Economics Government Regulation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economics Government Regulation - Research Paper Example Poor planning leads to loss of resources and in extreme levels to the collapse of the enterprise. Therefore, it is very crucial for organizations to make clear plans that would act as the blue print for the business (Baker & English, 2011; Singh, 2012). The price that a food processing company should charge for its commodities should range between the lowest price at which the company may not make profit at all, to the highest price that is likely to reduce demand of the products if charged. In such a case, a company should consider both the internal and the external factors in order to get the most appropriate price between these two extremes. Introduction of new products calls for adoption of a proper pricing strategy that would completely discourage competition from the new comers (other firms) and most importantly create the desired impact in the market (Kurtz, 2012). Penetration and skimming pricing strategies are some of the basic strategies that may be adopted to determine the right price of the commodity. Skimming pricing encompasses launching a product at a relatively high price and later on reducing it if necessary (Kurtz, 2012). This strategy spends a lot of money in product promotion, and is recommended mostly when the demand of the product is not predictable. The strategy is common especially if the company had spent large sums of money on research, when promotion is likely to expend a lot of money due to the competition, and when the commodity is very innovative in a way that the market is likely to mature gradually. Skimming strategy has numerous advantages such as ensuring that the elasticity of the products price is low as well as ensuring that minimal cross elasticity of demand exists in case there exist products that are close substitutes. This helps the product in making a vital inroad into the market

Calypso or Circe Essay Example for Free

Calypso or Circe Essay Nausicaa is the first normal woman Odysseus sees in nearly twenty years, the last of whom being the women from Ismarus, the city he sacks directly after leaving Troy, and understandably he is very weary of her. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he treats her with the utmost respect and keeps his distance from her, both physically and emotionally. He admires her beauty, respects her decisions and listens to her like an equal, despite her age and sex, which shows respect, although not necessarily feelings. Despite his lack of show of affection towards her, he is kind and shows his appreciation for her saving him from death I do indeed pray to Zeus to let me reach my home If he does, then I will pray you as a divinity all the rest of my days. For it was you lady, who gave me back my life. showing how he does indeed respect what she has done for him, and is grateful towards her. After Odysseus leaves Nausicaa in the town, Homer does not mention her anymore but for their goodbyes, despite the fact they are staying under the same roof. This indicates Odysseuss lack of interest in Nausicaas comings and goings. When Odysseus begins to explain his adventures to Alcinous, in particular he mentions Calypso and Circe, and how he never had any affection for them The divine Calypso was certainly for keeping me in her cavern home because she yearned for me to be her husband and with me the same object Circe. but never for a moment did they win my heart. Here Odysseus states in his own words that he was never won over by either, and although he may have found pleasure in staying with them, it could never compare with the pleasure of seeing his wife again; any feelings he had towards Calypso or Circe were not genuine or heart-felt. Similarly to Calypso, Circe is first seen as singing with her beautiful voice and weaving one of those delicate, graceful and dazzling fabrics that goddesses make, and the temptation to stay with her (as he then does with Calypso) would have been immense. Hermes warns her that she will invite you to her bed. You must not refuse if you want her to free your men and look after you. The fact that Odysseus obeys this shows the extent of what he would do to free his men and return home; going to bed with Circe would have been merely another obstacle for him on his journey home, his feelings towards her being limited. Although he describes the comfortable heat and the way all the painful weariness was gone from his limbs, his thoughts were elsewhere and mind was full of forebodings showing how he cannot feel content without knowing his crew is safe and his chances for ever reaching home are still tangible. In addition, the way in which he prioritises Circes actions towards him and his crew is also relevant, seeing as it is Odysseus recounting the story to Alcinous. He first says Circe graciously bathed the members of my party in her palace and rubbed them with olive-oil. She gave them tunics and warm cloaks, showing how to him, the women he encounters are mostly beneficial to him for the reason that they give him and his crew shelter, food and drink, and there is no implication of any feeling towards them. They stay on the island for a year, and by the end the crew are frustrated What possesses you to stay on here? Its time you thought of Ithaca. It is only when Ithaca is mentioned that Odysseus is persuaded to leave my proud heart was convinced; if he did have any feelings towards Circe, he would have stayed, or at least contemplated staying for a little longer. Overall I consider that Odysseus does not care about these women. He loves his wife dearly [Penelope] is never out of your thoughts- and is happy to leave every island he sets foot upon if he thinks he is heading for home. Circe does seem to hold a certain place in Odysseus heart, because she is the one he stays with voluntarily and has to be persuaded to leave, but Odysseus leaves the others without a backward glance with a happy heart in fact, in the case of Calypso. Odysseuss affection and respect for Nausicaa seems to be purely polite and possibly only to suit his own means, or at the most brotherly- he wants the best for her. As for Arete, Odysseus never had affectionate feelings for her. He needs her support to get home, and this is the only reason he shows respect for her, except perhaps because she is a wise woman. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus longs for his homeland, and is unable to feel much but grief at his prolonged absence.

Asphyxiation Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

Asphyxiation The Vancouver Sun later confirmed the events of that night: two hikers found two dead bodies at Camper Creek on the West Coast Trail on the sixth of May 1998. The article didn’t say who the hikers were, nor did it say who the dead Native Americans were, for what would the world do with those four meaningless names? None of the four was famous, beautiful, or rich: just normal people drawn together on one particular night. The encounter was determined by two simple factors: the speed of the hikers along the soggy trail and the speed of leaking gas that asphyxiated two men in a patrol cabin. The hikers never knew the two indigenous people, except for what they wore that night, what booze they drank, and what side they slept on. And those simple details were just enough to make the dead bodies Human: capable of joking, singing, fighting, and eating. So the sudden termination of these lives confused the hikers, for they weren’t sure what they should feel about the death of two strangers. The hikers stared and stared at the bodies, perhaps feeling sadness for the friends, parents, and lovers of these men, but feeling only emptiness for the men themselves. They were just two more anonymous faces, frozen in their final dreams and nothing more than dead. I. Dididat Nations People have lived on Vancouver Island since the last ice age, when the Bering Strait froze and allowed human passage from Asia to North America. The Pacific Northwest tribes thrived for thousands of years in this rich ecosystem, where trees grow to such vast sizes that a hollow trunk may hold twenty people without much trouble. For thousands of years, the forest remained a bountiful network of life: moss and lichens crept over every tree... ...we found the bodies, yet the crashing blue-green water spins me into a reality that is worlds away from the sight of stiff men. I'm not sure if this is healing or forgetfulness; all I can be certain of is the bite of the water on my skin and the dropping sun. I stare at my hand under the surface of the water, fascinated by how far away it looks and by the deep blue color of my fingernails. That hand isn't a part of my body, how can it be, it is deep in the water, opening and closing experimentally as water crashes on top of it. I want to leave it there, forever feeling the numbing water, forever fighting the currents that would wash it out to the Pacific Ocean. But then my arm moves, lifts my hand, and I realize it is mine, as are my legs and toes and wet matted hair. And the water keeps falling, pounding, rushing and I just stand there, staring, watching, waiting.

Ishmael, the Sacrifice of Abraham :: Islam History Religion Religious Papers

Ishmael, the Sacrifice of Abraham Introduction The tragedy of strained relations between Islamic and Judeo-Christian countries is a part of everyday life. One need only pick up a newspaper or check the news story of the day via television, radio, or internet to learn of the latest violent attack by a suicide bomber or military retaliation on such an attack. The terrorist attacks have been perpetrated by countries that are predominantly Islamic with the counter attacks coming from a well-armed Israel, supported by US arms sales as well as US silence. Arecent CNN talk show byline queried, â€Å"Are we at war with Islam?† One does sometimes wonder. Israel has long held a policy of counter attack to deal with terrorists harbored by governments of neighboring countries. Following 9/11, the United States government adopted this policy. As part of this new policy the US military went after terrorists in Afghanistan and destroyed the country’s infrastructure as well as innocent civilians in the process. In early 2003, Iraq was attacked for the same reasons, with the same resulting damage. Terrorism directed against Iraqis and Coalition forces as well as military retaliation by Coalition forces continues to make the headlines in occupied Iraq. The cycle of violence continues. To say the cause of political friction in the Middle East is due to religious differences is too simplistic as well as unduly inflammatory. Other things come into play, such as protection of US interests involving energy production, and even control of the water supply by Israel and its neighboring countries. However, to say the violence has nothing to do with religious differences denies the past 4,000 years of history. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, three of the world’s great religions, have their roots as well their â€Å"holiest places† in the Middle East. All three religions revere Abraham as a common ancestor. Yet all three have had bloody interchanges throughout history. How and why did Abraham’s children become such a dysfunctional family? Where is God in this â€Å"family feud?† Finding answers to these theological questions that could help provide a peaceful future are important for all. Conflicts surrounding this â€Å"family of God† involve more people and places than were involved even 50 years ago. For example, currently there are more Muslims living in the United States than Methodists (Geisler and Saleeb, 2001).1 The Story of Ishmael One must wonder what event or events provided such fertile ground for violence and bad feelings to thrive?

