Ragging in India Essay

Ragging in India is a damaging form of interaction of the seniors in college or school with the juniors, newcomers or first years. It is similar to but not same as hazing in the United States, it is not an initiation. It involves insults (simple or suggestive sexual, sarcastic and even physical), running errands for seniors, and many other complex activities. Highly reputed Indian colleges have a wistful history of ragging especially Medical colleges. It has become increasingly unpopular due to several complaints of serious injury to the victims and strict laws regarding ragging. Ragging is now defined as an act that violates or is perceived to violate an individual student’s dignity. It often takes a malignant form wherein the newcomers may be subjected to psychological or physical torture. Prohibition Of Ragging As per Ordinance XV-C of the University of Delhi ragging in any form is strictly prohibited, within the premises of College/Department/Institution and any part of Delhi University system as well as on public transport and elsewhere Any individual or collective act or practice of ragging constitutes gross indiscipline and shall be dealt with under this Ordinance Ragging for the purposes of this Ordinance, ordinarily means any act, conduct or practice by which dominant power or status of senior student is brought to bear on students freshly enrolled or students who are in any way considered junior or inferior by other students and includes individual or collective acts or practices which involve physical assault or threat to use of physical force violate the status, dignity and honour of women student; violate the status, dignity and honour of students belonging to scheduled castes and tribes; expose students to ridicule and contempt and affect their self esteem entail verbal abuse and aggresssion, indecent gestures and obscene behaviour The incidents of ragging in educational institutions is becoming a National issue. I wish that all the senior students of SSITS will receive the suggestions expressed here positively and act as desired so that we can continue to maintain â€Å"RAGGING – FREE INSTITUTION† status for ever. Remember the fact: Awareness on ragging leads to eradication of ragging. The following may happen to the victim of ragging: 1. The ragging may leave permanent scar in the victim’s mind that may haunt him/her for years to come. 2. The ragging demoralizes the victim who enters the college life with many hopes and expectations. 3. It causes grave psychological stress and trauma to the victim. 4. Those who succumb to ragging may drop out, thereby hampering their career prospects. 5. In extreme cases, if the victim is too sensitive, he/she may resort to suicide, or culpable homicide. Ragging has become a menace, cause of fear and shock, not only for a fresher but to his/her parents too who are sending their loved ones for pursuing higher studies by investing a lot of hard earned money Ragging in any form inside or outside the college campus is banned/prohibited vide Prohibition of Ragging in Educational Institutions Act passed by the Parliament. Ragging means doing an act that causes or is likely to cause insult or annoyance or fear or apprehension, threat or intimidation or outrage of modesty or injury to a student. Those who indulge in this uncivilized activity are liable for severe disciplinary actions besides being liable for prosecution. Nature of Ragging Punishment Teasing, Embarrasing and Humilating Imprisonment upto 6 months or fine upto Rs.1000/- or both Wrongfully restraining or confining or causing hurt Imprisonment upto 2 years or fine upto Rs.5000/- or both Causing death or abating suicide Imprisonment upto 10 years or fine upto Rs.50,000/- or both Student convicted of any above offences, will be dismissed from the college.

Foundations of Mythology Essay

Myths have been a great part of history, from the very moment humans roamed the green marble we call Earth. Therefore, mythology has become just as relevant in attempting to answer life’s greatest questions as any scientific method. Myths have shaped our world from the very beginning to the world we live in today. We will explore the common meaning of myth versus the academic meaning of myth, what are some of the common mythological themes, and the relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion. Myth is a word commonly used to describe â€Å"a widely held but false belief or idea,† (Google, 2014). As an example, when someone says ‘that’s a myth,’ they are commonly referring to something being false, untrue, or nonfactual. It is in this context that the majority of the population would use and have used the word myth. In an academic context, a myth is an ancient narrative that attempts â€Å"to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions,† (Leonard & McClure, 2004, pg. 1). I would define a myth as a statement or  event that is believed in without factual basis. Just because the facts elude us, does not make something untrue or false, merely unproven. If something remains unproven, it should not be considered or perceived as false. After all, if it is not proven to be false, it does not make it true and vice versa. The most common mythological themes are of creation, the birth of order, and secretion themes. Many diverse culture around the globe address such similar and universal themes because they are all attempting to answer the most profound questions. Questions that deal with our existence, the existence of all around us, as well as what occurs upon the death of our bodies. These themes tend to cover the creation of all that exists, the order and mechanics of everything, and why things are the way they are. One commonly overlooked creation myth is that of the big bang theory. There is no factual data that indicates that the big bang occurred ‘millions of years ago,’ or that it occurred at all, let alone that it will repeat the cycle of condensing all material into a sphere (the size of a period on this page, up to marble sized which is the source of another debate). Truth is that there is more data that points to a young earth, solar system, and universe than there is for ‘millions of years’ (Creation Today, 2010). There exists an intertwining relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion whether or not we acknowledge it. Many religions are based on mythology and those in practice of such religions must believe in the knowledge attained from and passed on by centuries of practitioners prior to them. For example, a Buddhist believes he or she will reincarnate to a higher or lower social class depending on their behavior during their current life. This cycle is repeated until enlightenment is attained. This is based on the mythology of Buddha that has become a religion, which millions of people around the globe believe to be truth based on the writings of Buddha himself and the knowledge of all those who came after him. It is this intersection of belief, knowledge, mythology, and religion that has helped countless of people cope with fear of death, or fears in general, with poverty, injustice, suffering, and the unknown. Mythology is still relevant in today’s contemporary culture. Although, the word mythology is not commonly used synonymous with religious beliefs, mythology has shaped the modern social cultures. The majority of people have a religious point of view, whether they believe in a god, many gods, or none at all. It is these belief systems that help them to deal with the unknown, hardships in life, and death. Science has been making leaps and bounds in recent years. Nevertheless, modern science cannot pretend to know half of everything, but given that it did know half of everything, is it not possible to have a creator that dwelled in the half we do not know? I dare to comment that it is quite possible, even more so, that it is inevitable. References Creation Today. (2010, May 12). The age of the earth. Retrieved from http://creationtoday.org/seminar-part-1-the-age-of-the-earth/ Google. (2014). Google search. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=myth&safe=off Leonard, S., & McClure, M. (2004). _Myth & knowing: An introduction to world mythology_. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Cybercrime: Crime and Online Protection Act

