Ethics and Social Responsibility Essay

Ethical issues are constantly around us be it in school or at work. These issues represent one of the most fundamental aspects in the working environment in relationships or interactions between different stakeholders. The relationships between employers and employees or clients are a vital factor which drives the company’s objectives and goals. An organization’s social responsibility to the surrounding community is also, a vital factor through creating a favorable climate, for the smooth running of the company within the society. Social responsibility recognizes the values and traditions encompassed by the community. Moreover, ethical issues may surround an institution in its daily operations, and consequently require professional consultation, regarding options which are appropriate in tackling a specific issue, on the basis of ethics and professional standards. Introduction Business ethics and social responsibility are found in many of the organizations that are adopted, by the management which enable the company or firm, to conduct its business operations upholding the welfare and wellbeing of its employees and the clients it serves. By embracing ethics, codes of conduct and social responsibility in the businesses processes, an organization becomes transparent to its stakeholders and shareholders, thereby creating an image of competence and accountability in the actions it undertakes. Moreover, there has been an increase in the competitive nature of business in the modern society, where various and diverse businesses have flooded the market. This competitive environment requires businesses, to redefine their objectives and goals in respect to ethics and corporate responsibility, in order to have a competitive advantage over rivals. Many organizations have failed in business ventures because of not embracing appropriate ethical behaviors, towards employees, clients and the society. Ethics are primarily dictated by individual or corporate beliefs encompassing social concepts in the day to day running of an organization. In addition, ethical issues vary among businesses, individuals, cultures or in particular circumstances. The aim of this study is analyze the importance of ethics and social responsibility, in business operations with companies such as the Wal-Mart Store, and how ethical issues are handled so as to remain competitive in their market segment. Ethics and Social Responsibility Business ethics are vital to the operation processes in a company in relation to both internal and external factors, which influence the success of the business. A cohesive interaction between customers and a business is vital, for the optimal performance of the company. This would comprise of customer satisfaction, employee motivation and positive business attitudes that would enable a company to successfully deliver its services or products. Formulation of code of conducts and ethics enable an organization to run its business operations, without overlooking the needs of stakeholders (Lisa, 2005 p. 24). Employees in any given business or industry, play a major role in working towards the accomplishment of goals and objectives set by the organization’s management. The relationship between management at all levels with the employees, influences the overall output of the organization, and consequently affecting its relations with customers and performance in the competitive market environment. Ethics and codes of conduct can be defined as principles or standards set by the organization’s management, which illustrate the expected behavior of employees and the management while conducting business, on behalf of the company. They also encompass the beliefs of the organization influenced by their goals and objectives. These conducts may entail principles such as treating customers as a priority, by serving them with a positive attitude while upholding integrity, respecting other employees, striving for excellence, and optimum service to customers. Customer satisfaction is put as the key in the overall corporate responsibility for the optimal performance of the business (Velasqez, 2005 p. 35). A company can also create a code of ethics, where both the management and the employees should follow the set guidelines, while deviation would call for actions against the individual. They help employees to recognize situations where certain actions are deemed as a violation to the company’s ethics. In addition, business ethics influences the organizational culture of a company, where employees undertake behaviors that foster the success and growth of the company. However, even with set code of conducts, ethical behaviors and social responsibility of an organization, the bottom line dictates that trusting in an individual’s good judgment of what is wrong or right, will affect the image and performance of the organization. Therefore, management and employees’ behaviors, culture and attitudes are crucial as they depict the ethics of the company which would ultimately, influence the perception and attitude of clients towards the organization. Effective organizational ethics entail that, firms lead with integrity at the workplace, marketplace and in the community. Social responsibility encompasses business ethics and company practices that govern how, the company runs and its role to the community. Corporate social responsibility has become a key initiative a crucial tool for growth in a company or industry. Multinational corporations and successful businesses have adopted this powerful tool in various countries across the globe. With rapid globalization and advancement in technology, organizational ethics and social responsibility must be flexible to encompass new aspects, to the changing customer needs while still maintaining integrity and accountability, in the competitive market environment (Hartley, 2004 p. 55). Social responsibility definition varies across businesses and groups, depending on the perception towards their situations or circumstances, but generally social responsibility illustrates the role of companies to conduct their business operations, in a way that promotes human welfare and respects individuals’ rights, whether at the work environment or within the society. Additionally, the two concepts of social responsibility and ethics work hand in hand in order to provide, benefits for all stakeholders. Moreover, difficulties or challenges that impede successful implementation of social responsibility or business ethics, by an organization should be mitigated before effective changes can be realized. The Wal-Mart Company Wal-Mart has grown to be one of the largest retailers in the world, when it started out as a single discount store more than five decades ago. It has dominated the retailing business with its numerous stores and clubs that are associated with the organization. Moreover, even through the transformations over the years, Wal-Mart has been able to uphold its integrity and culture of ethics constantly (Entine, 2008 p. 22). Ethics and social responsibility as put by the Wal-Mart’s management, has been able to define the company from its inception, and consequently influences how the organization associates with its employees, customers, suppliers and the general community. Wal-Mart has been using statement of ethics in their entire business processes, which define the types of conduct and attitudes that it upholds for its stakeholders. The business conducts create an atmosphere of fairness, honesty and the aspect of legality in the work environment. Codes of conducts influence the overall organizational culture to adopt behaviors and working processes that enhance the performance output of an organization. Wal-Mart being in the service industry, customer relations has been its priority without overlooking the interests of employees, shareholders and the surrounding community needs. The retailing business has been striving to make considerable changes, through reviewing its business process in order to attain sustainability and commitment towards an ethical and social responsible culture (Nicholas, 2009). This been attributed to the rapid changing external environment in ethics and business operations, constantly requiring organizations to redefine their ethical standards and principles, that put to test their sense of responsibility, integrity, fairness and honesty. Consequently, ethics at the workplace become a vital factor that influences the overall performance of the company, coupled by responsibility and accountability. The level of ethical issues has grown in significance over the years, where unethical behaviors such as those observed in the Enron Company, resulting to loss of jobs and consumer confidence. This is detrimental to any organization as it losses its market credibility, leading to its downfall. Moreover, stakeholders in an organization who include customers, shareholders and employees are always being observant of internal decisions made, and how they impact on them. In addition, governmental agencies are constantly becoming involved and monitoring ethical issues in various organizations, with pressure directed for enactment of laws from citizens and shareholders that protect them, which may follow unethical practices in an organization. Social responsibility at Wal-Mart has enabled it to realize significant savings, amid criticisms of not being accountable towards its employees. The company adopted a program, scorecard, to enable it review how products are manufactured, merchandised and the availability of recyclability in its goal towards green sustainability. In such cases, the company has been able to cut costs in operation and conserving energy, but it is yet to reach total sustainability and social responsibility in its operations. Observers have appreciated the organization’s intentions, but the company has many challenges to overcome, to become a business entity that is fully environmental sustainable, coupled with the influence it has had upon suppliers, consumers and employees. The success of the giant retailing store has not been smooth sailing, as it has rubbed many of its employees and clients in the wrong way. Wal-Mart has been at the center of criticism, regarding its unethical business behaviors at one time or another. Some of the policies adopted by the retailing business have, had a negative impact and image in the corporate scene (Zimmerman, 2005). Example, their strategy of outsourcing for manufacturers have led to loss of jobs in United States. In addition, the organization’s policy towards suppliers based on Wal-Mart’s prices, puts pressure the suppliers that results to closures of plants in the US and job layoffs. These aspects have consequently raised the question, whether the organization is an ethical company in the society. Wal-Mart’s problems can be attributed to the focus of management, towards the company’s growth and therefore neglecting important issues as brand image, social responsibility, and ethics in business operations. Additionally, communities in the US have been debating whether to allow the Wal-Mart retailing business, to operate in their towns or cities. This comes amidst the perception of the organization and how its influences the community, customers and employees through its business operations. Protests from these communities culminate from the fact that, Wal-Mart buys its goods from Third World countries that it deems cheaper, instead from American suppliers causing those businesses to close down. Issues stem from sustainability and ethics adopted by the retailing giant, which are perceived by the communities to be wrong. More so, the company has had its fair share of bad business practices observed in discriminatory promotion and hiring, and forced overtime among other issues. A recent incident where an announcement that was made in a New Jersey Wal-Mart store, that all black people should leave the shopping store over the public-address system, rubbed the shoppers with a negative perspective infuriating most who were shopping at the time. Some of the workers threatened to quit until the matter was resolved, which caught them by total surprise. The management to its defense, stating they were doing everything to determine the person responsible, but the damage had already been done. Moral evaluations from the communities and critics have put the organization into the limelight, for its unethical business practices. However, Wal-Mart has positive attributes towards the community, by being a retailer that focuses on price as their business model (Cris, 2006). Consumers are sensitive to price and Wal-Mart ensures that it caters to all levels of consumers. The organization has also been good at delivering products, which are decent at varying prices. Conclusion Wal-Mart has a potential future, but it has to address some of their business ethics, corporate citizenship, and corporate social responsibility in order to stay ahead of its major competitors, compounded by the intense public scrutiny of the organization’s business practices. Moreover, it has all the components and ingredients in resources both organizational and financial that will propel it to success. There is no doubt concerning the potential rewards and risks that are attached, to a company’s ethical considerations in the context of business practices and operations. Integrity, accountability and responsibility do matter to stakeholders in a company, encompassing the society on the conducts and decisions made by such a company. Organizations need to strive towards the balance of sustainability and corporate decision making, which affects them in the short and long term consequences. References 1. Cris, M. (2006). The Business Ethics: Saying Nice Things About Wal-Mart. The business ethics blog. 2. Entine, J. (2008). Wal-Mart: Ethical Retailing. The question of Wal-Mart’s Social Responsibility. 22-24. 3. Hartley, R. (2004). Business ethics: Mistakes and successes. John Wiley & Sons. 54-65. 4. Lisa, R. (2005). Corporate responsibility and public relations. Ethical Corporation. 24. 5. Nicholas, S. (2009). Wal-Mart lawyer shares experiences and perspectives. Law Weekly. Georgetown University Law Center. 6. Velasqez, M. (2005). Business ethics, a teaching and learning classroom edition: Concepts and cases. Prentice Hall. 35-36. 7. Zimmerman, A. & Bandler, J. (2005). Federal officials asked to probe Wal-Mart firing. Wall Street Journal.