Solutions to Case the Harvard Management Company

The Harvard Management Company (2001) Case You will design an excel spreadsheet that allows you to answer the following questions: i) Given figures in Exhibits 4 and 11 what is the expected return and volatility of the policy portfolio? ii) Find an efficient portfolio having the same expected return as the policy portfolio but lower volatility. iii) Find an efficient portfolio having the same volatility as the policy portfolio but higher expected return. iv) Repeat question ii using the constraints in Exhibit 13. ) Repeat question iii using the constraints in Exhibit 13. vi) Consider the following seven asset classes: Domestic Equity, Foreign Equity, Emerging Markets, Private Equity, Commodities, Inflation-Indexed Bonds, and Cash. Using HMC’s input assumptions (see Exhibit 11, and also using the constraints shown on Page 22, Exhibit 12), what would be the allocation across these seven security classes if HMC was looking for optimal portfolios that would have expected real retu rns of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8%.For each of these cases, also show the resulting standard deviation of the portfolio, and the Sharpe (efficiency) ratio (see footnote a in Exhibit 12). vii) Redo part (vi) but now constrain the minimum and maximum weights on the seven different asset classes using the constraints shown in Exhibit 13. It may not be possible to achieve some of the expected real returns you were getting earlier. If that is the case, use five expected real return levels that you can attain. iii) Compare the investment opportunities implied by part (vi) to those in part (vii). ix) Explain the pros of the mean variance paradigm. x) Explain the cons. I will describe how to perform portfolio optimization in class. Excel is equipped with an optimizer (Solver) that requires you to specify what you are trying to maximize or minimize, the variables (weights) that may be adjusted in order to maximize portfolio efficiency, and the constraints imposed on those variables.The Harvard Manage ment Company (2010) Case & Harvard Management Company Endowment Report (Sep 2009) xi) Policy portfolio reflects Harvard Management Company's asset allocation strategy. Compare Exhibit 4 of the 2001 case with that of the 2010 case: describe how the policy portfolio has changed before and after the 2008 financial crisis. xii) What do you think are the reasons for the Harvard Management Company to make the above adjustments in asset allocation choices?

Stereotypes Essay Example

Stereotypes Essay Example Stereotypes Essay Stereotypes Essay In todays’ society it seems as though everyone is placed into a stereotype that has been developed of every race and how everyone within that race acts/or is. Stereotyping is an issue that affects all races and gender. If someone were to ask what is a women supposed to do when they grow up, is the typical response still to get married, be a stay at home wife and mother, while the father figure of the family goes to work to support the family? What about the women who don’t want to stay at home, the women who want to go and have a career? Stereotypes are present in everyday life, placing the idea that you are only allowed to do what is described in that stereotype. Women are not only affected by what a typical women should do stereotype, but as well as race stereotypes or stereotypes that are based on characteristics that are attained. Women are slowly, but surely starting to change the typically stereotype of them along with proving that they are more than just this object they are looked at as. Stereotypes are present in our lives from when we are a young age. Children’s’ television shows are just as guilty of this problem as regular television shows are. Dora the Explorer, for example, that teaches Spanish to children. But, the main character Dora is of course Hispanic, giving the impression that Hispanic people always speak Spanish to young children who have not been exposed to the multicultural world that America is because they simply wouldn’t be able to comprehend the idea. These stereotypes are even present while going through school being taught that there are different cliques and that you can only fit into one certain clique, like a jock, a nerd, or the dumb cheerleader. There cliques are revealed in multiple shows that attract teenagers. Not only is television responsible for teaching children these stereotypes from a young age, there also are the internet and magazines that contribute to this problem. Technology is not the only thing to blame; there is also influence by who you grow up around. You are not fully able to make your own decisions or opinions about certain things until you are an adult. The background of your childhood and who you grow up around greatly influence your opinions. Stereotyping only continues in television shows and movies that attractive adults. Examine a typical television sitcom, what role are the women characters playing? For example, in the television show, The Big Band Theory, one of the main characters is an attractive blonde woman who seems to lack intelligence at times. Her best friends in the sitcom are two guys that would fit a nerd type role. It is as if the â€Å"nerds† are only friends with her because of her looks. Stereotypes evident in our lives since we are young, giving the idea that you fit into one of these stereotypes. Such as if you are blonde, then you must be dumb or if you are Asian you must be intelligent. The idea that characteristics you hold places you into a certain stereotype and along with that stereotype you must do the things that are associated with that stereotype. On the other hand, there are many television shows and movies that actually challenge traditional views of women. For example, in the movie Legally Blonde, a blonde white woman in her middle 20’s named Elle Woods depicts what one would think of as â€Å"dumb blonde†. She wears all pink, almost always, her hair and make-up is always perfect and has that high pitch â€Å"like oh my god† voice. But she surprises everyone when she goes to Harvard Law School to become a lawyer; even the professors and fellow collages at the college doubt her. In the end, she prevails and surprises everyone with her knowledge. Elle Woods would be a perfect image of â€Å"girl power†. The thought that yes women can are smart enough to accomplish their dreams that not only men can go to college, get a degree, and become a high paid profession like a doctor or lawyer. There are tons of other movies and television shows that depict women the same way as Legally Blonde, so does that imply that women can eventually break these stereotypes that have been placed upon them? Many women do just what these movies and television shows depict women doing. More women go to college to earn degrees and obtain a high paying job. There are women that are doctors, surgeons, and the head CEO’s of companies in todays’ society. These women are the bosses of many other women, but more importantly men. These are prime examples that women are not just staying home taking care of the children in todays’ society, they are going to a well-paying job every day then coming home to do other responsibilities. Women as a whole are breaking these traditional stereotypes that haunt us all. But, the main question behind the problem of stereotyping is who is coming up with these stereotypes? It is not physically possible to classify multiple people into the same group, simply because everyone is an individual and is completely different from anyone else. Stereotypes are politically incorrect because of these facts. For example, the stereotype that all black people like fried chicken and watermelon. It is nearly impossible that every African American in the world likes these types of food; there is at least one that does not, therefore proving the stereotype invalid. But, we still use these stereotypes every day without even thinking about doing it and by doing these you are in return neglecting the fact that everyone is an individual. In order to stop stereotyping these types of issues must be looked at. While all stereotyping can be considered negative or hurtful depending on what is said. There is a difference between stereotyping and making an observation, as stated before stereotyping would be saying something like all African American people like fried chicken, while on the other hand saying something like there are many Asians at the Science and Engineering library on campus would be considered an observation. By saying an observation, it wouldn’t be considered a stereotyping because the observation is seen with that persons’ eyes therefore in their eyes it would be considered true. Alternatively, stereotyping is stating something that can’t be proven true and also usually possess some kind of hatred or hurtful feelings behind the statement. I believe that many people often get these two ideas mixed up with each other, causing further confusion and more hatred towards certain groups of people. Stereotyping is clearly a large problem in todays’ society. First, the problem needs to be addressed on where it starts, which is often at a young age. The surroundings in which you grow up influence your opinions and ideas as your mind develops which is often the beginning of this problem. This problem develops further with todays’ technology such as television, movies, the internet, and social networks. Technology is a large part of the stereotyping problem by continuing to show how women should act and be, but it also challenges the problem as well. In order to stop stereotyping, women need to continue to make advances in the world to prove that we are not just an object that stays at home and cleans. Women holding high paying jobs and taking care of themselves without any help is becoming a more common idea. I believe women are starting to change the common stereotype of them and with these advances the idea of stereotyping can start to come to an end but only with the help of everyone in todays’ society.