Therisa Knapp Criminal Justice Week 4 paper November 10, 2012 Cybercrime I feel that cybercrime is any illegal actions using computers. The use of computers is basically a gateway for identity theft in my opinion. By using computers criminals have it easier to pull off scams and schemes to profit off of victims’ hard earned money. Any business transactions being done over the internet is perhaps at risk. After reviewing the slideshow presentation in week fours learning activity I learned that cybercrime is the theft and destruction of information, resources, or funds by way of computers. Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011) There are three types of cybercrimes; cyber theft, cyber vandalism, and cyber welfare. Cybercrime is increasing in the United States. Cyber theft involves the use of computer networks for criminal profit. (Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011) In learning more about cyber theft I was surely surprised of some examples mentioned. Some exa mples of cyber theft are: †¢Computer fraud †¢Pornography and prostitution †¢Denial of service attacks †¢Copyright infringement †¢Identity theft Internet securities fraud (Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011) I had no idea that pornography and prostitution was mentioned along with copyright infringement. The second cybercrime mentioned is cyber vandalism. Cyber vandalism is a malicious attacks, disrupting-defacing, and destroying technology. This crime is motivated by malice not greed. (Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011) Some examples of cyber vandalism are: †¢Virus-worms †¢Trojan horses †¢Web defacement †¢Cyber stalking †¢Cyber bullying Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011) Learning these examples I had never given a thought of cyber stalking and cyber bullying would have been included in vandalism. I would have thought that there was maybe a cyber-harassment for a cybercrime. The final type of cyber crime is the cyber welfare. Cyber welfare is a series of politically motivated attacks designed to compromise the electronic infrastructure of an enemy nation and disrupt its economy. One serious example is hacking sensitive computer networks. (Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011)The extent of cybercrime in the United States is far reaching as coast to coast and border to border. Where ever there are computers, networks, internet, and people; there is a possibility of cybercrime happening to not only private individuals doing business transactions but businesses themselves. I think that one way to control cybercrime is if a person is intent on purchasing items over the internet, then that individual should purchase a Visa/MasterCard and load the money onto it. This way ones bank account would not be affect them. Perhaps the Federal Government should impose a law to use loadable credit cards to control the cybercrimes.I certainly do think enforcement can be effective becau se if the Federal Government imposes the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, and the Child Online Protection Act, (Siegel, Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2011) then the Federal Government has the power to enforce these acts. The Federal Government needs to let the public be aware of these â€Å"Acts† and the consequences that they bare and strongly enforce them. Cybercrime can defiantly destroy lives. Criminals benefit from pulling off scams and schemes.The three types of cybercrime can be devastating especially in the United States. The economy is in dire straits and Americans’ work hard for their money and cannot afford to have such a crime committed against them. Reference Siegel, W. (2011). Introduction to Criminal Justice. Therisa, I am glad that you made an attempt to complete this assignment. Cybercrime is on the rise in the US and it seems that the criminals have an upp er hand in this activity. You did a good job in this assignment, keep up the good work. You should not being or end a paragraph with a reference.Your first sentence should be your introduction sentence, what is your paragraph going to discuss. Your last sentence should be your conclusion or transition sentence to the next paragraph, all in your own words. You should put the in-text citation after the information you use to signify that the material is from a resource. This was addressed in my written directions and checklist. There is some good APA information under Doc Sharing. If you need any help in your writing there are some resources that the school can offer you. You can also get help from your instructors if you ever have any questions. SCORE: 54/55 Related post: Snatch Theft Essay

Market Structure Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Market Structure - Research Paper Example (Eaton, Diane and Douglas, 2002 pp.93) The firm is in equilibrium if it maximizes profit defined as the difference between revenues and costs (** = R-C). The equilibrium point is where the firm produces the output that maximizes the difference between TR & TC curves as shown below. In the short term the firm will either be making excess profits or losses depending on the position of an AC curves i.e. if the AVC curve lays below the price the firm is making excess profit as shown below. It is only possible for the firm to be equilibrium. The short run without necessarily breaking even point. However, in the long run the firm will either make neither losses nor excess profit i.e. the break even point will be the equilibrium point for the firm as shown below. The supply of such a firm may be derived by the points of intersection of MC curve with the successive demand curve. Assuming that the market prices increase gradually the demand curve will tend to shift upwards. Given the slope of the MC curve is positive each higher demand curve cuts the given MC curve on a point which lies to the right of the previous intersection. This implies that the quantity supplied by firm increases as the price increases. (Eaton, Diane and Douglas, 2002 pp.85) Changing from perfect competition to a monopoly that changes a single price will have associated implications to the firm. This is because as a monopoly market the market structure will consist of one single firm that will deal with products that have no close substitute, there will be no free entry of into the market and the firm will be a price maker meaning that the amount sold in the market will depend on the price Q = F (P) The monopolist will have a normal demand curve Q = a - b P with an option of making either of the following two decisions: (1) the price - in this case the quantity will be determined by the customer (2) the quantity- in this case the price will be determined by the future of demand and supply in the market The demand is equal to the average revenue (P = AR) for the monopolist since: Q = a - b P b p = a - q P = a - Q or a - 1____ ____ ____ Q b b b TR = P Q but P = a - 1____ ____ Q b b AR = TR = (a/b) Q - (1/b) Q2 = (a/b) - (1-b) Q thus P = AR ________________ Q They all have a common intercept (a/b) with the MR curve being twice as steep as the AR or the Demand