Howard Gardner and Applications of Multiple Intelligences Essay

Gardner believes that there are different ways of solving problems and that there are different ways that intellectual ability is manifested or expressed (Gardner, 1993; 1999). What had been accepted in education in general had been to assess students in terms of their capabilities in Science, Math and Language or Communication (English in written and spoken communication). Gardner expanded this to what he termed as multiple intelligence which introduced the domains with which every individual may possess in whatever degree. These domains include, the logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, linguistic, intra and inter-personal, naturalistic and existential intelligences (Gardner, 1993; 1999). There are evidences that support the theory in terms of the biological and cultural underpinnings such as those done on development focused on children, empirical research from individuals with brain damage and persons with giftedness. The theory has significant implications on both structure and curriculum in the educational setting such as the kind of set up with which the classroom is arranged or the strategies employed in introducing material or assessment of learning (Gardner, 1993; 1999). Problem statement Since Gardner believes that the educational setting at all levels must foster and promote the understanding of multiple intelligences the following pertinent parts of the educational set up involving curriculum and assessment strategies must be changed or reformed (Gardner, 1993; 1999). This research therefore attempts to answer the following problem statements: What is Multiple Intelligences as a framework in school? What is the description of a curriculum in the secondary level (high school) incorporating the Gardner theory? In this framework, how can assessment be done on student learning and overall progress of students? Discussion Nature of the learner in the Secondary Level There are basic observations gathered by experts on the kind of learner expected to enter into the secondary level. Since the concept of Multiple Intelligences by Gardner would be revolutionary even today, when in essence, most institutions of learning already recognized the brilliance and applicability of his position. It would be helpful to have alongside in the direction of this notion, quite important figures and principles that would further make the application of the Gardner framework in the secondary level easier to grasp and more feasible to comprehend. The curriculum would serve to reflect how learners inch their way into the classroom and courses they are about to undertake and to finish. It is always important to start right by understanding how the learner apprehends and appreciates the material, his preparation in terms of physical, emotional, and psychological maturity, and the way these materials or knowledge could be absorbed and thereafter applied at the correct time and place. It was Malcolm Knowles (1978, 1990) and his theory andragogy who emphasized the model of adult learning. The premise is based on his hypothesis that the maturation of an individual into adulthood is manifest when people conduct themselves in adult behavior and consider themselves to be adults. Then they should be dealt with as adults. By adulthood people are self-directing. Knowles taught that adult education was special in a several ways. This will mean that the presence or absence of some significant details will improve or pull down adult learning experience. This implies that knowledgeable background on adults and the developmental characteristics of that particular stage will spell effective or disastrous results. This paper attempts to show the various positive and negative learning environments specifically for adults. Positive Learning Environment include: 1. Adult learners carry with them a vast amount of experience to the learning environment. This means that tuning in to their particular psyche creates a conducive atmosphere for learning; 2. Adults expect on the kind of training they are exposed to and how they are to be educated. Example: Unlike the younger learners where most take on passive role, adults have goals in mind and the learning they receive must fall within those predetermined personal goals; 3. the active involvement of students should be encouraged in planning and implementing educational programs; 4. Adults need to be able to see applications for new learning; 5. Adult learners expect to have a high degree of influence on how learning will be evaluated; 6. Adults expect their responses to be acted upon when asked for feedback on the progress of the program. Andragogy is therefore student-centered, experience-based, problem-oriented and collaborative (Brooks, J 1995). On the other hand, the following can influence adults specifically in the learning experience in an unhelpful way. The Negative Learning Environment includes the fact that: 1. some adults can move toward prescribed educational settings with anxiety and feelings of high or low self-efficacy. Their method to new learning milieus can be prejudiced by how they assess or evaluate the new experience. A case in point: given two adults in a classroom where an exercise is about to begin, one individual may interpret the assignment in such a way that leads to a feeling of ‘excitement’, while another individual interprets the task in such a way that leads to the feeling of ’embarrassment’. It is a fact that the way the individual interprets the situation and the consequent emotion that arises, will affect the kind of action the individual is to take (Burns, 1995, p.16). Burns considers that such assessments, together with the labels such as ‘fear’ or ‘anxiety’ can direct some learners to psychologically disengage from the source of distress that is the learning experience. Conversely, when coupled with labels such as ‘excitement’ or ‘challenge’ the learner is conducted to take measures that focus on the undertaking. With this slant, the abovementioned findings just aptly show how the Multiple Intelligences framework is the better if not best option to amplify what adult learning insights have offered and how the issues are met and addressed. It would seem that the Gardner framework can be both an approach in the arrangement of teacher’s approach to the student’s ease assimilating information and training of skills development; Gardner’s framework serves as assessment tool as well to further check and evaluate status of learning as well as secure its usefulness (i.e., training and knowledge) for a future job (Gardner, 1993; 1999). The curriculum then would appear more like a university level type that can be seen as implementation of several tracks, individualized in nature, with personal advising installed, and students are evaluated on their overall grade point average performance. Personality tests that are primarily geared to measure the Gardner â€Å"traits† are indispensable tools to discovering the possession of either or combinations of the â€Å"intelligences† (Gardner, 1993; 1999). On the course or subject level, students are also handled in individual cases but getting used to the variations will be established in the long run and may no longer be as difficult to implement and follow-up. Evaluation of the student performance and any behavioural changes are pertinent tasks that teachers are to be cognizant of. In this manner, the application of formative and summative assessments would not only be appropriate but timely as well. According to studies on the subject, both summative and formative assessments are employed to provide a very objective result as to the efficiency and efficacies not only of the teacher’s methods. The evaluation itself (i.e., assessment for and of learning) is a vital factor that is found to help the student realize his potentials and attenuate the weaknesses he’s had in the process of learning (Northern Arizona University, 2009). I believe that the methods of evaluating the interventions for the problem cannot be easily applied or even seen/grasped. However, this can only be understood well when applied (hands-on) to a particular school, class, and individual during a certain period like during the first half of a given school year. A detailed lesson plan, or syllabus is part of this tool with specific dates and key result areas to serve as a guide. This way, every student has each given the chance to shine his best and not just be a statistic in an otherwise lopsided contest where no real winners are found but instead disillusionment for failed dreams and succumbing to societal pressures are more common and expected. Reference: Brooks, J (1995) Training and Development Competence: a practical guide Kogan Page, London. Burns, S. (1995) ‘Rapid changes require enhancement of adult learning’ HRMonthly June, pp 16-17. Knowles, M.S. (1978) The Adult Learner: a Neglected Species 2nd edition, Houston: Gulf Publishing Company, Book Division   and Knowles, M.S. 1990 The Adult Learner: a Neglected Species 4th edition, Houston: Gulf Publishing Company, Book Division. Gardner, H. (1993). Multiple intelligences: the theory in practice. New York, NY: Basic Books. And Gardner, H. (1999). Multiple approaches to understanding. In C. M. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional-design theories and models (pp. 69-90). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Northern Arizona University. Formative vs. Summative Evaluation. Retrieved on May 9, (2009), from http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/edtech/etc667/proposal/evaluation/summative_vs._formative.htm

Advancement Of The Spinning Wheel History Essay

Advancement Of The Spinning Wheel History Essay A spinning wheel is a machine utilized for the conversion of fiber into yarn or thread, which is then used to make cloths (McCloskey, 1981). Its main functions are to combine fibers into a thread or yarn and then gather it in a bobbin so that it may be used as thread for the loom. It works on the principle that if you hold a bunch of fibers together and you pull a few out, the few will separate from the rest. These are pulled while being twisted at the same time hence forming a thread (Redford, 1931). The spinning wheel was invented between 500 and 1000 AD. However, the years 1400- 1800 are the ones referred to us the era of the spinning wheel (Jefferson, 1972). Unfortunately, no real spinning wheels survive from medieval times hence the only reliable evidence comes from images and records written during that time (McCloskey, 1981; North, 1979). It improved from the spindle, which was barely a stick with some weight attached. However, somewhere between 500 and 1000 A.D., An inventor turned the spindle sideways and added a pulley, which he then connected to the drive wheel. With this, the spinning wheel was ready for the work a head. Unfortunately, the merchants vehemently opposed the wheel when it hit the Western Europe markets blaming it for producing lumpy and uneven thread hence lowering the quality (Redford, 1931). There still rages a controversy about the development of this invention with some arguing that it was made in China for silk and ramie spinning while others believe that it was made later in India in order to cater for its cotton industry (McCloskey, 1981). However, spinning technology had been around for quite sometime before majority of the people embraced it and this makes it very hard to pinpoint a specific year or time and claim that is when specific improvements were done to it (Hurt, 1954). Come the 18th century the industrial revolution brought about a very big shift in the spinning industry and the mechanization of the spinning wheel be gan (McCloskey, 1981). One of the highly acclaimed inventors of the spinning wheels is Mr. James Hargreaves. Noticing an overturned spinning wheel which continued turning while the spindle was vertical, gave him the idea that several spindles could be organized to function at the same time from that position (Jefferson, 1972). Later he developed a model, which had eight spindles hence leading to increased output by his family members. News of his inventions caused his house to be attacked by jealous spinners and in the process all his machines were destroyed. Later, Mr. Hargreaves named his invention the spinning Jenny and patented the device in 1770. The spinning wheel led to higher output per person. In thread making, output increased by a factor of more than 10. With that, the production of rags and subsequently cheap paper revolutionized the printing industry (Hayek, 1954). The faster rate of spinning led to increased demand for the spinning wheels and with this agriculture was well on the way to being mechanized (Ashton, 1957). Later, Richard Arkwright’s new invention, a water- frame spinning roller was out in the year 1968.Eleven years Later in 1979, Samuel Crompton came up with a ‘spinning mule’ which was a combination of Arkwright’s water frame and Hargreaves Jenny (Hayek, 1954).