Information Retrieval Methods

Information Retrieval Methods Introduction The people attic trust is a complex storage and retrieval project featuring widely varying forms of media spanning several decades’ worth of information embedded in different forms of technological media.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Information Retrieval Methods specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some of them feature single modes of data storage while some contain many forms of media. Some of it is text, while a lot of it falls under the multimedia category. The challenge of organising it into retrievable formats and subsequently availing the information to a wide audience through an Information Retrieval mechanism is daunting. Fortunately, several tools already exist to tackle this kind of challenge. The primary goal of the project is to document the existence of the media, to describe them adequately and to make their future retrieval possible. This report focuses on the retrieval issues of t he project. It presents the range of options available for organising the retrieval system and, evaluates them, and finally recommends the most appropriate configuration for the system. Different types of IR systems Components of an Information Retrieval (IR) system An Information Retrieval system has four basic components. They are a database, a search mechanism, a language, and an interface to provide interaction between the user and the system. According to Chu (2005, p.15), databases â€Å"comprise information represented and organised in a certain manner†. In other words, a database is an organised storage system that allows for the searching of items in it using preset criteria. The search mechanism is the system that allows for the searching of the database for the retrieval of the information stored in it. The degrees of complexity of query methods applied vary depending on the technical capacity of the user accessing the database. The third component of an Informatio n Retrieval system is language, which can be either the â€Å"natural language or a controlled vocabulary† (Chu, 2005, p.16). Chu (2005, p.16) notes that, â€Å"information relies on language, spoken or written, when being processed, transferred, or communicated†. The final component of an Information Retrieval system is the user interface. This is the point of interaction between the user and the system. Its user friendliness will determine in many cases the propensity of users to apply it. More than anything else, it determines the usefulness and eventual success of an Information Retrieval system. Categorisation of items in attic Items in the attic are of various forms, which fall into four categories. There are text-based items, image based media, streamed media applications and multimedia applications. Text-based items use words as the basic mode of information storage. Text based media in this collection include poems, manuscripts for performance art, and newspap er clippings. Image based applications rely on picture elements to store information.Advertising Looking for report on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Each picture element, called a pixel, has a different identity describing its color and its intensity, which when collectively combined with other pixels, describes a given image. Image based applications in the collection include, photographic materials held in CD-ROMs and hard drives, and 35mm film negatives. Others are paintings and old maps. These will require digitisation if they will be retrieved from a computerized Information Retrieval system. Streamed media applications are those that have a time component, necessary for the correct interpretation of the data. Distorting the timeline distorts the information in them. Streamed media applications available in the collection include the audio recordings like the music and sound clips in .wav and .mp3 format. Speech and music on audio cassettes and vinyl records also exist in the collection. These forms will require digitisation if they are to be made available to a wide audience. Finally, multimedia applications use a combination of media to present information. In the collection, multimedia applications include video in digital format, and on tape, and the reels of film. Text Based Retrieval Systems A text-based retrieval system will aid the retrieval of the text-based media in the collection. Some of the media rely on analogue technologies, which complicate storage in the media storage available to the public, who are intended beneficiaries of the project. The text-based materials found in the collection will require digitisation. The key advantage of text-based retrieval is that the technology is mature, and hence enjoys a great degree of format standardisation. It presents fewer compatibility problems between different types of software. Where this problem arises, numerous options f or conversion exist to allow retrieval in a desired format. Its weakness lays in its use of letters and words as the basic data storage and retrieval unit. So far, many of the retrieval methods available for text retrieval do not take into account the semantic elements of a query. They rely on word match, and hence most search systems may not return relevant content based on their meaning, but will return content that closely matches the phrase used as search query. Advanced systems allow for contextual search, which employ thesauri to identify words with closely related meanings, thereby improving the semantic elements of a search. Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Information Retrieval Methods specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Figure 1: Multimedia information retrieval system architecture Multimedia Retrieval Systems On the other hand, multimedia retrieval systems use different means of identifying information that match a search query. A multimedia Information Retrieval system will comfortably handle search queries for image-based applications and for streamed media applications. Multimedia search queries employ elements usable for each of the image-based applications and streamed media applications. Multimedia Information Retrieval is still relatively young. It has many compatibility problems owing to the different formats used for presentation of media type of the same nature. For instance in the collection, there are .wav and .mp3 files, which are all audio formats. The reason for this is that there is greater functionality derived from each type of new format. The newer formats regularly lack backward compatibility. They main constraints that drive the use of different formats include maximisation of storage space, or preservation of media quality. However, the design of many media players for streamed media applications and for image-based applications takes into account these constrain ts. They regularly include capacity to handle different media types and a format inter-conversion facility. The crux remains having the latest version of a media player, which will be able to present the latest file formats. Requirements for an IR system Comparison of Requirements for Text Based IR Systems and Multimedia IR Systems Retrieval systems require a means to identify the information source, which a search mechanism can latch on to in order to identify the media from a database. This is about as far as the similarity between the two types of retrieval systems go. Text based Information Retrieval system rely on matching the text in the files to the search query in the database to identify a document, while multimedia Information Retrieval systems rely on a range of elements to identify relevant media carrying the required information. This includes text elements such as an assigned name for the media in the database. It is possible to search for a film from a database using the film name, on condition that the name is on the file carrying the film. Other locators for multimedia files include duration of media and file format of the media. These are useful in narrowing down a search query. Main Solutions Available to Designers of IR System The availability of searchable information from the attic trust is dependent on the digitisation of all records currently in the collection, and to some degree, the standardisation of formats to ease retrieval. There will be need to either type or by using scanning software, to digitise the text-based items in the collection. Typing will allow for a greater degree of freedom in the presentation of the information because it will make formatting possible to achieve the best possible output for users. It will however lead to a loss of authenticity since the items are antiques, and their appeal remains in appearing in their original format. For users seeking information for semantic purposes, reformatted presentation wil l meet their needs best because of better presentation.Advertising Looking for report on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Those who are seeking the information for sentimental purposes will best appreciate the original presentation. To retain the original look, a digitised image of the text will provide the best option. The quickest way to achieve this is through scanning without text recognition. This will actually transform the material into an ‘image’ presenting text, and not pictures. The implication is that text retrieval methods will not apply. Preservation of the rest of the information will also require digitisation. The most crucial factor is the format to use in the process. Conversion technologies from tape to digital data exist for both audio and video tapes. The storage of physical artifacts like the sculptures for mass presentation will require the taking digital pictures for storage in the database. Another option is the presentation of three-dimensional representations through animation of the photos, or making short films of the objects, which adds the possibility of addin g sound clips. Animation allows for greater user interaction while filming allows for the addition of details through voice, enriching the experience. Again, the format to apply depends on the nature of user. For the arts lover, an animated clip over which he can exercise control over the image to get desired views will be suitable. For the inquisitive semantic user, a video clip with a sound clip giving background information on the artifact will be ideal. As Jalal (2001, p.6) observes, â€Å"Speech can introduce, give summary, stimulate, and tell†. Audio data presents the fewest presentation challenges since the auditory experience does not vary much between users. Provided the data presentation takes on a widely accessible format, there should be no major technical challenges. Different Methods of Representation There are two key types of Information Retrieval systems. Belkin (n.d.) identifies them as, â€Å"retrospective or ad-hoc† and, the second type, â€Å"Info rmation filtering or routing†. Retrospective systems fulfill one time information needs which taper off after meeting the need. These include information from e-books, news articles, online magazines, or information websites. Information filtering includes those accessed regularly because they have high utility levels. These include websites with changing information such as weather patterns, stock prices and maps services. There are some key issues to consider when setting up the database based on the methods available for representation. The issue of what language to use across the database is critical. Two ways of approaching language exist. One of them is to use natural language of the users, which forms the basis for the search queries, while the second approach is to use a controlled vocabulary. If the trust adopts natural language for the Information Retrieval system, then users will have an easier time interacting with the database since they do not have to learn the c ontrolled vocabulary of the database. They will however be faced with ambiguity and irrelevance problems. If the trust adopts a controlled vocabulary, users will first have to learn the language after which they will have better results for their search queries. Tedd et al. (2005 p.39) stresses that, â€Å"it is necessary for users to have the requisite skills to obtain relevant information quickly and effectively†. There will be need to use indexing across the database. This involves assigning words or specific phrases to each item in the database. The trust may use descriptors of free indexing depending on whether the language adopted is the natural language of the users, or a controlled vocabulary. Categorisation will involve developing categories for all the items in the collection. Chu (2005) proposes that useful categories must be â€Å"exhaustive† (p.29) and â€Å"mutually exclusive† (p. 29). This means that all items in the collection must have an assign ed category and that no two categories should have an area of overlap. Techniques for summarisation improve the query function for text-based applications. It involves providing a user with brief information relating to a body of text. The techniques include the use of abstracts, summaries, or extracts. Abstracts provide the readers with a broad view of the text and can act as a substitute for the text. It only lacks in detail. A summary assumes that the reader will read the whole document so it excludes portions such as background, the methodology, and purpose. An extract on the other hand is an actual piece of the document, cut out to provide a snapshot of an actual portion of the document. Each of these methods has their advantages and their challenges and applies in different circumstances. Querying refers to the interrogation of a database using a language. Nordbotten (2008) says, â€Å"Query language will always provide specification of the selection criteria for the desired information for the remaining processes† in the information retrieval process. The key aspect for designing a query system is to determine the degree of semantic querying necessary for ideal user experience. Challenges include the management of synonyms, which might require processing of the query, hence reducing speed of the system, and increasing the design and management costs. A simplified query system that matches input to metadata and similar phrases provides large volumes of output giving the user a more difficult time in sifting through the data, which may compromise user experience. Use of metadata, can potentially improve search results as it expands the possible ways of accessing a document. Implications of Using IR systems The most appropriate system for the project will include two sections. One of them is preservation of the physical artifacts that contain the information that requires preservation in a museum. The second section is the development of a digital l ibrary or digital museum that will enable users from different parts of the world interested in the trust’s activities to interact with the materials. Arms (2001, p.4) points out that, â€Å"a digital library brings the information to the user’s desk, either at work or at home†. The most appropriate Information Retrieval system will be one that uses natural language, since the trust targets a worldwide audience, as opposed to a limited vocabulary system. Keywords in the process assist in refining queries. The trust should also prefer to use methods of storage that will present the artifacts in their natural condition since this is the main appeal in viewing artifacts. Later on, the trust may consider storage methods applicable to semantic users who are seeking meaning, especially for educational purposes out of the information. In particular, the trust needs to digitise its entire collection. This involves conversion of audio files to multiple digital formats.mp 3 format will be useful if the objective is to conserve storage space. It is also widely playable on most media players. Figure 2: Accessing a Digital library (Techweb, n.d). Discretion will be required for text-based media. Some of them will require preservation in digital format by scanning with text recognition, to allow formatting. This will apply to manuscripts and poems. Others may be stored as images though scanning without text recognition. These include the newspaper clippings and poems. Digital photographs of physical artifacts such as sculptures will aid the development of animated collections. This is easier to handle compared to multimedia items. The multimedia items in the collection will require widely varying file formats for effective retrieval. The option of developing a unique media player for the trust requires consideration. This will solve the compatibility problems in the interim because it will use a single format and will potentially reduce administration c osts. Reference List Arms, W. Y., 2000. Digital Libraries. USA: MIT Press. Belkin, J. N., n.d. User Modeling in Information Retrieval. New Jersey: Rutgers University. Web. Chu, H., 2003. Information Retrieval and Presentation in the Digital Age. NewJersey: Information Today, Inc. Jalal S.K., 2001. â€Å"Multimedia Database: content and structure†. Workshop on Multimedia and Internet Technologies. Documentation Research and Training Centre, Bangalore. Web. Kang, K., 1999. Development of a Multimedia Information Retrieval Architecture with Integrated Image Information Retrieval Technique, digital image, Multimedia Technical lab, Korea Telecom. Web. Nordbotten, J. C. 2008. Multimedia Information Retrieval Systems. Web. Techweb. n.d. Accessing a digital library. Digital image, R.V. College of Engineering. Web. Tedd L.A., Large A., Large J.A., 2005. Digital Libraries: principles and practice in a global environment. Mà ¼nchen: K.G.Saur Verlag GmbH.

