Broken Promises

Broken Promises, Reparations there is a renewed willingness on the part of both governments and corporations to provide compensation for injustices in other contexts. Often it has taken the form of cash payments or other benefits to victims of Nazi and Japanese atrocities during World War II. Some have sought to return land to native peoples, while others have simply offered apologies. Apologies have been offered for a wide range of past injustices done to Jews, Korean women, Native Americans, and South African blacks. The U. S. government apologized for its role in overthrowing the native government in Hawaii and the elected government in Guatemala. † (Arthur, 2007) In appearing to act in the interest of former slaves government raised reparations as a subject and passed laws directing compensatory payment after the Civil War. Former slaves needed footing to function on an economic and social level in this nation. Laws stipulating compensation be disbursed in the form of lives tock, monies, lands etc. were passed. In 1865, the original reparations package, the so-called â€Å"40 Acres and a Mule,† was issued.Each black family was supposed to receive 40 acres and later was offered the loan of Army mules. The same year, Congress established the Freedmen's Bureau, which was created to oversee the transition of slaves to freedom. The goal of the Freedmen's Bureau was to distribute 850,000 abandoned and confiscated acres of land to former slaves. But the distribution never happened. Former Confederates were allowed to reclaim the property. † http://www. alternet. org/story/11000 Broken Promises, Reparations 3 At its root reparations was an idea government pretended to embrace.This appears to be evident in taking the axiom â€Å"Actions speak louder than words† into account. The legal mandates for reparations that were voluntarily passed by government were not empowered to transform the law from writing to realities the former slaves would e xperience. 136 years having passed without a blade of grass, a single dollar, mule or apology does not reckon favorably in African American’s minds, especially when government is noted to have apologized to other ethnic groups and disbursed funds and resources as a part of those apologies.â€Å"Under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, the U. S. government apologized for Japanese American internment during World War II and provided reparations of $20,000 to each survivor, to compensate for loss of property and liberty during that period. For many years, Native American tribes have received compensation for lands ceded to the United States by them in various treaties. Other countries have also opted to pay reparations for past grievances, (see Holocaust reparations)†,(http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Reparations_for_slavery).Anti-reparation activists decry the idea that African Americans living today should receive compensation for experiences they did not endure. Descendants of slave owners who had nothing to do with slavery should be exempt from any responsibility for debts incurred by their ancestors is another anti-reparation argument. While there may be merit to the idea that public policy should not function like a curse a legal basis for the call for Broken Promises, Reparations 4 reparations were passed.The failure to perform to meet the purpose of the law for 136 years does not nullify the nation’s duty to meet the duties it has already legislated. is was objectively The problem is there were laws passed that would have settled the call for reparations a century later if they’d been enforced. The idea of a mass of property and money going to African Americans is exacerbated by the fact that African Americans weren’t the only ethnic group that’s been discriminated against in America.Blacks were the only group enslaved under the authorities of legislation. When bringing the holocaust associated with slave trading to mind African Americans justification for compensation are all the more strengthened by the weight of conscience. The number of slaves lost in transporting, some to mass killings draws spiritual and legal issues into the debate. The killings of slaves to appease economic concerns of slave traders is an embarrassment to arguments seeking to deny reparations. â€Å"Heading for Jamaica in 1781, the ship Zong was nearing the end of its voyage.It had been twelve weeks since it had sailed from the west African coast with its cargo of 417 slaves. Water was running out. Then, compounding the problem, there was an outbreak of disease. The ship's captain, reasoning that the slaves were going to die anyway, made a decision. In order to reduce the owner's losses he would throw overboard the slaves thought to be too sick to recover. The voyage was insured, but the insurance would not pay for sick slaves or even those killed by illness. However, it would cover slaves lost Broken Promises, Reparations 5 through drowning.The captain gave the order; 54 Africans were chained together, then thrown overboard. Another 78 were drowned over the next two days. By the time the ship had reached the Caribbean,132 persons had been murdered. (http://www. alternet. org/story/11000/) The abolition of slavery, laws authorizing reparations that were not enforced, mass murders of large numbers of slaves and the government’s perpetuating injustice against Blacks through legalized segregation and discrimination expand the scope of what was originally â€Å"purposed† to address those who were directly affected by slavery.The government’s failing to enforce reparation laws it instituted over 100 years ago gives African Americans pause to reason the nation must be forced to meet its obligation. The lack of a single conciliatory act, including a lack of an apology has direct bearing on African American’s being reconciled to Ameri ca. The arguments for and against reparations may impress some as having equal weight along moral, ethical and legal lines. As time has passed benign neglect of what reparation laws has given place to arguments anti-reparation activists use in their efforts to frustrate the campaign.The claim that the current generation of African Americans should not be compensated for what they did not suffer was made possible by the government’s purposefully ignoring its own legislation for over a century. This is an enhancement of moral grounds to campaign for reparations today. Having made accommodations for Japanese internees, funding billions to ameliorate injustice for others Broken Promises, Reparations 6 in foreign lands, etc. magnifies the call for government to fulfill obligations imposed by laws stipulating reparations.Randall Robinson has joined the fray with his book, â€Å"The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks† (Dutton, 200) Robinson writes: â€Å"No race, no ethnic or religious group, has suffered so much over so long a span as blacks have, and do still, at the hands of those who benefitted, with the connivance of the United States government, from slavery and the century of legalized American racial hostility that followed it. It is a miracle that the victims — weary dark souls long shorn of a venerable and ancient identity — have survived at all, stymied as they are by this blocked road to economic equality. † http://www. alternet. org/story/11000/†.The blocked road for African American reparation is the ever growing cacophony of reasons why there is no plausible means to reason from whence the compensation should be drawn. There is a web of issues too complex to hope to resolve in this argument. â€Å"One additional problem is that the governments in power in the 1600s and 1700s in Europe are not still in power now. †¦.. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to hold the current French government liable for the enslavement of Africans that previous governments encouraged and benefited from between the 1600s up to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. † http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Reparations_for_slavery†.The point counterpoint of the argument is gnarly and complex complicating the call for reparations. â€Å"One additional problem is that the governments in power in the 1600s and 1700s in Europe are not still in power now. †¦.. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to hold the current French government liable for the enslavement of Africans that previous governments encouraged and benefited from between the 1600s up to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. † http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Reparations_for_slavery†.The point counterpoint of the argument is gnarly and complex complicating the call for reparations. Broken Promises, Reparations 1 Broken Promises, Reparations For African Americans Customer’s name Course name Professor’s Name Date Broken Promises, Reparations 7REFERENCEShttp://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Reparations_for_slaveryhttp://www. alternet. org/story/11000/ Arthur John (2007) Race, Equality, and the Burdens of History, State University of New York, Binghamton