Image analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Image analysis - Essay Example ut an image is not only composed of the person because there are other elements to consider namely the other people in the picture and the caption as posted in paper or on online publications. In the first picture wherein Obama is shown with his family published in USA today, it can be considered as a representation of his origin and the family that he values. This can be considered as a way to present how he gives importance to his loved ones. It also serves as a promise of how he would give importance to the American people. The other photographs depicting his usual pose are similar but the news always presents the related subject which makes the difference. In general, the photographs of Obama are showing his open palm wave which can either mean leadership, sign of positivity or even control. His smile on the other hand is a sign of good will. All of these are subjective suppositions and no one can be sure of the exact meaning. On the other hand publicist and media people can attach whatever meaning they are meant to present to the

Critical Evaluation of a Journal Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Evaluation of a Journal Article - Essay Example e.g., young children at home and many housework hours) and spousal support would demonstrate a stronger correlation with the F 3 W conflict for individuals in the family profile than for individuals in the work profile. For the first hypothesis, the authors have anticipated that four different groups would appear based on high versus low importance attributions to work and family roles. For the second hypothesis, participants belonging to the dual profile were expected to exhibit a high level of W 3 F conflict and F 3 W conflict because of their desire to invest time and energy in both roles. With regard to the third hypothesis on family-related stress and support variables, the researchers said research has linked high levels of F 3 W conflict to the presence of small children in the home (Lewis & Cooper, 1988) and to many hours invested in housework (Voydanoff, 1988). However, spousal support was found to moderate the F 3 W conflict (Matsui, Ohsawa, & Onglatco, 1995). Finally, no explanation was mentioned about why the fourth hypothesis was derived. The paper says in the end that the findings generally supported the main hypotheses of the research. According to Creswell (2003), the research question is the statement being examined in the study in its most general form. The way the paper was organized, it was hard to locate the research question or questions. Yet, when a question was found, the paper was not committal. It starts with the words, â€Å"However, these studies investigating†¦. analysis. Thus, the following question remains unanswered: Are work-related stress and support variables similarly related to the W3F conflict among persons belonging to the work profile and individuals belonging to the family profile? There remains evidence†¦.† If this is the research question, it is not comprehensive enough to cover all that the research had studied. In other words, the paper can still be said to have presented no adequate research question. At best, any

Death of Stalin and Soviet Succession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Death of Stalin and Soviet Succession - Essay Example Malenkov emphasized on consumer goods production that saw the reduction of the tax payments by the peasants as well as the collective farm policy. Nikita thought also of an agricultural policy and this led him to develop the virgin lands. Nikita forged alliances with other parties to strengthen his position and he forced Malenkov to resign since he was party less. Nikita achieved as the successor of Stalin where he revived the party apparatus and reasserted control over the military, state security, and the state ministers. Kim Donggil account is that the Soviets took way North Korean properties such as food and factories left by the Japanese and the issue led to the Korean War. According to the author, Stalin did not like the presence of China or America in Korea since he had interests in the country. Stalin approved Kim II Sung attack on the Republic of Korea to guarantee Soviet political and economic interests in Korea while avoiding a direct clash with America in the region. Stalin actions were to advance Soviet interests in the sphere of influence to demand postwar strategic plan while avoiding the precipitation of Third World War. Stalin abandoned the pursuit of cooperation while he acted to tighten Soviet control in Eastern Europe. Shen Zhihua declares that Moscow need to know the American military apparatus, weapon stockpiles, troop dispositions, and atomic armaments. Moscow dispatched a Soviet doctor to spy on Mao Tse-tung while treating the Chinese red boss.2 The Soviet planned to collaborate with Korean once they realized that American troops had under strength and poor equipments in the country. Moscow assumed that United States had no chance of sending reinforcements in Korea. To guide a Soviet-Korean operation, Moscow dispatched 10,000 Russian officers and military supplies at Manchuria so that they can observe United States tactics to enable them plan on the enemy combative

Interest Rates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interest Rates - Essay Example Thirdly and lastly, the lender has to be compensated for the decrease in value of the money due to inflation, for example a dozen eggs might cost 100rs today and after a year they might cost 110rs, so if I have loaned any one 100rs I will want 110rs back because that is what 100rs is NOW worth or that is the equivalent value. There are basically two theories that explain how interest rates are decided upon, one is the 'Loanable Funds Theory' also known as the classical theory and the other one is 'Keynesian Theory' also known as the liquidity preference theory. The loanable funds theory is the older one of the two theories and according to this theory the interest rates are determined by the demand for loanable funds by firms and the supply of these funds by the banking and other investment funds, it suggests that interest rates are determined in the same way as demand for other goods and services is determined i.e. by finding the equilibrium position of the demand and supply of the relative product.

Pathophysiology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pathophysiology - Essay Example This can be as a result of consumption of poor diets or unhealthy lifestyle (Timby & Smith, 2005). Disorders leading to left-sided congestive heart failure can be seen in both children and adults. In children, it can be caused by birth defects involving the heart and heart muscles such as abnormal heart valves or blood vessel connection. In adults, such disorders include hypothyroidism and other inherited heart conditions that can lead to cardiomyopathy. High blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, obesity and coronary artery diseases are other risk factors for left-sided congestive heart failure (Hobbs & Boyle, 2014). According to Robinson, N. E., & Sprayberry (2009), the most common symptom for left-sided heart failure is fatigue, weakness or faintness as a result of insufficient supply of oxygen to the body. Other symptoms include shortness of breath due to excess fluid accumulation in the lungs, decreased urine production and abrupt weight gain due to excessive fluid retention and cough that contains frothy or bloody mucus. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction could occur as a result of left-sided congestive heart failure

Sustainable Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Sustainable Design - Essay Example The balancing of these aspects in the new product development design is the outlook of 'Sustainable product development and design'. "To create sustainable products and services that increase stakeholders' 'quality of life', whilst at the same time achieving major reductions in resource and energy use, will require a significant emphasis on stimulating new ideas through higher levels of creativity and innovation"- e generation Business Learning Centre. Thus it becomes evident that creating new designs may need increased creativity as well as the fullest involvement form the varied strata of people, if new solutions and designs are to be generated which will substantiate the Sustainable Product Design Development. In general 'sustainable development' is to be seen as a basic human concept dealing with the kind of environment the people would like to live in. Sustainable development is a strong image but a provocative one. The best place to get good suggestions on the sustained development is the 'customers'. Many companies have forgotten to talk to customers but have focused inwardly on the technological and improvements required for, primarily eco-design using less energy and less components etc. In many cases such suggestions may not be the right solution but nevertheless, it can be demonstrated that new ideas can reach marketplace if the conditions are right." Quite understandably, the majority of people do not understand the academic concept of sustainable development. Indeed, research for the Department of Environment in the UK, indicated that sustainable development was seen as a government construct to keep people out of environmental issues" Martin Charter and Anne Chick (1997). Keepi ng this context in view, this paper attempts to cover an overview of creation of new sustainable product designs to manufacture products, services and product service systems in so far they address economical, social and environmental issues. This paper also aims to have a re-look in to the past, study the present and suggest possible future solutions to the impact of product design on these issues. 2.0 SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN-ECONOMICAL ISSUES As we described at the outset, good design and good business go hand-in-hand. The best challenge in business that a firm may face is to arrive at an exact product design even at the first instance so that the rushing to be first to the market will not result in design flaws and the resultant poor performance of the product. This may totally negate any advantage resulting to the firm because of its efficient and quicker 'time to market'. "An effective design process: Matches product or service characteristics with customer requirements Ensures that customer requirements are met in the simplest and less costly manner Reduces the time required to design a new product or service and Minimize the revisions necessary to make a design workable." - (Roberta S. Russell & Bernard W. Taylor III 2003) All the above objectives flow only in one direction; that is to maximize the benefit of the value design. All forces in an organization work in cognition to align themselves with the common aim of achieving market share, sales volume, brand reputation, customer loyalty, profit margin and channel growth and so on. A careful analysis of these

Outraged moms, trashy daughters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Outraged moms, trashy daughters - Essay Example The author describes the generation gap between todays mothers and their teenage daughters also as a gap between how the two generations differ in terms of valuing equality and female empowerment. She also expressed her concern over "heightened sexual activity," and the "sexualization of young girls" but also mentions the lack of depth and reflection among teenagers today. The above observations are a feminist concern and in this reaction paper, I agree with the observations of the author. Feminists earlier opposed the vulgar representation of female images in magazines and advertisements because of their strong protest in visualizing females as a commercial object rather than an individual. On the other hand, current female teenagers like to see people enjoying their sexy bodies. In fact, they are doing everything possible to wear dresses, which expose their body maximum. This is not because of their inherent traits, as we all know that their mothers strongly protested against the f emale objectification, but because of the changing life styles and philosophy of life. The teenage girls are made to dress in this manner because it is the norm of the society. Female teenagers of the current generation are witnessing the enormous publicity of celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Angelina Julie, and Salma Hayek etc. They know that these people enjoy great publicity not because of their talents alone, but because of their beautiful bodies also.

