopes to deter the convicted of being repeat offenders.Unlike other privatized facilities, our major focus is not to lock up as many people as possible. We will actually focus on making them better individuals so that they can reenter the world without having criminal thoughts. The remainder of this paper will include the policies for our facility. This paper also discus the budgets, projected revenue sources and expenditures, communications, and technology. In addition, it will elaborate on cultural or sub-cultural aspects of the organization as a whole. Policies and ProceduresIn order to properly run the private facility, we will have a set of policies to abide by. Without rules and regulations, any organization can and will be chaotic. There will be a zero tolerance for harassment, whether it is towards correction officers or the prisoners. Harassment can lead to law suits and will in turn cost the facility unnecessary money that could have been used for something else. Some forms of harassment can include sexual and discrimination. It is considered unlawful to harass an individual because of their gender.Sexual harassment can include unwanted sexual behaviors, sexual favors, and other verbal sexual content. Harassment does not always have to include sexual intent. It can contain remarks about a person’s gender. This is where discrimination comes into play. If any employee practices harassment in the workplace, the y will be reported and possibly terminated depending on the circumstance. We will also follow a code of ethics. The code of ethics will help the company to remain fair in any given situation that may arise. Budget Our budget will consist of grants, donations, and tax payer dollars.We will apply for state funding yearly and follow all necessary steps in order to receive that funding. According to the state, we will need a certain amount of prisoners in order to receive the amount of grants that we need. Other funding will come from donations. We will hold monthly meetings where the public can share their ideas and views for our facility. At the meetings, we will collect donations to help support our facility and the different programs that we will offer. Last but not least, funding will come from tax payer dollars. This portion of funding will assist the organization out a great deal.Tax payers may be upset about their money going towards a facility but it will help them out as well. They are helping to keep criminals off of the streets. Over the years, we will come up with other ways to generate funding for our facility. Communications Communication is a very important aspect of any venue. In this Criminal Justice Integration Project our communication with inmate to inmate, inmate to guard, guard to guard, and so on. These communication techniques are how we stay accessible to the world. We share information with the family of the prisoners, by using the telephone.If their loved one is in our facility and they have a major issues such as they are gravely ill or in need of a major surgery, we contact them by telephone. The prisoners are entered into a database once they enter into our facility. The database will be on a website on the internet and will be searchable by name, date of birth, or prison number. This database will be available for anyone who has access to the internet as well as to the government site we participate in. They must have the informatio n of the prisoner correct in order to see the prisoner information.When visitors enter the facility they must be on the visitors list. Anyone who comes to the facility without prior authorization will not be acknowledged. Visitors will be allowed to visit the prisoner for a limited time. Conversations between visitors and prisoners will be monitored at all times and maybe used later if needed in a case. In our facility, help groups will be established with the prisoners. Our duty is to try to rehabilitate the prisoners in the system if they want to be rehabilitated. We will have a group of prisoners in a guarded room in the facility, with counselors who can speak to them in a group.The prisoners at some point may be able to help one another understand what their issues have been in the past that helped to lead them to the situation that caused them to be sentenced to this facility. Our goal as a helping group for the inmate is to get them to understand if they are ever eligible for parole what they can do in life to avoid the situation that put them in prison in the first place or ways to think quickly to a less dangerous situation where they will be able to make a better choice in life. Our facility offers one-on-one counseling.This counseling will take place between a prisoner and a criminal social service counselor in a guarded room. The counselor will be able to have multiple sessions with prisoners to find the root of their problem and hopefully be able to work on ways to resolve some of their underline issues. They will be able to find the reasons that lead to them ending up with a prison sentence and find out the base problems of why the prisoners begin to act the way they do and what can we do to change the way they think. What issued cause them to change from an innocent child to a vicious adult are more issues that they will address.Our facility will have prisoner interviews to see what are the thoughts and feelings of the prisoners is after their he lping program to analyze if they are being helped by the programs, if their ideas of life have changed, if they developed any goals and are there any chances or rehabilitation as we hoped. We will assess the prisoners weekly until we have made of final determination of rather they are leading in the right direction truthfully or are they faking their rehab just to try to get an early release. The Components of Prison SecurityAs all prison becomes more and more over crowded and the internal problems continue to rise, it is very