Robin Hood Case Analysis and Strategy Recommendations

ROBIN HOOD Case Analysis and Strategy Recommendations Case Analysis Robin Hood and his band of Merrymen is the subject of this case study. In this study I found, Robin Hood’s main problem was the increasing size of his band. Initially, he had hoped that strength lay in numbers and the more Merry men he had, the better it would be for him to effectively fight against the sheriff’s administration. He did not put enough thought into curbing the number of people being recruited.The dilemma occurred when the increasing number of men had made the band a corporation. The more men were recruited into the organization, the less face to face interaction Robin had encountered with each of his men. This would make it hard for him to enforce rules and regulations using his old ways because vigilance was not present with the new recruits. Moreover, the capacity to fund the increasing number of people became very scarce. Supplies needed to be obtained from outlaying villages. This is a very clear consequence of any expanding organization.A formal structure needed to be enforced and a chain of executive party needed to be established so as to monitor the increased number of people in the organization. The initial mission of the band, â€Å"Rob the rich and give to the poor† was no longer effective to the band. The funds obtained from the outright confiscation of the rich were no longer accommodating the increasing number of the people in the band. The mission statement had to be revised to accommodate the changing ways of the organization.New strategies also need to be introduced to meet the fund requirements of the band. Moreover, there needed to be a revision to the objectives of the band so as to limit the number of people being recruited. This, in my opinion, is a primary concern that needs attention. Robin Hood’s proposal to run a policy of adopting a fixed transit tax to whomever passed through the Sherwood Forest seems feasible but the Merrym en’s concern of jeopardizing the allies’ support in their fight against the Sheriff is also relevant.Recommendations In my opinion, Robin Hood’s first priority should be to appropriate structure and organization in the band. He needs to allot someone in charge of curbing the number of new recruits and seek other ways of finding provisions for his men. Once all this is done, he needs to take the great risk of assisting the barons in their mission to rescue King Richard and restore back in power. By doing so, Robin will have gotten his revenge and will not have to require the band’s presence any longer.

Advantages and Hazards of Embedding Media Elements

Advantages and Hazards of Embedding Media Elements with Forward Deploying Units Colorado Springs, Colorado September, 2012 Abstract War has evolved, as has the media and society’s demand for its updates. Operational security continues to remain a top combat priority however; we must not ignore the first amendment rights of the press. Our government exists for its people, and when we mobilize our military assets it is on the behalf of the people we need to ensure they are informed.Thus, we must analyze and balance the hazards and advantages of the media’s involvement with ongoing military operations. Commanders Brief: Advantages and Hazards of Embedding Media Elements with Forward Deploying Units As we prepare for an impending military mobilization, we must decide the level to which the media will be embedded and have access to military updates. Members of the media desire to be able to send near real time reports and updates as the battle unfolds. Concurrently, unit com manders want to insure that operational security (OPSEC) is not compromised as a result.Advantages of Media Inclusion The modern American is a creature dependent on immediate gratification in everything they do. Receiving news updates on operations that their military is conducting is no different. Several public opinion polls suggest that, by and large, the public was well satisfied with wartime coverage during the initial invasion of Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom (Kim, 2004). This was thanks to, in part, by the unprecedented access granted to reporters on the battlefield, as well as advances in communication technologies.It was particularly helpful from the perspective of the United States Government (USG) as it helped ensure that the information relayed to the public was credible rather than propaganda from the enemy. Additionally, as the USG maintains a civilian controlled military, more transparency can garner more support and less suspicion from the populace. Such and attit ude from the homeland during operations such as the Iraq invasion can assure battlefield decisions are being made by field commanders rather than politics. Potential Hazards of Media InclusionIncreased media access has indeed helped insure the true story is being told. However there have been instances when the embedded reporters transmitted inaccurate information (PBS, 2003). Such information could be as minor as a slight miscalculation of enemy tanks destroyed in a battle, or as major as declaring a friendly fire casualty rather than enemy fire. Either way, it is imperative that we ensure the utmost accuracy with all reports being made. Another hazard is the reallocation of forces to ensure the safety of the reporters themselves as they are not combatants.This can usually be quelled by ensuring an adequate safe distance from the frontline is adhered to. However, in the event that US forces find themselves outnumbered, or in a disadvantageous position, US personnel must then not on ly repel the enemy, but take extra measure to ensure the safety of the reporters. Such an instance could result in additional loss of life, equipment, or mission initiative. Then there is perhaps the greatest potential hazard of all: OPSEC. OPSEC is paramount for military success. It ensures the enemy doesn’t know our intentions, methods, or capabilities.If the media is too loosely monitored, they could potentially release critical information. If mission details are made available to the enemy prior to or even during an operation, operational security has been compromised, and the mission may be jeopardized (Kim, 2004). Making a Compromise, Finding a Balance Ultimately, military operations are going to occur and the media will need to be present. In order to maintain mission integrity a balance must be found and compromises will need to be made. First, let’s address ensuring accurate reporting is taking place.As all major military commands have public affairs officers and uniformed soldiers tasked with reporting themselves, it should be relatively painless to ensure all civilian reports are monitored for accuracy before being transmitted. This can also ensure OPSEC guidelines are being adhered to as well. We must also make it very clear that there may be times when military operations will require the media to not be allowed to transmit for indeterminate amounts of time. As for maintaining the physical security and safety of civilian media personnel, we should restrict their postings to larger units, battalion or greater.Doing this will provide greater numbers of forces for security of the reporters without degrading combat effectiveness. Additionally, during times of intense combat, every effort should be made by the onsite commander to make sure the civilians are well clear of front lines. Conclusion As war and the military continue to evolve, so must the USG’s relationship with the media. The media must no longer be viewed as merely a burden and an unwanted distraction, but as another tool for the commander. Our military force is highly educated and professional.Having accurate and timely media coverage of military operations will ensure that the world sees it. References Kim, J. J. (2004). Reporters on the Battlefield: The Embedded Press System in Historical Context. In Rand: National Security Division. Retrieved September 6, 2012, from http://www. rand. org/pubs/monographs/2004/RAND_MG200. pdf Pros and Cons of Embedded Journalism. (2003, March 27). In PBS News Hour. Retrieved September 6, 2012, from http://www. pbs. org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june03/embed_3-27. html

Burger King Business Communication Case Study

Burger King Business Communication Case Study Burger King is a fast food Corporation. It is the second largest fast-food chain in the United States, trailing only McDonalds. The company franchises more than 10,400 restaurants and owns about 1,000 for a chain wide total exceeding 11,455, with locations in all 50 states and 56 countries. The company serves 15.7 million customers each day and over 2.4 billion Burger King Hamburgers are sold each year across the globe. Miami entrepreneurs James McLamore and David Edgerton founded Burger King Corporation in 1954. REASONING The reason as to why I have chosen to write a report on Burger King is to illustrate its communication strategies and its communication effectiveness. Business Demographics Demographics are attributes used for marketing purposes. Burger King uses the means of networking, media and the internet to communicate between different locations. The organisation uses its demographical strategies to meets it consumer interests and also for profitability to the company. Burg er King’s demographic strategy is well planned and well laid out, making it easy to market the organisation to its customers who are from different age groups and from different cultural backgrounds. Organisational Goals Burger King’s main aims and objectives are to serve its customers with the bests meals and services a fast food company could possibly provide. To achieve this, the organisation has a zero compromise policy for the communication of its aims and objectives. The aims and objectives are highly important to the organisation, for it is the only way the organisation maintains its integrity amongst it competitors and its customers. Burger King’s aims and objectives are well set and structured, making it relatively easy to communicate them within the organisation and also to its customers. The organisation’s main source to communicate its aims and objectives are through the media, banners, coupons, handouts and also through the internet. ORGANISA TIONAL CULTURE AND ETHICS Burger King is an organisation that serves customers from various backgrounds and cultures. This makes it extremely important to manage communication in the most delicate manner as possible. The organisation has to keep in mind that not all customers consume all the menus the company offers. For example: customers who are from an Indian background won’t eat beef, customers who are from a Muslim background won’t eat pork. Its vital information like these that the organisation has to keep track of in order to meet the needs of people who are from different backgrounds and cultures. Management of Knowledge Resource Management of knowledge resources is critical for any organisation. It helps in ensuring that vital knowledge is passed on within the organisation so that the organisation can maintain its ever long trend of providing the quality of work or service as it has been providing in the past. Burger King is one such Organisation that takes pr ide in its quality of service that it has been known of providing. Achieving this however took a lot of work and experience for the organisation. To ensure that knowledge and experience is passed on within the organisation, the Burger King Management team relies heavily on their old staffs who possess the skills and experience needed for the organisation to maintain its quality of work. The old staff members train and groom the new recruits so that they can cope with the organisations requirement standards and deliver quality services to its customers. The Management team of Burger King also holds staff meetings and orientations to ensure that vital knowledge and experience is equally shared amongst each and every member of the team. The also shuffle the teams together so that there is an equal balance of knowledge and experience within the teams.

Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an Essay

Be able to use software-generated information to make decisions in an organisation - Essay Example For instance, it Management it is used to ensure that there is proper transition of employees within the scope an organisation. Moreover, it is used in strategic management to source the right job candidate, to enhance employee’s professional growth and development as well as to motivate employees to achieving organisation goals and objectives (Information Resources Management Association and Khosrow-Pour, 2001). Management information system may be used at tactical level to assess market competition and government policies that may affect organisation performance. For example, management information systems may be employed to carry out marketing research and gather facts concerning a particular market. This may help an organisation to assess its weakness and how it can use its strength to counter its weakness. Additionally, management information system is used to execute tactical functions by helping managers to make informed decision in respect to organisation operations. Managers can inform their clients on the impending changes and how those changes will help to meet and exceed customers’ needs (Information Resources Management Association and Khosrow-Pour, 2001). Based on the above computation, it can be observed that financial viability of this will have an accounting rate of return of 30%.This means that this project is worthwhile investing based on this approach. However, the accounting rate of return method tends to be criticized due to its limitations. For example, it does not provide an appropriate project appraisal because it includes items that are non cash. Further, it fails to take into consideration the time value of cash as well as its difficult to adjust inherent risks that may be attributed to a (project Introduction to corporate finance, 2012). Based on the calculation above it can be observed that the project will yield a positive net present value of +Â £79,301.8, this

Widget Manufacturing Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Widget Manufacturing - Case Study Example rom investments in Mexico, but were affected by the global recession which reduced the Mexico GDP from an average of 2.3 percent to a – 6.5 percent. Despite the I.M assurance that the firm will have alternative methods to reduce the FX in expenses such as payroll, purchasing, and lease costs, there are major risks involved, which Arnold has to address. After investing in Mexico, the widget company will experience three types of currency volatility risks, which include transaction exposure, translation exposure and economic exposure. The three major risks are not covered in the IM assurance and hence Arnold’s concerns are logical and valid. In prior to investing, the Widget Manufacturing capital management should analyze the capital investments involved in a larger perspective. The main aim of the capital management team is to ensure that the value of the firm increases gradually and to uphold profitability. Therefore, Arnold should consider several other factors other than the currency volatility (FX rates); the factors to be considered include, but not limited to, Support capital, liquefaction value, account receivables and payables, and general risks. Support capital is the supplementary resources that are required to enhance productivity of the mainstream capital; they include infrastructure, labor, management etc. Before investing, Arnold should consider the possibility, whether Widget Manufacturing will find the desired workers, management, and sufficient infrastructure network to support the proposed venture. Similarly, he should consider the liquefaction/resale value of the investment, following the thriving un stable economy at the time of decision-making; it is highly likely that the capital will depreciate after investment. The risk calls for an indepth analysis of Mexico market to ensure that the business withstands the competition and attracts a reasonable liquefaction value in case of collapse. In addition, account payable and account receivables

German Foreign Policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

German Foreign Policy - Research Paper Example World development agenda depend on foreign policies adopted by member countries. It is important to note that foreign policies usually influence the economic prowess of a country. Bilateral trade usually depends on foreign policies adopted by the country. Some countries are not able to buy products from Germany due to the poor relationship between these countries. Some policies adopted by the United Nations influence the relationship between Germany and partner countries. Policies that influence trade and politics in various countries are very crucial because many countries depend on each other for economic development. Some foreign policies influence German contribution to the development of the developing countries (Robinson 14). The purpose of this paper is to describe, explain, and perhaps predict the foreign policy of Germany. The relationship between Germany and members of European Union hang on sound foreign policies adopted by Germany. European Union policies influence commer cial relationship among various member countries. Research indicates the one of notable steps made by the European Union is the development of a single currency that would be acceptable across Europe. This move intended to lift barriers to trade among the member countries. German traditional practices are contrary to the new move it has taken in handling foreign issues. Research reveals that Germany has adopted new foreign policies, which intend to enhance its relationship with other members of European Union. German foreign policy on international responsibility is very crucial for the economy of the country. Economist argue that Foreign policies of various countries including Germany are important than Domestic policies. Globalization is the major factor behind the revelation of various foreign policies that affect Germany. The international responsibility policy defines the role of German in promoting peace, security, trade, and politics in the world (Germany's foreign policy 1). Germany respects human rights, democracy, and approaches that promote dialogue among cultures. For instance, participation of German soldiers in world peace keeping is a show of international responsibility that Germany has. World peace is very crucial because peace influence trade, human rights, politics, and social lifestyle among others. The need to promote peace is one of the pillars United Nation. German influences many decisions that United Nations makes because it is a member of the Security Council. Studies indicate that globalization has influenced the stand that Germany takes when voting in the Security Council. The German vote influences the move that members of the council would take when handling issues of international concern. The effects of international responsibility policies include the move made by the Germany to send his soldier to fight against terrorism (Germany's foreign policy 4). The fight against terrorism calls for a collective approach that countries ta ke towards stumping the vice. Research indicates that the war does not belong to one country or the members of the Security Council, but to the world. This would call for a collective participation of various countries. The relationship between Germany and many countries depend on the international responsibility policy. Foreign department of various countries evaluate the role that bilateral relationship would play. The relational should benefit the countries

Justice exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Justice exam - Essay Example Rawls defines the capacity for a sense of justice as â€Å"the capacity to understand, to apply, and to act from the public conception of justice which characterizes the fair terms of cooperation†, which includes â€Å"a willingness...to act in relation to others on terms that they also can publicly endorse† (Garrett, 2005; Rawls, 1971; Rawls, 2001). There are two important elements here. First: To comply with this standard only requires conventional morality, knowing and obeying society's norms (Kohlberg, 1958; Crain, 1985). Postconventional morality, or the ability to think independently of society and question its norms, is not necessary. Second: Rawls is not saying that one always has to act on that willingness and capacity. A criminal could steal food knowing about society's norms but rejecting them for some higher good, or even steal money out of callousness, and still not lose their position as equal members of the community necessarily. Thus, many criminals and deeply flawed people are still part of Rawls' moral universe. Similarly, Rawls defines the conception of good as some idea of a goal or what is good in life and what is valuable, which usually is expressed as â€Å"a more or less determinate scheme of final ends, that is, ends [goals] that we want to realize for their own sake, as well as attachments to other persons and loyalties to various groups and associations† (Garret, 2005; Rawls, 1971). This is even less restrictive than the other condition. To satisfy this condition, one merely need have some idea of the good at some level of sophistication. One can disagree sharply with society and with Rawls and still be part of the moral universe. These ideas are important to later elements of Rawls' arguments about ethics because they express highly unrestrictive notions of who deserves to be treated as part of the community that nonetheless provide some discriminatory power above and beyond simply saying that all human beings ar e exactly equal. An utter sociopath with no capacity for morality and a stunted notion of what is good may not qualify for community membership and thus not be entitled to all of the rights of the community, for example. Rawls' idea of blind society design and the difference principle are also supported by this notion of the two goods. Rawls' moral psychology is connected to this notion in that it establishes a sort of species characteristic of moral and justice intuition. â€Å"The moral sentiments are a normal part of human life. One cannot do away with them without at the same time dismantling the natural attitudes as well† (Rawls, 1971). These elements were never fully completed, not least because the psychological evidence for them is limited and hard to establish, but later Rawlsian theorists like Baldwin did continue in that vein (). Baldwin argues that Rawls' notion of moral psychology has an inextricably social character: For Rawls, social behavior and rules are part of our innate moral intuitions. Rawls was far from alone in assuming that there is an innate psychological predisposition to moral concerns: Hume and Chomsky share this notion. â€Å"What's the source of such moral truisms? We don't know much more than David Hume did 250 years ago when he pointed out that our moral judgments are so rich and complex, and apply so readily to new cases, that they must derive from some fixed principles, and since we cannot acquire these from experience, they must be part of our nature (14). Rather like

SWOT Anaylsis on France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SWOT Anaylsis on France - Essay Example The government interferes in all business affairs, discouraging the businesses to take up further projects or innovate at their own will. The government provides protection to all the employees hence suppressing the competitive spirit required for growth. Furthermore, the system makes it highly difficult for a young talented worker to climb the corporate ladder unless he has the required experience and is part of the hierarchy. The political framework is semi-presidential i.e. both the prime minister and president show involvement in the workings of the system. The reason why this democracy stands out is its origination as a social democracy. The people are allowed to vote for their representatives while also being able to enjoy economic equality. Moreover, the French political system is associated with a noticeable economic advantage. Since the government controls all the businesses, i.e. all businesses have been nationalized, the working class gains in the form of cheaper healthcare and other benefits. To a certain extent, this form of governance also allows the business to consider the overall progress of the society thereby encouraging them to incorporate the best business practices that is going to benefit the larger population.

The increasing use of computers in schools Essay

The increasing use of computers in schools - Essay Example Hence, schools have introduced the use of computers not only to improve students' academic performance but also to increase students' familiarity with new technologies as well as make learning fun and effective for students. The introduction of computers in schools aimed first to improve students' performance in their academic subjects. Educators believe that the computers facilitate ease and convenience especially when these are used by the young people to write papers or do research. Studies done by researchers at Boston College state that regular use of computers in order to do research and write paper can improve students' writing abilities. These students are said to perform better in schools than those who don't use the computers on the same undertakings (O' Dwyer et al, 2005). Researchers also found out that the students' constant use of the computer results to higher score in standardized writing tests as a consequence of their learning from producing drafts, editing to correct errors and writing the final copy. In addition, computers have made the access to information swifter as students do not have to browse through books in the library in order to search to gain access for hard to find data.