Entrepreneurship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Entrepreneurship - Assignment Example They strive to search for new way by their vision, creative and optimistic qualities. Entrepreneurs are those persons who perceive the prospect to innovate and accomplish the start up of new enterprise (Dallas Fed, n.d.). According to Schumpeter, the following things can be done by an entrepreneur as measures of innovation: Introduce new quality product that is unfamiliar Introduce unique production system that is not experienced so far Establishment of new market where a country has not entered yet Discover new supply source Foundation of new enterprise to create a monopoly position in the market (Mohanty, 2005). Role of Entrepreneur in Economy Entrepreneurs play vital role in economic progression. They help to deal with the common problems of unemployment. In the 20th century, the world had experienced a number of entrepreneurs. However, there are limited numbers of innovating entrepreneurs compared to imitating entrepreneurs. The imitating entrepreneurs help many underdeveloped co untries to rise at a rapid speed due to global demand. Thus, an entrepreneur, essentially an innovating entrepreneur, has great importance to balance the global order and vitality of society (Mohanty, 2005). Entrepreneur and Economic Growth There are number of ways that entrepreneurs help in economic growth. Some of them are mentioned below: Capital Creation: Capital creation is the most vital aspect for economic development of a country. There is a need to create capital so that a country gathers huge reserves of machinery, equipment that can increase the production. Entrepreneurs can promote latest skills of human capital by their knowledge which can help to increase the productivity and thus financial growth. Raise the Per Capita Income: The economic growth is calculated by improvement of per capita income of people in a country. It is the entrepreneurs who tribute and increase the economic development by introducing new market or business opportunity in any country. Improve Livi ng Style: By introducing different kinds of organisations, entrepreneurs improve the living standard of people. Their creative products help a common man to live and think in a different way. An entrepreneur invents new devices in a range of designs and models which makes people’s life easier. Economic Liberty: Entrepreneurial activity helps a country to accomplish economic liberty. It helps to reduce the dependability of other country. A technology introduced by an entrepreneur assists a country to produce in mass quantity and avoid using foreign technologies. Entrepreneurs sell to other countries the products and services and saves expensive foreign money for the country. Development of Infrastructure: Often an entrepreneur develops the country’s basic infrastructure such as road, overpass and industrial units which can aid economic development of a country. These establishments can attract investors and many foreign companies to operate business and invest huge mone y which can augment economic development. Backward and Onward Relationships: An entrepreneur instigates change in the country by backward and onward ways. Entrepreneurs introduce giant plant which creates several subsidiary industries and based on those industries other industries also grow side by side by utilising the raw material produced by the giant plant. Thus, an entrepreneur helps to increase the economic growth (Mohanty, 2005). Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness The entrepreneurial act

Quantitative Finance Analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Quantitative Finance Analysis - Term Paper Example It is important to note that the influence of using highly specialized quantitative techniques is on an increasing trend mainly due to its ability to provide inferential statistics. The results are inferred in a highly prà ©cised and accurate manner, which lead the quantitative analysts to sort out the different aspects attached with the behavior of a financial decision. This report highlights various kinds of scenarios in which the specialized quantitative techniques are applied in order to sort out the behavior of the financial decision taken under that scenario. Specialized techniques such as regression, correlation, NPV, IRR, yield to maturity, annuity, etc are utilized to analyze the different scenarios. Net Present Value Background Information This question inquires about the viability of an investment opportunity such that the opportunity requires $10,000 to be invested today. The cash inflows from this opportunity will be derived in such a way that $500 will be received after one year, $1,500 after two years and $10,000 after ten years. With reference to the particular technique of Net Present Value (NPV), the viability of this opportunity is asked whether the opportunity is attractive if interest rates are 6% and 2% respectively. Theoretical Background Net Present Value (NPV) is the technique, which mainly works on the concepts of time value of money. According to time value of money, the money received in future time does not have the same worth, had that money received today (Brigham et al, 2010 pp. 380-81). If that future money is brought back today, it would have lesser worth. NPV is the technique that works on the basis of cash flows such that the initial investment is deducted from the discounted cash flows. The resulting answer provides the estimated amount of benefit earned or loss incurred in case of opting the investment opportunity. In case if the NPV is found to be positive, it means, that the investment opportunity is financially viable and hence should be accepted. In case of negative NPV, the investment opportunity is not up-to-the-mark and it should be rejected. Computation Years 0 1 2 10 Investment (10,000)    Cash Inflows 500 1,500 10,000 Discount Factor (6%) 1.0000 0.9434 0.8900 0.5584 D iscounted Cash Flows (10,000) 471.70 1,334.99 5,583.95 NPV (2,609.36)          Years 0 1 2 10 Investment (10,000)    Cash Inflows 500 1,500 10,000 Discount Factor (2%) 1.0000 0.9804 0.9612 0.8203 Discounted Cash Flows (10,000) 490.20 1,441.75 8,203.48 NPV 135.43          Interpretation From the above stated results, it can be observed that if the interest rate is set to be 6% to discount the later coming cash inflows, it would result in negative NPV of $2,609.36. Since the negative NPV states that the investment opportunity is not attractive enough to be accepted, therefore it should be rejected. On the other hand, if the interest rate is trimmed to only 2%, it will generate positive NPV of $135 from the same cash flows. This positive NPV reflect that the investment opportunity is financially viable and it should be accepted. Question 2 Present Value Annuity Background Information This question pertains to annuity such that a house is to be purchased on mortgage basis. The actual cost of house is $350,000. However, the buyer is willing to pay $50,000 as down payment. For the rest of $300,000 the buyer wants to pay the amount along with the interest payments in next 30 years at 7% interest per annum. The buyer wishes to pay loan in 30 equal installments, which should include principal amount

IMMIGRATION REFORM Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

IMMIGRATION REFORM - Coursework Example Those employers who do not fulfill the requirements outlined by the Act may experience a fine of $100 to $1000 for each employee whose documents are not complete. If the employer does not comply with the Act while knowing about the law, he/she may faced a penalty between $200 to $2000 for her first mistake and for the next mistakes the fines are elevated to $200 to $5000 (Malpert, 2000). If the employer does not pay the sanctions that the employer can experience imprisonment for a maximum tenure of six months along with a fine of $3000 for each unauthorized employee he/she has hired. These sanctions are completely justified because it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that they are not hiring illegal employees. Secondly, employers may get involved in hiring illegal employees in order to decrease their cost which is again against the law. While hiring employees, Patricia should perform a background check in which she should obtain the necessary documents from the appli cants to ensure that he/she is authorized to work in United States. Patricia does not need all the documents and she just needs one single document for verification and that document can be the US