The State and Local Government of Illinois Essay Example for Free

The State and Local Government of Illinois Essay Illinois is a state in the northern central of U.S., a center of Midwest, which entered the Union on December 3, 1818 making it the 21st state of the US (Illinois Encarta). Illinois’ economy has increased or developed, until now Illinois is the most dynamic and prolific in terms of its industrial and agricultural characteristics. Illinois is the 5th most populous and diverse state in the Midwest in terms of demography. Chicago is in the northeastern side, tiny industrial cities in the and huge agricultural part in the western and central Illinois, and a lot of natural resources like petroleum and coal in the southern part can   be found. Illinois is also an essential or significant transportation center having the â€Å"Port of Chicago† connecting the Mississippi to the Great Lakes through the Illinois River, and is also is surrounded by compact networks of highways, waterways, railroads, and air routes, which most of it unite or meet on the metropolis of Chicago, the third largest city in the United States. Illinois is consisted of two sections or partitions, and these are Chicago and the downstate or the smaller communities managing to keep their distinctive characteristics. Illinois is divided or separated into 4 major natural regions and these include the Central Lowland, the Ozark Plateaus, The Golf Coastal Plain, and the Interior Low Plateaus. Except for some short streams, nearly all the rivers and streams flow west or southward to the Ohio River or to the Mississippi River, joining the Mississippi close to Cairo in the southern part. Illinois’ climate is composed of cold winters and hot summers, with polar masses moving south to the state of Canada during winters and warm air masses moving up from Mexican Gulf during summers. The average July temperature in Illinois ranging from 24 degrees Celsius in the northeastern Illinois to above 26 degrees Celsius in the southern part wile January averages range from less than -4 degrees Celsius in the northwestern side to above 1 degrees Celsius in the south (Illinois Encarta).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two top crops grown in the state with respect to value and quantity are soybeans and corns, ranking Illinois as the 2nd primary state its production. Illinois is placed 4th in the country as an industrial state next after California, Texas, and Ohio, based on the Illinois’ industry contribution to the country’s income, with which most manufacturing is done in the Chicago area. Illinois’ urban and industrial areas need huge amounts of electricity with which 51% is supplied or generated through steam driven power plants through the use of coal and 48% is through its 6 nuclear power plants (Illinois Encarta). Chicago is the center of intricate systems of highways waterways, airlines, railroads, and gas and oil pipelines; making Chicago the major or main center of trucking activities in U.S. According to the national census of 2000, Illinois is the 5th most populous state in the US, having a total population of about 12, 419, 293, and having an 8.6% increase compared to the 1990 census, with 88% are living in urban areas (Illinois Encarta). School attendance in Illinois was made obligatory since 1883 and is now oblige for all children 7 to 17 to go to school, resulting to $9851 expenses per student as of 2002-2003 (Illinois Encarta). Illinois: Government   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Illinois first constitution was adopted in the year 1818 and new constitutions have been adopted in 1848 and 1870, and a 4th constitution was adopted in 1970 concerning the 20th century industrialized state and responsibility for financing public education (Illinois Encarta). Illinois’’ State Government   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Illinois’ state government is composed of an executive, legislative, and judiciary, in the executive, the governor is the states chief executive who is elected for a 4 year term and has the power to appoint key officials of the state administrative agencies and department upon the approval of the state senate. The governor has the power to veto bills approved by the legislature, but the legislature can overrule or ignore such veto by 3/5 majority vote of each house’ members. Other elected officials of the executive who are elected for a 4 year term are the attorney general, comptroller, treasurer, secretary of the state, and the lieutenant governor. On the legislative, the state legislature known as the General Assembly which is composed of the House of Representatives and a Senate, having 59 Senators and 1189 Representatives. Representatives are all elected to serve to 2 year terms while the senators are elected to either 2 or 4 year term. The assembly meeting is annually held on the 2nd Wednesday of January, and the governor or the presiding officer of both houses may call special meetings or assembly. The Judiciary of Illinois has 3 types of courts, namely, the circuit courts, the appellate courts, and the supreme courts. The Supreme Court is the states’ highest court composed of 7 judges who are elected for 10 year terms, and the 3 judges are elected from Cook County including Chicago, and 1 judge from each of the 4 other districts. The Judges elect one as chief justice who will serve for 3 years unless the person’s term as a judge ends and the judges of the states appellate court are also elected for 10 year terms. Circuits are Judges elected for 6 year terms and they in turn designates associate judges for 4 year terms. Illinois Local Government An elected county board is the main policy making body of each of the 102 Illinois counties. A county board is voted in each county and the number of members of the county board is set by ordinance in each county. The members of the Cook County Board are elected from 2 districts such as Chicago and outside Chicago. In the local government, there are called county officers who have the responsibilities and power given by the law and by the county ordinance. The president of the Cook County Board is elected from the county having the power as the chief executive officer of the county and each county has a sheriff, a treasurer, and a county clerk who will serve for 4 year terms, and they may assign or vote recorder, coroner, auditor, assessor, and other officials. The treasurer of the county may perform as a treasurer of any school district or local government in his respective county if a school district asked for it. In the local government there are also Home Rule Units or a municipality with a population of more than 25000 and has an elective executive. A Home Rule Unit doesn’t have the authority to acquire liabilities from ad valorem property tax receipts that will mature in 40 years, and doesn’t have the authority to give a penalty of a felony (Constitution of†¦). Home rule units only have the power to punish offenders by imprisonment for more than 6 months or impose taxes based on occupants’ earnings. A home Rule Unit has the power to adopt, repel, or alter a form of government subject to the approval by referendum, and has the power to provide for its officers their manner of selection or terms of office through the approval by a referendum. Municipalities and counties which are not Home Rule Units have only powers given by the law and the powers to have improvements in their locality by especial assessments. Special districts and units, townships, school districts, and appointed by law as local government units only have the authority given by the law. Chicago and most other cities have their mayor and a council form of government. Most of the medium size cities in Illinois have their chosen or selected professional city manager, and most villages are managed by the board president and Board of trustees. Works Cited â€Å"Constitution of the State of Illinois.† n.d.. Illinois Handbook of Government, 18 December 2007 http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/handbook/ilconstitution.pdf. â€Å"Illinois.† 2007.   Illinois MSN Encarta, 19 December 2007 http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566615/Illinois.html. â€Å"Illinois Compiled Statutes.† 2007.   Illinois General Assembly Illinois Compiled Statutes, 19 December 2007 http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.asp. â€Å"Illinois Government.† 2007.   Illinois.gov Illinois Government Judiciary, 19 December 2007 http://www.illinois.gov/government/judiciary.cfm.