Barriers cross cultural communication Research Paper

Barriers cross cultural communication - Research Paper Example In the business world, increasing globalisation has been resulting in the formation of many multinational companies (MNCs). Initially, these were mostly dominated by the West, whereas Asian Multinational Companies (AMCs) have mostly been of Japanese or Korean origin. Lately, a new breed of AMCs are emerging that are mostly of Chinese and Indian origin. Their expansion however, as with the earlier MNCs before them, is posing challenges related to cross-cultural communication. This paper seeks to identify the typical barriers to effective cross-cultural communication in this new context and how they can be overcome. The greater focus is on examining Chinese culture and the experience of Chinese managers of AMCs working within the American socio-cultural environment. Such Chinese high-profile AMCs include Haier, Lenovo and Huawei, and Indian AMCs include Tata and Bharti Airtel. Both countries have some domestic economies. Apart from issues such as the need to improve governance, have greater transparency, and so on (Moller, 2008), they also recognise the need to adapt to different cultures. This entails stressing responsibility and accountability, and to be more responsive to local needs (Rajan et al., 2009). The Chinese realise that it is knowledge and skills for operating internationally that are needed more than owning shares due to the previously limited exposure and general seclusion. The Indians on the other hand have had a longer exposure to the market economy. Both acknowledge that knowledge acquisition is paramount for innovation (Teagarden et al., 2008), but new knowledge has to be communicated using language in order to be acquired (Welch & Welch, 2008). Tata’s acquisition of South Korea’s Daewoo vehicle company in 2004 was seen as a success but that is because their cultures shared many similarities to begin with (Rodrigues, 2006). The language barriers were overcome easily, which speeded the integration, and confidence developed

Internet Censorship Issue Essay Example for Free

Internet Censorship Issue Essay We are exposed to various dangers of the known and unknown kind in this physical world we live in. As such, we are always on the lookout for warning and danger signals regarding problems we may encounter. Our protection from these dangers come in the form of laws, law enforcers, and guidelines that help provide us with a semblance of security and protection. We are protected from unnecessary influences of the mass media by censorship rules designed to temper and minimize the effects of violence, pornography, and other strong yet bad influences on our being. We do not have those safety nets in place, although it is really a necessary precaution, when we use the Internet. This is why I am in favor or Internet filtering in schools and all public libraries. My parents and I are well informed about the dangers posed by unsupervised Internet usage. That is why my parents installed an Internet filtering system in our computer at home. They love me dearly and do not want any harm to come my way nor do they want me to be exposed to anything that could pose a potential danger to my person. But, they cannot spend all their time watching me as I use the Internet for my various activities from day to day. They also do not expect themselves or me to know which disguised websites would be detrimental to myself since all the Internet sites are designed to entice unknowing visitors into their sites. This is why they installed the Internet filter. To act as a back up guide in order for me to informed decisions about which websites will be good to visit and those not fit for people of my age. As such, they put blind faith and trust into the school system hoping that the system also does their part in protecting me from these potential dangers. The school accomplishes this task by installing Internet Filtering programs in the library computers. These programs are designed to aid the school in making sure that students library Internet privileges are not abused, nor used for illegal activities such as online gambling and accessing porn sites. The Internet use remains indirectly supervised for the students and the schools own protection. The Internet has become far more influential than the television in educating the children and allowing them to pursue their interests. It is a learning tool that can help develop a students interest and skills just as fast as the wrong Internet exposure can destroy that very same promising student. This is why Internet filtering should become a standard in all school and public library computers across the country.

Phaedrus by Plato Essay Example for Free

Phaedrus by Plato Essay Of all the dialogues of Plato, this has got to be one of the most impressive of all. A display of conversations that did not rely on just mediocre questioning and explanation about a single topic. Walking around the country and providing conversations on just about whatever happens to them, the Phaedrus and Socrates walking conversation displays relevant matters and enlightening words. Tackling the topic of love was the initial subject that the two had taken into consideration. Talking about philosophies of love and their own takes on how love is, Socrates and Phaedrus showcase their sides by explaining what love is to them. Thus, this conversation about love ruled most of their walk. Along the way they tackled more enlightening matters The dialogues last part tackles about writing books and its capabilities to impart goodness on a person. They explain their considerable thoughts on books. In part 229c-230 b, Socrates reflects an affirmative belief on stories of myths such as the story of Bores and Orithyia. Socrates showcases his reasoning that he doesnt have enough time as well for himself to give explanation about such occurrence that happened in the place where the story was foretold thus he results to might as well be believing in it. He believes that skeptics dont have the luxury of time challenging and explaining the truth about other creatures, monsters and occurrences as well. Thus Socrates concludes that seeking out for truth with regards to said stories is ridiculous. He believes that even those people of science that tends to explain everything will also have such a difficult time on proving such claims and that there are more important matters other than challenging these stories. The conversational walk that Socrates and Phaedrus had in the dialogue displays amenable reasoning and provides ample knowledge upon readers.