important for the facility to be able to maintain control and stability both inside and outside the prison. Although there are several different means of security measures that are put in place, it is hard to say whether or not the security can be achieved because of the layout of the prison or is it due to the trained professional who makes the difference whether or not the facility is secure well enough or not. Both of these factors play a vital role in keep ing the prison facility as safe as it is going to be for both inside and out.Technology and Physical Security The physical layout of a prison is actually very important. The role is twofold: this is made in order to keep society out and the inmates in. This being said, this is why prisons are built with high walls, tall fences, and you cannot forget the different forms of security that are also being used according to the Department of Corrections Services. It is believed that the lay out, design and age and level of maintenance of a prison has a direct on impact on the safety and level of security. Department of Correctional Services, 2003). The department describes physical security as â€Å"the prison building itself, the layout thereof, the design as well as the fixed security systems that are attached to the building as close circuit television, security fences, alarm and detection systems, etc. â€Å"(DCS, 2003). With this being understood, you can understand why the prison designs play a major role in the prison system. Pretty much every day more and more innovations are being introduced as ways to be able to improve security form now and into the future.In 1999, the Federal Bureau of prisons had about 120,000 inmates under their watch, having this many inmates it is great to have technology to depend on in order to keep the prison safe as much as possible. With technology on the side of The Department of Corrections they were able to develop a new system that helps prisons to keep track of all vehicles that come in and leave their facility, this system is called AVIAN- Advance Vehicle Interrogation and Notification System, This system detects the presence of persons hidden in vehicles and notifies security guards of potential escape.Using the data from seismic sensors that are placed or the vehicle, the AVIAN reads the shock waves generated by the human heart, which then couples to another surface or object with which the body is in contact. It colle cts the data and analyzes them with advanced signals processing algorithms to detect hidden persons in less than two minutes. (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 1999)Another form of security is the classification and reclassification, combine with the proper placement of the prisoners, things like this are considered to be very important factors of security.Prisoners are divided up by their different risks they pose to their fellow prisoners, and the community. The prisoners are sorted by different levels or categories and this is decided by how much of a threat the offender is to society (Category â€Å"A† prisoner and very dangerous to society, the police, and the state. ) If someone in this category were to escape they would be considered to be very dangerous to the outside community. Prisoners that fall into the category B do not have to be in such of a high risk security facility, but escape is still made to be very difficult to do.Prisoners who are in the â€Å"C† still cannot be trusted in open conditions, but they do not have the ability or resources to make a determined escape attempt. The prisoners in the â€Å"D† categories are considered to be trust worthy and they are allowed to serve their time without being totally confined, they serve their sentences in an open environment (Price, 1999). An allocation refers to the placement of a prisoner in a certain situations, which can include certain institutions, which includes the local jails, a state penitentiary, or even a federal prison. Cultural AspectsThe culture of prison facilities is very important in terms of positive leadership. Culture sets â€Å"the values, assumptions and beliefs that drive the way people think and behave at work† (Flaherty-Zonis, 2009). It sets the tone of the prison facility and how it operates. In recent discoveries, there has been a proven need for a more unified prison system across the country. They have been shown to â€Å"often operate as if the y are comprised of independent parts—the silos we hear about and experience. The staff of each part knows very well their perceived level of importance and the power of their voice.All too often, voices that are not as highly valued, coming from staff who are nonetheless critical to the running of the facility, are not heard, or are stifled and disregarded† (Flaherty-Zonis, 2009). This process must change. The staff is one of the most important factors to the successful operation of a correctional facility. They know firsthand what it is like to deal with prisoners and the voice of the staff is what keeps the prison’s culture intact. It is very common for prison sub-cultures to exist and create differentiators.This derives from the camaraderie that is being sought. Some discoveries have shown â€Å"the cultures in corrections facilities to be dominated by the following characteristics: conventional, â€Å"don’t rock the boat† thinking; a pattern of dependence, with a value on following rather than leading; avoidance of conflict, leaving many disagreements unresolved and even unidentified; a high level of oppositional behavior, focusing on what is wrong and holding on to past wrongs rather than working to find solutions; and a limited willingness to share power and information† (Flaherty-Zonis, 2009).The goal of our facility is to create a culture of positive leadership for staff as well as prisoners to follow. In the implementation of our â€Å"Positive Leaders Program†, we strive to create conceptualizations