Social Context Account Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social Context Account - Essay Example For one to look back at the past and analyse its effect in life today, the present has to be favourable according to the individual in question. This means that if the past influenced one’s life so badly that the present is damaged, only counselling or other forms of therapy can remedy the situation and enable one to look back at the events of their past.1 Depending on an individual, the social environment one grows in can make or break one’s character. For instance, some people are discouraged by discriminative backgrounds till they psychologically believe they are not worth better treatment. On the other hand, others consider maltreatment as a challenge which if overcome, one emerges not only a stronger, but also a better person. Due to the unpredictable nature of a child’s reaction to the social environment, there are many organizations committed to ensuring that children are protected from harsh social conditions. In addition, many governments have signed tre aties and passed laws to protect young citizens.2 _____________________________ 1 A James, and A Prout (eds), Constructing and Reconstructing childhood: contemporary issues in the sociological Study of Childhood, Falmer Press, London, 1997. 2 R Appignanesi, and O Zarate, Freud for Beginners, Icon Books, Cambridge, 1992. Background information My parents were born and brought up in Bangladesh after which they moved to London, UK. I was born on April 4, 1989 in London where I have lived ever since. The UK and Bangladesh are countries with many contrasting characteristics that are mainly due to their geographical locations, economic, political, and religious practises found in the two countries. Bangladesh is found in southern Asia while UK is situated in northern Europe. Bangladesh is mainly an Islamic country while the most dominant religion in the UK is Christianity. In society, religion plays an important role in how the society operates since it provides a basis for moral and ethi cal standards. In the UK, the church and government are separate entities and that is why the society in London is considered secular and has markedly different characteristics compared to that of Bangladesh where religion determines the kind of lifestyle people live. Comparison between UK and Bangladesh Christianity, mostly Anglican, is the dominant religion in the UK while Bangladesh is mostly Islamic. The cultures of the two countries are composite, having components derived from all over the world. Both countries are members of the UN and have signed the United Nations convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC) which seeks to ensure that minors enjoy basic rights and are protected from unfair treatment. However, the countries differ in the way they enforce these laws since in Bangladesh, children are still recruited into the armed forces among other forms of mistreatment. This means that a child growing up in Bangladesh is likely to be affected by these vices directly or indi rectly. On the other hand, the UK is strict in assuring her citizens of their rights and, therefore, children enjoy more rights and freedoms compared to their Bangladeshi counterparts. 99 percent of the population in the UK is literate as compared to a mere 43.1 percent in Bangladesh. Education has a huge impact on how people relate to each other and their interpretations of everyday phenomena. On the other hand, the educated population in UK is more corrupt at 7.7 perception index compared

Qatars sporting legacy Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Qatars sporting legacy - Research Proposal Example The awarding of 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar came as a surprise to most of the Asians, Americans and Europeans. However, the fact is that this Gulf state bagged this honor and privilege after years of painstaking commitment to and investment in sports. That is why Qatar was given a preference over some of the most celebrated sports hubs like the USA, Australia, South Korea and Japan. This very fact speaks a lot about the sports legacy of Qatar. This privilege was ample testament to the fact that though being a small nation of 1.7 million people, Qatar is capable of great achievements. FIFA World Cup and other such events will certainly give a flip to Qatar’s standing on the international stage. The modern Qatar is now being associated with high profile sporting events and is considered to be a champion, as far as the task of committing to and supporting sports is concerned. Qatar took a big step towards expanding its sports infrastructure and developing its organizational abil ities way back in 2006, when it hosted the Asian Games. Qatar also hosts a range of international events pertaining to varied sports like golf, soccer, tennis and cricket every year. Actually, this potential of Qatar has attracted the attention and appreciation of the world community and the international sports bodies and institutions. The years following the hosting of 2006 Asian Games have witnessed Qatar’s metamorphosis from being a tiny Arab emirate to a world class sports venue and sporting destination.... The modern Qatar is now being associated with high profile sporting events and is considered to be a champion, as far as the task of committing to and supporting sports is concerned. Qatar took a big step towards expanding its sports infrastructure and developing its organizational abilities way back in 2006, when it hosted the Asian Games. Qatar also hosts a range of international events pertaining to varied sports like golf, soccer, tennis and cricket every year. Actually, this potential of Qatar has attracted the attention and appreciation of the world community and the international sports bodies and institutions. The years following the hosting of 2006 Asian Games have witnessed Qatar’s metamorphosis from being a tiny Arab emirate to a world class sports venue and sporting destination. In the last decade, sports have assumed a central place in the nation’s cultural and economic life. Qatar’s sporting prestige has been successful in attracting some of the top notch sport stars like Sergio Garcia, Roger Federer, Justine Henin and Ernie Els to its shores. Hence any attempt to understand Qatar’s sports legacy ought to take a broad based and holistic perspective, taking into consideration the sanguine political and economic landscape of Qatar that has turned out to be so conducive for sports. The Nation Since the second half of the 19th century, Qatar has been ruled by the Al Thani family. During the British reign, Qatar was primarily known to be a small and poor protectorate (The World FactBook 2011: Online). However, post independence, Qatar has evolved into a sovereign state, accruing billions of dollars annually from its oil and natural gas reserves. In the period 1980-1990, the economy of Qatar was severely jeopardized

Unfair Dismissal in Employment

Unfair Dismissal in Employment Unfair Dismissal. In an action for unfair dismissal, it is for the employer to prove that there were grounds for dismissal, and that in the circumstances the dismissal is fair. Five potentially fair reasons for dismissal have been set out at Section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1986.   These are as follow:- Lack of appropriate qualifications or capability This will only be fair if the missing qualification is essential to the proper performance of the job. Interestingly, in Litster v Thom Sons Ltd (1975) an employee was found to be unfairly dismissed after dismissal for failing to obtain a HGV licence, which had been stipulated as a condition of employment.   It was held that the employee could serve the employer in other ways. Negligence may justify dismissal. By way of example, in Taylor v Alidair Limited, Mr Taylor was a trained pilot, who was dismissed for causing damage to a plane (and a fright to its passengers) after a bad landing.   The court of appeal held that the degree of professional skill required in that case was so high, and the consequences of from that high standard was so serious that one failure to perform in accordance with those standards was enough to justify the dismissal. the employees conduct Whether the conduct justifies dismissal will be a question of fact in each case.   Lying, fighting, theft, or dangerous behaviour would undoubtedly justify a dismissal. Other scenarios such as being rude, or failing to cooperate with management, or drinking on duty, may also be fairly dismissed. Conduct in an employees spare time may also justify dismissal if it reflects adversely on the employee’s suitability for a job – such as theft. Sleeping with the wife of the employer outside office hours was held to justify dismissal in Whitlow v Alkanet Construction (1987) However, if the lack of capability is caused through the fault of the employer, for example, through its failing to provide training or supervision, the dismissal would be unfair. the employee was redundant An employer must show that the employee has been fairly selected. The onus would fall to the employer to show that the reason for Gillian’s selection was fair. The EAT laid down guidelines for good industrial practice in redundancies in Williams v Compare Maxam Limited.   This requires consideration as to whether objective selection criteria were chosen and fairly applied; whether the possibility of transfer to other work was investigated; whether employees were warned and consulted and whether any union was consulted. the continuance of employment would result in illegality any other substantial reason. In Gorfin v Distressed Gentlefolks’ Aid Association (1973), a personality clash was sufficient to render dismissal fair in order to restore harmony to the workplace, where all other reasonable steps had been taken to resolve the situation.   Economic reasons may also fall within this heading, if an employer could show that these were based on good commercial practice.   This would include for example removing overtime when defending a claim for constructive dismissal. Whether the dismissal is fair is subject to the general reasonableness test, as set out at Section 90(4) Employment Rights Act 1996.   This provides that fairness will be judged by deciding whether in all the circumstances the employer acted reasonably â€Å"determined according to equity and the merits of the case†.   Merely giving the appropriate contractual notice, and showing that a S98 reason applies will not suffice.   The employer must show that he dealt with the problem in a reasonable way in the particular circumstances. It must be shown that dismissal is a last resort, and that the dismissal has not come out of the blue.   It is important to ensure that adequate warnings are given, failing which an otherwise fair dismissal will be rendered unfair.   There are certain circumstances where the law is eager to protect employees who are vulnerable to victimisation, by providing that certain circumstances will automatically give rise to a claim for unfair dismissal – irrespective as to whether an employee has been employed for the one year qualifying period.   These situations include a claim for dismissal in connection with the exercise of maternity rights; dismissal relating to whistle blowing; accompanying workers at a disciplinary hearing; trade union membership or activity; or for taking legal action against an employer to enforce statutory rights. For a dismissal to be fair, an employer must also show that it followed a fair procedure.   Section 34 of the Employment Act 2002 inserted a new Section 98A into the Employment Rights Act 1996. This sets down the minimum procedural requirements and provides that a breach by the employer of a statutory procedure on dismissal will mean that the dismissal is automatically unfair.   (This reverses the rule in Polkey v Dayton Services Limited.)   The detail of how the procedures would operate in practice was set out in secondary legislation, the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004. The basic standards are defined in Schedule 2 as: 1) The employer must set outline writing the employees alleged conduct, or characteristics, or other circumstances which lead him to contemplate dismissal or disciplinary action. 2) An invitation must be given to the employee to attend a meeting to discuss the matter, which must take place before action is taken. 3) The employee must have a reasonable opportunity to consider his response. 4) The employer must inform the employee of his decision. 5) The employer must give a right of appeal, together with an invitation to attend a further meeting for this purpose. If an employee is found to have breached this procedure, the dismissal is automatically unfair. In addition, there will be an extra award of four weeks pay, if a   tribunal   finds that not to be unjust to the employer. Bibliography A Practical Approach to Employment Law – John Bowers, 7th Edition, Oxford University Press 2005 Harvey on Industrial Relations and Employment Law, Butterworths Law for Business Students, Alix Adams, 3rd Edition, Pearson Longman 2003 Employment Act 2002 Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004. Employment Rights Act 1996 (as amended by the Employment Relations Act 1999) Trades Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 Davison v Kent Meters (1975) Gorfin v Distressed Gentlefolks’ Aid Association (1973), Litster v Thom Sons Ltd (1975) Moore v C A Modes (1981) Polkey v Dayton Services Limited [1988] ICR 142 Taylor v Alidair Limited [1978] IRLR 82 Whitlow v Alkanet Construction (1987) Williams v Compare Maxam Limited [1982] IRLR 83