The Significance Of Sociological Work Practices

The Significance Of Sociological Work Practices This essay will examine the significance of sociology and the importance of a good understanding of the society in which we live. This essay will also provide an understanding of what sociology is, and an insight into each perspective in relation to a particular concept and some of the social problems surrounding it. It will identify how an understanding of sociology is useful in helping social workers understand, evaluate and resolve the potential problems faced by their client groups, and will assess the importance of sociology in social work practice. Sociology differs to psychology, in as much as psychology studies the individual and that individuals reactions and involvement within society. Sociology concentrates its approach on a much wider level, looking at the bigger picture. Giddens (1989:18) reports that the study of sociology offers the individual an opportunity to detach oneself from preconceived ideas about social life, however it does pose specific problems, mainly because of the complex problems involved in subjecting our own behaviour to study. It is hard to be objective which you are directly involved in, and later on in the essay, it is apparent how this has influenced, and biased some perspectives. Sociology developed as a science in the late 1700s. It was initially a way of attempting to understand the great changes happening in industry and society around that time, following a period of social and industrial revolutions throughout England and the transition from feudal England, into a more capitalist and industrialised society. Although there are many definitions of sociology, there is no clear cut definition as to what it encompasses. Macionis and Plummer (1997:4) say that the definition of sociology is the systematic study of human society, whilst The study of human social behaviour, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society is the definition taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sociology We can therefore deduce that sociology is a study of looking at things from a wider angle. So, what psychologists may view as a personal tragedy to one person, when viewed from the wider angle, can provide an insight into imbalances in the equilibrium of society. For example, C Wright Mills (taken from Macionis and Plummer) wrote famously about the Sociological Imagination, which enables the individual to reflect upon the societal impact of what can be apparently individual events, such as divorce, and unemployment. Whilst divorce is a personal tragedy for the individual, the impact of it nationally becomes a social problem, given that Britain statistically has one of the highest divorce rates in Europe. So, sociology is about learning how to look at things with more than just knowledge or common sense, it is about being able to turn situations around and examine the impact on both the individual and the surrounding society. To do this however, one must be able to identify what society actually is. What does it encompass? How many people does it take to make a society? Even if we assume that a society is, for example, a group of people with self perpetuating rules, living within a particular framework of social relationships, we still have to question to whos rules are they are adhering, and to what extent is the framework of social relationship to be extended? Classical sociologists had no problems in identifying what constitutes a society, as they assumed that society was something that could be investigated or analysed in a laboratory, such as with any other science. Classical sociology was in effect the scientific study of society. Whilst more modernist approaches such as Cree (as quoted in Cree:1997:276), have identified that todays society is a much more mosaic and fragmented society, and realises that much as we all have more than one identity, so we live and move in many different, and at times competing, societies. To enable them to study this, sociologists have identified many different perspectives on different sociological concepts. A concept is an issue that is directly related to sociology or society, and as such includes issues such as the family, crime and deviance, the community, class, status, poverty, race and youth. All these concepts have a direct impact on society and so sociologists are interested in studying them. Each concept is often intrinsically linked to the remaining ones. If we take as a simplistic example, a young black boy who has been caught stealing, he is from an impoverished background and is being brought up by his single parent mother. In this single example, a sociologist could choose to look at this case study from any or all of the above concepts. The family unit has broken down, leading the youth to commit acts of crime and deviance, possibly because the familys standard of living has deteriorated, leading to a lowering in class and status, which in turn could have led to prejudice and isolation from the surrounding community. A perspective however, is the actual viewpoint and theory which surrounds the explanation used to evaluate and identify society and social problems. For example, classical perspectives include Marxism, Interactionism, and Functionalism. In the very simplest of definitions a Marxist perspective would examine a concept with its relativity to social class, and class conflict. Interactionists would be examining the meanings and interpretations of the study matter, and would focus on the individual. A Functionalist perspective, however, would examine the purpose and needs of the social structure surrounding the concept, and would be looking at the social system and sub systems. These classical perspectives originated mainly from Western, heterosexual, middle class men, and highlight one of the many problems sociologists face, and that is distancing oneself from the matter which is being studied. The viewpoints of the classical sociologists appear to be from white, heterosexual men, FOR white, heterosexual men. These early classical attempts to study a society which is in itself a constantly changing and nebulous mass, has meant that new sociologists have had to emerge, bringing with them new, broader perspectives, and these are called contemporary sociologists. Contemporary sociologists include views of society from perspectives such as Feminism, Anti Racism, Disablism, and the Gay Rights lobby, and the perspectives from which they write are fairly self explanatory, but Feminism will be discussed in more detail further on. When examining one concept in detail, such as the family, and viewing it from each different perspective, we are provided with an insight on not only the historical background of the viewpoint from which it was written (eg Marxism and Feminism were established in very different historical episodes), but it also enables us to lay this across different aspects of working practice in social work. Therefore in order to operate in the social work profession efficiently, one needs to be able to look at the bigger picture, and put aside our own values and opinions of the family i.e. all the differing family types etc, as it is hard to be objective about something with which you have direct experience of. We have all had experience of family, and so our expectations of the family life of our client groups will ultimately be influenced by this, much in the same way as sociologists will be influenced by the society in which they are part of, To identify the family from differing perspectives, one must first reach an agreed definition as to what the family is in sociological terms, broadly speaking because if there is no agreed definitive answer as to what the family consists of, then each perspective may be constructing theories about what could fundamentally be very different social groups. As a society we have stereo-typical ideas and ideologies of what a family should consist of and these are perpetuated through the media and advertising with images of the ideal family (i.e. husband, wife, 2 children, dog), and through humour, with television programmes such as 2.4 Children, My Family etc. Macionis and Plummer (1997:438) suggest that the family has been seen as a social institution that unites individuals into co-operative groups that oversee the bearing and raising of children. Cree however, (2000:26) defines the family as a group of people bound together by blood and marriage ties, but not necessarily located in one geographical place. When providing a definition, it has to adequately address the changing nature of family life in Britain throughout the last century. For example, using statistics from Giddens (1989: 181) over 20 per cent of dependent children now live in lone parent households. In addition to the rise in lone parent households, there have also been a significant increase in the emergence of differing family compositions.. It is easy to see that family structure and composition has changed greatly over the last century, and this could be due to the way that society adapts to accommodate social problems, for example, an increased number of lone parents, gay couples and sexual relationships outside of marriage etc. These were social problems during the 1900s and earlier, and were immoral, which in the local communities at that time, could have been punishable by law, but todays society has started to adapt and accept these changes, making something which was originally perceived as deviant into a social norm, and this will lead eventually into this behaviour becoming part of the social mores of our society. It is therefore safe to say, that in order for society to be maintained it has to accept the changing threats to values and adapt around the social problems it encounters. Using statistics from Giddens (1989:176) we can see that the number of couples with dependent children has dropped significantly from 38% in 1961 to only 23% in 1998, whilst this signifies a decline in the amount of young married couples having children, it also highlights the fact that our society is also now increasing in age. This shows that the current population is likely to be comprised of adults without dependent children. In addition to this, the number of lone parents has risen dramatically from 2% in 1961 to 7% in 1998. Using figures from Macionis and Plummer (1997:447) which state that, the numbers in adoption have sharply fallen. 6,000 in England in Wales in 1994, compared with 21,000 in 1971, we can see how society has accommodated the issue of unmarried mothers. The number of one person households has also risen from 11% in 1961 to 28% in 1998, and this is probably due to the rise in divorcees having to find alternative accommodation following the breakdown of a marriag e. So, whilst we have identified what a family is, and an example of the social problems surrounding it, it is useful now to look at how each perspective views the family and its purpose and usefulness in society. Looking at the functionalist perspective, who provide the most positive view of family life, it is essential to understand that functionalists view the family as the basic social unit and the core institution of society (Jorgensen et al:1997:72) The functionalists see one of the integral familial contributions as social integration. They view the familys main function as teaching the family members how to belong within the group (ie: society) around them. This function of the family stems from the fact that functionalists believe the family exists as the primary institution in any society, for the initial socialisation of children. In this respect any institution charged with this responsibility will play a large part in producing and maintaining cultural norms and values. In addition to the socialisation function, they also believe the family plays a part in stabilising society. They believe the family reinforces values such as emotional and sexual stability, economic co-dependence etc. These regulations are an integral part of the society in which we live, and include moral boundaries, for example, such as incest. This is a purely human concept, and we are the only species which impose regulations on sexual interaction between family members. Our own society forbids the act of sexual relations between family members, but limits it to close relatives, such as those included in our extended family. In some societies however, it is permissible for siblings to marry. There are biological reasons why incest is not advised, however, the primary concerns are societal. Macionis and Plummer (1997) suggest that the reasons for this taboo are to minimise sexual competition within the family, it also forces people to marry outside of the family encouraging wider alliances to form, and it also protects kinship from falling into chaos. They suggest that as kinship defines peoples rights and obligations towards each other, forbidding reproduction between close relatives protects the family. Another relevant example of the functionalist perspective is in the institution of marriage. For example, when an individual chooses to marry, they do so within the predetermined constraints of their individual society. In Britain for example, marriage partners are chosen at will, and marriage is based on personal choice and love. But in other societies, such as the Hindu religion, the couple have often not met before the marriage, which will have been arranged by the two families involved and is considered to be a suitable union. So in this respect, the family is itself an institution in charge of maintaining the social equilibrium. Talcott Parsons called these two features of the family Primary socialization and Personality stabilization. As quoted in Giddens (2000:175) Parsons regarded the nuclear family as the unit best equipped to handle the demands of industrial society. In the conventional family one adult can work outside the home, while the second adult cares for the home and children. This has meant that Parsons view of the family is now seen as outdated, and critics have implied that the functionalist perspective reinforces the division of labour between men and women. Giddens (2000) however said this apparently sexist view could be explained primarily given the historical context in which Parsons was writing. He was writing immediately following the Second World War, which saw an immediate return of women to their traditional roles in the household, and men returning to their roles as sole breadwinners. However, I would dispute this, as upon reflection of Parsons quote, he doesnt actually specify gender, in his quote, he just reflects that one adult can work outside the home, therefore whilst he is outdated in his view that there are two parents, it could be perceived as forward thinking for being non gender specific.. The Functionalist perspective also negates the influence of other social institutions such as schools, the government etc and their important roles in the socialisation of children. This perspective does not account for the breakdown of the traditional model of the family, and the fact that more children are now being raised outside of this. There is no real mention either of the incidents of abuse and violence, of which there is strong evidence to suggest that the family is in fact a very dysfunctional place in which to raise children, and this could be due to the fact that the sociologists writing on this perspective at the time were white, middle class me and not looking outside of the society they are a part of. Moving on to the contemporary perspectives, the Feminists bring this to the forefront in their approaches to the family. The feminists believe that unequal power relationships exist within families. Not least importantly then, are the issues of domestic violence, marital rape, incest and sexual abuse. The feminist perspective does not perceive the family as a haven for love and support, but that issues such as incest and domestic violence provide a further opportunity for men to dominate and oppress women. Feminism became influential in the 1970s and 1980s and has continued to grow in strength and followers to this day. Before feminism, sociologists have been criticised for the male bias in their studies of society as a whole. From a feminists sociological viewpoint, women had previously always been viewed as appendages to men. Feminism has been concerned with the analysis of male/female relationships in terms of the relative significance of sex, class and patriarchy ie; Male headed dominance There are several different views within the feminist perspective, with as Lena Dominelli writes a plurality of views, liberal, radical, socialist, anti-racist and post-modernist which can be held by both black and white feminists; for example, white radical feminism, black socialist feminism (1997:97) Neil Thompson (1993:53) writes that whilst there is no such thing as uniformed and consistent feminism, there are common themes and points of argument, they all share a focus on the critique of patriarchy and the need to establish a fairer society in which women are no longer marginalised, alienated and pushed into secondary roles. It also does not account for the fact that when women come out of the home, and enter the employment arena they are still being discriminated against, with low pay, maternity issues etc, which is perpetuating social problems. Marxist feminism portrays the womans role in the family environment to that of the Proletariat, or exploited class, and the mans role as that of the Bourgeoisie or exploiter. Seen from the Marxist feminist viewpoint, the woman is the loser in the inequal marriage partnership. Marxist feminists believe that marriage is perpetuating the capitalist industry by prostituting the domestic services of the woman in return for financial security. What this means essentially is that by staying at home and looking after the children in an unpaid capacity, the woman is not only helping the man to work in the capitalist industry, but providing heirs to perpetuate the class division further. Thus, patriarchy is not simply a matter of biological difference, but is directly related to the economic base and the emphasis on comparing the womans role in the family to the exploitation of the capitalist class over the working class. According to Thompson(1993:56) this is one of the main weaknesses in the theory, as it does not explain how there is still continuation of male dominance in the non-capitalist societies Liberal feminism has been evident since the early eighteenth century, and its main objective was to make it illegal to discriminate against, or use unequal treatment for women, and it was largely based on notions of free choice, empowering women to take control of their own lives. Liberal feminism is primarily concerned with issues of overt discrimination against women in all areas of social life, in particular, work education and the portrayal of women in the media, as well as arguing for legal protection and social rights. It argues that women are not inferior to men and should be allowed to compete equally in all aspects of life, especially education and work. It has been successful so far in using its main weapon (the legal system) in outlawing discriminatory behaviour towards women, and in establishing legislation to protect female workers in the UK and USA, such as equal pay etc. The main criticism of this perspective is that the women involved in the writing were middle class women, therefore the changes implemented were benefiting middle class women. I understand that sociology can assist the social work practitioner in assessing situations from the wider picture and drawing on relevant perspectives in their own merit to help the client group involved in reaching a suitable resolution. I therefore believe that an understanding of sociology can help social workers to develop a mind set which will provide the foundations for the commencement of good practice skills. I think that society modifies itself to accommodate social problems and that sociology itself has adapted to identify these, therefore, as sociology helps us to identify what the social problems are, it can help social workers to help the society in which they work. TOTAL WORD COUNT = 3282