Marketing Case Study Levi

Marketing Case Study Levi Levi Strauss Company is one of the worlds leading brand-name apparel marketers with sales across the world. There is no other company with a equivalent worldwide presence in the jeans and casual pants market. Their market-leading apparel merchandise are sold under the Levis, Dockers, and Levis Strauss Signature brands. Today, the Levis trademark is one of the most globally recognized, and is registered in almost over 160 countries. Now, more than ever, constant and meaningful innovation is vital to their commercial success. The global business environment is intensely competitive. Worldwide trade, instantaneous communications and the effortlessness of market entry are among the forces putting greater pressure on merchandise and brand differentiation. To be successful, it is imperative that Levi Strauss continuously change, competing in new and different ways that are relevant to the changing times. What position in the market does Levi occupy (using the strategy clock to characterise its position) A strategy clock is based upon the work of Cliff Bowman. It is another suitable way to examine a companys competitive position by comparing the offerings of competitors The strategy clock allows one to consider competitive advantage in relation to cost advantage or differentiation advantage. (C. Bowman and D. Faulkner Competitive and Corporate Strategy Irwin 1996).There a six core strategic options, one of them are where Levi is positioned and this will be shown below. According to Bowmans Strategy Clock Levis displays Differentiation with price premium. This means that the company has value to its product and the customers to justify high costs. Differentiation is about charging a premium price that more than covers the additional production costs, and about giving customers clear reasons to prefer the product over other, less differentiated products. (Johnson, G Scholes, K 1997) The first indication of Levi been this position is that Levis states that they wanted to avoid price-based competition due to their history of brand recognition and brand loyalty to their customers. Therefore Levi created value to the customers by providing them with customised jeans and accustomed the price according to the Levis brand which carries enough clout to justify a reasonable price premium. Over the years though it seemed that the brand name lost some importance and it was critical for Levi to create valued features to the customers in order to differentiate them from their competitors. The cost structure showed that Levi sold their products through wholesale channels which were then distributed by the retailers. Levi also maintained a chain of Original Levi Stores. These two choices allowed Levis to be closer to the customers and help them satisfy their needs in the search for the perfect fitted jean. The next factor that indicates the position is that Levi emerged with mass production with the use of emerging communication and computer technologies. The concept allowed Levi to find a niche market and help them create a competitive advantage over the competitors by providing customized made jeans. Previously it was thought that highly-customized products were expensive to produce, however with information technology Levi was able to meet the customer needs for flexibility and it created a chance for Levi in becoming more economical. Levi found a way to make a mass production and have services delivered due to the technology. Levi was facing a lot of competitors that provided the low-cost and high volume producers, therefore they had an advantage over the company. The Personal Pair Proposal project allowed a discovery of a niche market and this allowed Levi to create differentiation from its competitors and by adding price premium. Levi wanted to avoid competing against the low-cost volume producers therefore Levi did market research and revealed that only a quarter of women were truly happy with how their jeans fitted them. This project was a jean customisation program that made it possible to approach the customers with having lower distribution costs and unsold inventory. The mass customised program allowed the costs to be lower as well as provide the differentiation advantage due to the reengineering process of new technologies. Therefore the position of differentiation is providing customers with value, medium prices and high perceived value is created for Levi jeans. The fact that there is value added with the service. The proposal of a $15 premium and with focused groups suggested that women would consider the price fair due to them finding a superior fit, which competitors have not done yet. Suggestions have been made that a realistically price would be between $5 and $10. The fact that there is a brand name involved it would not be considered for the premium to be $15 as customers know the quality of the jean that they will be receiving and the knowledge that the jeans are hand sewn. Manufacturing and raw materials will not be affected with the proposal both therefore eliminating unnecessary costs and allowing prices to be reasonable for the customers, which creates more value for differentiation. How confident are you that the Personal Pair project will change the differentiation and low cost trade-off? Levis has a legacy of being very durable and high quality jeans that last at a low cost. Levi is very high quality with a low cost but they somehow are losing favour with their customers. To compete in the always changing market Levis might have to enter into a new market which would be high quality with a high price. Therefore with evidence below I am confident to say that the Personal Pair will change the Low cost trade off. It is almost a must that Levi must change the differentiation and low cost trade-off. This would change Levis motto of high quality for a reasonable price, unless they start a new line to compete in the new market. Levi will move to incorporate a focus differentiation strategy where focus is on the higher end of the jeans market, yielding stronger profit margins due to price premium. The fact that customers expect prices to be higher due to quality the company cannot just reduce the prices even though with mass customisation will be cheaper. The idea of the perceive price has been set in the customers minds and therefore they are willing to pay a higher price for perceived added value to a particular segment, justify a price premium. Therefore it is vital the company prices the jeans correctly because the particulare market segments is not necessarily price sensitive and is willing to pay a higher amount for a jean that they know is going to fit them perfectly and is made of good quality fabrics. The personal pair proposal approach helps the customers who find a array of choices in the market place overwhelming, and to narrow down their specific needs. The Personal Pair Project adds extra value and therefore customers perceive the premium price to be high. These customers are approached and are helped to understand what their needs are, and with the offerings of a customized fitting jean it allowed customers to know that Levi is catering for their need which creates customer loyalty and a strong brand name. The actual manufacture products in a just-in-time fashion respond to specific customer request. What are Levis unique resources and core competence? Resource is any physical or virtual entity of limited availability that needs to be consumed to obtain a benefit from it. (Alexander Osterwalder, 2004) In most cases, commercial or even ethic factors require resource allocation through resource management. (Alexander Osterwalder, 2004) Unique resources are resources that are not easy to copy, incomparable to competitors and create value for the company. A core competency is a specific factor that a business sees as being central to the way it, or its employees, works. (Prahalad, C.K. and Hamel, G. (1990). It provides consumer benefits, it is not easy for competitors to imitate and it can be leveraged widely too many products and markets. (Prahald, C.K. et al (1990). Core competencies are particulare strengths relative to other organizations in the industry which provide the fundamental basis for the provision of added value. Core competencies are the collective learning in organizations, and involve how to coordinate diverse production skills and integrate multiple streams of technologies. (Prahalad, C.K. and Hamel, G. (1990) The core competence of the corporation, Harvard Business Review (v.68, no.3) pp. 79-91). Levis core competencies were found in manufacturing, merchandising and marketing. With regards to manufacturing, Levi has decided to do mass customization for the customers. The mass customization results in them satisfying a number of customers needs and savings cost at the same time by producing in bulk. From a strategic point, the concept is based on finding a niche market. Mass customization uses emerging communication and computer technologies to bypass the limitations of traditional mass production methods. Therefore Levi had a core competency in meeting the customers needs by been more flexible and has greater choice in the market place with the help of manufacturing with the use of technology. In addition, a mass customisation model lowers the costs as well as it provides the differentiation advantage over the competitors, since the re-engineering process is often more efficient once the new technology is applied. Therefore Levi will have this competency of customers loyalty and brand recognition due to their needs been satisfied. The next core competency is merchandising, Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. (Kunz, Grace (2005). In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer. Levi is doing this by offering the customers a chance to find the perfect fitting jean. Levi operation equips the store with networked PCs and personal pair kiosks. Customers will be measured and with this technology operation and practice it results in one of 4ÂÂ  224 possible size combinations. The computer generates a code for the number of correspondents. This practice gives Levi a competitive advantage as they would be the first company to offer these unique resources to the customers. Lastly you can see the core competency of Levi in their marketing. Levi is such a well known brand, and is given terms such as authentic, genuine and original. This indicates that they are widely known and considers having customer recognition. Therefore Levi is able to market to their customers that are willing to pay for the quality products. The marketing strategy allowed differentiation to be possible and to offer the customers a new product development of a perfect fitted jean. Levis aspects of the VRIO framework: Valuable: Has a history of Brand Loyalty and Recognition and remains number one internationally in its markets. Rare: Has a strong branding image. Levis is marketed as authentic and genuine and enjoys customer support. Inimitable: Jeans are US made unlike competitors. Levis provides generous packages to employees retention of HR. Organised: Manufacturing is key core competency and is managed to have maximum value for resources (J.F Smith, 06/22/2009). Should Levi go ahead with the joint venture? What would you recommend and why? Yes, Levis should go ahead with the joint venture with Custom Clothing Technology Corporation (CCTC). Levi stands to lose this opportunity to competitors if it decides to not move forward. Market research has shown that more than ÂÂ ¾ of women are not fully satisfied with fit of their jean, this is almost guaranteeing a market segment that will be willing to buy the perfect fit. Low-cost and high value competition makes it necessary to create value features that would differentiate it in the eyes of the consumer. Therefore by joining CCTC, Levi will be able to get the technology expertise on how to create and capture different possible size jeans for different shaped people. Offering this to the customers will allow them to feel that they are been catered for and therefore willing to pay the price in order to feel good. This creates customer loyalty at the end of the day due to customer intimacy, Levi should ensure that the intimacy is marketed and to show the benefits. Levi should at first enter into the proposal cautiously by choosing to enter a test phase before proceeding in joining the full scale project. The result of doing this will ensure that Levi will be making a good decision and know more about what they are getting involved with. Levi will benefit this joint venture in many ways. Firstly with mass customisation and offering the customers a perfect fit can result in Levi to better adapt to the individual needs and wishes. This means that it will result in the customers to less likely switch brands. Levi should also consider the fact that by going into a joint Venture with CCTC and offering mass customisation it will help Levi learn directly from the customers and it will help them identify the new trends and the taste that improves the New Product Development. This is because Levi will be dealing with a variety of customers of different shapes and sizes and needs to understand that they require and look for different styles. Therefore Levi will get a hand full of people to represent the possible sizes and this creates the customer value. This venture can allow more customers needs responded to and therefore by allowing the customers to participate in the New Product Development allows the product to be accepted by the market much faster. Levi will be catering for them and they will respond due to Levi identifying that there is a need for a perfectly fitted jean. Levi must understand that by doing this venture they are responding to the individual needs of the customers. The response of one person will lead to them telling their friends, the word of mouth is a very powerful and very cheap form of communication. Levis Strauss can only benefit from joining the CCTCs approach. At the end of the day it will add value to Levis value chain due to them catering for their customers needs and wants. The fundamental idea in this approach is to gain customers satisfaction and if Levi does not take this opportunity another company will. Creating this system which is driven by the customers demands and specific to the exact needs of their customers CCTC can help Levi ultimately make their business be more aware and learn more about their customers and how to fully achieve customer satisfaction. Without a joint venture with CCTC and outside value chain analysis, Levi might not be able to grasp the actual scope of the opportunities that they were missing out on. This joint venture will help the company adapt to the fast growing industry and competition, it can also help the company differentiation. Due to the fact that the competition is offering lower prices it is vital that Levi offers something unique to the customers. Levi wants to avoid price based competition because they had a history of brand recognition and brand loyalty. Therefore it would be wiser to join this venture with CCTC and create customer value and customer satisfaction. Personal pair was a jeans customisation program which will make the joint venture with Custom Clothing Technology Corporation. Together these companies can enter the mass customisation with the help of technology. CONCLUSION: A valuable lesson that can be taken from this case is how necessary it is to keep up with your brand image and customer loyalty. Being content with one niche in a market such as clothing is never acceptable and is therefore necessary that Levi makes the joint venture successful. Styles, times, and preferences are changing so rapidly, that a clothing line must be able to meet the needs and wants of their customers. While Levis still had a market in the older generations, they were missing out on a huge market that likes to shop and that are looking for the perfectly fitted jean no matter what their size was. The second implication that can be applied to other companies would be their option for strategic alliance. Levis really needs some help in the area of brand image and by collaborating with Customer Clothing Technology Corporation, they will have a whole new consumer market. Levis has learned that they cannot be comfortable in one market for too long because that alienates another market such as the younger generations. Collaborating with CCTC, the company can obtain certain advantages that can only help Levi with the competitive environment. Therefore Levi can improve its customer value chain and achieve maximum customers satisfaction with mass customization. Harvard References: Alexander Osterwalder, 2004 Barney, J.B. and Hesterly, W.S. (2008). Strategic management and Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. 2nd edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall C. Bowman and D. Faulkner Competitive and Corporate Strategy Irwin 1996). Dr Brian Squire, Supply Chain Management Research Group, Manchester Business School, Executive Briefing 2006-04 J.F Smith, 06/22/2009 Johnson, G., Scholes, K, 1997). Phil Dourado, Bart de Boever, Dirk De Vos the annual, organised by ICBI and held in Paris. Prahalad, C.K. and Hamel, G. (1990) The core competence of the corporation, Harvard Business Review (v. 68, no. 3) pp. 79-91. )

Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography Analysis

Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography Analysis Critical commentary on the picture- Henri Cartier-Bresson: Michel Gabriel, Rue Mouffetard, 1952 The photo that I am going to analyse is taken by the famous French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, in 1952. He was famous for his candid photography, which was later developed as another kind of art ‘Street photography. His contribution towards photography art finally helped him own the name of ‘the father of modern photojournalism. The photo mainly captures a boy, Michel Gabriel, who is holding two magnums with his arms, and his face is actually exuding a kind of happiness and confidence which could supposedly be seen on a mature mans face. There are also two little girls captured in the photo, but their presence is a bit blurred since the boy holding the wine bottles is the main character. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the boy was portrayed as a ‘man who was proud to be a drinker. In fact, the relationship between the boy, Michel Gabriel, and the photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, was very subtle because actually the boy and the photographer did not know each other; the photographer just shot the boy in a candid way. Therefore, it can be said that the relationship between them is very subtle, which is the photographer vs. the model, or the man with a camera vs. a boy with wine bottles. In this photo, the theory, Affective fallacy, suggested by W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley can be applied. Affective fallacy is supposedly defined as a confusion between the poem and its results, but later this theory is also generally used to apply to viewing photographs, meaning that readers interpret the photographs through his/her personal emotion or affectionateness. The boy is holding two wine bottles with satisfied facial expression; readers like me may view this photo on the basis of intuition that the boy is happy because he could drink alcohol like an adult. However, this interpretation may be wrong since we do not know the intention of the photographer. To be more objective, the boy may just run across something which was intriguing on the street, and the photographer just captured the moment. Another interpretation would be the boy is just carrying two wine bottles filled with water (or empty) around for fun, which can be inferred from the background of the photo. First, the apartment and street implies that the place where the boy walks is a working class distract. Therefore, wine is possibly not affordable for a child like him; he may just play what popular within the working class area at that time. Second, the ambience of black and white of the photo, the clothing style of the boy, the impressed girls behind him, and the date can also help convince the readers that the boy is playing at the moment. However, if readers refer to the statement of Cartier-Bresson, the interpretations will be different. As Henri Cartier-Bresson said ‘photography is a way of shouting, freeing oneself, not of proving and asserting ones originality, so photography is a mean of telling the story or truth in which it captures the conversation, facial expression, gestures and presents them in a visual way which can be for later reflections. The meanings that are being shouted or freed by the photographer would be the concern about the boy drinking alcohol, about the drinking habits of his parents, and even about the way that the boy lives under the influence of his parents. The statement of Cartier-Bresson is thus in line with the viewpoint of Benjamin stressing that ‘photograph can release meaning that was not perceived at the time. There is no doubt that photography can capture an object; it can also capture time in which the moment will last forever. Therefore, the viewpoint from Kracauer is true because he stress that ‘photography captures time- memory outlast time, meaning that the image together with the meaning would become memory which can be recalled. Taking this photo as an example, it does document the time when people were living in Rue Mouffetard, and also the aura of surrounding area. Therefore, it is a good documentation recording the community life during that period. Yet, reading an image sometimes goes problematic as the photographer (creator) does not always provide a lucid explanation or his/her interpretation for the photos; therefore, different interpretation can be resulted. Using this photo as an example again, whatever the photographer, the boy, his parents, or even the girls behind the boy, they may have their own interpretations towards this photo. That is why sometimes reading images goes problematic. But I have to say that this ‘problematic reading can, to a certain extent, stimulate the imagination of readers, from the surface to the underneath of photos. With no doubt, the prevalence of ‘street photographs or ‘candid photographs can be attributable to Cartier-Bressons contributions. However, nowadays, this kind of art seems to be abused because you can see a lot of candid photographs through different social networking websites, blogs, etc. However, it has somehow become a flood because most of the photos taken, especially in my hometown Hong Kong, have no meanings; the photographers themselves even do not know what meanings they want to express or deliver to the readers, thus, it is a bit sad because what the readera can access may be just the superficial meanings. The reader, as well, should also view a photograph in a deeper way in which he or she can access to different dimensions of the photographs. Nowadays, people are inclined to glimpse photographs instead of reading them. He or she may only get the very superficial meanings of the photographs. That is why sometimes we need to view a photograph with theories. For me, the photographic theories do help me to view a photograph in a deeper and more complex way. I am impressed by what Cartier-Bresson said ‘taking photographs is a means of understanding which cannot be separated from other means of visual expression; it is true because once you press the shutter of your camera, the relationship between the object and you has been set up. However, you cannot deeply understand the object by just glimpsing it. A good photographer captures time; a good reader captures the meanings behind. Benjamins theory on photograph said ‘photograph can confirm ideological thinking, I absolutely agree to the statement as I think a photograph itself can establish discourse and semantics in its own world; that is why a photo can decode the culture, values whatever of an object or of a particular place. Therefore, I think that reading a photograph is quite similar to reading a text in which readers need to undergo the process of decoding. In a text, readers have to decode the words into image while in a photograph, they have to decipher the hidden meanings (images) into words. It can be said that readers can fully understand the photographs unless they immerse themselves in the hidden dimensions of the photographs. If a reader only views the photo through a glimpse, what he/she can get is superficial. Reference: http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Cartier_Bresson_Henri.html