The Humanization of Modern-Day Film Vampires Essay -- Movies

The Humanization of Modern-Day Film Vampires His thirsts have not changed. He craves the taste of blood, the warm, life-sustaining liquid that flows so gently from the necks of his victims into his own foul mouth. He continues to hunt in the night, cursed forever from the purity of sunlight, and his immortal body still remains ageless, untouched by the rugged sands of time and trauma. Yet somehow the vampire is different than he once was. He is richer, more human in color. His clothes are no longer binding and elaborate as the capes and suits of old; he often opts for simple denim or leather pants and coats. In fact, the modern vampire can often be mistaken for any other man or woman out for a midnight stroll. These observations all show evidence of the humanization of vampires in pop culture, an evolution from the soulless, purely evil animals they once were to merely darker versions of man. As humans struggle to control their own inner desires under the burden of society, increasingly protagonist vampires question and fi ght to suppress their own dark thirsts. It is this denial of nature unknown to the strictly evil vampires of old that identifies the modern-day film vampires more closely with their human counterparts today. Vampires, in retrospect, weren’t always the socially in-tune creatures that they are today. For what reasons did these changes occur? According to social critic I.C. Jarvie, â€Å"if we look again at the movie past . . . we find that the critical posture, the portrayal of society, has long been an important subtradition of the American cinema† (Social Criticism xiii). Thus, if we refer back to some of the earliest vampire films, we might receive some clues about the nature of the society that bir... ...to pursue it. As Benjamin Hoff remarks in the Tao of Pooh, â€Å"when you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong† (41). Perhaps, in modeling what were once seen as beasts after us, we are learning to accept rather than shun our own primitive natures. Our place in the world is as creatures that are human. Works Cited Day, William Patrick. Vampire Legends in Contemporary American Culture. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2002. Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh. New York: Penguin Books 1982. I.C. Jarvie. Movies and Society. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1970. I.C. Jarvie. Movies as Social Criticism. Metuchen: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1978. Ursini, James and Alain Silver. The Vampire Film. Cranbury: A.S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1975 Waller, Gregory A. The Living and the Undead. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1986.

Comparative Models of Counselling

A report that reflects on Person Centred Therapy and considers how this model could be incorporated alongside the core model of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in my current Counselling Practice. I reflected on Person-centred Therapy (PCT) as the comparative model because of the conflict that exists between this and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The conflict is historical, political and from personal experience. In therapy twenty years ago I became frustrated with my counsellor’s person-centred approach. I challenged my counsellor to provide me with more support and help.I therefore had preconceived ideas of PCT which may be similar to stereotypical thinking of these models. It was excessively warm, completely non-directive and only reflected back to the client, which I found frustrating. I understand now it was because my coping style was externalised and I had no control over external events, which suited a more direct counselling approach. So, how would this influence my practice as a counsellor? In theoretical terms and in observed practice I appreciated the benefits of PCT for its empathetic understanding and for clients who require a non-directive approach to gain emotional awareness.Presenting issues that can be helped by PTS are bereavement, drug and alcohol issues, depression, panic and anxiety, eating difficulties, self-harm, childhood sexual abuse (Tolan and Wilkins, 2012). I have used the model affectively for bereavement and sexual abuse as an offer of a direction would have been inappropriate and incongruent at the time. My preconceptions of CBT were solution focused, challenging and that low intensity based interventions ignore the client’s past. I feel competent in using certain behavioural intervention in my practice and challenge maladaptive thinking patterns in sessions.CBT is a medical model and although we have been taught the disadvantages to diagnoses, CBT is seen as the treatment of choice for many presenting problems due to the amount of empirical evidence available. These are anxiety disorders, panic, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, bulimia and depression as identified by NICE (NICE, 2008, Accessed online 27/06/201). This report reflects on the appropriate use of the models. Stereotypes have some element of truth, but at the same time, are not the truths. I wanted to understand the similarities and parallels while respecting the fact that, in practise, I use both models.I didn’t want to do a bit of each badly, but use a model in full at the appropriate time and understand my reason for doing so (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). Both PCT and CBT are deeply rooted in the same philosophical underpinning of humanism, existentialism, and both are phenomenology particularly to the nature of suffering. However, there are differences in the understanding and interpretation of the philosophy. Both approaches view a person as continually seeking growth and self-actualisation. There are i ncompatible beliefs between the models. (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012).PCT observes that seeking growth and self-actualisation is a way of being and in itself therapeutic. Rogers’ professed that there were six necessary conditions for therapeutic growth that alone were sufficient to lead to a fully functioning person. The individual is the own expert who can determine their own journey of their reality and can heal themselves with the core, being the relationship itself. The structure of the self includes self-concept and introjected beliefs. PCT communicates acceptance of the client’s own experience and encourages then to identify alternate choices.It is a continual journey of self-awareness and knowledge, with the drive always towards growth (Mearns & Thorne, 2012). CBT views growth and self-actualisation as a shared goal of therapy to be reached with a set of tools, to be implemented in therapy. CBT’s view comes from Ellis who defines a person as irrational and rational. In CBT terms ‘dysfunctional beliefs’ are similar to ‘introjected beliefs’ and led to distortion in the self-concept. The irrational cause’s distress and rational directs the individual to fully functioning. CBT primary belief is self distortion and the process of cognitive dissonance.Interventions such as the ABCDE framework are used to challenge and dispute irrational thinking and are aimed at increasing client’s self-awareness and self-understanding. CBT sees the relationship as more collaborative and facilitates new learning. An individual’s construct of reality is dimensional and irrationality stops the client from changing. Therefore, a person’s drive is not always towards growth (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). A similarity of both approaches is the understanding of self-worth and unconditional self-acceptance. The nature of suffering is seen the same. Humans are flawed, imperfect and we cause our own disturbance.Bo th see the client as the expert in the relationship. Authenticity is of great importance to both PCT and CBT as is the therapeutic relationship. It is the emphasis on the process of change, to become oneself, where the differences in two models lie (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012). From a PCT perspective a client discovers some hidden aspect of them self that they weren’t aware of previously and moves towards a greater degree of acceptance of self by being prized by the therapist (unconditional positive regard), have a sense of realness (genuineness) and listen to them self (empathy).A client moves towards seeing new meaning. These changes are characteristic of therapeutic movement. The client moves along a continuum from rigid structure to flow which can be seen in the seven stages of therapeutic change. Rogers’ term was ‘organismic experiencing’ which was interpersonal in the therapeutic relationship through unconditional positive regard and intrapersonal with in the client accepting a new experience into their awareness (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012). In PCT, the process of change there are different corrective experiences for a client.For me practising with a client group from a women’s refuge I use PCT and Rogers’ condition-of-worth. The incongruence between the self-concept and authentic self is evident due to the abuse. This creation of a false self is corrected with unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness. Process Theory is where, change in the experience of feelings and the recognition that the client is the creator of their own construct occurs. The therapeutic change has a developmental sequence.There is a change in the client’s manner of experiencing feelings and recognition of being the creator of their own constructs, accepting responsibility and in relating to others openly and freely. This is compatible with the condition of worth. A person moves with acceptance to a fully functioning person. The person’s overall ‘way of being’ is changed. Relating to a congruent therapist, the client learns to be open and congruent themselves (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012). Unblocking or Focusing is where the self-correcting, self-healing process of the organism is blocked.The person can’t refer inwardly, focus on feelings or articulate meaning. They have a rigid self-concept. Empathic listening within the therapeutic relationship opens the issue to re-examination and unblocks the person self-healing process. There is an interaction between the feeling and the attention the client brings to create a new meaning. This is Gendlin’s felt sense, an unexpected feeling of flow. The client becomes an active self-healer who has been felt heard and understood (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012).In practice building ‘Meaning Bridges’ – new understanding which identifying introjects imposed by others who imposed external systems of value has been paramount because of the external pressure that have be imposed through a close relationship. Internal opposing voices can be accepted, examined and resolved through compromise and collaborative solution. Until now, I saw this as CBT but can now see this as PCT with Rogers’s necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic change all that is needed for the process of change and this change occurs without engaging in cognitive process, but in the moment (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012).I am able to draw personal parallels from watching Rogers’ session with Gloria. Gloria wanted an answer from Rogers. In the session she found it for herself, even though she actively interpreted that he had helped her to the decision; even though he hadn’t. She makes the decision of honesty for herself. Although non-directive, Rogers’s session had a focused, this was of self-healing and self-direction. Refuting the belief that the person-centred way is only to reflect back to the client. The warmth from the counsellor is also part of the process of condition of worth.This helps me challenge my preconceived ideas and understand what is happening in practice. In practise, I am aware from a CBT perspective the therapeutic approach can teach clients new skills. The therapist is regarded as more of a coach. The client benefits from new skills and perspectives which facilitate the learning and have a sense of efficacy. I have used CBT to look at specific problem behaviours and conceptualise them as having cognitive, affective, behavioural and physiological elements each of which can have a legitimate target for intervention and can be check for validity (Castonguay, & Hill, 2012).The process of change occurs in practice as old ways are challenged through exposure exercise, behavioural experiments and cognitive restructuring techniques. Change occurs in the therapeutic setting or outside in a person everyday life. It may require repetition to produce a lasting effect and r educe maladapted patterns. This is where CBT and PCT are similar as this requires a strong therapeutic alliance, but CBT literature takes this as a given and may be a reason it is criticised. Clients are taught emotional regulation and basic functioning skills, such as problem-solving skills, breathing relaxation and active coping.Specific interventions are then used to motivate and foster the therapeutic relationship, such as cost benefit analysis, daily thought records, and in vivo exposure. Aligning client’s goals with interventions in a formulation develops the therapeutic alliance and collaborates with the client, with hypothesis-testing strategies used to undergo the process of change [Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). CBT is focused on corrective experiences and facilitates through interventions rather than challenging a client.It respects the importance of the therapeutic relationship and uses Rogers’ core conditions but does not see the conditions as sufficient. In -depth schema focused CBT takes the therapy to a deeper level and deals with past issues, than the low intensity offered by the NHS. Again my preconceptions are challenged for the benefit of my practice. I can see how the two models are not rivals, as Roger Casemore and Jeremy Tudway suggest in their book Person-centred Therapy and CBT, and that sibling as a metaphor works well (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012).For me, the therapeutic relationship and the advanced empathy required in PCT are important in my practise along with the core conditions in order to create change. Rogers’ believes interventions as wrong, from a philosophical point of view, as the client always having to lead the therapy. This is because Rogers sees a person as having limitless potential. For me, CBT in offering intervention and gentle coaching helps a client on their journey to self-healing and a seed can be planted and therapeutic change can happen outside the counselling session.I support the views not all humans have the same drive and there is an unconscious element to being rational or irrational. It is a more real idea and not as optimistic as Rogers. It is observation of this therapeutic change and this idea that supports the use of CBT in my practise (Casemore, and Tudway, 2012). The BACP ethical framework has been written with Rogers’ core conditions in mind. Therefore, PCT offers the client and the therapist the need to fulfil the principles of self-care, of being trustworthy and providing autonomy.As to the personal moral qualities the PCT requires the therapist to have advanced empathy. CBT has been criticised for focusing too much on the intervention and not being of beneficence. In CBT extra competence in the implementation of the intervention is required, so the criticism of the technique becoming the therapy cannot be applied . In writing this report and in my practise, I feel the difference are enough not to combine the models, but that each model can go into the same toolkit and used separately in the same session with a client.With the collaborative element in mind and further reading I am interested in the approach by Mick Cooper and John McLeod. The pluralistic perspective which believes individual clients would â€Å"benefit from different therapeutic methods† used at â€Å"different points in time†. Therapist would â€Å"work collaboratively† with clients. â€Å"Help them identify what they want from therapy† and how this can be achieved. It leaves the question of the process of therapy integration in practice open for debate. (Cooper, and McLeod, 2010, Assessed Online26/06/13).