Are you guilty of sending those dreaded generic LinkedIn invitations Dont do it!

Are you guilty of sending those dreaded generic LinkedIn invitations Dont do it! At a recent social event, I met a masters degree student who wanted to connect with me on LinkedIn. I found her profile on my handy mobile app and handed her my phone so she could confirm I had the correct person. Before I knew what was happening, she had pushed the â€Å"Connect† button. I had unwittingly sent out (gasp!) a cookie cutter invitation on LinkedIn. I’ll tell you a secret: I once did this myself. That big blue Connect button is just too tempting!! The generic LinkedIn invitation is a pet peeve of most LinkedIn experts and business people on LinkedIn, prompting such snarkily written articles as Why I Didn’t Accept Your LinkedIn Request. While I realize that following instructions will not in a million years prevent you from ever sending out a generic LinkedIn message again, I hope they will at least decrease the occurrence of this social gaffe. Initiating a Connection the Right Way Prior to LinkedIns recent interface update, it was easy to mistakenly send a generic â€Å"I’d like to join your LinkedIn network† message from your desktop app. With the new LinkedIn, you get a nudge not to go down this road. After clicking on the Connect button you’ll have a choice of whether to Add a note or Send now. Click Add a note and you’ll have this nice blank box to fill in: Write your note (300 characters) and send! If you don’t choose to add a note and accidentally hit â€Å"Send now,† your connection will get an email that looks something that looks like this: What would someones incentive be for accepting such a generic invitation? Most people won’t. How to Send a Mobile Invitation the Right Way! When I deliver LinkedIn workshops, I always make a point of teaching people how to send a customized, personal invitation from their phones, so as not to send the dreaded â€Å"I’d like to join your LinkedIn network† canned message. I give careful instructions and invite people to practice by connecting with me. Nine times out of 10, someone in the audience pipes up, â€Å"Oops! I just sent you a generic invitation by mistake!† Despite the potential futility of doing so, I will now explain how to personalize your invitations on your mobile device. To send a customized invitation via iPhone or Android, go to your contacts profile and click the 3-dot †¦ button in the upper right (tie your hands behind your back and do NOT click CONNECT!! LinkedIn will not warn you on your phone that you’re about to send a generic invitation): From the dropdown menu, click Personalize Invite (note this menu might vary depending on what operating system you’re using): And write your message. On some Android devices, after going to a member’s profile, you may need to tap either the Menu or the More button, then Customize Invite, write your message and Send. What Should I Say? If you want to make a connection and youre stuck on what to say, you can say something about someone you know in common, or about a place you used to work together or where they work now. Perhaps mention a conversation they started or participated in a LinkedIn group. Or maybe you have a potential work project for them. Be friendly and let them know you are human! Fixing Mistakes If you accidentally connect with someone without including a message, you can always cancel the invitation or, if you miss the window for cancellation, you may be able to send another message with a customized note later. Note that this second solution will only work for people who accept non-InMail messages, or if you are able to send InMail! To rescind your invitation before it’s accepted, click on the My Network tab: Next, click â€Å"Manage all† in the upper right-hand corner: On the resulting page, click on Sent and you’ll get a list of pending invitations. You can click on Withdraw to cancel that message you sent accidentally. Practice! Now that you know the basics about LinkedIn invitations, heres a chance to practice Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn! If we’re already connected, find someone else you want to add to your network and send them a nice message. You’ll both be glad you did. Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

The fall of the Disciples Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The fall of the Disciples - Research Paper Example It is said that he prayed the whole night for these men. When he called them, many of them seemed to be unlikely choices, but they all chose to follow him. As they continued their walk with Christ, he often prayed for them as stated in John 17. Even in instances when the disciples were less than steadfast in their walk, Jesus was still there to support and pray for them. In Luke 22:31, the Lord talks to his disciple Simon about prayers for him, he tells him that he will pray for him even if the devil tries to snatch him away. It is this commitment to his followers and his constant intercession for them that leads to their success in the future1. Jesus did not select persons of great educational merit. None of the disciples had studied law or done any scholarship work. Regardless of this, Jesus still chose them to be his followers. In doing so, he wanted to demonstrate to the world that any of them could become just like the disciples. Their commitment to the Lord was what caused them to become great men. He was also making a statement that the grand plan of salvation did not require majestic men. In several instances, these disciples proved that they were worthy of their calling. Peter, who happened to be Jesus’ favorite, exhibited a moment of great faith when he walked on water. Jesus had provided no safety cushion or anchor for him, and Peter only relied on his word for success. In fact, it was this great display of faith that earned him the right to witness Christ’s transfiguration. The extraordinary things carried out by this individual were such that they would convey great hope for the future of humanity. Jesus had initially declared that those who became his disciples would have to hate their families and everything else that mattered to them in order to fulfill the divine plan. Many of them sacrificed their personal lives for the sake of the Gospel. They remained loyal to him and experienced the rejection that he experienced. Essentially, they demonstrated an allegiance to the Lord that would eventually cause Christianity to manifest. This decision to stay with him was indicative of their conviction and strength2. Additionally, in Christ’s lifetime, the disciples performed supernatural acts through his name. In Luke 10:1 Jesus commanded the seventy to go and heal the sick. He also added that the kingdom of God would come near them in the same chapter. Luke 10:17 proves that they took his words seriously since they came back rejoicing to Christ. The seventy affirmed that it was possible to subdue demons through his name. These acts show that the disciples had faith in Jesus. At the time, it was sufficient enough to reach the supernatural realm. Feeble faith A number of disciples seemed to lack confidence in his ability to lead spiritually. Therefore, they displayed a great degree of ignorance that was unexpected from people who spent almost all their time with Jesus. A case in point was the case of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish. At the time, Christ instructed Andrew to find food within the crowd. When he came back, Andrew asserted that there were only five loaves and two fish to be found. He then asked what could come from such a small quantity if the crowd was so large. This statement implied that he had little faith in Jesus’ ability. One would expect more from a person who has seen Jesus perform miracles in the past3. The disciples also failed to

Dynamics of ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dynamics of ethics - Essay Example There are two sides to this issue: while one believes that the client should be a party to all available data, the other group is in favor of professional secrecy, which is mandatory to the cause of the treatment. What follows is an inquiry into issues which are imperative to the cause of telling the truth to patients; both sides are represented therein, and the most plausible option is debated over. Subsequently, a few relevant areas are discussed hereunder, which are deemed important for the judicious evaluation of the issue. It is purported that by telling the truth, one would be able to present a scenario that is non-malicious. Lies and withholding of truth have basically been taken as sinful over the years spanning human civilization. So it would go without saying, that if somebody is telling the truth to the patients, then an act of virtue is being upheld. â€Å"The purpose of truth telling is not simply to enable patients to make informed choices about health care and other aspects of their lives but also to inform them about their situation. Truth telling fosters trust in the medical profession and rests on the respect owed to patients as persons† (Glass, et al, 1997). Conversely, it is also believed that the actual care would be actualized when the patient finds his cure. Subsequently, if the health care provider feels that there is something that the patient would be well off without knowing, then they should not disclose that information. â€Å"The best time to discuss life-altering and life-threatening disease is when patients can remember the conversation, understand its significance, and participate in health care decisions† (Chodosh, 2000). The ethical grounds may seem to be coming under strife here, but even still, the stance for the cure of the patient is overriding to other facts in the health care profession. For that, ends may well be justifying means. All this has shaped up because it is