Knowledge Management Software :: essays research papers

I will attempt to inform you on what Knowledge Management Software (KMS) is. I will also attempt to give you a brief history and specific benefits the KMS adds to our specific global organization. First let’s talk about knowledge management (KM), and define what it is? I had the opportunity to talk with three coworkers and for them to give me a definition that I myself had no idea about until I decided to do some research. Well, my first interview went with Tasha who’s a Supply person. She had no idea; she thought it could not be such a thing as KM. Secondly, I interviewed Michelle our unit secretary. She said she’d heard of it but couldn’t possibly tell me what it meant. And lastly, I interviewed Tonya, our personnel specialist. Tonya said she knew what knowledge was. According to her, knowledge had something to do with knowing information and management according to her is knowing what to do with the information. Well, that gave me a starting point. Well, what is knowledge? Let’s see, knowledge has two basic definitions of interest. The first pertains to a defined body of information. Depending on the definition, the body of information might consist of facts, opinions, ideas, theories, principles, and models (or other frameworks). Clearly, other categories are possible, too. Subject matter (e.g., chemistry, mathematics, etc.) is just one possibility. In addition, knowledge also refers to a person’s state of being with respect to some body of information. These states include ignorance, awareness, familiarity, understanding, facility, and so on. Now that was a mouthful. Management on the other had has some of the similarities as Tonya mention above. When I researched the definition for management it means to manage or be responsible for controlling or organizing someone or something especially a business. After reviewing both and putting those together KM means - the processes of finding, collecting and sharing information within an organization. This has taken the business community by storm in the last five years. It is about making optimum use of the intellectual capital (skills, ideas and knowledge) of employees. The history of KMS has many faces. With continuously emerging work roles, the unlocking of an enterprise's information to members at every level has become essential to ensure that each has the knowledge, skills and authority to be productive. These new work roles demand that every individual have access to the correct data and knowledge in order to make their own effective business decisions.

The Roosevelt Era :: American History

Chapter 30 American on the World Stage 1899-1909 Summary: Foreign affairs led Roosevelt from domestic to international involvement. Page:673-681 Columbia blocks the Canal Foreign affairs absorbed much of Roosevelt’s energy and had more knowledge of outside world than most of his predecessors. Americans from Spanish-American War wanted canal across the Central American isthmus to augment the strength of the navy by increasing its mobility, defend recent American acquisitions (Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Philippines, and facilitate operations of American merchant marine. Initial obstacles was legal ones. Ancient Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with British in 1850 U.S Could not secure control over such route. 1901 with unfriendly European power and Boer War, British consented to Hay-Pauncefote Treaty it gave the U.S. right to build canal and right to fortify it as well. Locations of the canal was a controversy. Many Americans like the Nicaraguan route but the French Canal Company was not want this failing S-shaped Panama. New Panama Canal company suddenly dropped the price of its holding. Nicaragua was objected because of its volcanic activity. Congress accepted the Panama route after Hanna persuasion. U.S. negotiation with Colombian a treaty favorable to the U.S. It lease the 6 mile for $10 million and annual payment of $250,000. Colombian rejected because it was its most valuable natural assets and later truth was $ not enough. Eager to be elected prez and mad at the outcome. 1904 proclaimed he want the canal built and critizen the treaty rejector blocking the onward march of civilization. Uncle Sam Creates Puppet Panama Panamanians ready for another revolt because fear prosperity would be gone it U.S. now turn to Nicaraguan route. Buanu-Varilla did not want company to lose money + revoluntionists+fire fighters+Colombian troops. 1903 Panama revolution occurred when Colombian troops were gathered to crush uprising but U.s. naval forces would not let them cross isthmus with justification of treaty 1846 that U.S. was obligation to maintain perfect neutrality of the isthmus against outsiders. Roosevelt quickly made Panana it outpost of u.S. Buanau-Varilla (now Panamanian minister) signed the Hya-Bunau-Varilla treaty in WA. Everthing the same but canal space widen and French company pocketed money from U.S. treasury. U.S. suffered from Roosevelt because European imperialists scorn at America’s uperior moral pretensions. Completing the Canal and Appeasing Colombia Panama made an ugly U.S.

Contrast of the Modern American and British House :: essays papers

Contrast of the Modern American and British House Modern American and British houses may appear similar from the outside, just as an American may appear similar to an Englishman. One cannot judge a house by its faà §ade, however, and beneath the surface, two altogether different design paradigms exist. The American house is a sprawling retreat that is designed for comfortable living. Compact and efficient, the British house embodies a conservative lifestyle. The two also differ in the amenities they offer. The modern American house overflows with built-in features; the modern British house is sparse in comparison. They are even constructed with dissimilar materials and techniques. Although modern American and British houses can appear similar, they differ significantly in the amenities they offer, their size, and in the way they are constructed. The modern British house typically has fewer amenities than that of its American counterpart. In the bedroom, walk-in closets organize the American's ensemble and accommodate his shoe collection. Conversely, the Englishman uses a pine wardrobe, possibly a family heirloom, which moves with him from home to home. In the American bathroom, a shower is a standard feature that is quite uncommon in the British home. When one is installed, the British shower is a point of significant difference as well. The pressurized American shower is powerful, and leaves one with a feeling of invigoration. The gravity fed British shower, however, is hardly capable of developing enough power to leave one with a feeling of satisfaction. In the modern American kitchen, one is certain to find a dishwasher. In the British kitchen, a dishwasher is the exception, not the rule. Americans also consider most kitchen appliances to be a part of the house. The Englishman holds a different view. It is not unusual for him to take the stove, refrigerator, or even the kitchen cupboards when moving to a new home. The modern British house lacks many amenities that Americans consider basic. It also offers less living space than the modern American house. The grand American house is designed for comfort, whereas the conservative British house is designed for efficiency. These contrasting design approaches yield houses that differ immensely in the amount of living space they offer. American houses have "mud" rooms, laundry rooms, dining rooms, formal living rooms, and family rooms. British houses converge and integrate these functional areas into their common rooms. The hall, or the "reception," is the "mud room." The kitchen is the laundry room and the dining area. Contrast of the Modern American and British House :: essays papers Contrast of the Modern American and British House Modern American and British houses may appear similar from the outside, just as an American may appear similar to an Englishman. One cannot judge a house by its faà §ade, however, and beneath the surface, two altogether different design paradigms exist. The American house is a sprawling retreat that is designed for comfortable living. Compact and efficient, the British house embodies a conservative lifestyle. The two also differ in the amenities they offer. The modern American house overflows with built-in features; the modern British house is sparse in comparison. They are even constructed with dissimilar materials and techniques. Although modern American and British houses can appear similar, they differ significantly in the amenities they offer, their size, and in the way they are constructed. The modern British house typically has fewer amenities than that of its American counterpart. In the bedroom, walk-in closets organize the American's ensemble and accommodate his shoe collection. Conversely, the Englishman uses a pine wardrobe, possibly a family heirloom, which moves with him from home to home. In the American bathroom, a shower is a standard feature that is quite uncommon in the British home. When one is installed, the British shower is a point of significant difference as well. The pressurized American shower is powerful, and leaves one with a feeling of invigoration. The gravity fed British shower, however, is hardly capable of developing enough power to leave one with a feeling of satisfaction. In the modern American kitchen, one is certain to find a dishwasher. In the British kitchen, a dishwasher is the exception, not the rule. Americans also consider most kitchen appliances to be a part of the house. The Englishman holds a different view. It is not unusual for him to take the stove, refrigerator, or even the kitchen cupboards when moving to a new home. The modern British house lacks many amenities that Americans consider basic. It also offers less living space than the modern American house. The grand American house is designed for comfort, whereas the conservative British house is designed for efficiency. These contrasting design approaches yield houses that differ immensely in the amount of living space they offer. American houses have "mud" rooms, laundry rooms, dining rooms, formal living rooms, and family rooms. British houses converge and integrate these functional areas into their common rooms. The hall, or the "reception," is the "mud room." The kitchen is the laundry room and the dining area.

How far do you think Educating Rita has a happy conclusion?