The Significance of Dance in Dancing at Lughnasa

The Significance Of The Use Dance: Focusing On Pages 20 – 23 Brian Freil uses a variety of dance techniques to convey the significance of dance as a projection of universal and primal desires to which everyone is submissive. Each outburst or description of dance involving the characters gives the audience an insight to not only their true personality but also the strain of their current situations. The significance of dance and its effect on the audience is echoed throughout the play through many different circumstances, the positioning of each routine is also very important as it connects with true meaning of the dance, therefore intensifying atmosphere on which it brings. Pages 20 to 23 highlight this greatly as we see all of the sisters dance in unity. Page 20 sees Maggie’s monologue, here the audience become aware of how dance can be beautiful however misunderstood; â€Å"they were just so beautiful together†¦ they should have won† Explained as Maggie is describing the pure splendor of Brian and Bernie’s military two-step at a dance competition from when they were young. Although this directly does not link directly in the significance throughout the play it strengthens the aspect of a spirited connection between two people through the means of dance. This point is also enhanced with the connection between Chris and Gerry as the audience only become apparent of the sentimental emotions these characters share when she submissively begins to ballroom dance with him, at which point and further in the play all characters especially Chris soften to Gerry giving implication of the true and raw feeling they have for each other represented through their dances. This spiritual characteristic which dance beholds amongst the characters also has connotation of a form of communication that predates conversation and emotion, seeping through all cultures. This is a strong feature to Dancing At Lughnasa as the storyline is based around Freil’s use of juxtaposition of native tribal dancing and localized northern Irish dancing with the use of Father Jack. The use of Father jack; â€Å"losing his mind† on returning from Africa and resorting to African rituals and beliefs bridges strong Irish traditions to the frowned upon peaganism of the Irish mid 1930s. Depending on interpretation you could argue that Freil suggests this bridging of cultures throughout the play to enhance the technique of juxtaposition. An example being in the ironic connection between Jack’s description of an African ceremony shortly followed by the unofficial wedding of Chris and Gerry described also, as a ceremony of an elegant and precise ballroom dance. Also on page 21; â€Å"patterns her face with an instant mask† The stage direction describing Maggie’s fanatical dance and how she stripes her cheeks with flour. This gives suggestion of connotation, which could be implying the link between typical tribal face paint used for rituals and dances in native Africa and Maggie’s flour â€Å"mask†. In addition this too gives implication of Maggie being ‘out of character’ and acting peaganistic, again, strengthening the thought of dance being a universal and primal desire bridging cultures due to subconscious human nature. The radical and fanatical dancing of the sisters on page 21 is also important in understanding how Freil communicates the characters personalities and thoughts to the audience in the stage directions of each dance. Freil uses the ‘Marconi‘ as a dramatic device to plunge the scene into dance with the slow introduction of sound; â€Å" until the sound has established itself† this could show how the beat and rhythm of the music is actually the subconscious of the characters. However, another interpretation could be that the slow introduction is the metaphorical gradual dispatch from reality into a fantasy of dance coated by repressed desire and latent passion. This would explain how Maggie’s â€Å"features become animated by a look of defiance† as it is a result of the realization of her repression which has grew from since she was young that manifests itself with defiance. It would too explain how as each character becomes submissive to the rhythm, the beat becomes more frantic and uncomfortably loud because each of the sisters is now projecting suppressed emotions with a feeling of force and urgency. This shows how the stage directions also give implication to the character’s psychological state. Other characters such as Rose, who follows Maggie’s chants and calls and is the second to â€Å"leap† into dance, this could be an indication of Rose’s suggestive character and how she yielding to those offering attention such as Danny Bradley, her supposed lover. Rose is then followed by Agnes who is described to dance the most â€Å"gracefully and sensuously† out of the sisters which could represent her soft, and delicate personality highlighted through her caring actions towards Rose, and the household keeping earlier in the play. However the most significant character’s performance in this dance is Kate, the audience have been subjected to her objection to the festival at Lughnasa and peaganistic dance traditions yet as the final sister to join we see Kate preform a complex dance; â€Å"alone, totally concentrated, totally private† and although the other sisters are chanting and screaming together, Kate is in silence. This outburst is one of the most fundamental moments in the play as a whole, as the audience are taken back by Kate’s obscure and out of character reaction to the rhythm. Being the last to plunge into dance and the first to stop shows how Kate is conceited and is against the force which dance holds, however her ominous actions are clearly full of true of emotion which represents her true personality one of passion and complete feeling. The intensity and isolated feel of her performance is a representation of the distance between her and her sisters caused by the strain of keeping the family together, which is ironically, obviously falling apart. At the end of the stage directions on page 22, the audience are aware of the significance of Freil’s use of dance. The brutality and grotesque atmosphere of the dance is the projection of the unstable state the family is in, as each sister is under independent and personal strains. Which appeals to the audiences’ emotional and psycho-analytic understanding therefore creating two layers within Friel’s production. By using this form of communication frequently throughout the play the audience can therefore connect with the characters and relate to their created personalities to prehaps, feelings of their own. Dance, in the production of Dancing at Lughnasa is consequently not only a connective device between the audience and the characters as it is a projection of primal desires, but also a representation of repressed feeling and emotion of which the characters cannot express verbally.

International HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

International HRM - Essay Example Therefore, in order to expand and grow, corporations are now emerging themselves into the global market. Within the organisations, the most importantly considered assets are its people. Where the organisation requires managing its operational activities, likewise the people within the organisation needs to come under supervision. The administration of the people is the sole responsibility of Human Resource Management department, thus, it has become significantly important for any organisation to have HRM in their organisation. What is Human Resource Management? Human Resource Management (HRM) is one of the departments that exclusively deals with and take care of the company’s assets known as ‘people’. The rising drifts in the international market and its situations have given a boost to Human Resource Management and raised its importance for the organisation and its owners. The history of HRM states that Personal Management was the term that came under use before the terminology Human Resource Management emerged. The emergence of HRM reveals the fact of the success of the organisations that was due to the behavioral change of employees for their contributions through their hard work (Jackson & Mathis, pp. 2-20, 2007). The principal functions of any Human Resource Management in a broad perspective focus on the recruitment of the people, administer them, and endow with guidance for the right path or track to them. Supporting and handling all the matters of concern of employees, such as â€Å"performance management and appraisals, compensation and benefits, training and development, hiring and firing of management level and junior level people, organisational development, employee motivation, and overall administration† (Jackson & Mathis, pp. 2-20, 2007) are the primary job functions of any HRM. HRM is not only administering the company’s employees, rather it also controls the culture of the enterprise and its internal atmosphere. HRM is a leading and motivational aspect that facilitates the employee to give their maximum output in an efficient and fruitful way so that the company can accomplish its mission and visions that helps growing its prosperity. With the passage of time, the role of HRM has extensively modified and increased and now it has shifted from the conventional role of administration of the employees to the added-value strategic approach and method that affects the business revenues in a reckonable way (Jackson & Mathis, pp. 2-20, 2007). What is International Human Resource Management? The globalisation and increasing global market trends and environment has given rise to the concept of Human Resource Management in an international context, which is International Human Resource Management (IHRM). IHRM focuses on the administration of the employees on a global basis in order to accomplish the goals, objectives mission and visions of the enterprise, in order to get an edge over the competitors present not only on local level but

International Business Strategy Case Study Essay

International Business Strategy Case Study - Essay Example The later developments in the project suggested that the Shell has not been able to maintain the same level of control in the project. The overall bargaining power of Shell continuously declined owing to different factors despite the fact that it has been able to secure the relative favor from the government in the initial phase of the project. What is also important to understand that the negotiation process does not involved all the stakeholders in the project and resultant the take off of the project fell victim of the pressure to the various stakeholders involved in the project? According to the analysts, the deal has been in favor of both the parties owing to the fact that both the parties were better off during the negotiation process. One of the essential elements of good negotiation process is to ensure that a win win situation emerges for every player involved in the negotiation process. In these negotiations, both the parties to the negotiation were given the share in the p roject in such a manner that both the parties were better off at the end of negotiation. ... This was only the direct result of not involving all the stakeholders during the negotiation process. The overall shift in the bargaining power from Shell to Russian government therefore was owing to the fact that all the stakeholders were not adequately involved in the process thus resulting into a shift towards the greater bargaining power for the Russian government. This shift was also a result of the Russian policy of gaining direct control of the oil and gas exploration facilities while at the same time allowing foreign firms to actively involved in the exploration services while remaining under the direct control or supervision of State owned organizations such as Gazprom. Assessment of the group processes During the completion of the assignment and attending of different sessions, it became clear for me that the case study approach can provide students an opportunity to actually look into the real life examples and learn from them. The range of different case studies therefore provided a set of interesting case studies which held the overall interest and allowed me to learn the practical side of managing different aspects of an organization. What also went good were the composition of the class and the diversity of the students in the class. People of different background and experiences therefore allowed to put case studies in different perspectives and understand and explored different dynamics of the case studies. It is also important to note that the split of the tasks also allowed us to save time while at the same time gather more information about Russia and its oil and gas sector. This also allowed us to discuss with the students having specialized knowledge about oil and gas sector in order to broaden our overall scope of

History of China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of China - Essay Example The examinations were graded in levels as discussed below; District level People who had passed the zau jyun si (district level exam) achieved the status of tong sheng and could sit the prefectural level exams. Those individuals were commoners and about 2% of the population had such qualifications. Prefectural level Successful candidates at this stage attained the Sang jyun degree and the most outstanding holders of this degree were awarded the gung sang degree and were the lower gentry. The exam was conducted twice after every three years by about 2% of the population. Level 2b Rich people within the government who were too lazy to study were allowed to buy a gaam sang degree in order to improve their social status, they became the lower gentry. Provincial level Those who passed the xiang shi were awarded the Geoi Jan degree and became members of the upper gentry.hey were done at the provincial capital every three years by about 0.0065% of the population. Metropolitan level Successf ul candidates at this stage were awarded the gong sheng degree and could immediately sit the din shi and be given the zeon si degree. They became the highest gentry and had rights to hold office although such positions were not guaranteed. Most of them worked as intermediaries between the government officials and the local peasants. This system was abolished in 1905 to adopt the science and technology based curricula practiced by the western nations. This set it apart from the Song Dynasty exam system that followed Confucian classical methods. Q2: Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty The Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty were both built around the same time i.e Qin around 221-208 BC and Chinese rulers’ controlled Han around 206BC-AD 220.Both Dynasties. Under this dynasties heir was no central political force in China and as such, the great nomad empires emerged such Liao and the great Mongol empires. Both tenures were characterized by ruthlessness and tyrannical demands on the peopl e to pay heavy taxes and compulsory labor. These dynasties were effective in the sense that, during these periods there was relative peace in China. However, they both had weak military forces and were easily overrun by the nomadic tribes of the north. Both the Sui and the Tang Dynasty rulers’ were part nomads. These rulers’ were non-Chinese but their reign was considered Chinese. Both regimes were very successful in terms of commerce as the Sui were able to connect Yellow and Yangtze (Grand Canal) eastward waterways starting from Beijing to Hangzhou, thereby enabling nationwide commerce to thrive especially under the more prosperous Tang Dynasty. In addition, both Dynasties occurred after the reign of the Six Dynasties i.e. Sui from 589-617 AD and Tang from 618-907 AD(Ebrey, Walthall & Palais 2009 p89). These Dynasties were effective in the sense that they had stronger military’s that helped re-unify China and that there was improvement in commerce in this peri ods. However, under these regimes the citizens suffered tyranny from the government in the form of forced labor and heavy taxes. in addition, the costly and often disastrous military escapades in Korea combined with corruption, disloyalty and assassinations led to popular revolts resulting in the overthrow of the Sui dynasty. Q3: Women in imperial China It is possible to understand the overreliance of women on their male relatives as pillars of their lives (Hinsch, 2002). This is clear in the book ‘The Soul of Chien-nu leaves her Body’. Since Chien-nu relies on her lover Wang Wen-chu to help drive away the fear, she runs up to the river in the hope of finding him (Lu, 1990 p91). As she sings, she mentions the fear that she can’