BUSINESS PROPOSAL Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

BUSINESS PROPOSAL - Assignment Example Small Business Administration (SBA) is the Guam’s government official agency that deals with helping in the formulation of business plans and securing funds necessary for its establishment. In the Business plan, investors should include the legal structure of the company. This would be determined by the following factors; investor’s ownership, management responsibilities and tax consequences. The various types of businesses include; sole proprietorship which has advantages like quicker tax preparations, low start up costs and ease of money handling. Its disadvantages include; personal liability and lack of financial control. In the case of starting a corporation, a type of business which has legal rights that separate its liability from the owners’ and it’s chartered by the state (Norman, 1999). To start this kind of business in Guam, investors are required to pay a filing fee of 50$. This levy is used to fill by-laws and articles of incorporation at the G uam Department of Revenue and Taxation. A corporation that seeks to be taxed as a corporation is called a â€Å"C† corporation. It pays federal and income tax on earnings while those that don’t pay income tax on their proportionate shares are called â€Å"S† corporations. ... The EIN can be secured from Internal Revenue Service offices. The Employer Identification Number will be useful in opening of the business bank account. This is done at the initial stage and it is an essential requirement for all companies and businesses that hire employees. The Employers Identification Number is issued to the applicant on the submission of form SS-4 to the Internal Revenue Service. Furthermore, there is an option of applying for the EIN online for instant issuance (Daily, 2010). Next, the investor registers for taxes. All companies incorporated in Guam have a mandate to register for one or several identification numbers that are tax-specific, licenses or permits which includes sales tax, unemployment tax and income tax withholding. According to section 26201, Article two, Chapter twenty six of Title eleven of the Guam Code of Annotated, privilege taxes should be assessed, levied and collected monthly against persons on the basis of their activities and business in G uam determined by application of rate against gross proceeds of sales, values or gross income. Businesses and business owners are required to pay Use Tax under the Guam’s Use Tax law which is applicable on the occasion that one has imported personal property that will be consumed or used in the operations of your business. If the business hires employees, it is required to pay the Payroll Tax (Norman, 1999). Guam has a separate Territorial Tax system apart from the United States based on the Internal Revenue Code. As business owner or entity conducting operations in Guam, is required by this code to file and report a Guam Territorial Tax Return. In title 26 and 31 of this code, business owners are mandated to file form 8300 if the business earns more than ten thousand

Incorporation of Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Incorporation of Diversity - Research Paper Example Actualizing diversity is a welcome development, and many companies are able to manage the problems or criticism that could arise from the incorporation of diversity. This way, they are not only able to create a productive environment inside the organization but also able to create a positive image in its external environment. In addition, in those situations, the formation of common organizational culture can aid the management and its leaders to manage diversity. As common organizational culture will lead to the formation of common practices, rules, and work ethics, it could be helpful. Incorporation of Diversity Organization should have a diversified workforce to develop economically and also ethically, especially in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Every organization will have strategies focusing on the company’s growth as well as the employee’s growth. As both are interconnected, the growth of one hinges on the growth of another. But, the basic asp ect is, for a company to develop, apt and qualified employees have to be recruited. Nowadays, that definition is slightly modified. In this changing world, it is necessary for the organization to recruit not only apt and qualified employees, but also recruit employees from different or diverse backgrounds. Brazzel (1991) defines â€Å"diversity in terms of human differences that play an important role in the culture and operation of organizations.† Recruitment of employees from diverse backgrounds will only give the desired results because that strategy will work optimally both in the organization’s interior environment as well as handle the issues that could arise in the external environment. There are also many companies that have adopted diversity programs in their recruiting process to actualize the diversified workforce. â€Å"It is in each company’s best interest to develop and incorporate elements of both Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibili ty into its agenda because the challenges of the new millennium will, no doubt, requires an integrated approach to the issue of corporate ethics.† (Altham). Nike, the well-known manufacturer of athletic shoes and other sports-related apparel and equipment, has operations in more than 500 locations throughout the world, in close to 50 countries. â€Å"This company operates on six continents and employs around 23,000 people. Their suppliers, shippers, retailers and service providers employ close to 1 million people. The diversity inherent in such size is helping Nike evolve its role as a global company.† (Clark et al. 2005).

The Conceptualization of Diversity Management Article

The Conceptualization of Diversity Management - Article Example Though the objective of diversity management is also the utilization of all available talents it is said that there is a shift in the orientation of this policy from the concept of equal opportunities. Nevertheless, the concept diversity management as an emerging aspect of Human Resources Management (HRM) is occupying a central place in the recent periods. In this context this paper presents an overview of the conceptualization of diversity management, the issues connected therewith and presents an evaluation of some of the ways in which the present day organizations can improve upon their policies on managing diversity to make it more effective. "Managing diversity effectively follows on from, and expands on equal opportunities"(NCVO) Equal opportunities is about keeping within the law and the decisions about the payment of wages, recruitment, and promotional policies are to be framed on the basis of the capabilities of the individuals to perform their functions effectively. This requires a systematic policy approach to all facets of personnel management and such policies are framed by a pre-empting discrimination. "Diversity is a more wide-reaching approach to equal opportunities work. It incorporates the principle that all workers should receive equal rights but, rather than ignoring the differences between people in terms of their gender and race, this diversity should be recognized and respected." (NCVO) Diversity management works on the basis of a valuation of the varying aptitudes and skills that different workers bring along with them to be utilized by the organizations. Under this concept, the managers arrive at a working environment where all the workers are valued on the basis of their individual skills and expertise and also such skills and expertise are utilized to the fullest extent.The idea of 'diversity management' is not a new one and has been found in existence even from the late 1980s. All the three concepts of Diversity Management, Human Resources Management, and Total Quality Management are having the central idea of improving the business efficiency and make it result to p roduce the more economic gain in the form of enhanced profits. But the concept of diversity management has been found to be deviating in orientation from that of equal opportunities, as observed by Thompson (1997) "The concept of 'managing diversity' is one that has grown out of Human Resources management and is also a movement away from traditional equal opportunities policies and practices. It is premised on the recognition of diversity and differences as positive attributes of an organization, rather than as problems to be solved." However, the phenomenon of diversity management finds itself conceptually similar to that of HRM as evidenced by the work of Storey (1995) "A distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce.

Incorporation of Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Incorporation of Diversity - Research Paper Example Actualizing diversity is a welcome development, and many companies are able to manage the problems or criticism that could arise from the incorporation of diversity. This way, they are not only able to create a productive environment inside the organization but also able to create a positive image in its external environment. In addition, in those situations, the formation of common organizational culture can aid the management and its leaders to manage diversity. As common organizational culture will lead to the formation of common practices, rules, and work ethics, it could be helpful. Incorporation of Diversity Organization should have a diversified workforce to develop economically and also ethically, especially in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Every organization will have strategies focusing on the company’s growth as well as the employee’s growth. As both are interconnected, the growth of one hinges on the growth of another. But, the basic asp ect is, for a company to develop, apt and qualified employees have to be recruited. Nowadays, that definition is slightly modified. In this changing world, it is necessary for the organization to recruit not only apt and qualified employees, but also recruit employees from different or diverse backgrounds. Brazzel (1991) defines â€Å"diversity in terms of human differences that play an important role in the culture and operation of organizations.† Recruitment of employees from diverse backgrounds will only give the desired results because that strategy will work optimally both in the organization’s interior environment as well as handle the issues that could arise in the external environment. There are also many companies that have adopted diversity programs in their recruiting process to actualize the diversified workforce. â€Å"It is in each company’s best interest to develop and incorporate elements of both Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibili ty into its agenda because the challenges of the new millennium will, no doubt, requires an integrated approach to the issue of corporate ethics.† (Altham). Nike, the well-known manufacturer of athletic shoes and other sports-related apparel and equipment, has operations in more than 500 locations throughout the world, in close to 50 countries. â€Å"This company operates on six continents and employs around 23,000 people. Their suppliers, shippers, retailers and service providers employ close to 1 million people. The diversity inherent in such size is helping Nike evolve its role as a global company.† (Clark et al. 2005).