to accomplish tasks and create common understandings amongst staff and prisoners. Due to the fact that employees have direct dealings in the facilities with prisoners, we want to give them added responsibility to ensure that they are completely involved in this program. This will allow them to have a distinctive voice and always be interactive.Having strong leadership and employee interaction calls for a gre at deal of readiness and willingness to be direct and straightforward. The involvement of the staff is very important because individual participation forms and strengthens cultural group dynamics. This is where the staff works together to create a common process or understanding. In order to implement a successful and positive culture, we need a strategic planning process which is composed of shared ideology and focuses on strategic thinking, planning, management and response.We believe that following a strategic plan and sharing the ideas of everyone will allow for a great respect towards our culture, organizational diversity and pride. We want to encourage employees to remain involved in the development of a positive culture so that inmates feel like more than just a number. We want to be able to effectively implement programs and community sanctions to help improve the personal lives of prisoners so that they find inspiration to maintain a positive attitude and outlook while ser ving their prison term. DiscussionThe private facility that Team B will start for housing convicted prisoners will indeed be a success. The many programs that we will offer and implement such as the one on one counseling and prisoner interviews will be life changing for them, and assist them with making the right decisions upon entering society again. The security measures that we have in place will secure all inmates as well as correctional officers. The cultural aspects leadership program will aide prisoners to be more positive individuals so that they will have a better chance at not being a repeat offender.Overall, this facility will attempt to focus more on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, and that’s what we plan on giving our housed inmates. References American Jail Association (1993). American Jail Association Code of Ethics. Retrieved January 28, 2003, from http://www. corrections. com/aja/resolutions/index. html Associ ated Press (2001). Prison escape probe to focus on lax security. Retrieved January 28, 2003, from http://www. clickonsa. om/ant/news/stories/news-20010108-085202. html Department of Correctional Services (2003). Safety and security. Retrieved February19, 2003, from http://www. dcs. gov. za/OffenderManagement/Safetyandsecurity. htm Federal Bureau of Prisons (1999). Introducing AVIAN. Retrieved February 5, 2003, from http://www. heartbeat-detector-avian. com Flaherty-Zonis, C. (2009). Corrections Systems: Creating Positive Culture and Dynamic Leadership. Retrieved October 22, 2012 from http://www. corrections. om/news/article/22540-corrections-systems-creating-positive-culture-and-dynamic-leadership Goldberg, E. & Evans, L. (1995). The prison industrial complex and the global economy. Retrieved April 22, 2003, from http://www. prisonactivist. org/crisis/evans-goldberg. html Johnson, A. (2000, July 28). Security at prison in doubt, union says. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 19, 2003, from http://www. dispatch. com/news/newsfea00/jul00/364974. html Liberty (2002, August). Allocation. Retrieved April 22, 2003 from http://www. ourrights. org. uk Price, D. (1999). Questions and answers about security categorization. Retrieved February 5, 2003, from http://www. postcardsfromprison. com/research/catsecfq. htm Schlosser, E. (1998). The prison-industrial complex. Retrieved April 4, 2003, from http://theatlantic. com/issues/98dec/prisons. htm Vertuno. J. (1999). Prison official says guards receive more than recommended training. Texas News. Retrieved April 22, 2003 from http://www. texnews. com/1998/1999/texas/prison0130. html

Friday, September 13, 2019

Internal Control of Accounting System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Internal Control of Accounting System - Essay Example The propensity for loss is great irrespective of the nature of the fraudulent activity. Fraud threatens the stability of a business as it leads to significant financial losses. According to Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, employee theft accounts for 7% of typical businesses losses (Chorafas, 2001). Accounting professionals are the trusted advisors for business clients. It is upon the accountants to educate business clients about the risks associated with fraud, and the significance of good internal controls and how to implement internal controls. This paper discusses suggestions for overcoming the lack of segregation of duties that are often present in small businesses due to inadequate staff. The paper further explains the important role business owners and independent accountants play in creating a good internal control environment. The paper discusses red flags, which may be indications of fraud along with several reports that are helpful in monitoring and reviewing financial records (Vona, 2011). The accounting system offers businesses with a constant way in which to use their data and financial material. A system of control is essential as it controls the three key partitions within the accounting system. These segments include the design, analysis, and implementation. Internal control is a system within a system and it plays a major role in the success of the accounting system.  An accounting system controls businesses from fraud and abuse by ensuring that information employees relay timely and accurate information and that all the accounting processes meet set regulatory requirements. This paper discusses how internal controls are set and how the control system functions (Basingstoke, 2004).