Many definitions of comedy claim that at the end of the play a happy conclusion will have emerged. How far do you think Educating Rita has a happy conclusion? Educating Rita is a play by Willie Russell, set in 1983. It is a semi-autobiographical play about Rita, a young working class Liverpool hairdresser who decides wants to gain an education using an Open University. Her tutor is the disillusioned and alcoholic Frank, who teaches at the Open University to pay for his drinking habits. Rita decides she wants to learn everything, even if it means ‘abandoning her originality’.With Rita’s marriage break down, and Frank’s alcoholism, will either of them ever receive their happy ending? In some ways, I think the Educating Rita does have a happy ending. This is due to many incidents throughout the play which shows Frank and Rita can have a good life and can now move on with it. At the beginning of the play, Rita says that she â€Å"wants to learn everything†. By the end of the play, she fulfils this dream as she passes her exams and can now be seen as an â€Å"educated woman†.She can now be herself, a working class hairdresser, yet have an education at the same time, which she didn’t think she could have before, as she thought she was â€Å"out of step. † Furthermore, nearing the end of the play, Frank gives Rita a dress that he bought for her. â€Å"Well, it’s er – it’s a dress really†. This is significant as she says that she’s not going to buy a new dress until she has learnt everything and passed her exams. When Frank gives Rita the dress, he says it’s for an â€Å"educated woman friend† of his.Therefore, this could show that the play has a happy conclusion as Rita has done what she wanted to do and, with Franks help, learnt â€Å"everything. † Also, Frank gains self-confidence. This is because Rita convinces him that he is a good teacher. â€Å"I came to tell you you’re a good teacher. † This shows that Frank, although a few hiccups along the way, gained a lot throughout the play. This shows that Educating Rita has a happy ending because Frank finally gets approval and self – confidence. Rita also realises that she has choices.This is shown when Denny burns her books. â€Å"He said either I stop comin’ here an’ get off the pill, or I could get out altogether. † This shows how serious Rita is about gaining an education, even if it does mean sacrificing her marriage. This shows that Educating Rita does have a happy conclusion as, even though Rita loses a few things, she now knows she has choices. â€Å"I’ll make a decision, I’ll chose. † This shows that Rita knows she doesn’t have to conform to what other people want. Half way through the play, Rita has an identity crisis. â€Å"Because I’m a freak.†Rita thinks she is â€Å"out of step† becaus e she doesn’t fit in either working or lower class and she doesn’t know where she should be. This is shown when she doesn’t know whether to go to the pub with her family, or to Franks house for dinner. However, after her roommate Trish tried to commit suicide, Rita realises that being higher class doesn’t mean you’re happy. Also, that she doesn’t have to change to fit in. This shows that Educating Rita can have a happy conclusion as Rita goes back to her usual enthusiastic self and is back to having her own opinions, instead of â€Å"empty quotes.†Even though Frank and Rita have negative experiences throughout the play, Rita cuts franks hair and wishes him good luck, so they depart on good terms. â€Å"I’ll take ten years off ya. † This shows how Educating Rita can have a happy conclusion, even though Rita is back to being a hairdresser, her and Frank can remain friends and they have both learnt a lot from each other. On the other hand, the play could be seen as having an unhappy conclusion. This could be due to how Frank and Rita departed. Firstly, throughout the play, Frank shows signs of having a crush on Rita.â€Å"Why didn’t you walk in here twenty years ago? † This shows Frank fancies Rita, however Rita never reciprocates these feelings, which could be seen as disappointing as it’s not a normal love story. Educating Rita could also be seen as having an unhappy ending as both Frank and Rita are what they used to be. Frank remains an alcoholic and Rita is back to hairdressing. â€Å"If you could stop pouring that junk down your throat. † Rita thought Frank would stop drinking, however he doesn’t. Therefore, the play could be seen as unhappy because Frank hasn’t got out of his old habits.In conclution, I think that Educating Rita could been seen to have a happy ending because Frank and Rita both gain something from being together. Although they have thei r ups and downs throughout the play, they depart on a happy note. Rita learns everything she wants to and fulfils her dreams of being educated whilst Frank rekindles his love for poetry and gets to move on to Australia, as well as his self-confidence. They both have a happy ending and can still be friends, even if Frank was hinting throughout the play that he fancied her. Therefore, I think that Educating Rita has a happy conclusion overall.