Gee Response Question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gee Response Question - Assignment Example The second woman expresses the wrong values in the interview although her grammar is good. Glee emphasizes that communication is more than language use whereby when using language people must write or say the right thing in the right way while at the same time playing the right social role. Discourses are acquired through apprenticeship or by enculturation into social practices through supported interaction and being around people who have discourse. An example, of conflict in discourse is in the values and attitudes, as well as, interaction of people depending on how they acquired their discourse (Gee 7). Primary discourse is the first discourse people use to make sense of the world and interact with others. The distinction between dominant Discourse and non-dominant Discourse is that dominant Discourse allows people to acquire material things while non-dominant Discourse allows people to have a wider social network. â€Å"mushfake† Discourse as defined by Mark is doing something less when in actual sense the real thing is not available (Gee 13). For example, when prisoners make hats out of underwear to protect their hair from lice. â€Å"Mushfake† Discourse, on the other hand, means partially acquiring meta-knowledge and strategies to make do. For example, editing a memo to ensure there are no errors such as possessive, plurals or third persons

Charles Dickens and Curleys Wife Essay Example for Free

Charles Dickens and Curleys Wife Essay A comparison of Nancy from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and Curleys Wife from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In the two books both characters can be compared with each other but in many ways they are different in looks, language and personality, but the reasons for which the authors created them is much the same. I believe that Steinbeck created Curleys wife, so that the reader feels sorry for her because most of the other characters in the book try to stay clear of her and do not get to know her, and in a sense, judge her by the way she dresses. On the other hand Steinbeck is trying to express to the reader that looks do not count for everything. The main reason for Curleys wifes creation in my personal opinion is because all of the characters in the book are misfits for example; Lennie is not clever and acts like a child when he is with George by the riverbank and threatens to leave because George becomes annoyed with him. Also Crooks the Negro is crippled and cannot walk very well, but in his own way he is special and well educated. In the same way Dickens creates Nancy as the type of character that the reader feels sorry for but at the same time accuse her for the mistakes she has made, such as running away from Bill Sikes but returning to him because she loves him and cannot bring herself to leave. As the book progresses the reader begins to gain more respect for Nancy but I believe that there is a reason for Nancys death, which is brought about by Oliver and this, is that doing the right thing does not always mean that it is not dangerous to yourself. The two characters have different opinions on their partners and are not treated in the same way, but neither of them is happy with her life. Curleys wife is unhappy with her life and this is most likely because Curly is over possessive of her and all he ever talks about is fighting which makes her a little scared of what he may do to her if he is in a mood. She is always flirting with other men on the ranch like when she is alone with Lennie she says, What you got there sonny boy. We are also given the impression that she is a tart by the way Steinbeck describes what she wears, She wore her bright cotton dress and the mules with red ostrich feathers. Her face was made up and the little sausage curls were all in place. Curleys wife married Curley to get back at her mother after her dreams had been broken because the letter, which she had been promised from Hollywood never, arrived. On the other hand the only reason Curley married her was for his reputation and we know that he is vein due to the way he keeps one hand in a glove in order to keep it soft for her. Curley is also worried about what she may be up to when he is absent and therefore is always snooping around after her, which makes his wife feel trapped. Nancy in much the same way is not loved either but she does really care about Bill Sikes. Unlike Curleys wife, Nancy is assaulted by Bill on many different occasions and is eventually killed by him. The main difference between the two characters is that Sikes is not overprotective of Nancy in the same way Curley is and will let her go out as long as he knows where she is going, the reason for this is that Sikes knows that Nancy is loyal to him. When Nancy meets up with Rose and helps to save Oliver she also offers Nancy a new start but the offer is declined because Nancy does not want to leave Bill Sikes and she says, The main contrast between the two characters is that Nancy loves Bill, but Curleys wife does not love her husband but she cannot leave him because she lives on the ranch and has no other place to stay. The characters partners opinions compare because neither of them really care for their lover. Sikes treats Nancy like a punch bag and she is scared of Curley because he has hit many other people and she is suspense waiting to see if he will lash out at her. In Of Mice and Men Curleys wife is known to some of the other characters such as Crooks, George and Candy as a tart or a bitch and a good example of this is when she walks into the bunkhouse and George says, Jesus what a tramp, so thats what Curly picked for a wife. As George is saying this Lennie is admiringly staring at her saying Shes purty in response to Georges insult. Most of the men on the ranch try to stay clear of her and George warns Lennie about her too, Listen to me you crazy bastard, dont you even take a look at that bitch. I dont care what she says and what she does. I seen em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jailbait worse than her. You leave her be. Lennie refuses not to listen and ends up not taking any real notice of what George has says to him. Oliver respects Nancy, like Lennie is fond of Curleys wife and both of them seem to have child like qualities that judge the characters for who they are and not how they dress or look. In the same way as Curleys wife is despised by the ranch workers, Nancy is looked down on by the upper class people of the nineteenth century. The main reason the upper class residents do not respect Nancy is because she is a prostitute and in the time of Dickens this occupation was the lowest of the low for a woman. When Nancy goes to visit Rose, who is the adopted daughter of the women whose house Oliver broke in to, she is looked down on by the servants and thrown out of the hotel because of the way she looks. Come! said the man taking her to the door, None of this, take yourself off. The servants are not the only characters that look down on Nancy, Fagin and Sikes treat her badly and Dickens describes Sikes as using Nancy as his punch bag. Bill Sikes persists this behaviour even though Nancy looks after him when she is ill and says that she would even walk around the jail if he was arrested, just to be with him, but Sikes replies that she would be useless to him unless she brought a file to help him escape. On the whole I feel that neither of the character are loved and they are judged by the way they look, not by the people they really are inside. Each of the characters is special to one person, in Curleys wifes case Lennie and in Nancys, Oliver. I feel that the biggest difference between the two books is the language and the reason for this difference is the time at which they were written. In John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men the language is simple but strong, the reason Steinbecks characters speak in this way is because thats the way 1930s Americans would have spoken, for example, when George, Crooks and Slim are talking about Lennie, George says, If that crazy bastard foolin around too much, jus kick him out, Slim. There is also a large amount of slang used between the characters, like when George and Curly are talking and George replies, He was gunna put some tar on a split roof.