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Equality and Rights Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Equality and Rights - Assignment Example This leads us to respond to the second question regarding which one between rights and equality comes first. From the foregoing description of equality, human rights can be said to enshrine the very tenets of equality. In other words, recognition of equality comes first before declaration of human rights laws to embrace and protect the recognized equality (Vandenhole 52). From a global angle, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and many related intolerance that have confronted many nations can thus be said to have been due to lack of provision and recognition of the existing equal opportunity for growth (Vandenhole 78). However, the preservation of rights is important since by protecting human rights, human equality and other factors that relate to human relationships and coexistence are also protected constitutionally (Vandenhole 83). Based on the earlier argument, for this reason, when asked as to whether the UN declaration was aimed at protecting human rights or equality? One would be quick to concede the argument presented by Vandenhole (123) that the declaration’s objective was to protect the human right. This is because by protecting the human rights, the declaration would protect within its protective claws the equality of every individual under its umbrella. The declaration was thus intended to embrace the nation’s civil rights and subsequently see to it that disparate unequal treatment of individuals especially in criminal justice systems across the globe ceases to be (Vandenhole 176). However, regressing to the lifestyle led by the founding fathers of the declaration, an opposite of the declaration comes into a picture. The founders were far from achieving a complete equality neither did they give equal opportunity to people different from their own (Vandenhole

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Compare and contrast Alcott's and Stevenson's depictions of 'growing Essay

Compare and contrast Alcott's and Stevenson's depictions of 'growing up' - Essay Example As Massachusetts is part of the New England, Alcott and her writings were obviously influenced by the political and social developments during her time such as the beginnings of Industrial Revolution (this revolution originated in old England and took first roots in the New England region) that transformed society and business, movement to abolish slavery (the author herself was an abolitionist who gave refuge to a fugitive slave), the introduction of free public education and feminism. It was during this period that the first stirrings for womens rights took hold in the form of the universal suffrage (which meant allowing the women to vote for the first time). Alcott with other female writers took the lead in these movements. It was a time of ferment and excitement, when social barriers were being challenged or being torn down. It was also in New England that the first pieces of truly American literature were published. This region produced so many prominent writers and poets like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Emily Dickinson. Some of them were her contemporaries, family friends or personal acquaintances and influenced her works. The other novel, â€Å"Treasure Island† by Robert Louis Stevenson, is one of the famous male adolescent novels of all time. It is a coming-of-age story that has acquired a life of its own in the annals of children literature. Although written entirely as fiction, its descriptions of sea voyages, pirates, maps, buried treasures and tropical islands are so authentic it had been a source of entertainment and inspiration for generations who longed for adventure, risk taking and excitement. The author used the knowledge and experiences he gained in travelling with his father and grandfather, who were both lighthouse engineers, on their maritime expeditions to check on lighthouses as the primary source of much of his exacting

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

War War I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

War War I - Essay Example World War I enhanced democracy through some of the programs and ideas introduced by Wilson. In 1918 he gave a statement that America was fighting for freedom of the seas, open diplomacy, change in colonization and giving the colonized people freedom among other aims. Through the war, America was granted a possibility of changing the American society in line with scientific lines, bringing in national unity and self-sacrifice, and expanding social justice. During the war there was an improvement in the working conditions and an increase in wages. This fostered democracy because it encouraged freedom and justice as people would air their views concerning working hours and other job related issues. World War I undermined democracy in America in various ways. The war was viewed as a crime against the people of America. It caused millions of deaths, many of the victims being the military which was sent to battlefields. Through these numerous deaths, the nations were split and peace was torn apart. The war also introduced various oppressing rules that worked against democracy. Some rules did not allow people to travel freely especially through the seas. The war oppressed the rights of the workers, because their taxes were increased unreasonably, to finance the war. This material provides a lot of information on various matters regarding the World War I and democracy in America. I have learnt that democracy is very important to the society and can be affected greatly by wars. This material shows that it is important and possible to achieve peace without

Monday, September 9, 2019