Canadian Local Governments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Canadian Local Governments - Essay Example This paper seeks to analyze the operation of local governments in Canada and try to answer the question of whether they should have recognition in the Constitution as a distinct level of government with guaranteed functions and sources of funds based on various schools of thought advanced by different scholars. Canadian local governments Canada as a country has different distinct levels of government that include the federal government, provincial governments, territorial governments, and local governments1. The federal government is the central governing organ, popularly known as the government of Canada, and works hand in hand with the territorial governments. It performs the roles of a state with such institutions as the prime minister’s seat, considered the country’s top leadership organ, and the legislature both of which are responsible such issues as national security, foreign relations, citizenship matters and law. The provincial level has a similar structure to the federal government with its own independent jurisdiction entrenched in the country’s constitution. It includes provision of health services, education, transport and the associated infrastructure, civil and property rights. The last level is the local government, which is generically responsible for policy matters that directly relate to the local grass root communities, whether in the rural or urban areas2. Just like the other upper levels of government, it has its own leadership structures comprising of commissions, boards, agencies, and political institutions with leaders like mayors, directors, and councillors. The local governments have varying roles depending on the province and the characteristics of the region under which they fall. For example, their role in a rural area is naturally different from those of an urban centre. However, their functions generally revolve around similar responsibilities. To begin with, they offer security to individuals and their prope rties including policing, emergency response, fire fighting, management of local transport that includes construction of local roads and their maintenance. They are also responsible for development planning, which entails zoning and provision of public utilities like electricity, sewerage services, water, and their maintenance. Other crucial roles of the Canadian local governments include provision of social welfare services like health, education, places of recreation and culture services at the local levels. Local government administrative structures Canadian constitution gives recognition to the independence of the federal and provincial governments, conferring to them the power and policy authority that require their approval for any changes. This is direct opposite to the local governments, which are organs of the provincial government, obtaining their power from municipal Acts formulated by the provincial parliament. This implies that they are under complete control of the pro vincial government, which has all the rights to change their jurisdiction without seeking their consent. This has seen major changes in the local structures, including abolishment and amalgamation of municipalities, as well as creation of new ones without their involvement3. Financial structures, powers, leadership selection criteria, and duties of local governments are also subject to decisions made at the provincial level. Provinces Influence their day-to-day operations significantly since the by-laws within which they

The effect magazine advertisements have on women Essay

The effect magazine advertisements have on women - Essay Example In today’s world, Magazines are considered to be trendy, cool and fashionably sensitive.Magazines come in all shapes, sizes and colours addressing and covering a variety of topics and issues. Men and women often tend to carry a magazine with them to pass their time. Today, we have magazines covering the latest fashion, Hollywood scandal, the glitz and the glamour of celebrity lifestyles, sports and fitness, just to name a few! The ‘magazine business’ is a multi million dollar business simply because it is affordable and also produced on a monthly basis in general. Although men and women buy and read magazines, it is indeed safe to say that most if not all magazines covet the â€Å"perfect woman† to adorn its pages, sell its products and lure customers to take the bait.In this paper we will look at how popular magazines focus on spreading the image that in order for a woman to look beautiful, she must look a certain way and follow a particular style. We will examine the consequences and effects that this has had on women, look at why there is such a great demand for scantily clad women and why does sex sell so quick!We will also look at why Caucasian women are more in demand to pose for magazines and be their glamour girls more than any other race in the world.I will conclude this paper by examining the cause and effects that magazines have on women and how can one be wise enough not to be snared or captured by the glitz and the glamour that these magazines so readily display! display! Magazines: Their Powers of Persuasion One of the strongest forces that magazines use is 'The power of persuasion'. The power of persuasion goes to work on the reader as soon they pick up the magazine. It was Gloria Steinem who said "Most women's magazines simply try to mold women into bigger and better consumers". And that's the reason why we see magazines such as 'Cosmopolitan', 'Vogue' 'Glamour' etc having celebrities and models adorn their pages and promote their products. Through them they convey to the world, that in order to be like them and look like them you must follow them. Most magazines encourage its readers to go on diets to make them look thinner, try plastic surgery so that they can fix any 'flaws' that they have and urge you to try their beauty secrets and vitamin pills so that you can not only look good but also feel good! These magazines make sure they feature a list of their products that will help you achieve your goal! The power of persuasion works through the medium of suggestion and this is one of the biggest reasons why Magazines have such a tremendous impact on the world at large! Magazines: The Pictures they Paint The front covers of most magazines have pictures of celebrities and models that are scantily clad and in a pose that is both suggestive as well as provocative. On the front pages are alluring captions which act as powerful tools of persuasion and immediately go to work on the readers mind. The November issue of Cosmopolitan has the words "Get a sexy Bod" in bold letters on its front page, Vogue has Jennifer Aniston on its front cover with a bold lettered caption "The Shape Issue" and Muscle Mag has wwe diva Candice Michelle on its cover to promote fitness and subtly suggest how one can and should have a body like Candice. The message that is being sent across to every woman through these magazines is very subtle but yet perfectly clear. They suggest that if you want to look glamorous, be in sync with the latest style and be the center of attention, you must do whatever it takes, buy whatever it

GROUP DEVELOPMENT AND THE GROUP STRUCTURE Essay

GROUP DEVELOPMENT AND THE GROUP STRUCTURE - Essay Example The role of leadership is highly considerable in resolving the conflicts within the groups. The organization’s culture and structure have a significant role in the group development and group structure of the company. The group structure is derived on the basis of company’s policies and procedures that are followed by all the employees of the company. As a new joined member of the group project, I was liable to fully follow the group structured guidelines that are already been designed by the leader and the other members of the group. But initially I was informed with the fact that the group has not started working on the project. When I joined the group the work gets started, and responsibilities and authorities were divided among all the group members. The management of activities and conflicts among the members of the group is the responsibility of a leader. The group leader was an impressive personality and he motivated the team in all stages of the project. The onl y thing that I found is needs to be improved to make more effective team structure that is the role of leader of the group. The leader used a centralized approach throughout the project. Every thing was compulsory to inform the leader at all stages. It is the responsibility to inform the leader at every stage of the work. However, in my opinion leadership could be more effective if it follows the charismatic approach of leadership. Group structure has a considerable impact on the performance of the group members. While working in a centralized structure, I had realized that centralized structure has a significant influence on the performance of our team. Decentralized structure could have been a better choice than centralized structure for the group practices, but it was not the perception of other group members. GROUP DEVELOPMENT AND THE GROUP STRUCTURE For understanding the behavior of the teams, it is extremely beneficial to analyze the model defined specifically for explaining t he steps required for the development of a team. The group development model is the source to identify the behavior of team members at four stages of the development phase of the group. I have explained the detailed analysis that is what I have experienced while working with a team. GROUP DEVELOPMENT MODEL (Johnson et al., 2002) There are four stages are defined in group development model of Tuckman’s in 1965 as defined by Johnson et al., (2002), and on the basis of which I have shared my experience in working with a group. Forming When I had attended the first group meeting, all of the other members of the group were familiar with each other because I had joined the group lately. The group was based on 9 members including leader. In the first meeting, I came to know that the working on the project has not been started so far, and I was surprised with this notification. I got introduced with the team members and met with the team leader as well. The leader played a decisive r ole as he was encouraging and influencing the team members. But what I felt is coordination among the team members was not satisfactory. Because of this reason the project did not start by the team in time. The proper coordination of team members is one of the basic responsibilities of group leader. For the realization of value of time management for the development of an effective team, I tried to let them understand the value of time in the project. Time management in the project increases the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of the working procedures of the projects (Driscoll, 2013). Storming After good interaction with all the team members and a group leader, I precede to the next step of in the light of Tuckman’