Waste Land Essay: Eluding Understanding :: T.S. Eliot Waste Land Essays

The Waste Land: Eluding Understanding The Waste Land is, to begin with, a poem that includes an interpretation as part of the poem, and it is therefore a poem that makes a problem of its meaning precisely by virtue of its apparent (and apparently inadequate) effort to explain itself. We cannot understand the poem without knowing what it meant to its author, but we must also assume that what the poem meant to its author will not be its meaning. The notes to The Waste Land are, by the logic of Eliot's philosophical critique of interpretation, simply another riddle--and not a separate one to be solved. They are, we might say, the poem's way of treating itself as a reflex, a "something not intended as a sign," a gesture whose full significance it is impossible, by virtue of the nature of gestures, for the gesturer to explain." And the structure of the poem--a text followed by an explanation--is a reproduction of a pattern that, as the notes themselves emphasize, is repeated in miniature many times inside the poem itself, where cultural expressions are transformed, by the mechanics of allusion, into cultural gestures. For each time a literary phrase or a cultural motif is transposed into a new context--and the borrowed motifs in The Waste Land are shown to have themselves been borrowed by a succession of cultures--it is reinterpreted, its previous meaning becoming incorporated by distortion into a new meaning suitable to a new use. So that the work of Frazer and Weston is relevant both because it presents the history of religion as a series of appropriations and reinscriptions of cultural motifs, and because it is itself an unreliable reinterpretation of the phenomena it attempts to describe. The poem (as A. Walton Litz argued some time ago) is, in other words, not about spiritual dryness so much as it is a bout the ways in which spiritual dryness has been perceived. And the relation of the notes to the poem proper seems further emblematic of the relation of the work as a whole to the cultural tradition it is a commentary on. The Waste Land is presented as a contemporary reading of the Western tradition, which (unlike the "ideal order" of "Tradition and the Individual Talent") is treated as a sequence of gestures whose original meaning is unknown, but which every new text that is added to it makes a bad guess at.

The Effect of Technology Over Time :: Personification Essays

The Effect of Technology Over Time It's amazing to see how times have changed. Since I am an old schoolhouse, I've seen a lot of changes within the last 80 years. There have been little changes within me such as new wallpapering and windows, but this isn't all about me. Technology in education has really startled me. I never thought technology would have advanced this far. I still have to laugh to myself every so often. Kids now-a-days talk about how hard school is and how hard their teachers are on. However, I know differently. December 1920-- It's a cold, cloudy winter day. Boys and girls from all over the city are fighting the snow as they come up my wooden steps to the cold hallway. Overcoats and boats are drying as they are stacked against the wall. Kindergarten to fourth grade inhabits three small rooms, which are heated by a radiator. The main source of heat comes from a coal stove that is centrally located in the middle of the building. A little boy stokes the stove each day before and after school. Rooms are poorly lit, especially in the winter. Oil lamps and sunshine are the only source of light. Each class is taught by a middle to elderly age woman. If she happens to get married or pregnant, this is the last time we see her. Teachers always seem to give homework unless it is a holiday or something is happening in the town. There are 8 classes a day, one of which is Penmanship. There are no pens or pencils, just ink wells. If a pen is pressed too hard, it would then splatter and turn th e whole paper black, leaving the student to re-do his/her project. April 1946-- It's a beautiful spring day just a couple years after the Great Depression and my school and peoples' lifestyles are really looking up. I'm completely heated by a furnace, and lighting has never been better, thanks to the installation of light bulbs. Wooden pencils have become popular, leaving ink wells a thing of the past. Some of the more fortunate people have automobiles now, which provides some kids with an easy way to school. While my life was improving, a schoolhouse, up the road about two hours, seemed to be stuck back in 1800's.

Essay --

The Canada-China relationship has been through many fluctuations since China’s establishment in 1949. The Canadian Cabinet decided to give its recognition in the same year as China’s establishment on 16 November. However, the diplomatic relations with China was not formed until 1970, two decades from Canada’s primary consideration. Though there were many factors influencing the Sino-Canadian relations since 1949, due to the limitation in length, this essay will focus on three main reasons, how the political consideration, the attention on human rights problems and Canada’s economic interests influenced its relations with China from 1949 to the 1990s. From 1949 to the 1960s, the relationship between China and Canada was strongly influenced by Canada’s political consideration. With Canada’s gradually pursuing of independent foreign policy together with the change in international climate eventually left the room for Canada’s recogniti on to China. Since then, the Canadian economic interest started to dominate any other factors in this bilateral relationship, even if Canada paid attention to China’s human rights problem. Thus, the Sino-Canadian relationship after the 1970s is a balance between Canada’s economic interests and human rights issues in China. This essay will examine the three factors thematically, and in each factor, it will follow a chronology order. In the first part of the essay, it will discuss Canada’s political consideration in recognition China when taking the U.S. influence and the change of international atmosphere into account. Canada’s willingness in achieving an independent foreign policy led to its formal relations establishment with China in the early 1970s. Then it will discuss how the Chinese human rig... ... China dominated the human rights problems, and enabled Canada-China to be an economic partnership of each other. From 1949 to the early 1960s, the American pressure that Canada received was the fundamental reason for the delay of recognition China. As Canada’s desire of pursuing an independent foreign policy grew stronger, the impact of the U.S. government on the normalizing relationship between Canada and China was less and less. After the establishment of relations in 1970, the bilateral relationship remained steady besides the human rights issue in China. When China dominated on the economic terms in the world, Canada preferred to cooperate with China. The economic trade between China and Canada brought positive influence to both economies, and the Sino-Canadian relationship should maintain at a peaceful and beneficial level if both states worked together.