Focus group Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Focus group - Assignment Example This paper however used extensively qualitative data from primary sources. By definition, a focus group is a research in which qualitative data is obtained from a small group of people usually between 4 and 15 (Litosseliti, 69). The people in the group are asked about their opinions, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions towards a concept, a service or a product. Since the purpose of this research is to evaluate the Extra Gum with respect to why it is a popular gum and the peoples beliefs about chewing the gum, a focus group therefore appears to be the best way to go about the inquiry (Stewart, 51). This research used primary data from five participants from the engineering departments. The participants were conveniently selected to participate. All of them signed a consent form before engaging in the research. They were all above the age of 18 years with the range of their ages being between 23 years and 36 years. The results obtained from the focus group indicate that all the participants liked chewing gum. Further, all of them liked Extra Gum due to its many flavors (60%) and long smell time (40%). Regarding the shape of the gum, it’s simple and attractive shape was the most likable characteristic of the gum being indicated by 4 of the five participants. From the perspective of the focus group, all the participants indicate that Extra gum faces competition majorly from Mentos. Its major quality that keeps it competitive is the wide area of the breath smell when chewing the gum which was indicated by 4 of the 5 participants. Using wrap gum appeared to be less popular that using can gum with a 2:5 popularity ration between them. All the participant consumers did not mind the price of the gum, but the place of manufactured mattered to all the participants. With 4 of the 5 participants indicating that the gum need change, their advice is varied. Three of the participants suggest that providing wraps that can be used when getting

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Computer Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Computer Networking - Essay Example Sometimes attackers with the help of unauthorised access give huge amount of damages to IT companies. Because with the help of attack on their WLAN they get all the important information and data. Radio signal interference is used to remove that signals which can interrupt original signals from wireless devices but these radio IP interface can effect the connectivity of original signals, poor throughput and low data rates. Wireless equipment privacy is used at data link and physical layer of OSI model. As name implies, Wireless Equivalent Privacy goal is to provide an equivalent amount of security to all wired LAN networks. Wireless network is a type of computer network that has become vital for modern existence. The difference between wired and wireless networks is that multiple computer or devices can flexibly share resources without any additional installation of wiring. These resources can be a shared data, internet, printers and domain connectivity. In wired networks all communications can be possible by using some sort of any physical medium only, while wireless telecommunications networks are generally implemented and administered using radio communication over one or more access points. Some of benefits of wireless network are convenience, flexibility, productivity, easy setup, maintainable, expandable, robust security protection and cost. However, the disadvantages include interference in wireless signals because of any obstructions like wall or other wireless devices etc Cooper,4,2004. Nowadays, wireless networking is quickly become famous for both home and business networks and wireless products. Major organizations like IEEE, IFTF and Wi-Fi alliance are continually working to make improvement in this area. As stated above 802.11 was the original standard of the IEEE which could deliver 1-2 Mbps over 2.4 GHz range.

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation - Essay Example Despite available resources, unawareness and scarcity of professionals have led to limited access of such programmes. In this proposal, a programme has been proposed of cardiovascular rehabilitation that would not only incorporate exercise programmes, but also would educate patients in the line of lifestyle modification that involves unconventional approaches of imparting education at the time of deployment of rehabilitative programmes. A combination of dietary, psychosocial, medical, educational, rehabilitative, and behavioural modifications can go a long way to reduce cardiovascular risks so that morbidity and mortality of such patients would drastically reduce. Government guidelines and community agencies would serve to implement such a project in reality by ensuring active participation through mentoring of these patients so the national goal is achieved. Introduction: Improved prevention of coronary artery disease is one of the prime targets of the cardiovascular rehabilitation throughout the world. It is the key aim and central target of many Government bodies concerned with health of the people. These can be achieved by primary prevention, improved treatment of acute disease episodes, revascularization, and by secondary prevention. There is strong scientific and clinical evidence that coronary prevention through lifestyle measures, treatment of blood pressure, lipid control, aspirin therapy, post myocardial infarction treatment with beta blockers, statins, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, surgical revascularization have major roles to play in bringing the patients into acceptable life activities and perhaps to a risk-free tenure of livelihood for the rest of the life. This evidence applies to the patients with angina pectoris as well as post myocardial infarction, and those revascularized. Cardiovascular rehabilitatio n, however, is the key to these being achieved despite the complaint that it is not being used in its full potential. There are many factors involved in this affair. It is a known fact that full potential of these secondary prevention measures are not being realized in clinical practice, and as a result, the pace of progress in improving the effectiveness of secondary prevention is slow. There is failure to offer cardiac prevention and cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes to all patients at their first presentation with evidence or risks of coronary artery disease. Simply put, this fails to achieve and maintain risk factor modification and lifestyle adjustments with full use of cardiovascular rehabilitative measures. This proposal attempts to delineate a health promotion project from the point of view of cardiac rehabilitation considering the factors of demography, personnel support, economic support, and target population. There is, therefore, a need to establish and implement programmes that can be offered to all eligible patients. This will successfully recruit and retain patients and will achieve and maintain risk factor control through rehabilitative measures. This author will utilize knowledge of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation to establish effective cardiac preventio