Rights Social Justice and Diversity 1 & 2 Essay

Rights Social Justice and Diversity 1 & 2 - Essay Example Social justice is achieved in a system that communist policies are eradicated, and power delegated to the majority who comprises the workforce and opportunists. The opportunity provided should be fair and adopt a system that promoted unity with minimal oppression by societal leaders. Social justice is achieved in a system that upholds human rights and promotes equality with personal dignity uplifted. In a diverse demographic, social justice is highlighted by the comfort of individuals and their capability to be influenced by the available resources (Clark 2005, p1341). However, there are barriers within the society that present challenges to the presentations granted to achieve social justice in the modern society. The developments of the modern government and technology have achieved numerous progresses in developing ideas to grant the opportunities to advance the ideologies warranting fare judgement. These have been in the government’s ability to create numerous opportunities for its members to find a livelihood source. Others have been in activist’s efforts to offer fare judgement in advocating for opportunities to deserve merit in fare provisions. Through developing fair judgement that reflects the opportunities granted to the societal members in equal measure, a sustainability form is achieved that creates the balance needed. The society is held by these principles and a failure to make them meet the desired standards would lead to insecurity and dissatisfaction between the members (Miller 2008, p61). The state that presents the societal members an opportunity to experience less balance in the distribution of resources and the injustice form presented is termed social injust ice. Social injustice is the condition that leads to the prevalence of unjust societal presentations and oppression of the less fortunate. These individuals are either with minimal opportunity to complete their desires or those that have minimal

Steam Linux OS effect and their golden chance to overtake Windows Essay

Steam Linux OS effect and their golden chance to overtake Windows position in business computer industry - Essay Example Therefore, this fact gives a positive impact to the Steam and Linux OS industry that attract the gamers because it provides a practical service for the gamers and people in the world. Valve as one of the biggest firm in computer gaming industry started to urge people to use Linux OS because of the steam software. Valve realized that people love to be always practical these days, and that Steam provides it all by having many game tools in their system. People can buy million types of games, and upgrade their patches by only having a simple account and a Steam program. Therefore, it makes gamers and people’s life easier because they do not have to surf the website to find the game they need, and sometime the random website can get the computers infected by some spywares, and other viruses. Furthermore, they just can purchase it through this system online without going out to the stores to buy computer CD and install it. However, Valve has to make sure that Linux OS will keep up the quality of the Steam; otherwise, people may run back to Windows if there are no improvements from the recent system. Analysis and Critique: A Golden Chance for Linux OS Every individual need entertainment in their life, and I believe that every single person has ever played games in their life. This is because humans love games; in addition, people are having a strong bond to the world of information technology nowadays. Technology and especially computer or laptop supports the largest part of their life now, which plays a crucial role in people’s life. Individuals prefer to seek the most effective way or practical way for their life nowadays; in addition, they tend to spend more money, and do less effort for a service (Stahie, 2013). Most of the people in the current generation are fond of staying in their houses and use their credit card to purchase what they want from their own computers. Hence, they can have that service from Steam that provides a practical way to pur chase and downloading games. This Steam system services gives the positive impact to Linux OS because people start switching from windows to Linux OS; on the other hand, it inversely affects the other company firm such as windows. On the positive side, if they can improve the performance of Steam system it could be another invention to make the gamers life more practical. However, if we look on the negative side of this invention, sometimes it is dangerous if people cannot control themselves to spend an equal time in playing games and in their real life activities (Stahie, 2013). There are two big firms today in the computer business enjoying a great popularity in the society, as they provide great services in the technology industry. One of the largest businesses that they have is in gaming entertainment, as over a million people are addicted to computer online gaming today. Computer firms use this fact to generate profit for them. A decade ago, Windows led the computer gaming indu stry, back then people could install a CD that had 4-5 games of Valve, Half Life, and they could connect to the Internet and play online with other gamers. Thus, though founded 16 years ago by a couple of refugees from Microsoft, Valve make games that wild-eyed fans play until their thumbs hurt and dawn jabs through the curtains†(Wingfield, 2012). Sixteen Years ago Valve and Half Life worked together with Windows to create a game system that could entertain computer gamers effectively. In addition, there was

Legal risk manager Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Legal risk manager - Assignment Example Failure to manage any foreseeable legal risk has the potential to affect all sectors of an organization, and this becomes the concern of every shareholder, employee, and business stakeholders in the business. It is plausible that legal risk management is crucial to any organization since it can effectively remove any uncertainties in relation to business operation of the organization, thus avoiding legal liability later in the future. An effective legal risk management initiative should ensure that the company can avoid any costs that may arise due to any form of legal negligence during its operations. The law that governs obligations in corporate information security in the United States has expanded very rapidly. The latest legal requirement, introduced mainly by laws that were introduced over the last few years, is an obligation to disclose any form of security breaches that involve sensitive personal information to the individuals who are likely to be adversely affected by such kind of breaches. The emergence of these rules that impose a duty to make disclosures for such security breaches has been necessitated by a series of security breaches that started way back in 2005. Following the enactment of these statutes, more than 300 hundred companies, federal agencies, and educational institutions have made disclosures of breaches of sensitive personal information security (Stevens, 2012). These breaches have affected a cumulative total of more one hundred and fifty million individual records. The core response to these breaches has been a regulatory and legislative fury, at both federal and state level. As such, the Congress, as well as many other states, has introduced laws that require organizations to notify individuals affected security breaches that involve their sensitive personal information. Indeed, the federal banking regulatory agencies have issued their final inter-agency guidance for banking

Managing Change Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing Change - Assignment Example Furthermore, for such a company to survive through all those years in the competitive market, it has to set its strategies right. In this report, we are going to explore the approaches that Nike towards corporate responsibility. Nike is therefore developing a new approach to corporate responsibility to consider ways at which it can harness the power of its business so that it influences environmental and social changes as the business grows. As the year 2006 approached, Nike’s acting goal was to make sure that every business unit incorporates corporate responsibility to their development strategies, responsibilities and performance. In addition to that, Nike was going to evaluate success by the extent at which the various businesses have met their goals for corporate responsibility as well as the business growth. ‘CR must evolve from being seen as an unwanted cost to being recognized as an intrinsic part of a healthy business model, an investment that creates competitive advantage and helps a company achieve profitable, sustainable growth. For that to happen, we saw we needed to transition our corporate responsibility efforts beyond that of standard risk and reputation management approach usually taken, and beyond the work of an isolated function within the business model. We realized that effective strategies are ones that embrace the whole enterprise. Responsible competitive outcomes result from holistic approaches and business processes that extend from factory workers to consumer, from sources or raw material to communities, where we can influence social and environmental change, from our workplace to the world we all share. An environmentally friendly product made under poor labor is a hollow success. A product made under good conditions but that is bad for our planet is a missed opportunity. We don’t believe in trade-offs. We do believe – passionately so – in innovating to create new and better solutions’. In this report, we