Reflective Diary Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Reflective Diary - Coursework Example These food places are called fast casual and have become a threat to fast food places and the traditional restaurants. The second key issue described in the article is how pubs, specifically those in London, are enjoying more visits from customers due to an adjusted family-friendly menu and dà ©cor. It seems that pubs have upped their food offerings and have started including food items for the entire family. Moreover, they have updated their interiors so as to be cozier and family-friendly. Because of these changes, adults have started bringing their kids along and pub owners are starting to get a new reputation as a family-oriented food establishment, other than a place where one can enjoy drinks with friends. Aside from these two significant issues, other key issues could be gathered from the article. First of these is the effect of fast casual food places on fast food joints. People still find fast food places convenient, especially those who want to grab something to eat because they are too busy to sit down and enjoy a meal. Second of these is the effect on traditional restaurants. People also like full service restaurants because the atmosphere is more conducive to having conversations over a warm and complete meal. Still, as the study has discovered, these same people would appreciate a place where the speediness in fast food joints and the comfortable ambiance of traditional restaurants can be enjoyed at the same time. This is why fast casual restaurants are now becoming popular among consumers. The other sub issue is the sudden popularity of pub and hotels because of the way they reinvented their service. Aside from changing the atmosphere in their establishments, pub owners have also started improving the food that they are offering to the customers. Instead of continuing to focus on adult customers, they have now expanded their service to also providing meals for

Managing Staff Essay Example for Free

Managing Staff Essay Health care managers have many different roles in any health care facility. According to Chapter 9 of Health Care Finance, â€Å"The manager is responsible for seeing that an employee is present and working for each position and for every shift required for that position’. Managers have a role to understand and know how to use staffing measurement known as the full-time equivalent (FTE). The role of health care managers can vary depending on their position as well as the size of the facility. The role of a health care manager consist of many different things such as staffing, budgeting, scheduling, marketing, accounting, and organizing decisions that will benefit the facility and ensure that everything is effective. â€Å"Group medical practice managers work with a group of medical doctors and handle the budgets, billing, personnel, and patients†, (Role of a Healthcare Manager, 2010). Another role of health care managers is to be available at all times. Comparing Productive and Nonproductive Time According to Chapter 9 of Health Care Finance, â€Å"Productive time actually equates to the employee’s net hours on duty when performing the functions in his or her job description†. Nonproductive time is paid-for time when the employee is not on duty: that is, not producing and therefore â€Å"nonproductive.† Some things that will consist of nonproductive time would be holidays, paid-for vacation days, personal leave days, and/or sick days. Some things that will consist of productive time would be an employee net time or days that they actually at worked on the job. Costs Tied to Staffing Costing is tied to staffing in a variety of ways, because the health care field is a 24-hour job. In the health care setting you have staffs employees working majority of the day. Some employee work sixteen hours shifts, but shift does change every eight to twelve hours in many facilities. The role of a manager is staffing, and employees normally work forty hours per week. If the facility consists of eight hour shifts then the staff would normally work eight hour shifts five days a week, and if it is a twelve hour shift the staff would work three in half days to get forty hours. The Difference between the Annualized Method and the Scheduled-Position Method There are two different approaches to use to compute the staff full-time equivalent (FTE). The Two approaches are the annualized method and the scheduled-position method. The role of a manager comes into place when concerning the annualized method, because the manager would take the productive days and the nonproductive days of each employee and account them in the formula used to complete the hours. The annualized method is a yearly thing and it is calculated with the time the employee has worked. The role of a manager comes into place when concerning the schedule-position method, because the productive days and nonproductive days are accounted for when filling a scheduled shift. The scheduled-position method is a weekly schedule thing. It is important to have a staffing plan in any health care facility. It is important to have enough staff present for the quality of the residents or patients. A staffing plan can help to determine what staffs are schedule and if more staffs are needed to work. Having a staffing plan helpful, because this way every employee time worked are accounted for when recording productive days and nonproductive days. Annualize Staffing Annualizing staff is important in any health care facility, because it is something that the staff have worked hard for and deserve what they have coming to them. Annualizing staff is important because the staffs will be get days off such as Christmas, New Years and etc., and still get paid for it depending on how long they have been employed, because the annualized method is hours accumulated on a yearly method. According to Chapter 9 of Health Care Finance, â€Å"Annualizing is necessary because each employee that is eligible for benefits (such as vacation days) will not be on duty for the  full number of hours paid for by the organization†. The Benefits of Recording Productive and Nonproductive Time There are many benefits of recording productive and nonproductive time in health care management. One benefit of recording productive and nonproductive time is that it improved productivity and decreased non-productivity. Some other benefits of recording productive and nonproductive time are to presence-to-performance ratio, to keep a time log, to make a checklist of recoverable time, and to sharpen the saw. It is important for managers to have a staffing plan available to manage staff and keep record of all staff hours to avoid miscommunication. References T Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Occupational employment statistics. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes113031.htm#ind Crainer, S., Dearlove, D. (Eds.) (2004). The Financial Times handbook of management. (3rd ed.) New York, NY: Pearson. Tina Su (2010) http://workawesome.com/productivity/full-engagement-at-work/

Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES)

Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES), a non-profit organization was founded in 1989. Its objectives include encouraging ethical and sustainable business practices and promoting investment policies which are environmentally, socially and financially sound. It has created a group of worlds largest companies and investors who are responsible to take care of the environmental issues. 100-plus companies and many Fortune 500 businesses like- General Motors, Polaroid, Body Shop International, Bank of America, are engaged with Ceres for supporting clean energy policies and maintaining a strong climate. Financial organizations and Environmental groups like Sierra Club are members with Ceres (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES), 2016).   Ceres aims at making companies understand the concerns of the planets future. Meeting the sustainable challenges of the 21st century is important along with running business. Ceres works on making the environment more sustainable and therefore it follows all the laws that comes under the Environmental Laws and Regulations of the U.S. government. Ceres rights: On the account of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill that happened in the Gulf of Alaska in March 1989, Ceres came up with its core Ten Principles. These principles aim to protect the earth, its energy and resources wisely; reduce waste and doing business in fair manner. The principles and its aspects are as follows: (The Ceres Principles , n.d.) Laws supported by Ceres- There are several issues addressed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). Some of them include- limitation on air pollutants, enforcement of clean water and laws on safe drinking. EPA works for implementation of these federal laws so that the environment does not get affected by business practices. Ceres works along with EPA in implementation of the laws. The INCR Policy Working Group an initiative by Ceres focuses on five different areas of policy engagement: Its members collaborate with other investor groups, including the European IIGCC, the Australian/New Zealand IGCC, the Asian AIGCC, UN PRI and UNEP-FI, to support the Strong Climate and Clean Energy Policy among the investors worldwide. Its members also support the policies which promote clean and low carbon fuel sources, improving Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions which happen by transportation activities. INCR members also support research reports which show the investment case for such policies. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has proposed an arrangement of noteworthy controls that will lessen air emissions, help the economy and make occupations. Financial specialists have signed letters and met with Congressional staff to guarantee implementation of the Utility Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, the Cross State Air Pollution Rule and the Carbon Pollution Standard for Future Power Plants. The Ceres Roadmap to Sustainability, organizations are relied upon to adjust publicly disclosed arrangement positions on atmosphere and energy issues with the approaches they advocate through their lobbying and political expenditures. Its members bolster a scope of approaches at the state and government level, for example, the Production Tax Credit for renewable vitality, the California AB32 climate and Clean Energy Program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Ceres makes sure companies and investors follow the strong climate and Clean energy policies in the US and abroad. One of the CEOs of Ceres- Mindy S. Lubber joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1995. She joined it as a senior policy advisor and has achieved recognition as a regional administration under President Bill Clinton in 2000. She has also been a president at former National Environmental Law Center. Her efforts include- Organizing waste removal at hazardous waste sites Redevelopment, new jobs and urban revitalization Protection of drinking water supplies (2016 William K. Reilly Award Winners Announced, n.d.). Ceres along with WWF assembled a group of 100 large companies which supported the Paris Climate Agreement. It also supports the Clean Power Plant which was an initiative by Obama administration. Ceres strongly supports Clean Air Act(Business Is Taking Action on LGBT Rights. Will Climate Change Be Next?, n.d.). In the Six Proactive steps that Ceres has made for insurance companies, for addressing the climate change, it mentions about the Greenhouse gas emission, in favor of Federal and International Policies which limit its emissions. It addresses the threat of change in the climate because of carbon pollution (Insurance, n.d.). Laws opposed by Ceres- Ceres mostly works for sustaining the environment and limiting business practices for better future. It supports laws that relate to maintaining environment standards. Therefore, there arent many laws that are being opposed by Ceres. Rather there are a couple of them which are addressed as below. It opposed the Presidents and Congressional Leaders abandoning of Methane rule and the Clean Power Plant. Ceres believes that these laws were made to support the environment. There are many companies that has made an agreement in support of the law. And so, Ceres does not want such laws to get abandoned. It also shows its disagreement with the Presidents two-for-one executive order which requires deletion of two federal regulations against any one issued. Ceres impact on business- Ceres major goal lies in influencing business and its practices which affect environment. It has made many huge contributions which has helped business to follow the standards and become effective in their practices. The contributions by Ceres which impacted companies include- Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), 2003- works on leadership and accomplishments on climate and sustainability of financial firms. Launched the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for corporate reporting on environment, social and economic performances Launched the Climate Declaration Launched Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) Ceres made an evaluation of its member companies and found that most of them have adopted policies based on International norms and fewer companies have adopted sector-specific policies. In the evaluation, most frequent instituted policies include those related to bribery and corruption and elimination of discrimination along with overall sustainability of environment. Companies which adopted the international standards like International Labor Organization(ILO) and United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), show understanding of sustainability issues and are committed in implementing changes in their business (Corporate Policies and Management Systems, n.d.). Ceres influence on legislative process- Ceres resolved an issue on United Parcel Service (UPS)s Lobbying Disclosure. It laid down points which the BOD of UPS requires to disclose in their report. Indirect lobbying and Grassroots lobbying communication are the points covered under the solution. These points include efforts at the local, state and federal levels. Along with this, we already saw that Ceres has laid down its core 10 principles which are in favor of environmental protection. Business and stakeholders adhere to these aspects and make sure that they are abiding by the rules related to these policies. It tracks shareholders resolutions and considers the following issues: Climate change Carbon asset risk Greenhouse gas emission Water pollution and scarcity Public policy Air pollution methane emission Proxy voting policies Human rights The shareholders make such resolutions. This ensures that they make proper implementation of the laws. On studying the resolutions, the legislatures can make laws that depend upon the environmental standards. Ceres 3-year plan- Ceres has presented a Road map on Sustainability which covers Governance for sustainability, Stakeholder Engagement, Disclosure, Performance: Operation, Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics, Product and Services, Employees. The Roadmap expectation on corporate policies and management systems measures the extent to which companies embed sustainability into decision-making. Encourage organizations to receive a more expansive way to deal with recognizing and speaking with stakeholders, including engagement on a more extensive topic. The disclosure segment layout the attributes of a way to deal with revelation that meets the new and rising difficulties on corporate sustainability. The operation segment enhances sustainability across their operations, including building and facilities management, water management, the elimination of waste and respect for human rights. Sustainable supply chain performance expects establishing supplier policies and endorsing industry codes or practices containing explicit references to social and environmental standards. Transportation and logistics include reducing transportation impacts which are focused on the architecture of the transportation network, including distances traveled; and specific transportation modes, including the sustainability credentials of the energy sources used. This section also looks at business travel and commuting practices and the role that companies can take in shaping employee behavior. Sustainable solutions for products and services should be that they are marketed and delivered in a sustainable way. Proper communication of the usage and consumption pattern. Improved recruitment and retention rates, employee morale and productivity, and lower healthcare costs should be crucial for companys employees in order for sustainable performance (The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability Ceres, n.d.). Ceres aims at transferring the way corporations integrate environmental and social risks into their decision-making. By 2020 Ceres wants major companies which re its members to attain these standards. The areas in which more companies should come forward include Product and Services and Supply Chain. Ceres looks forward in making greater attempts at helping companies in achieving the goals of sustainable environmental business practices. Mind-Map: Ceres an organization works majorly in line with the International Laws on Environmental protection. It supports U.S. laws as well about certain policies. Ceres helps implementation of the following laws of Unites States Federal Environmental Statutes- Clean air act Clean water act Emergency planning and community right to know act Energy policy act National environmental policy act Resources conservation and recovery act References (n.d.). Retrieved from 2016 William K. Reilly Award Winners Announced: http://www.american.edu/spa/cep/news/2016_Reilly_Award_Winners.cfm Business Is Taking Action on LGBT Rights. Will Climate Change Be Next? (n.d.). Retrieved from Business Is Taking Action on LGBT Rights. Will Climate Change Be Next? Ceres: https://www.ceres.org/press/press-clips/business-is-taking-action-on-lgbt-rights.-will-climate-change-be-next Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES). (2016, november 24). Retrieved from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Coalition-for-Environmentally-Responsible-Economies Corporate Policies and Management Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved from Corporate Policies and Management Systems Ceres: https://www.ceres.org/roadmap-assessment/about/roadmap-expectations/governance-for-sustainability/policies-and-management-systems Insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved from Insurance-Ceres: https://www.ceres.org/industry-initiatives/insurance The Ceres Principles . (n.d.). Retrieved from The Ceres Principles- Ceres: https://www.ceres.org/about-us/our-history/ceres-principles The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability Ceres. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability Ceres: https://www.ceres.org/roadmap-assessment