Beer in Pastel Essay

1. PESTEL analysis for Western European brewing industry. Political factors: * Government is restricting consumption of beer and alcohol products by imposing special laws. * Government initiating social events emphasizing the harmful effects of beer on the human health. * Higher penalty for being influenced by alcohol when doing crimes. Economic factors: * Many European countries are controlling the amount of beer sold in bars, clubs and bars. * Governmental acts and restrictions increased the amount of beer sold through supermarket chains. * Acquisitions, mergers and products with new brands – these are popular measures and strategies in the brewing market these days. * Packaging is responsible for a considerable amount of costs included in the total costs of production. * Super markets are offering cut price offers. Socio culture factors: * Binge drinkers are met with aggression and censure, blame for antisocial behavior. * Consumers pay more attention to their health and harm that drinking beer can bring thanks to governmental effective policies to prevent high beer consumptions. * Drinking in the pubs and bars has been reduced and wine drinking is also increased in Western Europe. Technological factors: * To achieve efficiency in production and cost reduction, companies utilize the latest technologies in order to achieve supreme quality with fewer costs. * In order to increase the cost effectiveness of the production, centralization is introduced to the organization of the production process. * Media adverts are used to commercialize established brands and promote new brands. Environmental factor: * Germany and United Kingdom markets are in a decreasing phase whereas the annual sales are growing, especially Chinese market. * German retailer’s sales are increasing from local private brands rather than†¦

Structure V Agency Essays

Structure V Agency Essays Structure V Agency Essay Structure V Agency Essay Which of the key debates covered in weeks 1-4 is the most significant for sociology? Explain your answer with reference to at least one sociological topic. The Structure v Agency debate has been one of the most contentious within the sociological world. The argument comprises of whether structure (social systems) or Agency (our own individualistic nature) determine our paths in quotidian life. Giddens takes the following stance Society only has form, and that form only has effects on people, in so far as structure is produced and reproduced in what people do. This essay critically evaluates this controversial dualistic argument, in an attempt to establish why it is so significant for sociology. Giddens is also in favour of Agency coining the theory of ‘structuration’ claiming that â€Å"our activities both structure our social world and at the same time are structured by them† (Giddens, 2006:8). This means that people living within a societal structure are partly predisposed to oblige with its various cultural norms, values and rules. However, our individualistic nature shapes and defines this very structure. The structure’s rules are by no means permanent and evolve with time. This doesnt sound unreasonable until you consider just how detrimental little or no agency can be on a person. Restrictions are placed upon us from birth by parents hoping to mould their child into one that conforms to cultural norms and values. These are imposed on us through various actions and behaviors such as gender specific toys and the way both genders are treated. Boys are more likely to be told to hide pain while girls are considered more delicate. Society dictates that there is a cultural life path that you must follow in order to be accepted. Certain aspects of life are pre-planned by those in authority such as your parents or government institutions. Wright-Mills (1959) observes the institution of marriage, stating that â€Å"inside a marriage a man and a woman may experience personal troubles, but when the divorce rate during the first four years of marriage is 250 out of every 1,000 attempts, this is an indication of a structural issue having to do with the institutions of marriage and the family and other institutions that bear upon them. This observation is a strong indicator that suggests the reasons people get married is due to cultural pressures forcing a long term commitment to a partner that some individuals may not be prepared for. Another issue that can be derived from structure is suicide which is often regarded as a personal choice and anti-social. Statistical studies have concluded that suicide rates correlate annually, particularly at christmas. It can be argued that some people may feel alienated and segregated from the rest of society during festive periods. Durkhiem describes suicide as; â€Å"If voluntary deaths increase from January to July, it is not because heat disturbs the organism, but because social life is more intense. The latter depends on social conditions. † Durkhiem claims that suicide rates are higher in certain religious countries; for example catholicism is regarded as a more family orientated religion when compared with protestantism and the suicide rates reflect this. Suicide rates are lower when people are more integrated within the family structure. Being part of a loving happy family is deemed an important positive aspiration that is considered paramount within society. Religious beliefs are a transparent product of structure. Children are born into religious families whereby the process of indoctrination is immediately exercised through primary and secondary socialisation. It can be argued that as children move into adolescence they grow a deeper sense of agency and often start to reject or change the ideals bestowed upon them as a child through other doctrines such as atheism and agnosticism or branch towards different religious reformations such as Calvinism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. There have been an estimated 2000 deities spanning many religions over the course of humanity which suggests that although children are indoctrinated early through societal structure their own modalities provide leverage that enables them to reshape their pre-existing ideologies through agency. Indoctrination is a serious issue in todays societies as over the course of history children that have been raised under this guise have gone onto commit acts of martyrdom through such causes as the crusades and in more recent times extremists sects of society particularly in the middle east. een in the 9/11 plane hijacks and 7/7 bombings. Hitchens (date) provides the following thoughts on religious upbringing â€Å"mass indoctrination of uneducated young men with such ideas is in itself a lethal danger to society and to international order. † Many sociologists query as to why religion seems to have dominated society over the past 4000 years. Marxist views may explain why structure has had such a persistent influence within capitalist societies as it can be argued that it provides the bourgeoisie with a dominant tool of mass exploitation of the proletariat both culturally and materially. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed culture, the heart of a heartless world just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people† (Marx). The proletariat put up with suffering on earth through various hardships such as work and poverty because of the promise of eternal reward in the afterlife. Understanding this debate is crucial for sociology because it’s members are so heavily integrated within society that they often cannot see these social barriers blocking their mobility. The working classes continue under a facade of agency while rendering the upper classes invisible and unquestioned. In conclusion, this essay has evaluated key points between structure and agency giving examples through such topics as religion, marriage, gender and suicide. It can be argued that Structure and Agency exist interdependently and that two ideologies are so delicately interconnected that to say one of them purely determines how people live their lives is one of much contention. It is important to agree however that in our society many inherent rules and restrictions have become archaic and are inimical to our interests if we want to progress towards a more desirable society. This is why the debate is so important for sociology as it allows us to further understand the inner workings of society and provide us with the tools to eventually build, reform and improve on existing foundations. Reference List: Giddens, A. , Pierson, C. 1998:77. ‘Giddens, Modernity and Self-Identity’ in Gauntlett, D. Media Gender and Identity, 2nd edition (London: Routledge) Giddens, A. 1973. Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber. Cambridge University Press. Hitchens, C. 2011. The Enemy. Amazon. [e-book] available at www. amazon. com. Wright Mills, C. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press Durkhiem, E. (1997) [1951]. Suicide  : A Study In Sociology. The Free Press. Marx, K. 1943 [1970]. Critique of Hegels Philosophy of Right. Edited by Joseph O’Malley. Cambridge University Press.