The Decisions We Make In Social Work Social Work Essay

The Decisions We Make In Social Work Social Work Essay How do we make ethical decisions in social work? Discuss the process illustrating your arguments with specific case examples.    Ethical awareness is a fundamental part of the professional practice of social workers. Their ability and commitment to act ethically is an essential aspect of the quality of the service offered to those who use social work services. It is an inevitable process that social workers will find themselves within the dimension of ethical issues which will no doubt challenge the individual and bring about some critical reflection of action. Some of the problem areas where ethical issues may arise include; The fact that the loyalty of social workers is often in the middle of conflicting interests. The fact that social workers function as both helpers and controllers. The conflicts between the duties of social workers to protect the interests of the people. With whom they work and societal demands for efficiency and utility. The fact that resources in society are limited. Beckett and Maynard (2006)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This assignment will address some of the areas where a social worker may run into conflict. To begin this assignment will examine the importance of values personal, professional, societal and organizational; it will further examine the vital need for a shared core base of professional values within social work. It will begin to discuss the complex nature of social work and the guidance found in the code of ethics when social workers face ethical dilemmas. It will support this concept with a case scenario. The assignment will then discuss another area where an ethical dilemmas can arise, in risk assessment, and will discuss using a case scenario how risk can be managed ethically. The core of the assignment will briefly outline an approach to how an ethical decision can be made and will draw on two theoretical aspects within ethical decision making. To finish this assignment will look at ethics within partnership working where a brief scenario will support the impo rtance of anti-oppressive practice and ethics within organisations. The assignment will then conclude with a summary detailing the need for ethical awareness within social work. Every day social workers are faced with stressful, even traumatic situations, such as domestic violence, child abuse, the homeless, family tension, mental illness and suicide. Therefore it is fair to say social workers work with the most disadvantaged groups and vulnerable individuals in society. Clark, (2000) p1 says The service that is provided is seen as the most contentious of all the human service professions. It is because of the nature of the job, social workers often find themselves dealing with tough decisions about human situations that involve the potential for benefit or harm. Whilst underpinning the decision process is the strong expectation that social workers must be able to balance the tension between the rights and responsibilities of the people who use services and the legitimate requirements of the wider public. They must also be able to understand the implications of, and to work effectively and sensitively with, people whose cultures, beliefs or life experiences are different from their own. In all of these situations, they must recognise and put aside any personal prejudices they may have. According to Pinker, social work is, essentially, a moral enterprise Pinker, (1990) p14 whilst Beckett and Maynard, (2006) p189 states Almost all of the important decisions that are made by social workers have a value component. According to Banks, (2006) p6: Values are particular types of belief that people hold about what is regarded as worthy or valuable.   Values of the client, profession, organisation and society are an intrinsic part of decision making. Traditional values of social work was first introduced in the early 60s by Biestek. His principles outlined the basics of traditional social work and were constructed of a seven-point scheme. The principles consisted of Individualism, Purposeful expression of feelings, Controlled emotional involvement., Acceptance, Non-judgmental attitude, User self-determination, Confidentiality.Biestek (1961). Many of Biestek beliefs were very traditional and were criticised for their diversity in their interpretation. Controversies relating to different principles caused many problematic conclusions, for example individualisation and confidentiality. Individualisation could not be possible in the fast moving modern world, people lose their identity and individualis ation is not respected. Confidentiality has its limitations to be enforced for example; If a user shares information where someone will be harmed, the social workers duty is to share it as a right to other individuals. It was clear these key issues had to be developed and advanced to help social workers. Furthermore it was considered that there must be guidance on values and ethics for social workers, as they play a major part in their work. Banks, (2006) p150 says; There is recognition that personal and agency values may conflict and that the worker as a person has a moral responsibility to make decisions about these conflicts. Therefore the social work profession is guided by the shared values that underpin its practice set out in the (GSCC 2002) code of conduct. The code is criteria to guide practice standards and judge accountability from social care workers. The work load of social workers deals with individuals who are disadvantaged in some form or another so it is important to have a shared value system to reflect the ethical problems and dilemmas they face.   Working from a professional value is a guide to professional behaviours that maintain identity and can protect service users from malpractice. Parrott, (2006) p17. On their own personal values will be of limited use. Beliefs and good intentions will not give the professional the knowledge and skills they need to make sense of a practice situation and inter vene in it. The difference between personal and professional values include, professional values can be distinguished from personal values, in that personal values may not be shared by all members of an occupational group, for example, a person who works as a social worker may have a personal belief that abortion is wrong, but this is not one of the underlying principles of social work. Banks, (2006), p 7. The GSCC codes of practice contain a list of statements that describe the standards of professional conduct and practice required of social care workers. They are as followed; protect the rights and promote the interests of services users and carers, strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers, promote the independence of service users while protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm, Respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people, Uphold public trust and confidence in social care services and Be accountable for the quality of their work and take responsibility for maintain and improving their knowledge and skills GSCC (2002) It is then hardly surprising giving the complex nature of the professional role a social worker may find them self when making decisions within ethical areas facing an ethical dilemma. Theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯ethical dilemma arises when there are; two equally unwelcome alternatives which involves a conflict of moral principle and it is not clear which choice is right Banks (2006). When social workers struggle to reach a decision they can be then guided by the code of Ethics. The primary objective of the Associations code of Ethics is to express the values and principles which are integral to social work, and to give guidance on ethical practice. BASW (2001). Loewenverg and Dolgoff (1996) state that Ethic are designed to help social worker decide which of the two or more competing goals isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯correct for their given situational . However alongside ethical awareness you have to be aware of the publicly stated values of your agency and make skilful judgements based upon your accumu lated knowledge and experience. Ethical considerations are rarely the responsibility of one worker; however, agencies policies and structures of accountability offer both guidance and a standard against which your practice can be measured. Accountability, therefore, is the process through which employers and the public can judge the quality of individual workers practice and hold them responsible for their decisions and actions. (Derek Clifford Beverley Burke 2005) Competing values and multiple-client system are two areas where a social worker may find themselves facing an ethical dilemma. Weather it is the social work values that is competing against agency values or within each a confliction of values, which will leave the social worker in need to decide which value will take priority. Also deciding which role the social worker must take in order to reach the right decision can lead to the dilemma of role confliction. Beckett and Maynard (2006) suggest that the role of a social worker can be put into three groups: Advocacy, Direct Change Agent and Executive. The advocacy role can be either direct or indirect. Direct change agent being counsellor or therapist, mediator, educator and catalyst, with executive role as almoner, care manager, responsibility holder, co-ordinator and service developer (Beckett and Maynard 2006 p8). The GSCC (2002) code of conduct  says As a social care worker, you must strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers (s2), which includes Respecting confidential information and clearly explaining agency policies about confidentiality to service users and carers. Consider the following scenario; whilst on placement a client disclosed sensitive information to a trainee social worker regarding the well-being of her neighbours children. After clarification that social worker would have to pass this information on to their manager, the client did not wish to consent to the information being passed on. When the supporting relationship had ended, the social worker had to then make a decision based on where there priorities lay. As they were supporting the client who disclosed, they had a responsibility to uphold the standard of respecting her confidentiality. However they also had a responsibility to the wider society which in this case was the ch ildren who were at risk of harm.   When making the decision they assessed all the information and weighed up the outcomes. Do they withhold the information in order to maintain the trust and respect of the client or do they prioritize the needs and risk of the children? They then turned to the agency safeguarding policy and the code of ethics for social workers which clearly states; we must not promise to keep secrets for or about a child or young person Agency safeguarding policy, (2010) p10 and further states; We aim to safeguard children at all times, by delivering our services safely and by sharing information when there is a concern.p9. Clearly the value of life outweighed the needs and wishes of the client in this circumstance. However to whom did the social worker owe responsibility and which role should they take in this situation. Banks (2006) p48 clarifies this conflict by suggesting : Yet while the social worker may be able to focus largely on one individual service user and take on the role of advocate for the service users rights, often the social worker has to take into account the rights of significant à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯others in a situation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯In the interests of justice it may not always be morally right to promote the service users rights at the expense of those of others The social worker if doubting her judgement, would address the BASW (2001) code of Ethics to guide the outcome of her decision, the code states; Social workers will not act without informed consent of service users, unless required by law to protect that person or another from risk of serious harm. (4.1.4 p8) Furthermore it guides us by stating; In exceptional circumstances where the priority of the service users interest is outweighed the need to protect others or by legal requirements, make service users aware that their interests may be overridden. (4.1.1 b p8) As you can see the code of ethics guided the social worker to the right course of action that they should take. They were duty bound by law to act on behalf of the individuals who were at most risk. According to Parrot (2010) p86 Risk refers to the likelihood of an event happening which in contemporary circumstances is seen as undesirable.   It is when facing issues involving risk that values become of central importance in enabling practitioners to manage risk. Consider the following scenario; a social worker visits an elderly lady in her home after a referral is made by the ladies niece. The niece is concerned for the safety of her aunt after a recent decline in her aunts mobility and health which resulted in a nasty fall. The niece lives quite far away and cannot provide regular care for her aunt. The lady values her independence and does not want to be put in a residential home which her niece thinks would be for the best; however there is a concern able risk that if some form of intervention is not in place the lady is at serious risk of hurting herself further. The social worker is faced with a dilemma. The lady has a right to autonomy and self-determination however ther e is a risk of potential harm happening. The social worker must risk assess the potential outcomes and measure the risk involved. Which on one hand the individual faces residential care involving losing much personal freedom and autonomy; on the other hand to leave a person in their own home to face social isolation and to be potentially at risk of physical danger may also be unwelcome. Social workers have to look to the consequences of their actions and weight up which action would be least harmful / most beneficial to the user, and which action would benefit most efficientlyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯ Parrott (2010) p51 While Kemshall (2002) p128 argues, risk management cannot guarantee to prevent risk. It can attempt to limit the chances of risky situations tuning into dangerous ones or reduce the consequences of such situations. As she suggests, minimization rather than reduction is the key. In other words to approach this situation the social worker will identify the social work values that is embedded in the their practice which is; As a social care worker, you must respect the rights of the service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people. (GSCC 2002 s4). For further guidance the social worker will identify with the code of ethics   which states; we may limit clients rights to self-determination when, in the social workers professional judgment, clients actions or potential actions pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others, but it also tells us that we are to promote clientsself-determination Code of Ethics (1.02). Weighing up the outcomes of the individual the social worker will be committed to allowing the individual choice and empowerment. And work with the elderly lady to ensure her self-determination remains able whilst also advocating on the ladies behalf to ensure she is able to a ccess services which will allow her to live a safe independent life. Thompson (2005,p170) cited on blackboard says it is the social workers role to enable service users and carers: to gain power and control over their own lives and circumstancesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..to help people to have a voiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..so that they counter the negative effects of discrimination and marginalization whilst Hatton (2008, p145) cited on(class PowerPoint 2011) sees social workers role as active change agents to create: an empowered and active group of service users and carers who hold us to account, share in our decision making and participate actively in the way we deliver services Social work decisions span a wide range from safeguarding through to allocation services and advising clients and families on courses of action to improve their lives. As we can see some decisions may involve a breach of confidentiality and assessment of high risks such as a vulnerable adult in need of services to improve their quality of life and prevent harm even death. It is important therefore for social workers to be able to justify their actions.   