Unit 7

Principal Sociological Perspectives P1 Unit 7 Functionalism This is the relationship between the parts of society; how aspects of society are functional (adaptive). A strength of Functionalism would be that it states that there are purposes for social conditions or facts. For example, under a functionalist point of view the newspaper deliverer and retail worker all contribute to the function of the entire unit–without serving these purposes, the social structure would not function properly. Also functionalism is considered vital for the smooth running of society, as Durkheim stated.A criticism of the functionalist approach would be it does not address areas of conflict, which undoubtedly characterise modern societies and in principle could be found in all societies. Functionalism assumes that there is consensus: that everyone in the structure holds the same norms and values; that we all essentially believe in and work for the same thing. Functionalism is a theory about the nat ure of mental states. According to functionalists, mental states are identified by what they do rather than by what they are made of. Functionalism is the most familiar or â€Å"received† view among philosophers of mind and cognitive science.Family Functionalists look at how the family as an institution, helps in maintain order and stability in society, and the significance of the family for its individual members. A well know functionalist who have written about the family is George. P. Murdock. Murdock carried out a study that included 250 families. From this he argued that the family achieves four basic functions for its individual members and society. He says these are ‘sexual’, ‘reproductive’, ‘economic’ and ‘educational’ functions. The sexual function refers to the sexual activity.Murdock argued that the family provides to the sexual needs of its adults and also limits sexual access of other member of the society there by maintaining stability. The ‘reproductive’ function is manner and raising children. The family provides the society with new members and assume responsibility for raising them. The family is an ‘economic’ unit, with a division of labour along gender. Murdock considers this division of labour as rewarding for the spouses and as strengthening the bond between them, as they are perceived as doing distinct but complementary work.The ‘educational’ function that Murdock refers to, can also be known as ‘socialisation’. The family has the responsibility of transmitting a society’s way of life, norms and values to the younger members. This function is important because without culture the society wouldn’t survive; too much deviation from the norm would disrupt the stability of the society. Marxism The sociological perspective sees society as structures with interconnected parts, and focuses on the structural features of soci ety, emphasising social differences and the conflicting interests and values of different groups in society.Proletariat – Class of poor people who work for wages. Bourgeoise – Class of wealthy people who have their own means of wealth. Strengths would be that it recognises the power interests of different groups and is good at explaining conflict and change in society. It stresses the role of class struggle (conflict) within society between the proletariat (workers) and the bourgeoisie (owners). Weakness would be that it doesn’t recognise that people are socially active, with some power and the ability to make choices and influence the direction of their own lives.It focuses on the economy as the driving force of social behaviour and ignores other important influences such as gender, ethnicity and religion. Marxism is a political and sociological perspective based on the work of Karl Marx (1818-1883) Marx provided an account of the new class based society that e merged after the industrial revolution. The Marxist perspective questions the functionalist idea that business owners and bosses are morally entitled to keep profits for they are part of the ruling ideology in capitalist society. Family Friedrich Engels is a famous Marxist.He believed that during the early stages of human evolution that property was collectively owned and that the family did not exist. The community formed the family and there was no restraint to sexual access. Although with the development of private ownership of property and the idea of having successors who were to inherit the property, the question of paternity grew in importance and the rules of monogamous marriage were created to control woman’s sexuality and assure the legitimacy of heirs. Feminism Capitalist – Another word for a member of the bourgeoisieFeminism is a movement for social, cultural, political and economic equality of men and women. It is a campaign against gender inequalities and it strives for equal rights for women. Feminism can be also defined as the right to enough information available to every single woman so that she can make a choice to live a life which is not discriminatory and which works within the principles of social, cultural, political and economic equality and independence. Strengths that the sociological feminist theorists had were on how their perception of womanhood was socially constructed and not even real.A weakness of it is that it felt as though the sociological feminists are very judgmental and it feels as though almost all men and most people looked down on women. There are 3 main types of feminist approach: * Marxist feminism * Radical feminism * Liberal feminism Marxist feminism Marxists feminists see woman as oppressed by capitalism and by men or the patriarchal society. They believe that woman produce the next generation of workers and those they provide all the key needs to meet for their children; and prepare them for the wo rk life.They support their partners and cook, clean, and care for the family. Radical Feminism Radical feminists believe that it is not capitalism that dominates woman, and that it is men. They see the woman as the housewife and mother. Liberal Feminism These feminists believe that changes have happened. They believe that since new legislations have been bought out that there is now more equality. Legislation and policy changing, leads to liberal feminists believing that improvements will always be made Family Feminists have sought to analyse the impact of family life on women.Regardless of the numerous differences in their approach and main concern, different feminists tend to agree that women occupy a subordinate position in the family and are exploited in various ways. The Marxist feminists consider capitalism as the main exploiter. This exploitation is seen in terms of the unpaid work they carry out at home. Like the Marxist, they believe that the family also serves capitalism b y reproducing the future labour force, but they also assert that it is not the family as such that suffers more, but the women.It is women that bear the children and assume the main responsibility for their care. Women are also exploited in that they are expected to provide outlets for all the frustration and anger that their husband experience at work and therefore prevent them from rebelling against their employers. Interactionism The interactionist’s perspective is a major theoretical perspective; it focuses on the concrete details of what goes on among individuals in everyday life. It derives social processes (such as conflict, cooperation, identity formation) from human interaction.Its focus is on small groups and how they influence individual behaviour in society. A strength of this would be that it takes into account an individual’s choices they make and how they behave (their free will). It cannot explain where people get the meanings to symbols and that it end s up drawing these answers from other sociological theories, and it doesn't explain social order and how it comes about; this would be a weakness. They do not study where the social roles come from. The evidence of symbolic interaction is that humans use symbols to understand and interact properly with the natural and social world.Symbolic interactionism is a theory of social cognition, which models human interaction among significant concepts like identity, language, meaning, labeling and roles. Family The interactionalist perspective looks at the family dynamics. This view explores the interaction of the family members; this is back and forth talk, gestures and actions that go on in families. The interactionist perspective refuses to identify a â€Å"natural family structure†. The family is not a stock social unit but the creation of its participants as they spontaneously relate to one another. PostmodernismThis is an approach that emphases on the quick changing and uncerta inty in our society. Postmodernists suggest that we cannot talk about well-known institutions such as the family, religion or the economy because nothing stays the same. Postmodernists think that because there is constant change you cannot use structuralist perspectives such as Functionalism and Marxism to understand society. Strength of postmodernism would be that it provides a good critique of modernism and helpfully stresses the use of the aesthetic. Weakness would be that Postmodernism, like modernism, is characterized by astounding arrogance. FamilyOther theories believe that nuclear family is dominant family type within society; postmodernists disagree with this opinion and have different views. Postmodernists argue that this structural approach ignores moral relativism of individuals that they always have a choice of family type and nobody can judge them. Also modernists ignore the increase of family diversity; however there is no ‘best' family type anymore. Collectivis m Collectivism is an approach to providing health and social care services that is reinforced by a government commitment to provide care and support for the vulnerable, funded through taxation and National Insurance.This contrasts with the ‘New right’ that consider welfare to be the responsibility of the individual and their family and believe that the state should play a minimal role. An emphasis is placed on unification and a common purpose. Families are considered very important for personal growth. An advantage to living in a collectivist society is that the group members are close-knit and care for and help one another, which is not always the case in an individualistic society.Another strength would be that communication is very important in a collective group. No one is left out of the mix, and everyone is involved in making decisions. A weakness would be that collectivism stifles individuality and diversity by insisting upon a common social identity, such as nat ionalism, racialism, feminism, or some other group focus. Also collectivism is linked to statism and the diminution of freedom when political authority is used to advance collectivist goals. FamilyFamily ties will be different in different cultures; they will be strong in a collectivist society, Collectivist societies will be more characterized by coexistence of several generations within the household and stronger ties towards the larger family clan. ‘New right’ This is political movement made up especially of Protestants, opposed especially to secular humanism, and concerned with issues especially of church and state, patriotism, laissez-faire economics, pornography, and abortion. They believe that welfare should be largely seen as the responsibility of the individual and their family. The New Right regarded tate support as intrusive and supporting a dependency culture. Mrs Thatcher thought the welfare state produced a society in which people relied on state benefits rather than planning for the future and taking responsibility for their own needs and responsibility. A Strength of this would be that it would get more people that can work but don’t, to go out and work. Also it would benefit people because they would be going out earning their own money and it would be a good social factor. A Weakness of this would be that how do you get the people that have been off work for such a long time back into education and work.Family The New Right Family Ideology is patriarchal, the family is male dominant. Feminists argue that this is negative for women. It ignores the dark side of the family e. g. domestic abuse, poverty, conflict. It is harmful, calling other family-types ‘inadequate’ – schools, advertisements and television reinforce this idea. It is anti-social – it stereotypes, labels and discriminates against other family-types; ‘inadequate’ and has a ‘Them and Us’ theory – Nuclea r families are the only family type, other family types aren’t families. Unit 7 Principal Sociological Perspectives P1 Unit 7 Functionalism This is the relationship between the parts of society; how aspects of society are functional (adaptive). A strength of Functionalism would be that it states that there are purposes for social conditions or facts. For example, under a functionalist point of view the newspaper deliverer and retail worker all contribute to the function of the entire unit–without serving these purposes, the social structure would not function properly. Also functionalism is considered vital for the smooth running of society, as Durkheim stated.A criticism of the functionalist approach would be it does not address areas of conflict, which undoubtedly characterise modern societies and in principle could be found in all societies. Functionalism assumes that there is consensus: that everyone in the structure holds the same norms and values; that we all essentially believe in and work for the same thing. Functionalism is a theory about the nat ure of mental states. According to functionalists, mental states are identified by what they do rather than by what they are made of. Functionalism is the most familiar or â€Å"received† view among philosophers of mind and cognitive science.Family Functionalists look at how the family as an institution, helps in maintain order and stability in society, and the significance of the family for its individual members. A well know functionalist who have written about the family is George. P. Murdock. Murdock carried out a study that included 250 families. From this he argued that the family achieves four basic functions for its individual members and society. He says these are ‘sexual’, ‘reproductive’, ‘economic’ and ‘educational’ functions. The sexual function refers to the sexual activity.Murdock argued that the family provides to the sexual needs of its adults and also limits sexual access of other member of the society there by maintaining stability. The ‘reproductive’ function is manner and raising children. The family provides the society with new members and assume responsibility for raising them. The family is an ‘economic’ unit, with a division of labour along gender. Murdock considers this division of labour as rewarding for the spouses and as strengthening the bond between them, as they are perceived as doing distinct but complementary work.The ‘educational’ function that Murdock refers to, can also be known as ‘socialisation’. The family has the responsibility of transmitting a society’s way of life, norms and values to the younger members. This function is important because without culture the society wouldn’t survive; too much deviation from the norm would disrupt the stability of the society. Marxism The sociological perspective sees society as structures with interconnected parts, and focuses on the structural features of soci ety, emphasising social differences and the conflicting interests and values of different groups in society.Proletariat – Class of poor people who work for wages. Bourgeoise – Class of wealthy people who have their own means of wealth. Strengths would be that it recognises the power interests of different groups and is good at explaining conflict and change in society. It stresses the role of class struggle (conflict) within society between the proletariat (workers) and the bourgeoisie (owners). Weakness would be that it doesn’t recognise that people are socially active, with some power and the ability to make choices and influence the direction of their own lives.It focuses on the economy as the driving force of social behaviour and ignores other important influences such as gender, ethnicity and religion. Marxism is a political and sociological perspective based on the work of Karl Marx (1818-1883) Marx provided an account of the new class based society that e merged after the industrial revolution. The Marxist perspective questions the functionalist idea that business owners and bosses are morally entitled to keep profits for they are part of the ruling ideology in capitalist society. Family Friedrich Engels is a famous Marxist.He believed that during the early stages of human evolution that property was collectively owned and that the family did not exist. The community formed the family and there was no restraint to sexual access. Although with the development of private ownership of property and the idea of having successors who were to inherit the property, the question of paternity grew in importance and the rules of monogamous marriage were created to control woman’s sexuality and assure the legitimacy of heirs. Feminism Capitalist – Another word for a member of the bourgeoisieFeminism is a movement for social, cultural, political and economic equality of men and women. It is a campaign against gender inequalities and it strives for equal rights for women. Feminism can be also defined as the right to enough information available to every single woman so that she can make a choice to live a life which is not discriminatory and which works within the principles of social, cultural, political and economic equality and independence. Strengths that the sociological feminist theorists had were on how their perception of womanhood was socially constructed and not even real.A weakness of it is that it felt as though the sociological feminists are very judgmental and it feels as though almost all men and most people looked down on women. There are 3 main types of feminist approach: * Marxist feminism * Radical feminism * Liberal feminism Marxist feminism Marxists feminists see woman as oppressed by capitalism and by men or the patriarchal society. They believe that woman produce the next generation of workers and those they provide all the key needs to meet for their children; and prepare them for the wo rk life.They support their partners and cook, clean, and care for the family. Radical Feminism Radical feminists believe that it is not capitalism that dominates woman, and that it is men. They see the woman as the housewife and mother. Liberal Feminism These feminists believe that changes have happened. They believe that since new legislations have been bought out that there is now more equality. Legislation and policy changing, leads to liberal feminists believing that improvements will always be made Family Feminists have sought to analyse the impact of family life on women.Regardless of the numerous differences in their approach and main concern, different feminists tend to agree that women occupy a subordinate position in the family and are exploited in various ways. The Marxist feminists consider capitalism as the main exploiter. This exploitation is seen in terms of the unpaid work they carry out at home. Like the Marxist, they believe that the family also serves capitalism b y reproducing the future labour force, but they also assert that it is not the family as such that suffers more, but the women.It is women that bear the children and assume the main responsibility for their care. Women are also exploited in that they are expected to provide outlets for all the frustration and anger that their husband experience at work and therefore prevent them from rebelling against their employers. Interactionism The interactionist’s perspective is a major theoretical perspective; it focuses on the concrete details of what goes on among individuals in everyday life. It derives social processes (such as conflict, cooperation, identity formation) from human interaction.Its focus is on small groups and how they influence individual behaviour in society. A strength of this would be that it takes into account an individual’s choices they make and how they behave (their free will). It cannot explain where people get the meanings to symbols and that it end s up drawing these answers from other sociological theories, and it doesn't explain social order and how it comes about; this would be a weakness. They do not study where the social roles come from. The evidence of symbolic interaction is that humans use symbols to understand and interact properly with the natural and social world.Symbolic interactionism is a theory of social cognition, which models human interaction among significant concepts like identity, language, meaning, labeling and roles. Family The interactionalist perspective looks at the family dynamics. This view explores the interaction of the family members; this is back and forth talk, gestures and actions that go on in families. The interactionist perspective refuses to identify a â€Å"natural family structure†. The family is not a stock social unit but the creation of its participants as they spontaneously relate to one another. PostmodernismThis is an approach that emphases on the quick changing and uncerta inty in our society. Postmodernists suggest that we cannot talk about well-known institutions such as the family, religion or the economy because nothing stays the same. Postmodernists think that because there is constant change you cannot use structuralist perspectives such as Functionalism and Marxism to understand society. Strength of postmodernism would be that it provides a good critique of modernism and helpfully stresses the use of the aesthetic. Weakness would be that Postmodernism, like modernism, is characterized by astounding arrogance. FamilyOther theories believe that nuclear family is dominant family type within society; postmodernists disagree with this opinion and have different views. Postmodernists argue that this structural approach ignores moral relativism of individuals that they always have a choice of family type and nobody can judge them. Also modernists ignore the increase of family diversity; however there is no ‘best' family type anymore. Collectivis m Collectivism is an approach to providing health and social care services that is reinforced by a government commitment to provide care and support for the vulnerable, funded through taxation and National Insurance.This contrasts with the ‘New right’ that consider welfare to be the responsibility of the individual and their family and believe that the state should play a minimal role. An emphasis is placed on unification and a common purpose. Families are considered very important for personal growth. An advantage to living in a collectivist society is that the group members are close-knit and care for and help one another, which is not always the case in an individualistic society.Another strength would be that communication is very important in a collective group. No one is left out of the mix, and everyone is involved in making decisions. A weakness would be that collectivism stifles individuality and diversity by insisting upon a common social identity, such as nat ionalism, racialism, feminism, or some other group focus. Also collectivism is linked to statism and the diminution of freedom when political authority is used to advance collectivist goals. FamilyFamily ties will be different in different cultures; they will be strong in a collectivist society, Collectivist societies will be more characterized by coexistence of several generations within the household and stronger ties towards the larger family clan. ‘New right’ This is political movement made up especially of Protestants, opposed especially to secular humanism, and concerned with issues especially of church and state, patriotism, laissez-faire economics, pornography, and abortion. They believe that welfare should be largely seen as the responsibility of the individual and their family. The New Right regarded tate support as intrusive and supporting a dependency culture. Mrs Thatcher thought the welfare state produced a society in which people relied on state benefits rather than planning for the future and taking responsibility for their own needs and responsibility. A Strength of this would be that it would get more people that can work but don’t, to go out and work. Also it would benefit people because they would be going out earning their own money and it would be a good social factor. A Weakness of this would be that how do you get the people that have been off work for such a long time back into education and work.Family The New Right Family Ideology is patriarchal, the family is male dominant. Feminists argue that this is negative for women. It ignores the dark side of the family e. g. domestic abuse, poverty, conflict. It is harmful, calling other family-types ‘inadequate’ – schools, advertisements and television reinforce this idea. It is anti-social – it stereotypes, labels and discriminates against other family-types; ‘inadequate’ and has a ‘Them and Us’ theory – Nuclea r families are the only family type, other family types aren’t families.