Japanese School System Facts

Japanese School System Facts The Japanese educational system was reformed after World War II. The old 6-5-3-3 system was changed to a 6-3-3-4 system (6 years of elementary school, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of senior high school and 4 years of University) with reference to the American system. The gimukyoiku ç ¾ ©Ã¥â€¹â„¢Ã¦â€¢â„¢Ã¨â€š ² (compulsory education) time period is 9 years, 6 in shougakkou Ã¥ ° Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã¦   ¡ (elementary school) and 3 in chuugakkou ä ¸ ­Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã¦   ¡ (junior high school). Japan has one of the worlds best-educated populations, with 100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy. While not compulsory, high school (koukou é «ËœÃ¦   ¡) enrollment is over 96% nationwide and nearly 100% in the cities. The high school drop out rate is about 2% and has been increasing. About 46% of all high school graduates go on to university or junior college. The Ministry of Education closely supervises curriculum, textbooks, and classes and maintains a uniform level of education throughout the country. As a result, a high standard of education is possible. Student Life Most schools operate on a three-term system with the new year starting in April. The modern educational system started in 1872 and is modeled after the French school system, which begins in April. The fiscal year in Japan also begins in April and ends in March of the following year, which is more convenient in many aspects. April is the height of spring when cherry blossoms  (the most loved flower of the Japanese!) bloom and the most suitable time for a new start in Japan. This difference in the school-year system causes some inconvenience to students who wish to study abroad in the U.S. A half-year is wasted waiting to get in and often another year is wasted when coming back to the Japanese university system and having to repeat a year. Except for the lower grades of elementary school, the average school day on weekdays is 6 hours, which makes it one of the longest school days in the world. Even after school lets out, the children have drills and other homework to keep them busy. Vacations are 6 weeks in the summer and about 2 weeks each for winter and spring breaks. There is often homework over these vacations.   Every class has its own fixed classroom where its students take all the courses, except for practical training and laboratory work. During elementary education, in most cases, one teacher teaches all the subjects in each class. As a result of the rapid population growth after World War II, the numbers of students in a typical elementary or junior high school class once exceeded 50 students, but now it is kept under 40. At public elementary and junior high school, school lunch (kyuushoku ç µ ¦Ã© £Å¸) is provided on a standardized menu, and it is eaten in the classroom. Nearly all junior high schools require their students to wear a school uniform (seifuku åˆ ¶Ã¦Å" ). A big difference between the Japanese school system and the American School system is that Americans respect individuality while the Japanese control the individual by observing group rules. This helps to explain the Japanese characteristic of group behavior. Translation Exercise Because of the rapid population growth after World War II, the number of students in a typical elementary or junior high school once exceeded 50.  Dainiji sekai taisen no ato no kyuugekina jinkou zouka no tame, tenkeitekina shou-chuu gakkou no seitosu wa katsute go-juu nin o koemashita.ç ¬ ¬Ã¤ ºÅ'æ ¬ ¡Ã¤ ¸â€"ç•Å'Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¦Ë† ¦Ã£  ®Ã£ â€šÃ£  ¨Ã£  ®Ã¦â‚¬ ¥Ã¦ ¿â‚¬Ã£  ªÃ¤ º ºÃ¥  £Ã¥ ¢â€"åŠ  Ã£  ®Ã£ Å¸Ã£â€š Ã£â‚¬ Ã¥â€¦ ¸Ã¥Å¾â€¹Ã§Å¡â€žÃ£  ªÃ¥ ° Ã¤ ¸ ­Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã¦   ¡Ã£  ®Ã§â€Å¸Ã¥ ¾â€™Ã¦â€¢ °Ã£  ¯Ã£ â€¹Ã£  ¤Ã£  ¦Ã¤ º ºÃ£â€šâ€™Ã¨ ¶â€¦Ã£ Ë†Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€"㠁Ÿã€‚ Grammar ~no tame means because of ~. I didnt go to work because of a cold.Kaze no tame, shigoto ni ikimasen deshita.é ¢ ¨Ã©â€š ªÃ£  ®Ã£ Å¸Ã£â€š Ã£â‚¬ Ã¤ »â€¢Ã¤ ºâ€¹Ã£  «Ã¨ ¡Å'㠁 Ã£  ¾Ã£ â€ºÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£  §Ã£ â€"㠁Ÿã€‚ Vocabulary dainiji sekai taisen ç ¬ ¬Ã¤ ºÅ'æ ¬ ¡Ã¤ ¸â€"ç•Å'Ã¥ ¤ §Ã¦Ë† ¦ World War II ato 㠁‚㠁 ¨ after kyuugekina æ€ ¥Ã¦ ¿â‚¬Ã£  ª rapid jinkou zouka ä º ºÃ¥  £Ã¥ ¢â€"åŠ   population growth tenkeitekina å… ¸Ã¥Å¾â€¹Ã§Å¡â€žÃ£  ª typical shou chuu gakkou Ã¥ ° Ã¤ ¸ ­Ã¥ ­ ¦Ã¦   ¡ elementary and junior high schools seitosuu 生å ¾â€™Ã¦â€¢ ° the numbers of students katsute 㠁‹ã  ¤Ã£  ¦ once go-juu ä ºâ€Ã¥   fifty koeru è ¶â€¦Ã£ Ë†Ã£â€šâ€¹ to exceed

Paramount vs. Tantamount

Paramount vs. Tantamount Paramount vs. Tantamount Paramount vs. Tantamount By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between paramount and tantamount? The distinction is of paramount importance; it’s tantamount to being right or wrong. Paramount, from the Anglo-French word paramont, derived from the Latin phrase per ad montem, literally translated as â€Å"up the mountain,† means â€Å"supreme.† It’s also used (rarely) as a noun to refer to a supreme ruler. Tantamount was originally a noun, translated into English from the Anglo-French phrase tant amunter, meaning â€Å"to amount to as much,† and means â€Å"equivalent.† It is seldom used more’s the pity, because it is such a grand word in such phrases as â€Å"tantamount to treason.† This grandiloquence, and the word’s resemblance to paramount, may mislead writers into assuming it has a lofty sense like its counterpart. As you might have guessed, the noun amount, meaning â€Å"sum,† also derives from the Latin word for mountain. Another word with the element -amount is catamount, a nearly obsolete synonym for cougar or lynx that is a compression of the term cat-a-mountain. Closed-compound verbs with the root word mount include dismount (â€Å"remove oneself from a high position, as a horse or a piece of gymnastic equipment,† or â€Å"take apart†) demount is a rarely used variant remount (â€Å"get up on again,† or â€Å"revert†), and surmount (â€Å"climb,† â€Å"excel,† or â€Å"overcome,† or â€Å"be at the top of†). Seamount is a noun referring to an underwater mountain whose summit does not reach sea level. (If it did, it would be called an island.) Dismount and remount also have noun forms; the former refers to the concluding movement in a gymnastics routine, and the latter denotes a horse that replaces a rider’s previous one. An interesting side note: In archery, â€Å"lord paramount† and â€Å"lady paramount† are terms for an official in charge of an archery tournament, or for a ceremonial leader of such an event, equivalent to a parade grand marshal. The terms originated in the feudal era, when a lord paramount, one not subordinate to a member of the nobility of greater rank, was required to provide trained longbowmen in the event of war, and officiated at archery tournaments. (The title â€Å"lord paramount† is known to fans of the television series A Game of Thrones and the series of novels on which it is based.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with Heart"Replacement for" and "replacement of"Wood vs. Wooden

Humor and Socialization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Humor and Socialization - Essay Example ..a 2005 study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine showed that laughter helps blood vessels function better" (BIOMED, 2006, p. 420). For academic integrity it should be noted, however, that not all experts agree on this point: Sahakian & Frishman find that that there are "many discrepancies and conflicts in the medical literature regarding laughter, humor, and their effects on the cardiovascular system" (2007, p. 57). Beyond the positive physiological effects, there is a social component to humor which sociologists and the psychological sciences have begun to explore. Van Wormer & Boes, in their study on the social perspective of humor in the emergency room setting, posit that "humor usually cannot be enjoyed alone, interaction and sharing are important components" but go on to conclude that "in the short term, humor can provide a healthy catharsis" (1997, pp. 89, 95). It is this aspect of humor which this study proposes to undertake. There is a case to made for the position taken by social scientist like Lauer, that "we find things funny because we are social beings, and laughter is just one form of communication" (2007, p. 22). That position, however, does not address nor allow for the solitary laugher.

Analysing Financial Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysing Financial Information - Essay Example External reporting of accounts through various financial statements is regulated and must comply with various legal requirements as well. Accounts must be regulated in order to provide a true and fair view of the affairs of any business concern. Compliance being the most important issue, every financial accounts prepared by any domestic company in UK must comply with the Company Act. Regulation of accounts and accounting procedures helps the stakeholders of the company like the investors, consumers, etc. to gather information about various financial aspects of the company which can help them in various decision making process. Not only this, regulated accounts can help in detecting various anti-competitive behaviour like unfair cross-subsidisation etc. Moreover it helps in comparative competition. Also the financial health of a company can be monitored using regulated accounts. (Chief executive of Ofgem et. al, 2001, p.3) Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, a compilation of accou nting practices that help in guiding the company accounts in UK, entails how to prepare company accounts in UK. Accounting Standards Board (ASB) is the primary source of Accounting Standards out of many and it can be said to be the standard-setter in this case. ASB is also in charge for setting the Financial Reporting Standards (FRS). ASB is once again a part of Financial Reporting Council (FRC) which has replaced the Accounting Standards Committee (ASC) in 1990. Urgent Issues Task Force (UITF) assists the ASB in dealing with matters which requires clarifications or changes in practice of accounting due to non-compliance with existing legislation or standards. Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) is the other part of FRC which has the responsibility of enquiring about the company accounts where there is a sign or indication of violating the Companies Act requirements. (Bebbington & Song, n.d, p.74) The principle legislation that governs the reporting of company accounts in UK has been stated clearly in the Companies Act 2006. Companies Act 2006 also incorporates the requirements of the law in Europe. Initially Companies Act set out the reporting requirement for companies in UK which were limited by extent. In 2005 however, certain changes were incorporated in the European law. It stated that all listed companies in Europe would report as per the guidelines of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) while the non listed ones were given the option of reporting either under IFRS or as per the norms of GAAP. Domestic companies of UK whose shares and other securities are listed on the London Stock Exchange, are required to comply with the regulations issued by UK Listing Authorities (UKLA) along with UK GAAP. Additional requirements for domestic companies are included in the Listing Rules, such as additional disclosures about directors and corporate governance. International Accounting Standards (IAS) can now become law in the European Union (EU) with the process set up by the regulation. The regulation only