Business Analysis of HydroCan Essay -- Consumer Market Businesses Reta

Business Analysis of HydroCan Overview The company HydroCan is planning to launch a new type of lawn car product called â€Å"StaGreen†. They have hired a consulting group called â€Å"Stone Age Marketing Consultants† to create a marketing plan to launch there new product. They can’t decide between launching the product to the consumer market or the commercial market. So research is conducted on both markets to determine where the product should be marketed to. The Product The StaGreen is a chemical fertilizer created to improve your lawn but with a unique benefit that no other lawn care product has. The fertilizer reduces the need for manual watering on most types of grass by 40%. The Consumer Market The consumer lawn care market is a very pricey market with Canadians spending $2.3 billion in 1995. Not only does the consumer market have high spending, it also has high competition. StaGreen’s competitors would be â€Å"Scott’s Turf Builder† , â€Å"Scott’s Miracle-Gro†, and â€Å"Ortho† . These three products control 50% of the total consumer market. Lawn care products are mainly sold in three types of stores; discount stores, specialty stores, and home improvement stores. The most lucrative of the three are discount stores because in 1994-1995 it is estimated that 60% of fertilizer sales were purchased in discount stores. This is a large comparison to 30% in specialty stores and 10% in home improvement stores. The Commercial Market The commercial market is mainly fixed of Golf co... Business Analysis of HydroCan Essay -- Consumer Market Businesses Reta Business Analysis of HydroCan Overview The company HydroCan is planning to launch a new type of lawn car product called â€Å"StaGreen†. They have hired a consulting group called â€Å"Stone Age Marketing Consultants† to create a marketing plan to launch there new product. They can’t decide between launching the product to the consumer market or the commercial market. So research is conducted on both markets to determine where the product should be marketed to. The Product The StaGreen is a chemical fertilizer created to improve your lawn but with a unique benefit that no other lawn care product has. The fertilizer reduces the need for manual watering on most types of grass by 40%. The Consumer Market The consumer lawn care market is a very pricey market with Canadians spending $2.3 billion in 1995. Not only does the consumer market have high spending, it also has high competition. StaGreen’s competitors would be â€Å"Scott’s Turf Builder† , â€Å"Scott’s Miracle-Gro†, and â€Å"Ortho† . These three products control 50% of the total consumer market. Lawn care products are mainly sold in three types of stores; discount stores, specialty stores, and home improvement stores. The most lucrative of the three are discount stores because in 1994-1995 it is estimated that 60% of fertilizer sales were purchased in discount stores. This is a large comparison to 30% in specialty stores and 10% in home improvement stores. The Commercial Market The commercial market is mainly fixed of Golf co...

Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Macbeth - Important Role of

The Concept of Fate in Macbeth      Ã‚   Literary critics disagree over the amount of leverage which fate exerted on the Macbeths in the Shakespearean drama Macbeth. Fate was quite influential, but it did not impair their free will; they remained free moral agents who ambitiously and voluntarily surrendered themselves to the evil suggestions of fate.    Macbeth: "If Chance would have me king, why, Chance may crown me without my stir." A.C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy references Fate in the play to the Witches' prophecies:    The words of the witches are fatal to the hero only because there is in him something which leaps into light at the sound of them; but they are at the same time the witness of forces which never cease to work in the world around him, and, on the instant of his surrender to them, entangle him inextricably in the web of Fate. (320)    Blanche Coles states in Shakespeare's Four Giants the place of Fate in Macbeth's life:    Then, like a cog slipping naturally into its own notch, his thoughts turn to the Witches and their prophecy, and he concludes that he has defiled his mind for the descendants of Banquo he has murdered the gracious Duncan for them; he has poisoned his own peace of mind and given his immortal soul (eternal jewel) to the devil, the common enemy of man - all this to make the descendants of Banquo kings! Rather than face such an outcome, he challenges Fate to enter the lists with him against Banquo and champion him to the last extremity, even though that extremity be death itself. (57)    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye stresses the connection between the witches and fate:    The successful ruler is a combination ... ...uin Books, 1991.    Coles, Blanche. Shakespeare's Four Giants. Rindge, NH: Richard R. Smith Publisher, Inc., 1957.    Coursen, H. R. Macbeth: a Guide to the Play. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1997.    Frye, Northrop. Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1967.    Knights, L.C. "Macbeth." Shakespeare: The Tragedies. A Collectiion of Critical Essays. Alfred Harbage, ed. Englewwod Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964.    Mack, Maynard. Everybody's Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press, 1993.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. http://chemicool.com/Shakespeare/macbeth/full.html, no lin.    Wilson, H. S. On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.