School Conflict Case Study Essay Example for Free

School Conflict Case Study Essay This case study examines the conflict over whether public schools in the United States of America should teach biology from the viewpoint of evolution or of creation, according to the Christian Bible. Although this battle has raged for several decades, it is still an emotionally charged, often-debated issue. Through research on this subject, one finds the term â€Å"intelligent design,† and while this initially sounds like there may be a third contingency in this debate, upon closer examination, one finds that â€Å"intelligent design† is tantamount to creationism. Likewise one finds the term â€Å"environmental creationism,† which is also a pseudonym for creationism. Those who believe in evolution contend that their view is the result of scientifically verifiable non-biased information. Those who believe in creationism contend that the Christian Bible is a book written through divine inspiration and therefore, whatever is written in the Bible is the ultimate authority. Basically the evolutionists believe they are correct because their information can be proven scientifically, while the creationists believe that their information is from an infallible source that is more certain than the evolutionists’ scientific data. Since public schools are supported by public taxes, some believe that church and state must be kept separate. This is supported by the fact that, â€Å"the federal government has repeatedly denied the introduction of creationism into public schools as it is a direct violation of the separation of church and state (Lac, Hemovich, Himelfarb, 2010, p. 253). Yet, it is also believed that the preferences of the local citizenry should be consulted in deciding which theory or theories should be taught in public school biology. Currently local school boards actually seem to hold sway over what type of orientation their local schools will use in biology. Even when there are state or local rulings favoring one side or the other, some classroom teachers include their personal preferences (or those of their supervisors) in choosing which orientation is taught in their classrooms. For example, â€Å"in Dover, Pennsylvania, the school board adopted a general policy endorsing â€Å"intelligent design† and district administrators composed the statement that was read to high school biology classes as they began the evolution unit† (Lerner, 2002, p. 287). Some attempts toward reconciliation of these viewpoints have resulted in having both viewpoints presented in the biology classrooms of certain districts. This idea was condoned by the George W. Bush administration in 2005, stating that â€Å"children should be exposed to multiple ideas in school† (Warmick, p. 305). Another problem with presenting both evolution and the creationism in the classroom occurs when one tries to qualify which type of creationism is to be taught. The most commonly known creation story from the book of Genesis in the Christian Bible; however, there are actually 3 different versions of creation within the book of Genesis, some resembling the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian creation stories, with a substitution of one God for many gods (Carson-Newman University, 2013). Another Christian variant of creationist theory is that of â€Å"intelligent design† which argues that Darwinian science does not contradict the Bible, while maintaining that a super-being planned transformation of species (Johnson, 2011, p. 15). Lastly, there is the version called â€Å"environmental creationism:† in which â€Å"the use of creationist language is employed without the explicit Christian context† (Nelson, 2010, p. 513). What can be done as the battle over creationism versus evolution rages on in courtrooms and at state and local school board meetings across our nation? As mentioned previously, some localities have settled on including both sides’ viewpoints; however, it is difficult to present both possibilities without bias because they come from different schools of thought. The evolutionists believe scientific fact to be ultimate truth, yet the creationists consider the word of God to be the ultimate truth. Is there a way to honor the U. S. Constitution and the taxpayers simultaneously, some of whom believe in creation and some of whom believe in evolution? If we decide to include both creationism and evolution and to consider the debate rhetorical, we run the risk of neither side being satisfied because there are those on both sides who believe that their way is the only way and who want to â€Å"win† the battle. If traditional approaches have not settled this issue, then perhaps it is time to try alternative dispute resolution measures, the attempts to present both evolution and creationism in the classroom, not-withstanding. Peter Tolman ( 2006, p. 544) writes that â€Å"intractable conflicts are rooted in the ways we make sense of the world and are not solvable in the traditional sense. † He further states that, â€Å"It is primarily through assumptions about what is unquestionably â€Å"right,† in a given context that different groups develop and maintain incommensurate worldviews and conflicts persist (Tolman, 2006, p. 545). † Our issue here is obviously one of intractable conflict. Our issue is not one in which both sides desire to reach a win-win solution; however, productive outcomes will depend on introduction of the principles of negotiation, beginning with the foundational abilities for conflict resolution.