Measuring Team Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measuring Team Performance - Essay Example Reaching the goals means identifying some of the strategies, formal or informal’ (McNamara, 2007b). Therefore, it is apparent that the four major management functions namely planning, leading organizing and controlling are interdependent with a failure/success in one determining the fate of the others. The performance standards that are to be met by the employees are set in the planning process. It is important for the management to understand that all the activities to be performed win the organization need to have their predefined standards (Erven, n.d). It is thus the role of the management to ensure that the employees are conforming to the laid down standards. McNamara (2007b) observed that the evaluation and review of performance ‘provides an opportunity for the supervisors and the employees to regularly communicate about goals’. The managers need to understand that ‘lowering the standards to what has been attained is not a solution to performance problems. On the other hand, a manager does need to the standards when they are fund to be unattainable due to resource limitation and factors external to the business’ (Erven, n.d). As such, the controlling process helps to identify the possible problems that may arise to deter the organization’s pr ogress. Since the controlling process is aimed at identifying how employees conform to the standards, the required steps are taken depending on the outcome. If the performance by the employees is established to be substandard, ‘then preventive action must be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur. If performance is greater than or equal to standards, [then] it is useful to reinforce behaviors that led to the acceptable standards’ (Erven, n.d). Thus, controlling, as a management function is analogous to quality control in a production company. As McNamara (2007b) described, quality control involves ‘specifying a performance standard, monitoring

Alternative Channel Management Techniques Research Paper

Alternative Channel Management Techniques - Research Paper Example Partner relationships can be effective, but they need to be implemented correctly. The channel partner needs to be viewed as an integrated extension of the producer's internal sales organization (Wardley 2006 p.2). There must be a high degree of cooperation between the manufacturer and the distributor to have an effective relationship, and this necessitates a financial commitment to the partnership. Both parties need to have a sense of investment and an opportunity to gain from the relationship. These opportunities may be in the form of exploiting overlapping strategies such as marketing or advertising. Other areas of mutual concern and benefit may be in the service or support areas. With a partnership relationship, these issues become of more concern to the distribution channel when they have a financial stake in the overall process. The goal of getting a quality product to the most end users is a mutually shared objective. Though developing a channel partnership relationship has it s advantages, it also has its difficulties. One of the first concerns of the process is that the manufacturer may have other channels that compete with the partner. Competing for the same customers is not only one of the biggest obstacles to a partnership, but it can also double the cost of attracting and retaining customers (Wardley 2006 p.4). The manufacturer may also have other partners who are competing for the same retail outlets. Another obstacle to effective channel partnerships is getting access to the channel's information and technology.

Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview - Assignment Example He tells about Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome --- the four kingdoms that would rule over the Jews. It also says here that the future of the nation would be filled with hardships if they continue to fall short in their obedience to God’s commandments. Joel is also known for his account of the final assembly of the exiles at the time of the last redemption. Amos. Amos’ prophecy is mainly directed at the Ten Tribes --- who were eventually lost due to their actions. Amos also says that the Jews have a significant mission in the world, and are given immense power to accomplish this task. With these, he gives warnings to all those in the northern and southern kingdoms of Jerusalem. Amos informs them that a greater punishment, compared to others, awaits the Jews if they do not do their job. â€Å"The bigger they are the harder they fall.† Obadiah. Obadiah supports 100 prophets during the dreadful reign of King Ahab and hides them to safety. He is also famous for his prophecy that is directed at the Jews’ neighbouring nation of Edom. Per Obadiah, these people are also fated to be brought to justice to all their deeds. The Roman Empire is usually associated with Edom. Jonah (Yonah). He is most probably the most well-known of all the minor prophets. Jonah’s book is read in the synagogues on the afternoon of the Yom Kippur war in 1973. Jonah is ordered by God to go to Nineveh, a city located in modern northern Iraq, near the Turkish border. He is to convince the non-Jews to turn away from their ways and repent to God. Jonah tries to avoid the mission that almost costs him his life. He is afraid that the people of Nineveh would pay attention to his reproach and do better, which would definitely create a bad image of the Jews. Jonah tries to avoid the mission by riding on a boat going in the opposite direction. He deals with a violent storm that makes him throw himself overboard to save the other people on the boat. Once in the waters, he is swallowed by a fish, is spat out, then swallowed again by another.  Ã‚  

Participation Exercise #5 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Participation Exercise #5 - Assignment Example Calculation of a breakeven also aids the business owner in learning the different costs both fixed and variable to easily determine the much they need as capital and that aside to propel the business to profitability. These provide the advantages of calculating the breakeven point before starting a business. The point that aids the business owners realizes the returns from their efforts. The point that defines their real profits the business earns (Rodriguez). During the calculations if the resulting breakeven point indicates a performance below the needed breakeven point, a number of options may aid improve the position. The increase in the selling prices may allow the company to improve the position and increase in volumes of sales provides another option. The circumstances surrounding the business environment determine the action to take with the option to increase the selling price much determined by the competitor’s prices among other factors. An increase in volumes sold will provide a more viable option to improving the position on the breakeven point. Rodriguez, George. Is Your Business successful? 3 Indicators of Success. Powerhomebiz. Viewed on May 1, 2015 from

Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Twelve Minor Prophets - An Overview - Assignment Example He tells about Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome --- the four kingdoms that would rule over the Jews. It also says here that the future of the nation would be filled with hardships if they continue to fall short in their obedience to God’s commandments. Joel is also known for his account of the final assembly of the exiles at the time of the last redemption. Amos. Amos’ prophecy is mainly directed at the Ten Tribes --- who were eventually lost due to their actions. Amos also says that the Jews have a significant mission in the world, and are given immense power to accomplish this task. With these, he gives warnings to all those in the northern and southern kingdoms of Jerusalem. Amos informs them that a greater punishment, compared to others, awaits the Jews if they do not do their job. â€Å"The bigger they are the harder they fall.† Obadiah. Obadiah supports 100 prophets during the dreadful reign of King Ahab and hides them to safety. He is also famous for his prophecy that is directed at the Jews’ neighbouring nation of Edom. Per Obadiah, these people are also fated to be brought to justice to all their deeds. The Roman Empire is usually associated with Edom. Jonah (Yonah). He is most probably the most well-known of all the minor prophets. Jonah’s book is read in the synagogues on the afternoon of the Yom Kippur war in 1973. Jonah is ordered by God to go to Nineveh, a city located in modern northern Iraq, near the Turkish border. He is to convince the non-Jews to turn away from their ways and repent to God. Jonah tries to avoid the mission that almost costs him his life. He is afraid that the people of Nineveh would pay attention to his reproach and do better, which would definitely create a bad image of the Jews. Jonah tries to avoid the mission by riding on a boat going in the opposite direction. He deals with a violent storm that makes him throw himself overboard to save the other people on the boat. Once in the waters, he is swallowed by a fish, is spat out, then swallowed again by another.  Ã‚  

Business Modeling Essay Example for Free

Business Modeling Essay Ted Ralley is working on conducting a forecast for the upcoming year for an automobile part company. The data that will be used for this research has been collected from the quarterly sales from the previous four years. Ted wants to determine what is most accurate way to determine the forecast for 2008. The model should also help determined if the economic situation and oil prices are affecting significantly the sales of the company. The two models that were provided were thoroughly analyzed to determine which model was the most appropriate to utilize. These models were a regression model with factors, seasons and an additive Holt-Winters model. The forecasts also show that there is a significant change in the sales with the economic hardship and oil prices. It was concluded that the Regression with Econometric Variables would be the best method to use to forecast the sales for 2008, estimating a 255,927,955 for that year. Background With the economy continuously deteriorating everyone seems to be getting hurt financially, even the automotive industry, which has deepening the economic recession. Automotive part suppliers continued to experience heavy debt and overcapacity caused by production cuts by automakers, specifically including the big 3 (Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Chrysler). The suppliers  are also being pressed by higher energy and input materials’ costs. It has been determined by Industry analyst that automotive companies that accounted for more than $72 billion in sales have filed for chapter 11 protections in 2008. The number of Bankruptcies will continue to rise as the years go by. Domestically, Losing the big 3 to U.S affiliates of foreign- based manufacturers and imports in 2008 have caused a dramatic 50% drop in the market share. Most US suppliers are dependent on these three companies aforementioned. U.S suppliers are currently facing the challenge of penetrating automakers’ supply chains, mostly because these relationships have been long-established with home-market supplies. Ted Ralley is the director of a marketing research for a manufacturer of spare automobiles parts and it’s working on conducting a forecast for the upcoming year. Ted is aware of the forecasting errors and how costly they can be which is why these numbers must be as accurate as possible. In order to perform this forecast, Ted has collected the data on quarterly sales for the previous four years and ran several forecasts using time series forecasting methods. Ted noticed that economic activity and oil prices have impacted significantly the auto part sales and decided that the forecast will be more accurate using econometric variables. Problem Will the econometric variables be a better predictor of sales for the coming year, given the current economic activity and oil prices? Analysis This analysis consisted of the evaluation of the regression model with factors, seasons and the additive Holt-Winters method to generate an accurate forecast of how econometric variables have affected the Auto Parts industry. The analysis involved calculating the errors metrics for the three models (mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), MAPE and Theils’ U-statistics (U)) and comparing them against each other. The error metrics were calculated by using the formulas shown below: Table 1.1 Error Metrics Formulas: After studying the data provided it could be determined that there is an upward trend with obvious seasonality. Another factor that played a role in these regressions was the removal of the first two years in order to meet Holt-Winters method guidelines. The first regression was conducted using  Factors was generated by utilizing the data that provided by Ted Ralley from a large manufacturer of spare auto parts for automobiles. The data consisting of the quarterly sales for the previous four years was the dependent variables and independent variables consisted of Time, quarter 2, quarter 3, quarter 4. In this regression quarter 1 was removed in order to avoid over forecasting and binary coding was used to generate dummy factors. After the regression was completed, the independent variables were tested to determine their significance, which was done by performing a regression on the data through Microsoft Excel. Quarter 4 was removed from the model due to the fact that it was statis tically insignificant. This was determined by using backward elimination, which means, a variable that has a P-Value that is greater than .05, is considered insignificant and should be removed from the data and a new regression should be completed. The results from the new regression, shown below, have a P-Value less than .05 being sufficient to reject the null hypothesis (Ha). A very strong positive linear correlation between sales and all the independent variables combined with a 95.47%, leaving an unexplained variance of 4.53 is also demonstrated. According to the textbook â€Å"the most common measure of overall fit is the coefficient of determination (R2)†. Another important measure is the â€Å"standard error (Se), which is derived from the sum of squared residuals for n observations and k predictors† (Poane, Seward, 2013). A smaller Se Indicates a better fit, in this case the Se will be off by around 3.9 million. The coefficients used to run the forecast for 2008 are the following: intercept coefficient + coefficient time x time 1 plus coefficient q2* code for Q2 dummy variable for q2 + plus coefficient q3. Square error was used to find the magnitude of the error; the absolute value of the error to the sale s was found and then preceded to calculate to numerator. Numerator and denominator will be calculated in other to use Thiels’ U. Numerator was calculated as follow: difference between sales minus the sale of initial sale (difference q1-2 sales) /divided by q1 and squared. Bibliography Poane, D., Seward, L. E. (2013). Business Modeling Customized Readings for QNT5040. : Mc Graw Hill Education. Microsoft Office Excel. (2007). Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. Albright, Winston Zappe (2010). Business Modeling, Selections from 4e – QNT 5040 (4th ed.). Mason: Cengage Learning. Aczel,A Sounderpandian,J (2009). Complete Business Statistics 7th edition (592). : Mc Graw Hill Education. U.S. Automotive Parts Industry Annual Assessment. (2009, April 1). . Retrieved June 6, 2014, from http://trade.gov/mas/manufacturing/OAAI/build/groups/public/@tg_oaai/documents/webcontent/tg_oaai_003759.pdf