Reseach on Performance Work Systems in Local Councils the Case of Harare City Council in Zimbabwe Essay Example for Free

Reseach on Performance Work Systems in Local Councils the Case of Harare City Council in Zimbabwe Essay 1.0 Introduction This chapter forms the basis of the study on the assessment on the role of high performance work systems have on Harare city council workers for effective and efficiency service delivery. This paper is going to provide a background of the study stating the problem, purpose and importance of the study. To add to the above, the objective, anticipated constraints and research questions, including literature review and research methodology are going to be highlighted. 1.1 Background of the study Performance has been a widely researched subject by most social scientist and industrial psychologist in an attempt to establish what motivates people to do what they do, and why they do it. An organisational performance has always been an issue for managers, as it is believed that satisfied workers tend to be more productive, creative and committed to their jobs. There is therefore need to establish whether high performance work systems are what bring satisfactory performance or there are other factors. High performance work systems is a complex and multifaceted concept, which can mean different things to different people. However, the researcher in this study attempted to establish the role of high performance systems, whether it brings positive or negative results with particular attention at Harare City Council. 1.2 Statement of the problem The dilemma at hand is that the Harare city council workers are said to be hindering the performance circles of which are of particular appeal to affect the residents. The council provide services to the residents which are not helpful but only distract them from developing their communities in the proper manner they desire. This is happening due to the failure by the council to carry out good research on its performance since today employees are expected to work in teams rather than solely on their own. They are expected to keep learning new skills and to assume broader roles through the employment security, selective hiring of new personnel, self-managed teams and decentralization of decision making as the basic principles of organizational design, comparatively high compensation contingent on organizational performance, extensive training, reduced status distinctions and barriers including dress, language office arrangements, and wage differences across levels, extensive sharing o f financial and performance information throughout the organisation. 1.3 Objectives of the study 1 To investigate and establish the role of high performance work systems in relation to organisational performance as this affects the service delivery. 2 To establish what causes poor performance and service delivery in the organisation. 3 To find out ways of maintaining and improving staff loyalty, motivation and performance. 4 To recommend on changes to improve council performance and staff welfare policy. 1.4 Significance of the study As a researcher it is of paramount importance to conduct a study on the role of high performance work systems by the local authority. One can easily notice that it is important to carry out this research as it: The research findings of this research were also intended to assist management in addressing concerns and expectations of staff in order to harness their full contribution and effort to the benefit of the organization. The organization would then use the research findings to redesign its human resources policies towards the workers welfare and provide the answers to the questions presented on the sub problems of the research problem. Employees could use the research as a platform to express their concerns and desires to management, which they would not probably get, and also use it as a reference point to those who would intend to do their own researches. 1.5 Literature review Review of related literature is the most important part of research. It refers to the systematic exploration of issues related to the one’s research which has been treated to date by various authors and authorities. According to the high performance work systems Assessment, â€Å"by social impacts we mean the consequences to human populations of any public or private actions that alter the ways in which people live, work, play, relate to one another, organise to meet their needs and generally cope as members of society.† The concept of high performance work systems and organisational performance High performance work systems have been defined as a distinctive managerial approach that enables high performance through people. (1987). High performance work systems are somewhat not quite the same as motivation, but the two are closely linked. Many thoughts and views have been developed to define performance at work but much of it explains one’s reaction, feelings and emotions towards the accomplishment of organisational goals. Many research studies were however founded to explain how people react in the manner they do in their jobs. Various factors have been associated with one’s performance. These factors include: * The level of pay and benefits, * The perceived fairness of the promotion system within a company, * The quality of the working conditions, * Leadership and social relationships * The job itself. Different models were developed to account for the attitudes that people develop at various situations. The following models of job satisfaction shall be discussed to aid the understanding of high performance work systems at work. Classical theories of Maslow (1943), Herzberg (1968) and Vroom in relation to high performance work systems have been the basis of the modern day studies. Abram