Revolution Politically Considered Essay

The word Maccabean comes from Judas Maccabeus, the leader of the Jewish revolt against Syria which took place from 167 – 160 B. C. E. In 2nd Maccabees 15 v 30 he is described as â€Å"The perfect champion of his fellow citizens. † The story is recorded in the Apocryphal Biblical Books Ist and 2nd Maccabees, the sources written closest in time to the events and to a lesser extent by the Jewish 1st century C. E. historian Flavius Josephus in his Antiquities ( Books XII and XIII) who wrote some 200 years later. Martin Cohen ( The Hasmonean Revolution Politically Considered,1975, page 21) describes all three of authors, those of the Maccabean books and Josephus, as being overly partisan and seems to be saying that the so called sinners weren’t as black as they are painted. Some might say however that his article is in danger of going too far the other way in parts. The name means ‘hammer’ and was used to describe Judas’ immense strength. It was then taken as a name by his brothers, two of whom succeeded him, and other followers. The conflict had been stirred when, after a period of increasing Hellenisation, Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes gave orders forbidding certain Jewish customs and practices and turned the Temple into a shrine for the pagan god Zeus – the idol the Jews refer to as ‘the abomination of desecration’ mentioned in Daniel 11. Judas Maccabeus and his followers incited a revolt. In 164 B. C. E they were able to regain control of the Temple, which was then cleansed and rededicating to the God of Israel. To this day Jews celebrate the feast of Hanukkah to recall these events. The story ends with the death of Nicanor in 2 Maccabeans 15 and also the idea of dedicating a special day to its remembrance- the thirtieth day of the twelfth month. The use of the menorah, the seven branched candlestick, is a reminder of the same events. Members of Judas’ family, the Hasmoneans, continued to rule in Israel until the Romans arrived in force in 63 B. C. E. Ist Maccabees was originally written in Hebrew, but that version is now lost and the text used is taken from the Greek Septuagint. The book is set in the period of Greek rule and covers the period of revolt from 175 to 134 B. C. However it also describes how many Hebrews actually welcomed the coming of Greek customs, even to the extent of trying to pass themselves off as Greeks. In 1st Maccabees 1 v 15 the writer tells how some were trying to hide the marks of circumcism i. e. the very mark of their Jewishness. In 2nd Maccabees the events are again related, but this time seemingly with the intention of showing God’s continued care for his people. It begins by urging Alexandrian Jews to keep the feast of Hanukkah and looks back at the events that led up to the first celebration. At the same time it castigates several people – the Hellenistic Jewish priests, in particular including High Priest Jason who was said to have sent money for statue of Herakles, something Martin Cohen ( Page 15 ) sees as a bribe rather than as a genuine donation because of faith.. Robert Doran ( 2006, The revolt of the Maccabees) looked for historic similarities and likened it to the modern day insurgency in Iraq. He tells how for the first years of Seleucid rule there were no major problems between the two groups. He describes the main problem as being about Jewish identity and who controls that definition. He makes the point that some would not have considered Jason to be a Jew at all, whereas he, as Jewish high priest, presumably did. He cites 20th century Jewish scholars Elias Bickermann and Victor Tchenikover who put the blame not on the Seleucids, but upon the Jewish leaders of the time. While I Maccabees blames the Seleucid leader, it has been pointed out by scholars such as Otto Morkholm (Antiochus IV of Syria, 1966) that in general he supported local cultures. The writer of 2nd Maccabees blames the institution of Greek education, even though there were a number of years between the opening of the Greek school and the revolt. The truth seems to be that when a villager from Modein, the Hasmonean home town, went to make sacrifices, Mattathias, the father of Judas, struck him with his sword. The family then fled, but also began a campaign of throwing down the pagan alters that they found and killing those who opposed what they felt was right. By the opening of 2nd Maccabees the father had died and it is Judas who is leading the revolutionaries. There are other major differences between the accounts, namely with regard to fighting on the Sabbath. This happens in the first book, but not in the second. According to Doran, in what seems to be a quite objective account ( page 107), upon the death of Antiochus his successor seems, to have let the matter stand, with the Hasmoneans in charge in Jerusalem. However the revolution was spreading to other areas. Jerusalem became the center for a general revolt against Seleucid rule. In 162 B. C. E. Judas finally lost control of the Temple area and was killed. Josephus describes in the opening words of his second book about the period, (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 13) how, after the death of Judus Maccabeus ‘all the wicked, and those that transgressed the laws of their forefathers, sprang up again in Judea. ’ And so the battles continued under new leadership. However soon after this the Seleucid Empire began to crumble because of its own internal divisiveness and Simon, brother of Judas, was able to expel the Seleucids. He was recognized as high priest of Judea in 140 B. C. E. So what had begun as a religious protest ended up as the basis for an independent kingdom – at last for a while. Martin Cohen took a new look at the events portrayed in the scriptures. He sees it as much as an internal fight among Jews as a revolt against foreign rule. He states (page 26) that Antiochus believed that no Jewish group was capable of holding the peace. He had trouble elsewhere and this is why he came down hard, turning Jerusalem into a fortress and he also removed the power of the Jewish constitution. This turned many into revolutionaries. If they had no Jewish law how could they be Jewish? Cohen describes how the revolt has often been viewed as a class struggle between the Hellenistic rulers and the ordinary people, despite the fact that there seems to have been grass roots support of Hellenisation. The Maccabees were not just non Hellenistic however, they were totally anti – Hellenistic, not just for themselves, but for Judaism as such. Cohen points out that the two accounts are both conflicting and inadequate and that the facts cited by Jewish historian Josephus don’t add a great deal to historic knowledge. He also describes how the Jewish Hellenistic aristocracy were very small in number. If they had not had popular support then the Selucid would have had to come down hard. Right from the beginning. The priests concerned are condemned in passages such as 2nd Maccabees 4 v 11 and 14. In the former passage they are accused of adding to the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch was scripture, but it was also the basis for all Jewish life. At the time of the revolution religion and politics, as far as the Jewish people were concerned were one and the same thing. But the Hellenistic Jews did not deny Judaism and the priests amongst them continued with their sacrificial roles, which they do not seem to have considered as being in opposition to their Hellenistic practices. Conclusion Whatever the truth of the matter regarding the origins of the revolt and wherever the true blame should lie, essentially this was about preserving Judaism as it had been for hundred of years and was about defining what is a Jew – an argument that can still be seen to be going on, even if sometimes in silence, in the differences to be observed daily in the 21st century between those who call themselves Orthodox Jews and others of the same faith and race, believers and otherwise. Works Cited Bible, King James, â€Å"2nd Maccabees†, Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia 12th May 2010, Libraryhttp://etext. virginia. edu/toc/modeng/public/Kjv2Mac. html Bible, Revised Standard Version, â€Å"Ist Maccabees†, National Council of Churches of Christ in America 12th May 2010, http://quod. lib. umich. edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx? type=DIV1&byte=4219672 Cohen Martin, â€Å"The Hasmonean Revolution Politically Considered: Outline of a New Interpretation,† The Journal of the Central Conference of American Rabbis , (Fall 1975 ): 13-34 Doran , Robert, â€Å"The Revolt of the Maccabees â€Å" The National Interest ( September –October 2006):99, 100 Josephus , â€Å"Antiquities of the Jews† , Book XII ,12th May 2010, http://www. ccel. org/j/josephus/works/ant-12. htm Josephus , â€Å"Antiquities of the Jews† , Book XIII 12th May 2010 http://www. ccel. org/j/josephus/works/ant-13. htm Morkholm, Otto,† Antiochus IV of Syria†, Classica et Mediaevalia Dissertationes VIII, Copenhagen. 1966