Social worker therefore must draw upon a variety of professional knowledge such as law, policy, research, theory, standards, principles and practice wisdom to inform complex and sensitive judgements and decisions in uncertain situations where harm may ensue. Much of what social workers do concerns decisions about future courses of action, which puts decision making at the heart of social work as a core professional activity. Banks (2006) p9 This assignment will now examine how the ethical dilemma can be resolved  by discussing  an approach to guide the process of ethical decisions in practice. We have identified that social workers are expected to critically examine ethical issues in order to come to a resolution that is consistent with social work values and ethical principles. However how is the social worker able to organize all the components relevant to the decision and outcomes. One example of a model to help assist the social worker reach resolution is Mattison (2000, p.206) His model offers a framework to analyse ethical dilemmas such as: Define and gather information; Once the social worker has identified an ethical dilemma, they begin the process of making a decision by fully exploring case details and gathers needed information to understand holistically the clients current circumstances. Supporting this is Horner (2005 p97) who says that social workers are to engage holistically with both the person and their circumstances whilst at the same time recognizing the processes of power dynamics at the play in the helping relationship It is then important for the social worker to distinguish the practice aspects of the case from the ethical considerations (so separate practice from how you have learned to think about ethical issues). Identify value tensions The social worker must refer to the professional code of ethics to help clarify obligations and identify the principles that have a bearing on the dilemma The social worker projects, weighs, and measures the possible courses of action that seem reasonable and the potential consequences of these The social worker after weighing up options must select an action for resolving a dilemma. This involves determining which of the competing obligations are we going to honour foremost (this may mean at the expense of others). The social worker reaches the resolution stage and this means being able to justify the decision. To further this ideas of influence on decisions It is also vitally important for social workers to take time to reflect on their practice and own values. This is a vital point because although guides and frameworks can be developed to offer social workers a logical approach to the decision making process, to some extent, the use of discretionary judgments is evitable (Mattison, 2000). The value system and preferences of the decision maker ultimately shape the process of working through dilemmas and so it is important for social workers to be ethically aware of their character, philosophies, attitudes and biases. Furthermore, philosophers have argued that elements of deontological and teleological thinking operate in and influences decision making in ethical dilemmas. A deontological thinker is grounded in the belief that actions can be determined right or wrong, good or bad, regardless of the consequences they produce and so adherence to rules is central. Once formulated, ethical rul es should hold under all circumstances (Mattison, 2000). On the other hand a teleological thinker is ground in the belief of consequences and so weighing up the potential consequences of proposed actions is central to this way of thinking (Mattison, 2000). So a social worker following a deontological way of thinking will differ in their approach to ethical decision making compared with a social worker following a teleological way of thinking. As part of the profession social workers often find them self-working collaboratively with other professionals such as doctors, police, nurses, teachers and probation officers to name but a few.   Considering the variety of different professions merging to reach possible outcomes it is not surprising that partnership working becomes a complex problem. Mainly because of the assumptions that we are all working towards a collective aim. Bates cited in Parrot (2010.) Different values, ideologies, ethics and culture of working can too lead to confliction of interests.  Ã‚   Effective partnerships require sustained relationships, shared agendas built up over time and a commitment to shared problem solving. When different professional groupings come together in collaboration then they bring with them their own ways of working, organisational cultures and attitudes, their particular practice experience and their own ethical codes Parrot (2010) Consider the following scenario; a social work student commitment to anti oppressive practice is clearly challenged whilst on placement.   The voluntary organisation which they are placed with worked in partnership with the crown court. One day as they were waiting for an expected family, to whom they were supporting, they are then approached by an usher (a worker of the court justice system). He commented on the family jokingly saying;  Oh no not that family again they are low life Jeremy Kyle watching scroungers, they bring the trouble on themselves.   This use of stereotypical language discriminated and negatively challenged the whole purpose of the organisations aims which is to value diversity, whilst also conflicting with section 5 of the core values of the GSCC You must not discriminate unlawfully or unjustifiably against service users, carers or colleagues (GSCC 2002 5.5) Parrot (2010 ) suggests There is no appropriate way at which a social worker can condone such langu age weather they choose to confront the issue at hand or make a formal complaint. Parrott (2010) further states; what is the point in partnership working with fellow professionals only to result in the dilution of the social workers value base and the demeaning of service users. The point of partnership working is not to deliver appropriate services to service users only to have them undermined by some partners exhibiting discriminatory attitudes. What if in the scenario discussed above, the discriminatory attitudes and beliefs of the usher, was an unconscious influence to the social workers approach when working with the individuals involved in the scenario. This could result in an already marginalised group becoming oppressed further.   Thompson, (2005 p34) describes oppression as; Inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups; in hardship and in justice brought about by the dominance of one group over another; the negative and demeaning exercise of power. Oppression often involves disregarding the rights of an individual or group and this is a denial of citizenship. Thompson further suggests that oppression can act at three levels, these levels of oppression offers a framework for looking at how inequalities and discrimination manifest themselves. Personal level which relates to an individuals thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions. Cultural level which looks at shared ways of seeing, thinking, and doing. Structural level relates to matters such as policy. Thompson (2005 p21 -23) Abramson 1996 cited in Mattison (2000) supports this by saying The process of the decision making is forged by the prejudice and prejudgement brought to the decision making process by the decision maker. Therefore social workers as agents of change attempt to alleviate inequalities and oppression within societies and need to be aware of the values underlying their work by referring to the code of ethics. By adopting values and anti-oppressive practice such as advocacy; social workers will be able to make informed decisions in addressing aspects, which relate to the p rovision of services to individuals who may have differing needs. Parrott (2010 p23) describes Anti oppressive practice (AOP)  as a general value orientation towards countering oppression experienced by service users on such grounds as race, gender class age etc. AOP are also values of working in partnership and empowerment. Social workers and their employers have an ethical duty to ensure that the organisations they work for operate in a just manner Parrot (2010) Social work organisations therefore must uphold the portrayal that social work is something worthy and the operation of its organisation will lead to positive outcomes. The commitment to social justice ensures public organisations work under legislation to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.   Expectations of the social care employee are prompted by the GCSS code of conduct.   For example in the case scenario discussed above if the attitudes of the usher was another social worker within an organization the social worker would act on guidance on policy procedure and ensure the commitment to social justice was withheld. If the other social workers attitudes towards service users resulted in unfair treatment and inequality of services than they are not upholding the ethical principles of effective practice stated in the IFSW (1994)   Social workers should recognise and respect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the societies in which they practise, taking account of individual, family, group and community differences. S4.2.2 Therefore the other social worker would have a responsibility to Challenging unjust practices Social workers have a duty to bring to the attention of their employers, policy makers, politicians and the general public situations where resources are inadequate or where distribution of resources, policies and practices are oppressive, unfair or harmful.s4.2.1 If the other social worker is ethically aware and challenges injustice it is their moral obligation to bring to the attention of the organisation the other social workers behaviour. The social worker would participate in whistle blowing Parrot (2010) p154 defines whistle blowing as   The disclosure by an employee, in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality or some other wrongdoing.   The organisation will then deal directly with the moral character of the social workers discriminatory attitudes. In conclusion social work can be a challenging subject and one that will actively push the boundaries of all social workers on a personal level and professional level. It is agreed within social work that ethics, morals and values are all an inescapable part of professional practice and Ethical awareness is a necessary part of practice of any social work (IFSW, 1994).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯ However as this assignment has discussed guides can be provided but inevitability it is up to the social workers discretionary judgement of the circumstances. Arguably It is therefore important as a social worker to be aware of the code of ethics, and to talk, discuss, debrief and debate with colleagues and supervisors about dilemmas they may be struggling with. Finally, the onus is on social workers to be reflective about themselves and how self influences practice and decision making. To finish we have to be critically aware of personal beliefs and biases, bringing them to light so they do not unconscio usly influence our practice decisions, leading to injustice and unfair distribution and access to services. Service users must be put at the heart of social work practice and it is our duty as social workers to take any necessary steps within our organisations to ensure mistreatment and inequality is brought to surface. We can therefore improve public trust within the social service profession and encourage service users to work in partnership to empower their lives. References Agency Safe guarding Policy, (2010) Banks, S., (2006). Ethics and Values in Social Work .3rd Ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, BASW (2001) The Code of Ethics for Social Work, Beckett, C. Maynard, A.,( 2005). Values and Ethics in Social Work: An Introduction, London: Sage Biestek,F. (1971). The Casework Relationship, 7th Ed Unwin: University Books. Clark, C. (2000) Social Work Ethics: Politics, Principles and Practice. Basingstoke: MacMillan Class PowerPoint, Values and Ethics, Blackboard (2011) Clifford, D Burke, B, Anti-oppressive Ethics, Social Work Education, Vol. 24, No. 6, September (2005), pp. 677-692 GSCC (2002) Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers, London: GSCC Horner, N. (2005) What is Social Work? Context and Perspectives. Exeter: Learning Matters International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) available at; http://www.ifsw.org/p38000324.html, accessed on 12/05/2011 Kemshall, H and Pritchard, J (1996) Good Practice in Risk Assessment and Risk Management. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Loewenberg, F. and Dolgoff, R. (1996) Ethical Choices in the Helping Professions. Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice, 5th ed., Illinois: Peacock Publishers: Mattison, M. (2000) Ethical Decision Making: The Person in the Process Social Work Vol.45(3), pp.201-212. Parrott, L, (2010) Values and ethics in social work practice 2nd ed, learning matters: Exeter Pinker, R. (1990) Social Work in an Enterprise Society, London:   Routledge. Thompson, N, (2005). Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice. 2nd Ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.