Analysing The Changing Transition To Adulthood Social Work Essay

Analysing The Changing Transition To Adulthood Social Work Essay The transition to adulthood looks very different than it once did. The transition to adulthood has been elongated and a sequential pattern to this transition has become less identifiable. No longer do young people transition in a lockstep pattern from education, to marriage, to stable work, to childbearing (Settersten, 2005). Common sequences related to the transition to adulthood reminiscent of life since the 1950s, no longer apply to contemporary young adults. The overarching societal structures have greatly impacted the transition to adulthood, including educational systems and family structure. In the last 100 years the necessary education to meet societal standards of living has changed from minimal attendance to increased necessity of secondary and vocational training to the contemporary necessity of university degrees and continued education even through a individuals career (Kohli, year). This increased educational attainment for young adults requires many young people to in turn delay marriage and family formation as they concentrate on education (source). Concepts and expectations related to family have also changed. Marriage is delayed, divorce is common and cohabitating couples have increased. These factors certainly interact with the experiences of young people who transition into adulthood who may wait to marry or cohabitate for longer periods of time without the commitment of marriage. The definition of adulthood has also changed. Many young people are not able to clearly articulate when they became an adult or if they are an adult (Molgat, 2007) (many people of even older ages may have a hard time expressing this as well, begging the question of what adulthood actually means for the larger population). In the past, adulthood has been marked by certain role changes; the traditional markers relate to finishing school, starting a career, marriage, childbirth, and owning a house. In particular, the onset of certain social roles ensue people to identify as young adults. Parenthood is viewed by some as a definitive step in becoming an adult, particularly because of the responsibilities and role changes associated with it (Osgood et al., 2005). However, in qualitative interviews young people may indicate that it was not even until their second or third child that they felt like an adult. Also, young people may be able to avoid the responsibility of a child by having thei r parents (the childs grandparent) take care of the child. Parenthood does not always equal adulthood. In the past, these markers were also associated with a typical age or age range when young adults experience these markers. These markers, however, have become unsystematic for young adults occurring at different times, at a different pace, and they may not even be reached until the mid to late 30s. As these markers have been pushed back for young adults, does this mean that a 35-year-old was not an adult until they married at age 35 and consider children at age 37? Young adults are likely to have varied definitions of transitioning to adulthood given the recent convoluted experiences of young adulthood. Identification as an adult may be swinging from less emphasis on social roles to the actual attributes young people experience regardless of their circumstance (Arnett, 2000). A sociologist would argue that these attributes arise from the social experiences within a persons life but perhaps these experiences which give young people a sense of adulthood needs to be more broadly defined (Osgood et al, 2005). Many young people report that a feeling independence, self-sufficiency, responsibility or being able to take care of themselves financially leads to them as identifying as an adult (Arnett, 2000). Yet, many 30-year-olds may still be reliant on their parents for financial support, especially given the current economic climate. Does this mean they are not yet adults? As demonstrated the role expectations and contexts of transitioning into adulthood are less clear than 30 years ago. The transition to adulthood can cause confusion for young adults as traditional makers of adulthood suc h as marriage, full-time work, exits from education, and childbearing do not hold the same meanings as these markers did for young adults parents. Again, I turn to the broader social structures that have influenced some of the changes contemporary young adults experience. The life course overall has been elongated. People live longer and healthier than they did compared to 70 years ago). The lengthening of lives and the expectation of living longer afford peoples experiences between life and death to be more varied and less standardized (Moen, 2003). This has also allowed the period of adolescence and young adulthood to be extended. People can delay some commitments because it seems as though they have a lifetime to complete them. Furthermore, fertility is more controlled than 50 years ago (Mayer, 2004). People are choosing to have children later because they can control to some extent with the infusion of birth control; this is also intertwined with education and the economic climate. Couples can also have fertility interventions if they decide to have children late. In American Dream (DaParle, 2005) a young women in the 60s s peaks of her grandmother taking care of her when her mother died, yet her grandmother was only 37. Now, 37 might the time a woman is becoming a parent for the first time and grand parenting will be in the distant future. It may be that the clustering of these experiences with social roles may be the prominent pathways to feel like an adult (Schulenberg et al., 2005). Arnett (2000) also describes young adulthood as unique phase primarily because of the demographic (these are the role changes mentioned above), subjective and identity characteristics unique to this phase. Demographically these roles have been pushed back later in the life course and also happen more haphazardly or in less standardized order than past generations. Subjectively young people are ambivalent about their adult status, not knowing whether to identify as an adult or not. Their subjective experience of being an adult is crucial, however, as opposed to some of the more objective markers. Finally, he argues that young people are still exploring their identities during this time. The identity exploration once primarily connected with young adulthood is now thought to happen more so during a persons twenties. Other theories and researchers argue that it is the overarching structures which have lead to these changes in adulthood (Cote Brynner, 2008). They assert that not all you ng people experience what Arnett (2000) describes. The experiences of young adults are vastly different given young peoples and their families social position in society. Not all young adults have been given the same opportunities or privilege to explore their identity during this phase. This is especially true of more disadvantaged populations of youth, such as youth in the foster or juvenile system, poor, homeless, and rural youth (Settersten, 2007). Social Position As opposed to young people actually choosing these varied pathways, these unique combinations of experiences may relate more to institutional, contextual and social differences between groups of young adults. The timing of when young people experience these transitions and the pace they experience them vary because of institutional and structural factors that influence both the human and social capital of young adults (Cote Bynner, 2008). Many young people get to rely on their parents during these transitions, youth in foster care and from poorer families do not experience this same support. For example, foster care youth are forced to live independently at age eighteen. This will result in very different experiences for these youth as they navigate adulthood compared to youth whose parents still contribute to their finances until they are 25 years of age or even older (Hamilton Hamilton, 2009). Also, youth from poor families may need to help their families after graduating high sc hool as opposed to attending college or working to support themselves. These youth may also be involved in the caretaking of their younger siblings. The parents of these young adults are not an asset to these youth as opposed to their more privileged counterparts. Parents, however, are now needed and expected as a support while young people experience the first time transitions related to young adulthood (Settersten, 2007). The experiences of more disadvantaged young adults may either be especially delayed or fast forwarded. Many other youth are provided the opportunity to attend college where they experience a sense of being semi-independent (Kett, 1977). The semi-independence of college lets young people experience living on their own in a slower transitional mode as they start living in the dorms and may eat in the cafeterias. They are slowing weaned off the full support of their parents into the college support system and finally they experience these transitions on their own and with their own social supports. What happens to youth who did not get to attend college? They do not get the luxury of experiencing a semi-independence or the developmental supports experienced in college. They will likely have less income and fewer opportunities for jobs without the necessary education attainment (U.S. Department of Education, 2006). Marriage may not be typical of these young adults as its delayed patterns become more and more the norm. Moreover, many youth in poverty cannot take advantage of a delayed adul thood. They may experience disconnection from social institutions and be forced into responsibilities (Hamilton Hamilton, 2009). Furthermore, homeless young adults are not only combating the issues of obtaining a job, being self-supporting, and forging life on the streets they are experiencing the stigmas of being homeless (Hagan McCarthy, 2007). Internalizing the stigma of being homeless seems especially crucial for these young adults given this critical period of identity formation. Many of these youth have had catastrophic family backgrounds and experiences on the street and connecting them with social institutions is precarious but essential. The very systems that protect the middle and upper class such as the police force may be too afraid to go into the poor neighborhoods of these young people or may even be the perpetrators of harassment toward these young adults (Hagan McCarthy, 2007). Expectations and social codes are less likely transmitted by family and parents for homeless young adults given their transient relationships. Homeless young adults likely frame their transition to adulthood very diffe rently compared to residential young adults given the hardship of living on the streets and the financial survival methods they must employ. Young adulthood is also experienced differently by geographic locations, urban or rural. The institutional and social structural supports related to the transition to adulthood very significantly for those living in a rural environment. Rural young people may not have the same opportunities to connect to pertinent social structures such as higher education and career related institutions (Wald Martinez, 2003). These youth must choose to stay in their home town with limited opportunities related to work and schooling or to leave their rural setting to pursue education and career opportunities but sacrificing the community and social supports of their home. Thus, another dimension of choosing to leave a familiar lifestyle and community support is added to the already convoluted decisions related to young adulthood. Moreover, the youth who decide to stay in their communities may be more vulnerable related to education and career outcomes (Oyserman Fryber, 2006). To the best of my knowledge I have not found strong evidence of experiences with the traditional transition makers or pathways to adulthood relating to a specific gender (Schulenberg et al., 2005). I am sure this is an area ripe for research but also gender may be a less salient concept for contemporary young adults as many social roles do not carry the same gender connotations as in previous generations. Poverty: An Ecological Perspective of Young Adults Understanding the ecological levels including micro level personal characteristics, meso level relationships, and the broader macro level policies related to young adults in poverty and from impoverished backgrounds is essential. Creating pathways of social mobility is critical during the transition to adulthood as young people experience excess role changes within institutional structures. Young adulthood may be an especially critical time where social mobility can occur as young people navigate these systems for the first time; creating pathways for future opportunities (Hamilton Hamilton, 2009). At the same time young adulthood is likely a particularly sensitive and vulnerable time because young adults are doing these transitions for the first time, meaning they could be volatile or missteps could have long lasting effects into adulthood. At the microlevel, psychosocial characteristics may be essential for young adults to navigate the uncharted waters of adulthood. These characteristics are likely even more vital for young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds (Settersten, 2007). Hamilton Hamiliton (2009) argue that sense of purpose and agency are essential characteristics at the individual level. My research also supports the important role sense of purpose plays in young adulthood (Dolenc, 2009). Having a clear sense of purpose to guide individuals may be crucial as young adults set out to reach goals and fulfill adult responsibilities; consequently, they must have goals and aspirations in the first place. A sense of purpose likely connects young people to social and institutional structures as well. Cultivating a sense of purpose in disadvantaged youth helps them to navigate and guide them during the many transitions of adulthood. Furthermore, youth being empowered and understanding that they can act upon the ir environment to create social mobility is essential. However, institutions which support and cultivate young peoples agency are also important, these individual characteristics surely interact with broader systems and resources available to young people. Hamiliton and Hamilton (2009) also emphasize social capital as essential for young adults in poverty. High quality interactions in the mesosystem are essential for youth outcomes (Bronfenbrenner Morris, 2006). The interactions in the mesosystems that relate to human capital and social capital are important for upward social mobility. Mentoring can help build these social interactions and networks for disadvantaged young people. Institutions can emphasize provide social connections for young people. Furthermore, structural and policy level changes can occur to better support these young adults which create increased social interactions for these youth. Within the macro system policies that provide multiple supports for the multiple pathways of young adults are needed, especially for vulnerable youth. The policies in the macro system also influence young adults related to education and job opportunities. Adolescence and young adults are essentially left out of policies that typically support vulnerable populations. As adolescence and young adulthood are usually viewed as a time of vitality, welfare policies are primarily directed to children and people of older ages. Perhaps policies that could help support vulnerable young adults are in order as well. For instance, extending the familial support of the foster care system to an older age would be more appropriate given the current state of young adulthood. Furthermore, providing ways for youth to gain access to health care when even mimumge wage and entry level jobs are hard to find should be addressed. Understanding how more disadvantaged youth can be equipped with the skills to en ter the labor market and become engaged in their communities is essential. Hamilton and Hamilton (2009) suggest the apprenticeship model of Germany as an example of an institutional support and call for more private/public partnerships that could help these vulnerable young adults. Community colleges in the US have also been explored as a possible alternative mechanism for these youth to access social mobility. As youth age and transition into adulthood their developmental outcomes become more dependent on the environment. Clearly more diverse institutions are needed to support the multiple pathways of young adulthood.