Pampers

The founders was James Gamble, a soap maker and William Procter, a candle maker and in Cincinnati in 1837. It is the producer of various everyday household goods. It is a key market leader within the consumer 140 countries, produces over 300 brands and has loyal customers worldwide. Company three business units: beauty (33%), health and well-being (21%), household care (46%). P&G delivers its goods to drug stores, mass merchandisers, membership club stores and grocery stores. Pampers† this is one of the most famous revolutionary products of the Procter and Gamble, founded by Victor Mills. Pampers was especially build to meet the mothers need in innovative product on the market which will lighten the wash of the cloth papers and also leakage of them. This product came in the late sass's. Procter & Gambles development of the diaper changed the diapering habits of consumers worldwide. Consumers moved from purchasing the cloth diapers to disposable diaper, which is better to childr en's skin, convenient to store, and has a good price comparing with cloth diapers.The company's specialists developed an exceptional three-piece construction to take up the wetness, allocate it consistently and transmit fluid to the leaky core without passing it recessively to the skin. Procter and Gamble revived more than Just convenience ease and comfort for consumers. Pampers brought health benefits to babies who use Pampers. Clinical studies have shown that children who use Pampers have drier skin, and less frequent and less severe diaper skin complaint than those who use cloth diapers.P diapers are now distributed to more than 80 countries worldwide, with this representing a major contributor to Procter and Gamble world profits. (P, n. D. ) 1. 2 Core customer issues The disposable diapers market is a very profitable. In ELK, there are about seven endured and fifty thousand births for each year and the diapers are usually worn for three years. It is represents a relatively short customer lifetime for Pampers. The arrival of the Huggins challenges Pampers' dominance of the traditional disposable diaper market in 1991.Huggins had earned 17% of the market by 1997 and it is reaching 30% in year 2000. Huggins continued to take share through a combination of competitive pricing and product innovation. One of the strengths of Huggins was promoted aggressively using their Mother and Baby Club and television. Huggins loud be the market leader in the fall of 2001 which is showed in growth pattern projections. Many mothers think that Huggins was the leader of market. When they interviewed, there was many discussion about latest news of Huggins.It reflects the growing strength of the Huggins brand. Trend analysis and consumer research found that there are two key trends affecting Pampers' impact on the marketplace. The most up-to-date information from friends, the Internet or print replaces the way of UK mums in the way of making decisions and traditional reliance on advice from health professionals and parents. Pampers are forced by the proliferation of information channels to find out a new way to reduce the background noise to reach potential customers. DIM, 2012) To build sales and maintain customer loyalty by rewarding the consumer for purchasing their products, the customer loyalty programs are introduced by Pampers which include free samples, sweepstakes, sales promotions of coupons and rewards. Pampers uses direct marketing strategies to maintain customer loyalty once a consumer becomes a Pampers member. The strategies include sending pamphlets and brochures with important information about each development stage as the nonusers child grows while promoting their products that fit each particular stage.While educating the consumer with valuable information pertaining to their growing child, Pampers is doing a great Job at promoting its products. Parents are offered the opportunity to share their baby's pictures with the whole social field by Pampers. It is showing marketers that being where your customers are the first step in toddling towards success in its â€Å"Love, Sleep and Play' campaign. It is launched in July 1 and runs until August 6 in year 2013. This campaign encourages moms and dads living in North America to upload pictures of their babies loving, playing and sleeping to the brand's Faceable page.Then, Pampers will display the selected images on Twitter, the online gallery pages and Faceable. The communication manager of North America for Pampers, Mary Woods says social is a natural environment for the brand's customers because it's where they already converse with other parents, as well as with the brand. She also says Pampers collected more than 20,000 photo submissions in less than three weeks of the campaign's launch. (Else Duper, 2013) 3. 0 Role of direct mail in relation to other channel . Direr mail Pampers direct mail package come with a variety of shapes and sizes, making it become one of the most flexible direct marketing media. An envelope, a brochure, a letter and a response device are included in a standard direct mail package. It is to motivate the recipient to open the standard direct mail package. The envelope must differentiate itself from other mail by its size, appearance and any copy that might be written on it regardless of the volume of mail a person receives. It provides the opportunity to directly address the interests and concerns of the recipient.The benefits of the detailed offer are usually clarified by the letter. Recipients are able to illustrate about the benefits of the offer from the brochure in letter. Illustrated brochures are used to sell services as well as products. The letter must include Response rates are generally higher when it is separated from the letter or brochure. Recipient can respond via telephone, toll-free numbers are always prominently displayed. The right timing, the right offer, the right person and the right format are fact ors in a successful direct marketing and it can be examined in direct mail.Mailers can run a test mailing to determine the response from a list before â€Å"rolling out,† or mailing the entire list by using computer technologies which can select a randomized name sample from any list. Direct mail provides the most cost-effective way of achieving the highest possible response in relation to the other direct marketing media. Telemarketing is much highest cost per response but it typically produces a higher response rate. 3. 2 Role of direct mail has changed since the arise of the Internet The role of direct mail has changed since the rise of the internet cause it slow, expensive and time consuming.There are new technologies which are CRY codes in nowadays. It allows a customer to be taken from the printed piece to a web location by using a mobile smart device equipped with a camera and an internet connection. The marketer benefits from the physical attributes of printed mail wh ile leveraging the power of online experiences for reinforcement of the message, persuasion, and better conversion with this technology. 3. 3 Role of TV (Interactive television) Pampers use interactive television (TV) as communication strategy.Through the internet, interactive television combines the emotive strength of TV advertising with the depth and personalization available. It is the preferred interactive device in the home for nowadays and in the future. When the viewers are registered to receive a newsletter, data will be captured. The newsletter can be emailed to personal computer or television. Chance to see themselves and their babies on TV in the baby gallery or in the video area talking about baby development issues: ‘real babies, real mums, real tips' are provided to parents.It also offers consumers the opportunity to sit a frequently asked questions area and to give feedback. 3. 4 Role of Internet Procter & Gambles Pampers are good consumers struggle to establis h and maintain differentiation from other disposable diaper brands percent. It is established to increase in a variety of ways, such as Pampers website (wry. Pampers. Com) basic product via an Internet site. Pampers Perks loyalty program which consumers have to collect points from Pampers diapers and wipes purchase and exchange them for the Sesame Street and Fisher-Price toys.Recently the customers are provided a chance to in a Chrysler minivan filled with diapers through Pampers Fantastic Sweepstakes. There is a convenient way to send a supply of Pampers such as Fisher-Price toy to a friend are provided in Pampers Gifts Packs. Pampers Parenting Institute provides advice from experts in child care, health and development through Parent Pages and it delivered by e-mail and customized to each stage of life from the third trimester through age four. The purpose of Pampers Parenting Institute as a public service campaign is to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome visible driv er.Pampers is the second most popular baby care sites on the web with hundred million unique visitors per month because of the Pampers Parenting Institute. According to Advertising Age, consumers visiting the Pampers website are 30% more likely to buy effective. It provide unified communications which integrates e-mail, data transmission, instant messaging, voice transmission and electronic conferencing services. Web conferencing with Live Meeting, Microsoft Live Communications Server functionality and content management with Sharpening is the other services that included.Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office Sharpening Server support multiple users with meeting schedules, shared calendars and mailboxes and Sharpening lists. Through offering support for customers, Customer Relationship Marketing provides competitive advantage to organization on a continuous basis while focusing on every customer's wants and needs ensuring that these are satisfied in the best way (Hut and Sped, 2004 ). This strategy are successfully reduces the amount of cost that have to spend to seek new customers and gained the loyalty from customers (Hut and Sped, 2004).It shows the significance of managing the CRM and ensuring that all employees are well-equipped with knowledge of how to cope with any problems or complaints and how to treat customers that might happen from being involved directly with the customers (Taylor, 2007). Finally, Pampers has been successful in positioning its brand. They are consistent with their message and their consumers are well informed about their products. Pampers is successfully promoting its products while educating individuals about the developmental stages from newborns to toddlers.Of course, there is always room for improvements. Extending the product line to include bath products is one recommendation. Some examples could include Pampers shampoos, soaps, lotions, and oils. Pampers could promote their product by including coupons within or on their pa ckaging. This encourages customer loyalty by rewarding the consumer with extra savings. Maybe Pampers could come up with reward points by issuing membership cards and each time used they earn points that add up to Pamper dollars and then redeemed when purchasing any Pampers products.

Reflection on Humanities Essay

Art is very important in our lives. It constitutes one of the oldest form and most important means of expression developed by man. It is a language, which is charged with feelings and significance that has sprung up among men living together. For this, I am very glad to experience the beauty of arts, to meet arts within my body and soul. The teaching of the humanities is intended to make us students realize that the mere possession of knowledge is useless unless put to useful ends. Moreover, we would become aware that knowledge alone is meaningless unless it is accompanied by values, sentiments, priorities, insights, inter-relationships and other transcendent realities not subject to empirical proofs also form part of the person’s education. In the humanities, we, students are exposed to these, thus, the development of the whole person, which is the goal of humanities. The humanities are the stories, the ideas, and the words that help us make sense of our lives and our world. The humanities introduce us to people we have never met, places we have never visited, and ideas that may have never crossed our minds. By showing how others have lived and thought about life, the humanities help us decide what is important in our own lives and what we can do to make them better. By connecting us with other people, they point the way to answers about what is right or wrong, or what is true to our heritage and our history. The humanities help us address the challenges we face together in our families, our communities, and as a nation. I am blessed to have met Mr. Apas. I knew and realized the glaring importance and beauty of what he always tell us regarding culture and art in our humanities class. But I pray the effort for each of us to grasp at what he was aiming, might at the very least bring us to a better understanding of arts and culture.

Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Khan Pathan (born 17 November 1982 in Baroda) is an Indian cricketer. Pathan made his debut in first-class cricket in 2001/02. He is a powerful and aggressive right-handed batsman and a right-arm offbreak bowler. His half-brother Irfan Pathan is also an Indian cricketer. Though younger than Yusuf, it was Irfan who entered the Indian team first. Following his impressive performances in the 2007 Deodhar Trophy and the Inter-state domestic Twenty20 competition held in April 2007, Pathan was made a part of the Indian squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship, held in South Africa in September 2007.He made his Twenty20 international debut in the final against Pakistan. He opened the batting for India in the match, and scored 15 runs in the process. [1] After a good domestic season in 2007/08, he was signed by the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League for USD 475,000 (INR 1. 9 crore). In the 2008 IPL season, he scored 435 runs and took 8 wickets. He recorded the sea son's fastest half century (from 21 balls) against the Deccan Chargers, and was also the Man of the Match in the final against the Chennai Super Kings.Following his good showing in the IPL, he was selected for the Indian one-day team. After the IPL though he played all the games in the Kitply Cup and Asia Cup he got to bat only four times. He couldn't perform very well with the bat and the ball in the Asia Cup and in the Kitply Cup and so he wasn't selected for the Series. against Sri Lanka. He performed well in domestic circuit and impressed the selectors and was selected for the England ODI series in November. He scored a fifty off just 29 balls in the second ODI against England in Indore, on his 26th birthday. [2].Yusuf had made his One-Day International debut for India against Pakistan at Dhaka on 10 June 2008. He became a regular feature of the national One-Day International team, but has yet to make his test debut [3]. Even though Pathan could not repeat his first IPL performa nce in the second season, he was selected in the Indian team to play the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 championships in England. In the second of the Super 8 matches of India, he made an unbeaten 33 from 17 balls against England, despite his team losing the game and crashing out of the tournament before the semi-finals.In late-2009, Pathan was dropped from the limited overs team after a series of unproductive performances and the allrounder's position was taken over by Ravindra Jadeja. In the final of the 2010 Duleep Trophy cricket tournament, Pathan scored a hundred in the first innings and a double hundred in the second and led his team West Zone to a three wicket win over South Zone. Pathan made 108 in the first innings and an unbeaten 210 from 190 balls in the second innings. This became a world record in cricket for the highest successful run chase in first class cricket history. 4] On 13 March 2010, Pathan scored a century off 37 balls, in an Indian Premier League match against Mumb ai Indians. The innings also included record 11 consecutive hits to the boundary (6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4). On 7th December 2010 Y Pathan scored his maiden century against New Zealand in the 4th ODI at Chinnaswamy stadium Bangalore,he scored 123 runs off 97 balls with 7 sixes and 7 fours and he named match of the match award. At the award distribution ceremony he stated that â€Å"this knock will boost my career†. [citation needed]

The native american problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The native american problem - Essay Example The Native American has been ridiculed through stereotypes like dirty and savage. For instance, there have been programs aimed that forcing the red Indians from the ancestral lands that they held with high regard for serving cultural and traditional purposes. Many factors contributed to the Native American problem amidst challenges facing the native occupants like poor health, fewer job opportunities, and housing problems among others. The Spanish Native Americans have also been a subject of the Native American problem. Christopher Columbus conquered the natives who were living on Santo Domingo and was also the discoverer of New World which according the natives, was the world they lived (Templeton 1). Christopher Columbus is thus the pioneer to current Native American problem since he kidnaped some Spaniards in the Santo Domingo and took them back with him to Spain. However, the destruction of the colony and killing of the Tainos shows how the rest of perceived the natives of low regards. In this case, the Spanish had oppressed and enslaved the Native Americans in their ancestral lands. History holds that discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus led to killings of many Native Americans, since they wanted the tribes wiped out (Templeton 1). History holds that the French were a bit lenient to the Native Americans since they ensured that there existed a mutual relationship with tribes. The French had come to America mainly to trade in fur, an activity that was common with the natives. The movie Black Robe shows the good relationship between French and the Native Americans where the French tried to convert red Indians to Catholicism (Templeton 1). The Indians were a bit smarter and the French presumed they were a valuable community. History holds that the English were major mixed reactions to the natives or the tribes in America, and they had less contact with the natives. In this case, the English had less to do with