Essay on Eating Disorder - Bulimia, the Destruction of Self :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Bulimia - The Destruction of Self Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known simply as bulimia or binge and purge disorder, is an eating disorder that affects 1 in 4 college-aged women in America, or 1 in 10,000 Americans. The most common misconception concerning bulimia is that it is simply a physical or mental problem. Many people do not understand that bulimia is a disease that affects both the mind and the body, and in its course can destroy both aspects of the diseased individual. Bulimia affects a variety of different people, but generally the victims will fall tend to fall into certain categories. Those at highest vulnerability to this disease are young adult females, ages 12 to 18. The disease, however, can start as early as elementary school, or much later in life. Others (such as athletes competing in sports such as ballet, gymnastics, ice-skating, diving, etc.) may also be pressured into starting bulimic habits. Males who perform in athletics such as wrestling and dance are at high risk for developing the disease as well. Victims of bulimia can often be linked to being victims of verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse, though not all are. Bulimia may also contain ties to diseases such as clinical or manic depression. Bulimics often start out with anorexa (starvation and excessive exercising), or may turn to anorexia after being bulimic. Bulimia is marked by significant cycles in eating habits. Bulimics will often starve themselves (calorie/food/fat intake restriction -- sometimes with the help of diet pills or supplements) for extended periods of time prior to a massive binge, during which they consume abnormal amounts of food in a short period of time. These binges are followed by purging, which generally is constituted by self-induced vomiting. Other methods of purging the body include the use of diuretics, laxatives, and excessive exercising. Bulimics are generally within what is considered to be a "normal" weight range, but see themselves as being overly fat, or suffer from an intense fear of gaining weight. They often do realize that they have a problem, but by that point the cycle has become an obsession. Bulimics usually weigh themselves frequently, even several times daily.

Thoughts on a Democratic England

AbstractThis paper discusses the development of democracy in England, specifically addressing the interaction between parliament, capitalists, and the masses during the early nineteenth century, and how these interactions lead to a more democratic England; however, the focus will be on entertaining the theory ‘What else could have heralded Democracy during this time?’ Thoughts on a Democratic EnglandThe early nineteenth century saw England at the cusp of a radical change, socially, politically, and economically. The advent of the Industrial Revolution had drastically transformed the mental and physical landscapes of the time; factories were sprouting left and right, people were flooding into the cities to work, and entrepreneurs kept the thriving businesses alive. Gradually the topic of Human rights arose, and cities clamored for representatives in Parliament, while the idea of universal suffrage arose, men voicing out desires to vote in order to improve the condition of life.As history shows, after much conflict – riots, deaths, political upheavals- the internal tension in the nation gave way to a greater amount of freedom and Democracy among the citizens. But what if these internal forces had not simmered and seethed, causing uproar and promoting change like they did? Would the outcome then have been similar? Let us examine the conditions of the time, and assess whether present forces of that day could have instigated change, as the conflict between social classes did.The first and seemingly obvious alternative would be a Revolution. During that time –the early 19th Century- the memories of both the French and the Irish (against the English) Revolutions were still fresh in men’s minds; this coupled with the inequities prevalent in the new, Industrialized society, would have galvanized rebellion and caused men to bear arms against the Capitalists who coveted the lion’s share of the profits as well as the Parliament, who denied men representation, votes, and a say in the great scheme of things.The second alternative would be Education. This was a time when newspaper and the printed page thrived. Aside from news, many works of entertainment were printed in the weekly papers, by writers such as Charles Dickens. The Literacy rate was increasing, and as people were no longer scattered but concentrated in the cities, thus quickening the dissemination of information, the Media could, theoretically, have spearheaded a movement for change.Inevitably though, these two alternate theories would have eventually coincided with the ideas which opened this paper, namely Social Conflict. For Democracy ultimately dwells in the hearts and minds of men, and, as such, all socio-political and economic movements begin and end in the realm of social strife.