International marketing importance and role

International marketing importance and role International marketing is simply the application of marketing principles to more than one country. A great number of economists assures that international marketing is an on-going historical process, this process leads to the increasing integration of the production of goods, services, ideas, culture, communication and environmental pollution on a world-wide scale, imparting locality of populations and labor. Importance of International Marketing A firms international marketing program must generally be modified and adapted to foreign markets.   This international marketing program uses strategies to accomplish its marketing goals.  Within each foreign nation, the firm is likely to find a combination of marketing environment and target markets that are different from those of its own home country and other foreign countries.   It is important that in international marketing, product, pricing, distribution and promotional strategies be adapted accordingly.  In order for an international firm to function properly, cultural, social, economic, and legal forces within the country must be clearly understood.   The task of International marketing is more difficult and risky than expected by many firms.   One of the most controlling factors of international marketing is management.   It is very important for managers to recognize the differences as well as similarities in buyer behavior.  Many mistakes can occur if managers fail to realize that buyers differ from country to country.   It is the international differences in buyer behavior, rather than similarities, which cause problems in successful international marketing. Who is responsible? An international marketing manager is a manager responsible for facilitating the exchange of products between the organization and its customers or clients. Sometimes an international marketing manager will find difficulties in completing the exchange of products.  Many surprises in international business are undesirable human mistakes.   An international corporation must fully understand the foreign environment before pursuing business matters.  To be effective in a foreign market it is necessary to understand the local customs.   Knowing what to do in a foreign country is as important as knowing what not to do.   Failure to understand local customs can lead to serious misunderstandings between business people. Important Factors It is very important to be able to interpret the different means of communication in international marketing. It is almost impossible to attain complete knowledge and understanding of a foreign culture.   As established, culture plays an important role in the drama of international marketing.   Of all the cultural aspects, communication may be the most critical.  It is certain that communication has been involved in a number of cultural confusion.  Good communication linkages must be set between a company and its customers, suppliers, its employees, and the governments of the countries where it performs business activities. Issues with International Marketing Communications Poor communication can obviously cause various difficulties.  One source of difficulty among starting companies is that of effective communication with potential buyers.  The problem is that there are many possible communication barriers.  Sometimes messages can be translated incorrectly, regulations overlooked, and economic differences can be ignored.  Other times when the message does arrive, its ineffectiveness can cause it to be of no value. Every now and then a buyer will receive the message, but to the companies disappointment, the message was sent incorrect.  It is normal in multinational businesses to send and receive messages on a regular basis.   Many well-known people have incapacitated public speech introductions by using inaccurate titles and names.  Not all communication problems are verbal.  Some serious problems have occurred as a result of non-verbal communication.  Non-verbal communication exists in numerous forms.   Sometimes a persons appearanc e can convey a stronger message than intended. The perception of the product characteristics plays an important role in the international marketing strategy.  One must realize that the importances of a certain product traits vary from country to country.  Multinational corporations, therefore, must consider varying promotional tactics.   Adapting the product but using the same promotional mix is a strategy used when a product will not appeal to different local tastes. This international marketing channel is sequence of marketing organizations from nation to nation that directs the flow of products.   Most industrial products use shorter channels. One of the most basic levels of international marketing is licensing.   A license is a contractual agreement in which one firm permits another to produce and market its product and use its brand name in return for a royalty or other compensation.  This grant may be in the form of a direct sale of rights or be limited to a certain period of time. International licensing can be tied to joint ventures between the parent and the subsidiary. International marketers tend to concentrate on higher income countries as either personal, disposable, or discretionary.   For obvious reasons, marketers tend to concentrate on higher income countries.   Some producers have found that their products are more likely to sell in countries with low income.   As in domestic marketing, the determining factor is how well the product satisfies its target market.   International marketing encompasses all business activities that involve exchanges across national boundaries.   A firm may enter the international market for many reasons.   Whatever the reason international marketing can provide and efficient way of entering the market.   A firms marketing program must be adapted to foreign markets to account for differences in the business environment and target markets form nation to nation.   The marketing mix may require the modification of cultural, social, economic, and legal differences. Foreign marketing requires the under standing of various additional costs, which tend to increase the prices of exported goods.   The marketing program of an international company must adapt to the necessities of a foreign market. The strategies it uses to accomplish a firms marketing goal should be the main priority of the marketing program. Communication involves the skilful use of all the capacities of language organized into a system of tools, techniques and transmission devices. For example, if the idea of advertising is to create in the customers mind utility and value, this means that the marketer has to position the product in a way that makes it desirable to the customer, enabling transference of a basic need into a want. International integrated communication involves the formulation of vision that results in a strategy and implementation of an integrated communications plan in more than one country in various parts of the world, as opposed to the entire world, which would then make it global. Problems with International Marketing Communications Both the international marketing and marketing communications literature deal with this by adding some international elements to the basic process. The task that the sender has is to use socio-cultural cues and symbols familiar to the receiver and to select media that are socio-culturally and legally appropriate (if available). The increased difficulties are underscored by the idea of both the senders and the receivers realm of understanding and field of experience. Clearly factors affecting communication in the international context are such things as language for example brand names perception for example colour, values and beliefs for example veneration of the elderly or local advertising regulations for example comparative advertising. The complexity of the situation is clear to see. The difficulties of getting the message across the sender-receiver can be difficult These difficulties are exacerbated in the international setting. Marketing communications in  international markets  needs to be conducted with care, some of the factors that need to be considered in relation to  international marketing communications  (Promotion) are: The work ethic of employees and customers to be targeted by media. Levels of literacy and the availability of education for the national population. The similarity or diversity of beliefs, religion, morality and values in the target nation. The family and the roles of those within it are factors to take into account. International marketing is much more than just translating your advertising campaign.   Successful global brands communicate by understanding and adapting to local markets. One of the issues discussed in International marketing communication helps in uncovering how to reformulate products for local palates for instance HJ Heinzs wanted to market its oat based baby food in china. Research showed that the Chinese were not familiar with oats and hence it introduced methods of international marketing communications. Globalization in the sense of firms from all over the world interacting and dealing with each other is expected to be the normal state of affairs for the majority of businesses. In the industrial or business-to business sector, this pattern may be even more pronounced because advanced communications and transportation technologies have the potential for enabling the laws of comparative advantage to be realized to a very high degree. Thus, businesses that were used to dealing with other businesses from all over the country will now seek relationships from all over the world. Internet-based B2B E-commerce, has, of course, been at the vanguard of the expected revolution in the way global business will be conducted in the future and has led to uncounted predictions of a worldwide e-business revolution where virtually all industrial firms will be linked together in a gigantic electronic global network . Yet, this scenario seems a bit too simplistic. All of the hype about global B2B E-comm erce, networks, hubs, electronic auctions, etc., implies that the only thing standing in the way of electronically linked businesses on a global scale is the right technological hardware and software that, once put in place, will have global businesses operating with the precision and reliability of a Swiss watch. After all, this technocentric view suggests that the only difference between operating around the block or around the world is geographical distance. Therefore, it is just a matter of having the right satellites, telecommunications networks, and supply chains in place to solve this problem of distance. In an era of relatively instantaneous contact between organizations across the seemingly shrinking globe, why should one consider cultural distance at all? Simply because culture affects virtually all of human behavior. For example, culture has been defined as the software of the mind.Hofstedes extensive research on culture has helped conceptualize one of the most popular theories of cultural types, as evidenced by well over 1000 citations from Cultural Consequences reported in the Social Science Citation since 1980. His approach to culture initially identified four underlying value dimensions: (1) individualism vs. collectivism, (2) large vs. small power distance, (3) strong vs. weak uncertainty avoidance, and (4) masculinity vs. femininity (a fifth dimension, long- vs. short-term orientation was added later). The role of marketing communications in international marketing strategy has never been greater than in the emerging global competitive environment. A connecting fact in the literature is the understanding that the various elements of the communications and it shouldnt be isolated if they are to be utilized optimally and successfully these must be taken as part of a total concept for optimal results. Cultural issues may be even more prominent than they are for tangible goods. There are large variations in willingness to pay for quality, and often very large differences in expectations. In some countries, it may be more difficult to entice employees to embrace a firms customer service philosophy. Labor regulations in some countries make it difficult to terminate employees whose treatment of customers is substandard.  Speed of service is typically important in the U.S. and western countries but personal interaction may seem more important in other countries. A very complex and controversial issue is that of ethics. The varying norms and social values, many a time make the international business environment very intricate and perplexing. The term business ethics refers to the system of moral principles and rules of conduct applied to business. That there should be business ethics means the business should be conducted according to certain self recognized moral standards. There is, however, no unanimity of opinion regarding what constitutes business ethics. An international marketer often finds that the norms of ethics vary from country to country. What is ethically wrong or condemned in one nation may not be in another. Another issue is whether it is ethical to sell products are banned in some countries because of their harmful effects in other countries (often in developing countries). One issue is that if the government of a country permits the marketing of such a product, should a company give up the sales of the product on its own. If the harmful effects of a product outweigh the benefits, a company with sound ethics will not do business in that product even if there is no legal objection. With the increasing globalization of the business world, international segmentation becomes an ever more important concept in marketing. The globalization forces now at work push many companies to extend or reorganize their marketing strategies across borders and target international segments of consumers. Conclusion Business in the age of globalization has both facilitated and necessitated a move towards the internationalization of organizations of all sizes (Wood Robertson, 2000). However, while globalization is indisputably occurring in a variety of shapes throughout the world, there is as yet a considerable gap in the literature regarding the internationalization of businesses. Consequently, organizations engaging in international business frequently find themselves utterly unprepared for the environments they are entering and unaware of the potential risks involved in the internationalization move. This lack of preparation is already evident in the criteria applied to discriminate international markets against one another in order to select suitable countries for market entry. Often, countries for international business activity are chosen according to soft factors, i.e. factors such as proximity or personal preference, rather than hard factors such as market size, growth rate or accessibility