Maslow proposed a hierarchical theory of five needs, which gained popularity over the years and formed a basis for management studies to human motivation at work. Having been simplified by Clayton Alderfer made a fine-tuning to the hierarchical explanations of human needs to that of three levels. Abbreviated to ERG, (Existence, Relatedness and Growth), Existence needs constituted Maslow’s physiological and safety needs, and Relatedness included internal esteem and social needs and lastly, the Growth stage was made up of self actualisation and external esteem needs. The Wikipedia encyclopaedia cited various models of which can help to explain high performance work systems that were written to by different authors as follows: * The two-factor theory * The job characteristics model * The fulfilment theory * The equity theory These models shall be discussed below to aid the research to find the basis of high performance work systems in the workplace. Theories of Employee Motivation for performance The two-factor theory This theory also known as the motivator-hygiene theory is the work of Fredrick Herzberg (1968). The theory is on the premise that employee satisfaction has two dimensions namely â€Å"hygiene† and â€Å"motivation†. (Agarwal.1983). According to Herzberg, Hygiene factors include those aspects such as company policies, supervision, salary, interpersonal relations and working conditions. Motivators include those aspects that satisfy people such as achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and advancement. The model was criticised by researchers who failed to empirically measure of satisfaction as being a methodological artefact. (Wikipedia encyclopaedia). High performance work systems characteristics Model The model was proposed by Hackman and Oldham (1976), which states that there are five core job characteristics, which impact three critical psychological states. The five core job characteristics include: * Skill variety: employees use a variety of skills to complete their jobs, skills that have been acquired by long years of study and/ or experience and are the primary reason for their employment and work allocation in a business organisation * Task identity: involvement of the employee in all steps of the job, thus providing identification with the task. * Task significance: The significance of the job being properly executed to the well being of the organisation. * Autonomy: The freedom to do the job with responsibility and by oneself. * Feedback: The provision of feedback providing information about the excellence of performance of the job. The three psychological states include: * Experienced meaningfulness, * Experienced responsibility for outcomes, and * Knowledge of the actual results. The Fulfilment theory According to Agarwal (1983), fulfilment theory regard satisfaction as resulting from outcomes (rewards) a person receives or the extents to which a person’s needs are satisfied. The difficulty with the fulfilment approach is that satisfaction is a function of not only what a person receives but also what he feels he should receive and/or wants to receive. People have different expectations and what satisfies one may dissatisfy another. Equity Theory According to literature by Agarwal (1983), a person’s satisfaction is determined by his perceived equity. Received equity is, in turn, determined by his input-output balance as compared to his comparison others’ input-output balance. Input-output balance is a perceived ratio of what a person receives from his job relative to what he put in the job. According to the equity theory, either under reward or over reward can lead to dissatisfaction although the feeling associated with them are different. As illustrated by the following diagram the comparison may result in one feeling unfairly treated when outcome received appears lower than others or feels guilty when received more than others. The equity theory A Perceived outcomes actually received A = B Satisfaction A B Dissatisfaction A B Guilty and discomfort Perceived personal input B Perceived personal outcome that should be received Perceived outcome of comparison others Perceived input of comparison others Fig 1.Equity Theory (Agarwal 1983) Determinants of high performance work systems Agarwal (1983) says that there are various factors that determine performance. These are discussed below. Employee Supervision As with Herzberg hygiene factors, supervision is critical to provide leadership to employees’ performance. A good leader is one who establishes trust from his followers and promotes feedback. He knows how to treat employees at different situations. Research has shown that low performance and low productivity occurs when a supervisor is a laissez faire type of leader. Agarwal (1983). Research has also discovered that those people’s reason to seek employment is to get paid (money) though not a motivator but they desire to be paid fairly. Management must always ensure consult for salaries and benefits to see whether their employees match the market. (Putting Theory Into Practice, October 1999 publication) The work group in relation to employee performance Employees need to socialise with others to create an environment of belongingness, develop a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Social interaction creates organisational performance though depending on their affiliation. Inappropriate behaviour should not be encouraged though because of influences, but strong reprimands should be exercised. (Putting Theory Into Practice, October 1999 publication) Job content in relation to high performance work systems Employees need to feel that the work or task they are doing is of great importance to the company. Their contributions result in positive outcomes. It is therefore essential for management to recognise as an important a task to the overall achievement of the organizational goals. Agarwal cited Herzberg, Mauner and Suyderman as holding a view that job content factors such as achievement, recognition, advancement, responsibility and the work itself tend to provide satisfaction but their absence such as supervision, working condition, company policies and salary tend to produce dissatisfaction but their presence does not produce satisfaction. Age in relation to performance According to Agarwal (1983), some research works have reported a positive correlation between age and performance. Older workers tend to be more satisfied with their jobs than their younger counterparts because older workers are said to have adjusted to their jobs while young workers still have ambitions and need for advancement. Job Satisfaction and performance The analysis of results from the work of Herzberg et al, on twenty-six studies focusing on the relationship between job satisfaction and performance, fourteen of these showed that workers with positive job attitudes had higher performance than those with negative attitudes. Nine studies have shown that job attitudes and performance were not related, and in three studies, workers with positive attitudes had poorer performance records than those with negative attitudes. Lawler, 1977 and Porter, 1961, hold the view that it is productivity that leads to satisfaction and not the vice versa. Performance leads to rewards and if these rewards are considered to be equitable in relation to the perception of the worker of the rewards of his referent others and his perceptions of what he should receive, he will experience satisfaction. The following is the illustrative diagram. Model of performance leading to satisfaction Perceived equity of rewards in relation to referent others Performance Reward intrinsic extrinsic Satisfaction Perception of how much he should receive Fig 2.Source: Agarwal 1983: Model of performance leading to satisfaction Adapted from Lawler III Porter â€Å"The effect of Performance on job satisfaction†, Human relations, October, 1967 P23 1.5 Justification of the study The area of discussion is worth studying because it aims at alerting the management of the Harare City Council how their service provision are being hindered by the employee performance, thus organisational performance is affected as well. As such the research is vital as it will help in gathering or adding information on the importance of high performance work systems being as well as its importance to the Ministry of local government urban and rural development. The Minister will be able to see if there are any amendments which need to be done and if there are any gaps left which need to be filled. Furthermore the research will see the researcher attain the ultimate goal for a Bachelor of science Honours degree in Local Governance Studies 1.6 Research Methodology Various techniques will be exploited to achieve the proposed objectives of the study. Haralambos (1995:36) asserts that: Any academic subject requires methodology to reach its Conclusions, it must have ways of producing and analysing Data so that theories can be tested, accepted or rejected without a systematic way of producing knowledge the findings can be dismissed. The researcher is going to use both quantitative and qualitative techniques to come up with conclusions as both techniques can be used to complement each other as well as questionnaires. According to wordiq.com (2011), quantitative research is the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observations reflect. It is bent on developing and employing mathematical models. On the other hand, Qualitative research is a method of inquiry appropriated in any different disciplines. It means a non numerical data collection or explanation based on the attributes of the source of data. Qualitative research is used to gain insight into peoples behaviour, attitudes, value systems, motivations concerns, aspirations, culture or lifestyles. Christensen (1994) expressed that a sample makes a better study. Leedy (1993) agreed with the same idea saying that, â€Å"the larger the sample the better.† I will select the people that are going to give relevant information to this study for example the most affected people and the possible problem solvers. 1.7 Research Tools (a) Interviews (Group The researcher intends to use interviews as a research technique. Gray et al (2007) allude that the best data gathering technique for survey research is the interview. These interviews will be done in groups so as to save time. (b) Observation The researcher will use observation in tackling the research problem. The rationale for using this technique is that the researcher intends to learn about the sensitive issues that participants might be unwilling to disclose or talk about with regards to the research. (c) Analysis of secondary sources The researcher will make use of other researchers that have been studied in relation to the field under study. This will be done in order to weigh the impacts that the previous researchers have had. Target Population The study will be focussing on the Harare City Council employees. Anticipated constrains Wikipedia (2011:4) notes that any limit or restriction given for the design process is called a constraint. The study is likely to encounter a number of challenges which may compromise the quality of research results and these include: (a)Access to information The information is mostly confidential in the Harare City Council thus releasing information might be problematic. Some may be reluctant to disclose such information as such the respondents will be guaranteed that their information will be treated with utmost privacy and confidentiality. (b)Resources Resources such as time and finance may compromise the quality of the research as the researcher is a student with other university commitments RESEARCH REFERENCE LIST Argawal R.D.(1983) Organisation and Management, Mcgraw-Hill, Tata Boxall P., Macky K. Rasmussen E., (2003)‘Labour turnover and retention in New Zealand; the causes and consequences of leaving and staying with employers’ Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources. Vol 41 (2)., Cascio, W.F. (2003) Managing Human Resources: Productivity, quality of work Life profits (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Irwin. French, W.L. (1998) Human Resources Management. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company Ivancevich et al (1989):Foundations of Personnel ,Human Resources Management Kreitner, R., Kinicki, A. (2001) Organisational behaviour (5th ed.). Irwin McGraw-Hill. Milkovich, G.T., Boudreau, J.W. (1994) Human Resource Management (7th ed.). IRWIN Publishers, USA. Morrell W. H., Loan-Clarke J. 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