History Of The ECCE Sector In Ireland Essay

Introduction. In this assignment I will outline and discuss the Historical Development of  the ECEC sector in Ireland. ECEC is the Early Childhood Education and Care division in Ireland. I will give a clear explanation of the rights of a child in the context of the ECEC setting. I will also give a detailed accountant of the ECEC sector and its range of occupation. I will give a detailed description of the qualifications and experience needed for work associated with one occupation in the ECEC. Finally, I will give an extensive examination of the employment and career opportunities in the childcare area. History of ECEC provision in Ireland. Pre-school education did not really exist in Ireland until the 1980s and 1990s. This was largely due to the fact that until quite recently the majority of Irish women did not work outside the home. Even if they did, childcare was usually provided by family members or child-minder’s located in the community and known to the family. The marriage bar meant that women working in the public service had to leave their jobs as soon as they got married and become stay-at-home mothers and wives. This ban was lifted in 1957 for primary school teachers, but it was 1973 before the ban was lifted for other women in the public service. The ECEC needs of babies, young children and their families were met instead by a broad range of community, voluntary and private enterprise. ECEC service provision was unregulated until 1997. When the child care regulations 2006 came into effect, no stipulation as made regarding the qualifications necessary to deliver such services beyond the person having their own children, a reference to show appropriate experience in caring for children and/or an appropriate qualification. One important initiative came from the public sector in 1969, with the opening of a state-run pre-school in Rutland street Dublin. The Department of Education worked with the Van Leer Foundation- an organisation that promotes the early education of children living in economically disadvantaged areas. Together, they set up the pre-school in Rutland Street as a template for other such pre-schools around the country. These pre-schools were known as Early Start pre-schools. A total of 40 pre-schools opened nationally- all of which are still open today. In 1992, Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child. This helped to bring to public consciousness the rights of children. And in 2000,  the Department of Health and Children published the National Children’s strategy. This strategy set out a ten-year plan for the improvement of children’s lives in Ireland. One of the goals of the National Children’s Strategy is that children will receive quality supports and services to promote all aspects of their development. The strategy aims to fulfil this by providing quality childcare services and family-friendly employment measures. There have been many other significant initiatives and decisions in Ireland in recent years in an attempt to respond to the demand for equality in ECEC. In 1989 the National Forum on Early Childhood Education was established. This brought together organisations and individuals with an interest in early childhood education. In 1999 the National Voluntary Childcare Collaborative was established. Today the organisation comprises seven national non-government agencies decimated to the promotion of ECEC in Ireland. Also in 1999 the White Paper on Early Childhood Education, Ready to Learn as established. The purpose of this was to set out government policy on all issues relating to early childhood education. Quality of provision was the key theme of the White Paper. In 2002 the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education was established. CECDE aimed to achieve the goals set out in the ready to learn (1999). The organisation was disbanded in 2008, when it was seen by the government to have achieved everything it was set up to do. The Child Care (Pre-School) regulations were established in 2006. The regulations clearly list all the requirements that must be met by organisations or individuals providing ECEC services to children aged 0-6. Sà ­olta was established in 2006. The Sà ­olta framework was developed by CECDE in a process that took over three years and involved more than 50 different organisations representing childcare workers, teachers, parents, policymakers and researchers. Sà ­olta aims to define, asses and support the improvement of quality across all aspects of practice in ECEC settings that cater for children ages 0-6. Aistear was established in 2009. In 1999, the NCCA published the Primary School Curriculum, which did direct and regulate the curriculum followed in infant classes. In 2009, the NCCA published Aistear. The ultimate aim of Aistear is the development of the whole child. Free Pre-School Year Programme. In 2010, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs introduced the Free  Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education Programme. Before this, it was only children in disadvantaged areas who could avail of free or subsidised pre-school education. The Free Pre-School Year Programme recognises that all children benefit from equality pre-school education. The programme recognises that because pre-school education in Ireland usually comes from private providers, it is expensive and therefore not available to all children, e.g. children of parent’s not working outside the home. Under the programme, pre-school provider are paid per child enrolled. The providers must meet certain criteria before entering the scheme, e.g. staff qualifications. This has had the effect of incentivising providers to meet criteria, which in turn has increased the quality of provision. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an internationally binding agreement on the rights of children, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989. A child is defined in the UNCRC as a person under the age of 18. Ireland signed the convention on 30th September 1990 and ratified it on 28th September 1992. By ratifying the convention, the irish state committed itself to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of children’s rights as outlined by the convention. The convention incorporates children’s rights under three categories: Civil and political. Social, economic and cultural. Protection. In the ECCE settings children have the right to experience environments which meet their own specific needs. High quality early childhood programmes do not separate care from education or education from care. They provide warm, caring and stimulating environments for children. Children are deeply involved in their own learning, supported by a knowledgeable, observant staff in an environment structured to drive exploration and discovery. Equality refers to the importance of recognising different individual needs and of ensuring equity in terms of access, participation and benefits for all children and their families. Diversity refers to the diverse nature of Irish society for example in terms of social class, gender, returned Irish emigrants, family status, minority groups and the majority group. According  to the National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 diversity and equality Guidelines for Childcare Providers the term minority group includes but is not limited to; People with a disability The traveller community Economic migrants Black Irish Irish-language speakers Refugees Asylum seekers Children with gay or lesbian parents Families of minority religious faith Under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004, discrimination is prohibited on nine grounds; Gender Material status Family status Sexual orientation Religious belief Age Disability Race Membership of the Traveller community As a result of the multifaceted population in Ireland, practitioners work with children from minority groups and it is their task to ensure that they are integrated well into education and all children are treated equally. Equality and Diversity is just as important in childhood as the concept is in adulthood and included in many childcare documents to ensure best practice. The National Childcare Strategy gives guidelines on promoting equality and diversity in ECEC setting, as follows. Provides CDs of children’s songs in a number of different languages. The language will focus on English and Irish but educators can also include different languages from different cultures. Children can listen to them in the classroom on a regular basis. It is surprising how quickly children will pick up on new languages. Allow children regular access to art materials with which they  can paint, draw and colour different images that incorporate a range of skin tones. Children can talk about their images when they are finished. Provide toys or images familiar to an individual child so that a sense of belonging is fostered. Items that represent diversity will benefit all children in the ECEC setting. Display pictures of children and their families around the classroom. Pictures should be displayed at the children’s level, so that they can see the images whenever they wish. When the children look at such images, there is an opportunity for them to chat about similarities and differences. Provide a wide range of children’s books that show images of diverse people and their lives. Recent books are unlikely to have stereotypical roles seen in books from previous times. Many books will provide pictures of children from minority groups; children will be curious about pictures with other childr en in them. Pre-school regulations. Early childhood care and education services are regulated by legally binding requirements. These are the Pre-school Regulations, which first appeared in 1996 and have been updated with effect from January 2007. The main purpose of these regulations is to ensure that standards are in place to safeguard the health and welfare of children in pre-school services and to promote their development through the provision of developmentally and culturally appropriate materials, experiences, activities and interactions. The Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 and the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 are made under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991 and prescribe the measures which must be in place to meet the requirements of the Act. The Regulations include an Explanatory Guide to Requirements and Procedures for Notification and Inspection which offers guidance on good practice in relation to areas covered by the Regulations which include the following: Health, welfare and development of the child A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that each child’s learning, development and well-being is facilitated within the daily life of the service through the provision of the appropriate opportunities, experiences, activities, interaction, materials and equipment, having regard  to the age and stage of development of the child and the child’s cultural context. First aid and medical assistance There should be a suitably equipped first-aid box for children and arrangements to call medical assistance in an emergency. Management and staffing The law makes provision that a person carrying out a pre-school service must ensure that a sufficient number of suitable and competent adults are working directly with the children at all times. (â€Å"Suitable and competent†adults are adults aged over 18 with adequate appropriate experience in caring for children under 6 years and/or who have appropriate qualifications to care for these children). There should be appropriate vetting of all staff, students and volunteers who have access to a child by obtaining references and Garda vetting. *When a full day care service also takes children not on a full day basis, sessional service adult numbers apply. Note: The above ratios may not apply if the service is participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme. The Child and Family Agency can limit the maximum number of pre-school children who may be catered for at the same time. This provision is aimed at preventing over-crowding in pre-school services. If the Child and Family Agency proposes to limit numbers, the provider will be notified and has the opportunity to appeal or make representations about this decision. Behaviour management Anyone providing a pre-school childcare service should ensure that no corporal punishment is inflicted on any child attending the service. There should be written policies and procedures to deal with and to manage a child’s challenging behaviour and to assist the child to manage his or her behaviour. Register of pre-school children A pre-school childcare provider should keep a register with details of each child attending the service including name, date of birth, contact numbers for parents and child’s doctors. Information for parents Parents should be given information about the service including details of the person in charge and other staff, the adult/child ratios, the maximum numbers and age range of the children, the type of care, facilities, opening hours and fees. Premises and facilities Pre-school services (including child-minders, drop-in centres, crà ¨ches, etc.) are obliged to ensure their standards meet certain standards and provide certain facilities. These rules include ensuring that: The premises are of sound and stable structure and are suitable for providing pre-school services Adequate space per child is provided in the premises Fixtures, premises and fittings are kept in a proper state of repair and in a clean and hygienic condition and protected from infestation Furniture, work and play surfaces are clean, suitable, non-toxic and retained in a proper state of repair. There are adequate and suitable facilities for a pre-school child to rest and to play indoors and outdoors during the day Pre-school childcare providers are required to ensure that the building has suitable and adequate heating, ventilation and lighting; sanitary accommodation, waste storage and disposal Safety measures Adequate arrangements must be in place for extinguishing fires. Staff must be trained in use of equipment. Staff and pre-school children should know evacuation and other procedures. All heat-emitting surfaces in the premises have fixed guards or are thermostatically controlled. Gardens and play areas are fenced and doors and gates secured to prevent children straying. Ponds, pits and other hazards are fenced to ensure children’s safety. Food and drink A pre-school service should ensure that suitable, sufficient, nutritious and varied food is available for a pre-school child attending the service and there should be adequate and suitable facilities for the storage, preparation, cooking and serving of food, and adequate and suitable eating utensils. Handwashing, wash-up and sterilising facilities should be provided. The Department of Health’s Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-School Services (pdf) advise that children in day care for more than 5 hours per session (full day care) should be offered at least 2 snacks and 2 meals, including one hot meal. Insurance The provider should ensure that the pre-school children are adequately insured against injury while attending the service. ECEC Services Currently Available in Ireland. The types of ECEC services currently available in Ireland can be organised under these headings; Sessional services – which provide ECEC services for a set period of time during the day. E.g. 9am-1pm. Full time services- which provide ECEC services throughout the day. Part-time services – which provide ECEC services for a total of 3.5 hours and less than 5 hours a day. Sessional services include; Playgroups Montessori schools Naà ­onraà ­ Early start Pre-school for traveller children Pre-schools for children with special needs Parent and toddler groups Full-time services include; Creches Day care centres Nurseries Occupations within the childcare sector. Nursery nurses Playgroup leaders Educational/special needs assistants Childcare manager/supervisor Montessori teacher Child-minder Au pair Nanny Childcare manager. These practitioners ensure that the care and education of the children is being maintained at all times. They take care of any issues that arise and they are in direct contact with parents. They are responsible for the day-to-day running of the childcare facility. This role requires childcare qualifications as well as experience in the area. The role also requires excellent interpersonal and organisation skills and the ability to manage a team of employees. A career plan. Short term goals. My current short term goals are to complete this QQI level 5 childcare  course. I aim to get 8 distinctions so I can go onto third level after in September. I finish this course on the 8th of May. For the summer I hope to get a part-time job somewhere working with children. In September I hope to attend Cork Institute of Technology to study early year’s education. This course is a three year course with a level 7 degree. Between now and September I hope to gain loads of experience with working with children as I feel I learn better by gaining practical experience. Within the next few months, I also hope to have completed a first aid course as it is essential to be trained in first aid when working with children also it looks good on your curriculum vitae. Medium term goals. In September I hope to attend Cork Institute of Technology to begin studying Early year’s education which is a duration of three years and you qualify with a level 7 degree. As this course will take up a lot of my time, I won’t have enough time for a full time job. I will need to fund my way through college though, so every chance I get I will be working, be it baby sitting or working in a restaurant. I would certainly rather it be a job working with children as the more experience I get the better knowledge and understanding of the work in a childcare setting I will have. During these three years in college I hope to do a lot of charity work also, for child line, Barnardos and maybe even the Jack and Jill foundation, again all of this would be a great experience but also it would feel wonderful to be a part of trying to make disadvantaged children’s lives a bit better. Long term goals. Hopefully in 2018 I’ll b graduating from Cork Institute of Technology with my level 7 degree in early year’s education. When I have graduated and have my degree I hope to take a year out and go Au pairing in America, I’m very interested in it and I have done a lot of research on it but I think right now I am a bit too young and I will wait until I have got my degree and I’m that little bit older. My heart is set on Au pairing, I think it would be a fantastic experience and also it would look very good on my Curriculum Vitae. When I come back after my year Au pairing, I would love to do some work with special needs children, be it volunteer work or a Special needs  assistant in a school. So hopefully in five years, I will have that job as a S.N.A. If I don’t find a job to work with special needs I would gladly go and find work in a Montessori. From there on in roughly ten years I would love to have my own Montessori open and running and also be doi ng some volunteer work when I have the time. Challenges to achieving goals. Of course I would love to reach and achieve my goals but with these goals also comes a lot of challenges. For me to be able to move onto third level education in September, a lot of time and study has to go into my assignments and my exams. Trying to achieve distinctions in all modules will be the most challenging. With hard work and dedication I feel I will be able to achieve these goals. Time is a huge challenging factor in achieving some of these goals. As I’ve so much to do and very little time to get it all done. Before I complete this course I hope to have also completed a first aid course, but this will also be difficult as I will have many assignments to do along with study for exams. I will have to have all my assignments handed up on time but also put a lot of effort into them to try and achieve my distinctions. As I want to do a lot of volunteer work, time is also a challenge, as I have a lot of study to do and hopefully a job to be committed to, I really would love to do some volunteer work but again I’ll have to wait and see how I am doing with college and work. Money is also an issue with achieving these goals, as you know college is very expensive and I will be a full time student so it will be quite difficult to fund myself sufficiently. I will have to work twice as hard with every opportunity I get to earn money. I will have to look for a good job with good pay which is quite challenging and also be able to balance college and work will be difficult. For my long term goals, there definitely will be challenges I will meet along the way. A huge challenge will be money. If I want to do some extra course that I may not plan on doing now, it could add up to a lot of money, especially when my dream is to open and run my own Montessori. Even though this is a long term goal and is many years away, I will probably have to start saving for a rainy day which will hopefully end up going towards opening my own Montessori. Education and training needs. For me to become a fully Montessori teacher I need a level 7 qualification. This qualification will allow me to open up my own Montessori. With a level 6 degree it will only allow me to work in the Montessori and be a room leader. Education is essential for wanting to work in a Montessori or any childcare facility for that matter and also to be able to open and run your own care setting. A qualification is your number one priority you need for working in a childcare facility. Also Garda vetting is essential. Without your Garda vetting being cleared there will be no chance you will be allowed work in a childcare setting. There must be a staff member on the premises at all times who is qualified in first aid. So it is vital that when wanting to work in a childcare setting that you are somehow qualified in first aid and that you do a refreshers course every two years. In a lot of childcare settings there is a kitchen for cooking and preparing hot food for the children that are there for long days, so for working in a childcare setting it’s essential to have a H.A.C.C.P (hazard analysis critical control point) course done. This course makes you more aware of food hygiene in the setting and helps you prevent cross contamination and food disease in the childcare setting. Bibliography. Flood, E., 2013, child development, FETAC levels 5&6, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/pre_school_education_and_childcare/health_safety_and_welfare_of_preschool_childcare_services.html 1st February 2015.