The History And Evolution Of Saarc Politics Essay

The History And Evolution Of Saarc Politics Essay The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises eight countries of South Asia, i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in May 1980 by Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman. President Rahman addressed letters to the Heads of Government of the countries of South Asia, presenting his vision for the future of the region and the compelling arguments for regional cooperation in the context of evolving international realities. The Foreign Secretaries of seven countries in South Asia met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981 and identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. A series of meetings followed in Nepal (Kathmandu/November 1981), Pakistan (Islamabad/August, 1982), Bangladesh, India (Delhi/July 1983) to enhance regional cooperation. The next step of this process was the Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi in 1983 where they adopted the Declara tion on South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC). During the next two years South Asian nations committed themselves to form this South Asian alliance and the process culminated in the First SAARC Summit held on 7-8 December in 1985 in Dhaka where the Heads of State or Government of seven countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka adopted the Charter formally establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is an Association based on the consciousness that in an increasingly interdependent world, the objectives of peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the South Asian region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation among the Member States which are bound by ties of history and culture The objectives and principles contained in the SAARC Charter are as follows: Objectives a) To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; b) To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise their full potential c) To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia; d) To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one anothers problems; d) To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields e) To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries; f) To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests; and g) To cooperate with international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes. Principles a) Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and mutual benefit; b) Such cooperation is to complement and not to substitute bilateral or multilateral cooperation; and c) Such cooperation should be consistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations of Member States. Preamble to the SAARC Charter The preamble to the SAARC Charter spells out the intention of forming this South Asian alliance as We, the Heads of State or Government of BANGLADESH, BHUTAN, INDIA, MALDIVES, NEPAL, PAKISTAN and SRI LANKA; Desirous of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of the UNITED NATIONS CHARTER and NON-ALIGNMENT, particularly respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and peaceful settlement of all disputes Conscious that in an increasingly interdependent world, the objectives of peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the SOUTH ASIAN region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation among the Member States which are bound by ties of history and culture Aware of the common problems, interests and aspirations of the peoples of SOUTH ASIA and the need for joint action and enhanced cooperation within their respective political and economic systems and cultural traditions' Convinced that regional cooperation among the countries of SOUTH ASIA is mutually beneficial, desirable and necessary for promoting the welfare and improving the quality of life of the peoples of the region; Convinced further that economic, social and technical cooperation among the countries of SOUTH ASIA would contribute significantly to national and collective self-reliance; Recognising that increased cooperation, contacts and exchanges among the countries of the region will contribute to the promotion of friendship and understanding among their peoples; Do hereby agree to establish an organization to be known as SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION hereinafter referred to as the ASSOCIATIONà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Changes in SAARC over a period of time After more than two decades since its founding at the initiative of General Zia-ul -Rahman, the then President of Bangladesh, the number of members is being increased from seven to eight. And for the first time a member with no common border with India Afghanistan joined SAARC. Also China, Japan, US, South Korea and the European Union attended the Summit as observers. It is only logical that in the not very distant future Russia too will be added to the list of observers. SAARC was conceived as an organisation to promote regional economic and technological cooperation. It was expected that such cooperation, if it is sustained will lead to increased political and security cooperation. Both in the case of European Union and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) the countries concerned had a shared perception of their security challenges.  This did not happen in case of SAARC. There was a war between two members of the SAARC in 1999 and a military confrontation in 2002. Therefore nurturing SAARC as a regional organisation has been a far more challenging task than those faced by organisations like the European Union and the ASEAN. In fact one member of SAARC (Pakistan) refuses to extend the normal most favoured nation treatment to its neighbour (India) though this is a basic prerequisite under the World Trade Organisation regulations. Though there has been a formal agreement to convert the SAARC region into a free trade area, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been reluctant to move towards the fulfillment of that objective. In reality SAARC is largely a name board with annual rituals, not always regularly observed. While in other parts of the world, the trend is towards countries coming together to form larger markets, in South Asia this sentiment prevails only among Sri Lanka, Bhutan and India. Pakistan and Bangladesh do not contribute to the world-wide wisdom that countries coming together to form larger markets is a mutually beneficially proposition.  Ã‚   In Europian countries like Germany and France got over their centuries old animosity. This happened when countries like Germany, Italy, Spain discarded their authoritarian regimes and became democracies. In ASEAN too Indonesia and Malaysia concluded peace after years of confrontation. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia who fought long wars with the US, which was supported by other ASEAN countries have now become economic and political partners of countries which helped to wage war against them. Unfortunately such radical transformation has not taken place in South Asia. There are reasons to believe that underlying this difference in development may be that religion-based identity exercises greater dominance in some countries of South Asia than nationalism-based identity. In admitting a number of successful economic powers as observers to the SAARC, the expectation is that such interaction may help to convert the mindset of the countries which still resist regional economic cooperation and integration in a world which is rapidly globalising. India has attempted to get Bangladesh into a BIMSTECH arrangement consisting of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Such a change in mindset is a time-consuming process and therefore there should not be exaggerated expectations with the new beginning with entry of Afghanistan into SAARC and five new observers. The future of SAARC appears to be brighter because in the past.   SAARC was buffeted by Cold War tensions and Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh were attempting to exploit the differences between India and China and India and the US. Recent changes in the orientation of US policy and the Washington perception about the need to have a balance of power in Asia and consequent need to enhance Indo-US relations have had a radical impact on Indias relations with China and South East Asia.  Ã‚   Increasingly India is referred to as one of the six balancers of power in the emerging international system. India today has a strategic partnership with Russia, the US and the European Union and a strategic dialogue with China and Japan.  Ã‚   The visits of Premier Wen Jia Bao of China, President Vladamir Putin of Russia, Prime Junichiro Minister Koizumi of Japan and President Bush to India and invitation to India along with China to attend the G-8 summit of advanced industrial powers has helped to transform the situation in the SAARC region towards increasing cooperation.  Ã‚   There is now better realisation that neither India-China nor India-US relations can be exploited by other nations as happened during the Cold War. In the SAARC region democracy is gaining ground. Afghanistan has an elected government for the first time. Recent developments in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal, though yet to result in full blown democracy are moving in a positive direction. In Bhutan monarchy is voluntarily transforming itself into a democracy. Some Pakistani intellectuals argue that the factor that stands in the way of regional cooperation and integration in South Asia is the overwhelming dominance of India which constitutes more than 70 per cent of the population, resources and industrial and agricultural production of the region. It is therefore difficult to compare the evolution of SAARC with that of European Union or ASEAN. In a sense it could be argued that India itself with its multi-culturalism, multilingual, multiethnic and multi religious composition is like a further integrated European Union. Political evolution within India has made it inevitable that India will be federally governed by coalitions of all-India and regional parties with regional autonomy and aspirations fully accommodated. This development is bound to have its impact on the rest of the SAARC region. So will Indias rapid economic development, its aspirations to become a knowledge based society, its secular values and democracy. There were people in Indias neighbourhood who thought Indian unity would not survive. This conviction persuaded them not to invest in the evolution of SAARC over the last two decades. That situation is changing. Though it is unrealistic to expect any immediate radical changes in the attitudes of Pakistan and even Bangladesh towards SAARC there is no doubt that a new era of increasing integration is beginning, because of the forces of globalisation and emergence of an international balance of power. Challenges Opportunities The region is full of challenges and opportunities. South Asia is home to more than 1.5 billion people associated with various racial, lingual and religious groups. Some of the main challenges and problems facing the region include poverty, illiteracy, underdevelopment, terrorism, human trafficking, and racial and ethnic conflicts. Similarly, food and energy crises have also come out as burning issues of the region. In spite of such challenges and problems, South Asia is abundant in human as well as natural resources. When these resources are managed and utilized effectively, the region is sure to make considerable socio-economic progress within a short span of time. The South Asian people have many reasons to be optimistic if we look at the SAARC Charter that has included all the existing realities in the sub-continent, with the countries of different sizes, various levels of socio-economic development, historical legacies between and among the nations of the region. But, when the progress made by SAARC is assessed minutely, we do not find a very encouraging picture in terms of quality of life the people in South Asia. However, SAARC is gradually fostering cooperation among the member states in a wide range of areas. Because of its contributions to promoting peace, good neighbourly relations and bringing about socio-economic transformation in the region, SAARC has become a valuable forum among its member states. As a saying goes: Rome was not built in a day, the regional forum also requires some more time to achieve its goals and objectives.