Management consulting-To what extent is it realistic to expect Essay

Management consulting-To what extent is it realistic to expect consultancies to act ethically - Essay Example Consulting is defined as a practice that involves use of multiple talents and expertise to help solve issues in organizations. In the present business environment business consultants have a very important role that provides them with a good influential position in an organization. This has given rise to many ethical aspects that have emerged after a series of frauds that have come to light recently over the few years (Wang, 2008, p.56). The recent case of Mr. Rajat Gupta involved in a series of corporate frauds and unethical practices illustrates the aspect of unethical practices being used by consultants worldwide. The famous and influential consultant who happened to be the managing director of Mc Kinsey and Co illegally and unethically started a parallel consultancy that had his family members in the top management. Mr. Gupta reportedly indulged in unethical practices like leaking sensitive information and insider trading to get unexercised options worth 1.3 million dollars from GE’s subsidiary arm Genpact (Monadnock Research, 2011). It has also been reported that it is the middle management persons that are most often involved in cases of frauds and unethical practices in business organizations (Monadnock Research-a, 2011). ... In the age of capitalism it has often been stated that consultants and consultancies largely act as certifying agents. The auditors largely acted as an assurance agent for external investors and general public towards the aspect of ethicality and trustworthiness of the business organizations. This aspect in itself has given considerable powers and high status to the consultants who normally act as auditors for business organizations (Sikka, 2009, p.3). With the passage of time since the industrial revelation the world has seen many reforms that also include better surveillance and control by the regulatory authorities on public organizations as well as the financial institutions like banks and stock markets. The growth of business organizations was also followed by a commensurate growth in the consultancy industry. However the aspect of regulations and monitoring was completely absent for this sector that has perhaps led to the growth of unethical practices in the industry (Mahoney, 2011, p.5). The aspect of unethical aspect in the consulting industry has been often traced to the aspect of individualism in the industry. It is a common practice in the consulting industry to make individual consultants accountable for their activities that also includes the aspect of providing accolades for their performances. This has been identified as one of the major reasons for the growing influence of the consultants that in turn has given rise to unethical practise in the industry. This aspect of unethical means has also led to the growth of a popular feeling with regards to the trustworthiness of the consultants with regards to their practices in the industry (Mahoney, 2011, p.3). The trustworthy perception of

Introduction Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Introduction Speech - Essay Example Ronaldo was so influential that he helped his country, Brazil, lift the 2002 world cup. Brazil won 2 nil against Germany. The two goals were entirely scored by Ronaldo. Though he is now retired, Ronaldo, remains a football legend who greatly influenced my liking of the beautiful game and ever since then I have never looked back. I have been an ardent admirer and follower of mainstream teams as well as clubs, especially the English Premier League. I will briefly talk about soccer in the US which is governed by the US Soccer Federation, popularly referred to as US Soccer. This is the organization that is charged with the governing of soccer at all levels in the country; professional leagues, national teams as well as the amateur game. Soccer is the 3rd most played team (behind only basketball and baseball/softball) sport in the US having more than 13 million Americans playing it. Soccer popularity has been rising since the 60s and 70s and especially got a considerable boost when the US played host to the 1994 World Cup. Wangerin in his book; Soccer in a Football World, claims that the term football in the US refers to the sport of American football with the sport of association of football being referred to as â€Å"soccer† (Wangerin, 2006). In the US the highest professional soccer league is the Major League Soccer (MLS) which is an equivalent of the English Premier League.MLS started playing with 10 teams in 1996 and has grown to the current 20 teams (17 in the US and 3 in Canada) with more expansion in the pipeline. The MLS begins in March and runs up to December, with the overall season winner being awarded the Supporters’ Shield. The post-season winner gets the MLS Cup. Having an average attendance of more than 18,000 for every game, MLS has the highest average turn out of any sports league in the US. It is also the 7th attended professional soccer league in the world. In conclusion,

The Motorcycle Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Motorcycle Company - Essay Example It is expected that the proposed budget will bring success for the company and will increase its market share tremendously. However, success of this project entirely depends upon the planning and implementation process, the concept and project of developing new and large motors for heavy vehicle is quite challenging because company is operating in an industry that is characterized by the production of small motors. Given below is the detailed analysis of procedures with the help of which we are going to achieve our goals. No2 Type of Required Staff Staffing is a function of Human Resources which incorporates the proper management of the workforce of an organization. Staffing involves all the steps required to create an efficient workforce for an organization and to maintain the efficiency of that workforce. Staffing incorporates all the functions of a human resource department from recruitment and hiring to evaluation, promotion and layoffs. Effective staffing is very important for t he growth and success of an organization (Ranne, 2011). It helps an organization get the best employees for all of its departments and this ensures higher productivity and better performance. Individuals of different technical and non-technical backgrounds were assigned to the pilot project team on either a full or part-time basis. Also, managers from both production and business departments were included to coordinate the effort and provide inputs to the project team. Each participant belonged to one or more of the five entities defined for the project: planning board, project board, project team, key stakeholders and key resources (see Fig. 1). The staffing will be based on the internal guidelines of the company for the production of new motors. Fig. 1: Project organization View Within Article The planning board will be responsible for the high-level effort and its strategic alignment with business processes. It will compose of an End-user designing and execution committee (EDEC), a planning manager, and the chief information officer (CIO) as its chair. EDEC provided related feedbacks on DWG from a business-user perspective. The project board will be responsible for overall practical planning, coordination, and evaluation of the project, with close cooperation from business customers in functional departments. Business customers were responsible for the validation of new motor models and follow-up on modeling issues specific to business requirements. The board consisted of a planning manager as the project sponsor and liaison between the boards, a technical representative, and three representatives from customer departments. Since business units of the company were organized according to three customer levels (individual, group, and corporate), one representative from each customer level participated in the project board. According to the internal guidelines, key stakeholders should be people whose departments will be affected by the implementation of large motors. In this project, however, because of the crucial importance of stakeholders’ role, they were directly involved in the planning and project boards. No3 Team building Strategies Team building is an important and crucial part

The Responsible Parties for Samuel's Death Research Paper

The Responsible Parties for Samuel's Death - Research Paper Example The elders, who passed them by, disapproved of their actions but did nothing about it. According to the first element that was responsible for Sam’s death, the lady felt too embarrassed to warn the boys of the impending danger. The lady wanted to caution them to be careful but for fear of embarrassment that they might laugh at her she said nothing. Her embarrassment is one of the chief elements that were responsible for Samuel’s death because if she had acted immediately she could have averted a tragedy. All she did was to say -â€Å"You boys will be hurt. You will be 1 killed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Paley 356). According to Paley (355) the woman was more concerned about herself and her embarrassment, than the boys. â€Å"She wasn't afraid they'd hit her, but she was afraid of embarrassment.† Regarding the second element that was responsible for Samuel’s death, the man had pulled the emergency brake with the idea of safety in his mind. However, according to the ex planation given in the story, the actions of the man could either be morally right or wrong. Never at any point did he realize what the outcome of his actions would be.

Forensic Science(Subject) Study of Forensic Collection and Analysis of Research Paper

Forensic Science(Subject) Study of Forensic Collection and Analysis of Crime Scenes - Research Paper Example Physical evidence originates from objects or rather non-living things while biological evidence is obtained from living things (Enotes.com., 2011). Examples of biological evidence include: DNA and blood stains while physical evidence include: tire marks, footprints, paint, building materials, fibers and fingerprints. According to the Locard’s exchange, evidence is usually found at the crime scene simply because the perpetrator must always leave something behind due to contact with objects and even the victim. It should also be noted that the perpetrator is also very likely to take something away from the crime scene that will be found on him. Crime scene investigation takes place at the crime scene while forensic science happens in the laboratory. This paper highlights on the analysis, evaluation and synthesis of a crime scene in relation to an investigation. Jackson and Julie (2004) reveal that this stage takes place at the scene of the crime. The Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) is expected to take his or her time to understand the logistics of the crime. This stage entails the determination of a systematic approach that will be used to find and collect the evidence. The CSI defines the exact extent of the crime scene followed by securing the core area by placing a physical barrier. The barriers could be in the form of a scene tape, police cars, horses and even the police officers. A cone area can be defined as the most obvious area where most of the evidence can easily be traced (Jackson & Julie, 2004). The crime scene might be in a house or the even the entire neighborhood. The first chance to conduct a thorough search at the scene is very important. The next step is to obtain a search warrant from the District attorney. The CSI will be free to make an initial walk through from which he will take notes of details that are likely to change with time. These details include: time, weather, smell, sound,