Change and Culture Case Study Essay

In tough economic times, companies are looking for ways to continue to provide services and products to the public without compromising quality and efficiency. When it comes to smaller businesses, or businesses that provide the same product or service, it is often wise to merge the companies together to form a stronger, more stable structure. This will take place when Frithsen Physical Therapy merges with Select Physical Therapy. Select Physical Therapy is a national corporation that provides physical therapy as well as aquatic therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training outreach and long-term care services. For the past decade Frithsen Physical Therapy has seen Select Physical Therapy as a fierce competitor that provides less than quality care to its patients. Frithsen Physical Therapy has been well known in the community for providing care in a professional and personal way. Many employees are afraid that merging with a large corporation will change the way they work, causing the quality of patient care to decrease. Middle managers will become essential before, during, and after the merge to ensure that every employee from each company understands the vision for the new corporation and is willing to compromise to make it a reality. The combining of two companies is no easy task and will change the shape and culture of both companies, until a new one is born. Processes such as communication, hiring, patient care and record keeping will change to accommodate the growing corporation, in hopes it will become more effective than either company was on its own. Merging two companies is a delicate procedure, requiring compromise and patience. Each company has built a certain culture over its existence, and each one believes that their culture is best. In reality, each company has certain services or tasks that they perform better than the other. In the instance of Select Physical Therapy merging with Frithsen Physical Therapy, the culture of the new, combined company will be similar to the cultures put in place by each company separately. However, it is important to create a new culture, differing from the previous ones, to promote a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. If this step does not occur, everyone will continue to work in his or her own culture, which becomes divisive, causing the company to be pulled in different directions (Sherrill, 2001). In the first phases of combining the companies, the culture may be fragmented, with each company holding on to what they know. Many of the employees will be wary of the changes occurring around them on a daily basis and may resist certain adjustments (Stanwick, 2000). A new atmosphere of open-mindedness and compromise needs to emerge for the blended company to be successful. When two companies are combined, there are bound to be differences of opinions between practitioners and administrators regarding polices and procedures. It is important to understand that each company brings something valuable to the table, and all ideas and opinions should be considered and discussed Avoiding a competitive stance will help employees from both sides see the positives of blending ideals and values, and ultimately encourage the birth of a stronger, more successful new culture (Stanwick, 2000). To successfully combine two companies involves cooperation from all levels of management. As a middle manager in a merging corporation, there are different strategies and skills that will be necessary to ensure a smooth transition. The most important strategy will be communication. Before the merger occurs, it is important for middle managers to understand the new beliefs and values that upper management desires (Bolton & Lewis, 1998). Once middle managers understand the vision for the new company, they must pass it down to their employees. It is not enough to simply communicate the new vision; middle managers must begin practicing these changes immediately. Leading by example is the most effective way to produce results. The middle managers in most companies are more approachable than top management; therefore it is imperative that middle managers are on board with the new vision of the company and display this in a positive way. While the merger is occurring it is essential to build a team atmosphere, full of open communication, honesty, and teamwork. Each employee from both companies should feel as though their positions is important, and their cooperation is essential to the success of the forming company. Once the merger is complete, it is all about the new culture, staying visible, approachable, and communicating information early and often (Bolton & Lewis, 1998). Aside from ensuring employees are blending well, it is important to focus on patient care. There will be changes implemented at every phase of the merger, but it is important not let misunderstandings, or issues within the staff affect the quality of care given to the patients. Once the merger has been finalized and integration is complete, middle managers need to assess their staff to be sure that each employee is doing his or her part to make the merge as successful as possible. If there are employees who are resisting the changes being made within the company, or not buying into the new culture and vision, it is necessary to evaluate the situation and decide what is best for the team and the company as a whole. Middle managers must not forget to consider the employees feelings when situation such as this arise. Often times, employees resist mergers because their identities are closely tied to their jobs, and they like to experience continuity of their identities. Giessner (as cited by Sidle, 2006) noted that mergers would challenge this continuity, leading to distress and anxiety from employees. When middle management can understand the feelings of their employees, they can be better equipped to handle issues that may arise by allaying fears or implementing strategies to make employees comfortable with their new roles. Even if all employees from both companies are comfortable with the combining of their two organizations, upper management has the daunting task of reworking its current systems and procedures to include the best strategies from each company. In the case of Frithsen Physical Therapy and Select Physical Therapy, the former’s employees will see the most changes. Frithsen Physical Therapy is a small corporation, covering New England, while Select Physical Therapy is a national corporation, encompassing more services and a variety of clinicians. Along with physical therapy services Select Physical Therapy offers occupational therapy, aquatic therapy, long-term care facilities, and a large athletic training outreach program. This will require managers from Frithsen Physical Therapy to be in charge of more people, and perhaps different clinicians than they are accustomed to working with. The shape and systems currently used in the company will have to shift in order to fit a larger scale of business and a more complicated hierarchy. The regional managers from Frithsen Physical Therapy reported directly to the President of the company, whereas the regional managers of Select Physical Therapy report to one of ten executive managers, who then report to the CEO of the company. The clinic managers of Frithsen Physical Therapy were able to see all of the employees they supervise on a daily basis, working side by side. With the inclusion of the vast athletic training program, they will now be responsible for knowing which athletic trainers report to their clinics, and what schools they are assigned to. There will also be a manager of athletic training services that they will need to communicate with about referrals and business relating to the relationship between the schools covered and the clinics in the area. Due to this more intricate hierarchy, the employees of Frithsen Physical Therapy will see a dramatic change in how they communicate with upper management. Under their old organization, there was a relatively straight path to the top, with only a few levels of management until they reached the President. Communication could be done easily by telephone or in person, and most employees had met each other face to face at one time or another. In the new organization, there will be a need for a more formal kind of communication. In organizations communication tends to be directional, moving upward, downward, diagonal or lateral (Leibler & McConnell, 2008). Frithsen Physical Therapy was used to mostly lateral communication, discussing issues with other managers or sharing notes about a particular patient’s care. With the merger, the managers and employees will mostly be communicating upward, providing detailed reports to their supervisors, who will then provide reports to a higher supervisor, and so on. This will require attention to detail and more paperwork for the managers at every level, which will change the way the managers handle issues that arise within their department. With the inclusion of new services and a goal for comprehensive care, comes the call for new positions and alterations to old ones. A need for more middle management will arise, and more staff will be added to accommodate the growth of services while still maintaining exceptional patient care. In conclusion, there are many factors to consider when combining two organizations. It may make sense financially and logically to combine two entities that provide similar services. However, it is important to understand that not only will it be difficult to combine two cultures; it will also take time for employees to adjust to a new chain of command and new policies and procedures. Middle managers will play an important role in the blending of two corporations. They need to remain positive, lead by example, and possibly sever ties with employees who do not fall into line with new visions and ideas. An increase in communication will help make the transition successful, and ultimately all employees will reap the benefits from such a merger. References Bolton, J.M., & Lewis, B. (1998, Jan/Feb). The challenge of merging and consolidating organizations. Journal of Management in Engineering, 14(1), 9-10. Academic Search Complete. Leibler, J.G., & McConnell, C.R. (2008). Management principles for health professionals (5th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Sherrill, T. (2001, May). Creating a can-do culture. New Zealand Management, 48(4), 17-21. MasterFILE Premier. Sidle, S.D. (2006, August). Resisting the urge to merge. Academy of Management Perspectives, 20(3), 115-118. Business Source Complete. Stanwick, P.A. (2000, Jan/Feb). How to successfully merge two corporate cultures. Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance, 11(2), 7-11. Business Source Complete.