Hospice Care: Death With Dignity Essay -- Dying with Dignity

The beginning of life is celebrated. Books and resources are shared among friends and family in preparation for becoming a new parent. So, what happens as one approaches the end of life? Unfortunately, the same care and sharing rarely occurs in those circumstances and many face the prospect of dying unprepared. Though most people state they would prefer to die at home, this is often not where death occurs. Many Americans spend their last days attached to medical apparatus that keeps the body alive, but it does not allow for communication with family and often requires heavy sedation. Additionally, this level of treatment comes at a high price. As a society, we must become as comfortable in addressing the end of life process as we are with the beginning of life. One way that this can be done more effectively is through increased knowledge and use of hospice care. Hospice care is a viable option that provides health care cost savings, comfort to the patient, and support to the caregivers, however as hospice systems become more commercialized, care must be taken to avoid the pitfalls that are inherent in larger organizations. Hospice care is a relatively young option in the United States, with the first hospice organization founded in 1971 after gaining acceptance in England in the 1950s (Jensen, 2012). Hospice care is provided to those who are diagnosed with a terminal condition that is expected to culminate in death within six months. Unlike regular health care which focuses on curative procedures, hospice services focus on the comfort of the patient in order to ease the process of dying. These services provide benefits to the patient and the caregivers, as well as showing cost savings. It is no secret that healt... ...NHPCO facts and figures: Hopice care in America. Alexandria, VA. Perry, J. E., & Stone, R. C. (2011). In the business of dying: Questioning the commercialization of hospice. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 39(2), 224-234. doi:1111/j.1748-720X.2011.0059.x Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2012). Quality of life at the end of life: A guide to hospice and palliative care at home or in a hospice facility. Retrieved from Helpguide.org: www.helpguide.org/elder/hospice_care.htm Seeger, P. (2012). Turn, turn, turn lyrics. Retrieved from metrolyrics.com: http://www.metrolyrics.com/turn-turn-turn-to-everything-there-is-a-season-lyrics-the-byrds.html Taylor, D., Ostermann, J., Houtven, C. V., Tulsky, J., & Steinhauser, K. (2007). What length of hospice use maximizes reduction in medical expenditures near death in the US Medicare program? Social Science & Medicine, 1466-1478.

Military Police Corps :: U.S. Army

The Military Police Corps has a long and glorious history to be proud of. Listed on U.S. Army Info (2011), Military Police Corps was officially recognized as a military occupation on the 26th of September 1941, but their work can traced back even further. According to U.S. Army Info (2011), the first use of the Military Police was during the American Revolution in 1776. Military Police have been deployed and used in conflicts such as: "World War 11, Korean War, Vietnam conflict, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom" (Wright, 2001). Today, Military Police have a variety of different tasks they are expected to perform, much more than just arresting criminals. "Military Police Corps officers lead units in performing five major functions associated with the branch-area security, maneuver and mobility support, police intelligence operations, internment and resettlement, and law and order," according to U.S. Army Info (2011). They are also charged with protecting troops and watching equipment overseas and at home stations across the United States (About, 2011). MP's are sent to Fort Leonard Wood to receive the training they are required to have, there they learn certain skills that are crucial to their occupation (U.S. Army Info, 2011). Several of the skills they learn while at Fort Leonard Wood are: "basic warrior skills, military and civil jurisdiction, use of firearms and arrest and restraint of suspects," as stated in GoArmy (2011). Each individual has to already have certain skills to be successful as a MP, such as: "being physically fit, ability to interact well with people and ability to remain calm in stressful situations," according to GoArmy (2011). Educational requirements are slim to none, the Army looks to enlist anyone who has a high school diploma or GED. If you have a bachelor's degree in any major, you can apply for an officer spot. Salary ranges are varied because it depends if your an enlisted soldier or an officer, how many years of service you have under your belt and if you receive hazard pay or separation pay or any other kind of pay benefits (GoArmy, 2011). Selection process for a MP is long and rigorous procedure. First, an individual has to qualify through MEPS to get into the military and pass all basic medical test, background checks and drug tests. Second, the individual has to complete basic training to even make it to their Advance Individual Training. After basic training is completed they are sent off to Advance Individual Training, where they are pushed through one last test, if they complete AIT, then you will be a certified Military Police soldier.

Organizational Ethics Essay

In the industrial era, organizations have created untenable problems for moral experts by becoming bothersome illustrations of the dynamic social processes that defy attempts to apply traditional moral theory and detached philosophical wisdom. Kaufman (1973) observed that bureaucratic managers often privately approve of behavior that they acknowledge publically as illegal or unethical. Expectations for loyalty to the organization and for obedience to managerial direction set the a priori guidelines for moral conduct, and a given organization can develop and impose its own form of influence on the individual with an organizationally specific moral order that can seem to pre-empt external social order. Organization members can defy common social or religious morality when they are acting on behalf of the organization and feel justified in doing so because their behavior is judged within the context of the organization (Jackall, 1988). Yet, employees rarely exhibit unacceptable behavior in society that is acceptable inside the organization’s boundaries. Society holds the organization accountable as a rational actor, but rarely are the individuals actually responsible for creating organizational outcomes entailed in that accountability. Modern understanding of ethics emphasizes the behavioral aspects to the extent that the words ethics and morals are commonly used interchangeably by philosophers to refer to behavioral standards, codes of conduct or principles upon which these standards and codes are based. But, the different words imply different things. According to Bauman, ‘ethics is something more than a mere description of what people do; more even than a description of what they believe they ought to be doing in order to be decent, just, good – or, more generally, â€Å"in the right†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ (1994: 1). All organization members make decisions, the collective manifestations of which fall into certain patterns that result in more or less consistent outcomes. The exploration of these patterns can be conducted using political frameworks. Deetz has asserted that organizations make most decisions regarding the use of resources, the development of technologies, the products available, and the working relations among people’ (1992: 3). While it can be argued that a substantial portion of industrial technology is developed at the behest of the military, it is clear that organizations have taken on many roles heretofore expected of government. Deetz further suggested that the state’s power is restricted to crude guidance through taxation and regulation. Philosophical Aspect of Organizational Ethics The examination of contemporary nature and functioning of organization could be considered in terms of Aristotle’s philosophical system. Clearly the structure of society Aristotle had in mind when he wrote The Politics (Aristotle, 1962) was something completely different than the structure of industrial society. However, it may be possible to speculate on how he might have applied his fundamental principles of governance to modern times. Aristotle would certainly not regard a large and pluralistic country such as the USA or any industrial European country as the equivalent of a city/state (hereafter referred to as a polis – a political community). A polis, he said, ‘must have a population large enough to cater for all the needs of a self-sufficient existence, but not so large that it cannot be easily supervised’ (1962: VII, 4). It is doubtful even that he would regard the USA as culturally homogeneous enough to provide support to a polis similar to that provided to Athens by Hellenic culture. He might, however, consider an organization to be a form of polis. If so, then there would be implications for what we regard as organizational ethics. To begin with, Aristotle advocated slavery as an important economic tool for support of the polis. While we in industrial society believe that owning people is immoral, we have no moral problem with the concept of the organization owning’ an employee for a specified period of time each day. Substituting the words supervisor for master and subordinate for slave, the characteristics of this intermittent ownership are scarcely discernible from Aristotle’s slavery: the master/slave relationship is a reciprocal relationship united by a common interest (they cannot do without each other); above all subordinates must be obedient – not being obedient is grounds for termination; subordinates must perform only tasks specified by their supervisors and not other tasks; subordinates may not slack from performing these tasks; subordinates must perform these tasks when ordered to perform them and within the time period allotted; and, except under certain conditions, subordinates may not supplement their work with activities of their own choosing. Many employers feel justified imposing restrictions on personal relationships, and on affiliations with other organizations. Slavery was not only important economically for Aristotle, but it represented the natural order of things: ‘He that can by his intelligence foresee things needed is by nature a ruler and master, while he whose bodily strength enables him to perform them is by nature a slave’ (1962: I, 2). The organizational chart is a sophisticated method for establishing, conventionalizing and validating the master/slave relationship. Because Aristotle considered business to be a ‘household’ activity and not a political activity, it is tempting to consider the organization as a representation of Aristotle’s household, which is the repository of slavery. Aristotle defined the polis in a number of similar ways, but we can accept that it is ‘a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view to some good’ (1962: I, 1). The purpose of the polis is of supreme importance in distinguishing it from other social entities; ‘the state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims, and in a greater degree than any other, at the highest good’ (1962:1, 1). The purpose of an organization is, or should be, much more than simply serving customers and making profits (Deming, 1986). The organization is defined by its constitution, and it has a number of specific characteristics. For one, it is of a manageable size, as alluded to above. For another, it has a limited membership of citizens: ‘We do not for a moment accept the notion that we must give the name citizen to all persons whose presence is necessary for the existence of the state’ (1962: III, 5). States have little in common, so in each case the citizen is defined by the constitution. Aristotle would limit citizenship in a number of ways, but he defined a citizen as One who has the ability and the chance to participate in government’ (1962: III, 5). In a truly democratic organization (which Aristotle would not recommend) that might include all employees. In an ideal organization, Aristotle would limit citizenship to managers – what he would call an aristocracy. The constitution of an organization is defined by its charter and its strategic and operating plans, the sum of which include its mission, its standard operating policies and procedures, its organizational chart (structure) and its personnel manual – covering all three of the elements cited above. Deming (1986) would suggest that the constitution of an organization provides for its ‘constancy of purpose’ – the point of being in business in the first place. There are basically three types of organizations: (1) monarchies, run by entrepreneurs or autocrats; (2) aristocracies, run chiefly by some combination of boards of directors, executives and organizational managers (this type has many varieties); and (3) democracies, run by some constitutional form of employee consensus. Determination of a specific organization’s type for the purposes of measurement should be guided by some assessment of attitudes toward the supervisor/subordinate relationship from both sides of that relationship. There were many beloved masters in the history of slavery. True democracies will have few, if any, symbols used to determine and to enforce differences in status, and will have institutionalized methods of achieving consensus. Two essentials for the state (1962: VII, 4) are a supply of labor, and a territory. The workforce supplies the labor for an organization, and the territory is defined by organizational boundaries, assets and market share. Additional essential parts (1962: VII, 8) include (a) food – the sustenance, in the case of organizations we can cite products (profits? ) as that which sustains the striving for goals; (b) tools and crafts – the technology used to make products; (c) arms – for protection and acquisition of new territory, provided for organizations by marketing and legal departments; (d) wealth – capital; (e) religion – that which guides normal behavior and explains the unexplainable; and finally that part which is most essential (f) a method of arriving at decisions about policy and about right and wrong – defined by the constitution. Organizational Ethics: Contemporary View Ethics are sources of identity and motivation for mature individuals, representing some sense of prevailing telos. A person develops an ethic by learning cultural convention and then modifies what has been learned according to insight and personal experience. The point is often taken for granted; a good deal of that which influences the development of an ethic is not likely to be grasped consciously by the individual. Ethics establish states of existence for individuals that make them, for example, more or less predisposed to accept or reject authority and supervision of their activities. Ethics induce people to seek out the association of others who share similar ethics. Organizations, to varying degrees, represent political associations and opportunities for political activity that cannot otherwise be experienced or constructed by individuals within the greater society. While conventional knowledge holds that organizations are narrowly purposeful and rationally managed entities, research reveals processes that can best be explained as political activity (Barker, 1994; Jackall, 1988): (a) functional groups compete for ascendancy of ideas, influence and resources, which is characterized by conflict; (b) the level of power and influence of any one manager depends upon that individual prevailing in conflicts regularly; (c) the corporate and bureaucratic structures are set up by and for those with the most controlling power; (d) success or failure of managers has little to do with actual accomplishments, but rather with arbitrary perceptions of one’s ability by others and with supportive alliances (that is, success and failure are socially defined, not empirically measured); (e) truth is socially constructed and the organization mobilizes to support manufactured reality promoted by those in power; (f) uncertainty in the organization and in managem ent processes facilitates redefinition of organizational reality; and therefore, (g) decisions are based in political agreement, and agreement is based in comparative power and influence. Jackall found that the moral system for managers in bureaucratic organizations includes some of the following principles: (a) striving for success is a moral imperative; (b) rising stars serve to validate the moral system; (c) criteria for success are bounded by the system and can be based in illusion rather than in reality – success is often the result of taking credit for the good and avoiding blame for the bad; (d) self-control, and not necessarily rule-following behavior, is a moral imperative; (e) morality is determined by flexibility and adaptability to changing political realities, and not by strong convictions; (f) bad things must be covered up or reframed in order to protect the system; and, (g) morality is a matter of survival and gaining advantage. For the citizen of this polis, morality has different implications than it does for those we may call employees, which Aristotle might recognize as slaves. While all employees may be initiated as organizational members, only a select few will undergo extensive initiation to achieve the status of citizen. In the General Dynamics study, employees at lower levels of the organization expected their quality of life to improve as a result of the Ethics Program (Barker, 1993). The failure of their expectations to be realized was commonly attributed by them to immoral behavior on the part of managers. These employees had not been indoctrinated into citizenship. Most never would be. Consequently, they understood the basic customs that govern the masses, but not the protocol of the political elite. Middle and senior level managers at General Dynamics, who were citizens, commonly viewed the Ethics Program as simply another political obligation. Instead of an opportunity for improvement, most managers experienced the program as yet another uncertainty to be managed in their quest to succeed. Their conformance to the rules established by the program was established by the constitution, and their experience of justice was directly related to which of their behaviors were measured and rewarded by the polis. Supervisors were citizens-in-training, and were caught between their understanding of the desires of employees for improved quality of life and their realization that the political goal of the program was to improve customer relations with the Navy in particular and with the Pentagon in general – that is, to improve the quality of life for citizens and not necessarily for the masses. The decisions of the polis were governed by the need to survive and to protect territory. The welfare of the masses was secondary to this goal, and was considered ultimately irrelevant should the polis fail. Organizational Ethics: Gender Aspects Diversity in the work place is among the issues important to contemporary business concerns. Diversity itself is a large agenda, within which issues of inclusion, personnel advancement, and appropriate work relationships for all employees emerge. The ability of all employees to work in ways that build upon their competencies, to allow them to advance for the betterment of the corporation, and to provide and contribute to the individual’s best advantage are important for management. Recent reports suggest that firms illustrating diversity through company-wide inclusion are more competitive in the current marketplace (Gilbert, 1999). When sub-groups of employees, such as males and females within a corporation, are revealed to have quite differing perceptions of their work life, however, it garners the attention of management. There is always the possibility that such differences highlight other potential problematic areas such as discrimination, harassment, or ceiling effects that will ultimately emerge, thereby reducing a company’s competitive edge. From the critical point of view, gender as it pertains to ethics is one aspect within the larger context of business ethics. One reason to focus on this question is the increasing attention given to diversity in the work place (Gilbert, 1999). There is also an increase in the number of women in the work force, women entering business schools, and women in management positions. Additionally, there is a suggestion that women, in general, are more ethical than men (Clark and Barry, 1997). Several studies examine the differences between men and women in business. These studies involve, for example, students, managers, and professionals in business endeavors. One assumption that is explored is whether females have a greater propensity for ethical behavior than males. In a study of attitudes of practitioners regarding ethical judgment, females are found to adopt a more ethical stance than their male peers (Weeks, 1999); findings that support an earlier study on gender related to business intent and judgment (Robin and Babin, 1997). In the latter study, there is no difference on ethical judgment between male and female professionals in business. Schminke (1997) reports that male and female managers do not differ on their underlying ethical models, but they differ in the manner in which they evaluate others. Another report from these data reveals that men and women are different in business and non-business settings regarding their ethical decision models (Schminke and Ambrose, 1997). In a study among undergraduate business students, males and females offer different perceptions of a just society (Prasad, 1998). Studies of ethical climate and gender reveal that female business students are significantly more predisposed to a positive ethical climate than are male business students (Luthar, 1997). Lastly, a study exploring differences of male and female managers reveals that in some situations females are more ethical, but in others they are not (Hoffman, 1998). Another dimension of organizational ethics that has been examined involves behavior surrounding the reporting of a co-worker for an ethics issue. Gender and supervisor support are two variables found to be related to willingness to engage in external whistle blowing in business (Sims and Keenan, 1998). Females are more willing than males to participate in whistle blowing in their place of employment. In summary, the results of studies in business ethics that examine differences between males and females reveal mixed results, but the predominance of findings suggest that females are more predisposed to ethical situations than are males. The results are true both for students and for employees in business.