Science Behind Dreams Essay -- Scientific Research

Did you ever wonder why you dream? Or if your dreams mean anything? Dreams can tell you many things. Dreams are a mental activity associated with rapid-eye movement or REM period of sleep. REM is in sleep, which the eyeballs dart back and forth under closed eyelids. When awakened from REM sleep, people frequently report they had just been dreaming.(Lemonick) They are made up of visual images, scenes or thought expressed in terms of seeing rather than in those of the other senses or in words. During dreams the blood pressure and heart rate increases, and breathing is quickened, but the body is still immobile. Science has uncovered the purpose and meaning of dreams. While they were looking for their answer, they researchers are probing the minds of cats, sleepwalkers , and stroke survivors. They found it is a mix of personal stories and fascinating study results keep the show moving at a lively pace. The dreamworld affects both mental health and problem solving in our waking lives.(L. K.) Electroencephalography studies electrical; activity of the brain during REM sleep. They have shown that young adults dream for 1 Â ½ to 2 hours of every 8-hour period of sleep. While infants spend an average of 50% of their sleep in the REM phase. They are believed to dream more often than adults, and it will decrease steadily with age.(Hobson) Research shows that infants in the womb spend nearly all their time in REM sleep and scientist think they’re using that time to develop brain circuitry, which suggests that the very structure of our minds may be something we have dreamed up. While extensive experiments on maze-running rats and video game playing humans, along with studies of people experiencing failing relationships and depression, have demons... ...Dreams are complex and confusing to understand. There are a lot more questions to be answered about dreams, and why we dream. I don’t think we will ever completely understand the dream world and the questions that want answered. Works Cited Coeman, Bennett. (2012): n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012. . Greengroos, Gil. "Why Do Memories of Vivid Dreams Disappear Soon After Waking Up?." June 3, 2011. n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012 Hobson, J.A. "The Dreaming Brain." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6. 11/1/11. n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012. JackWh, . "What Cause Dreams?." 3/17/12. n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012. Kasschau, Richard. Understanding Psychology (2008): 188-189. Web. 20 April 2012.z Lemonick, Michael D. "Time International (Canada Edition)." 163.10 3/8/2004. 44. Web. 20 April 2012. Tyrrell, Mark. "Why Do We Dream?." n.pag. Web. 20 April 2012.

business in asia Essay -- essays research papers

DOING BUSINESS IN SINGAPORE BACKGROUND Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963, but withdrew two years later and gained its independence. It subsequently became one of the world’s most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links, (its port is one of the world’s busiest) and with a per capita GDP above that of the leading nations of Western Europe. Singapore is located in the South-eastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia. Because of this strategic location, Singapore has been known as a trading center almost continuously since the 7th Century, when it was a Sumatran seaport called Temasek. Singapore has probably gone through more changes in the last 30 years than any other country in the world. Family life is particularly important to Asians. The socialization of children within the family creates powerful patterns, which will remain with your counterpart for life. You will be dealing with the families of your customers, employees, bankers, and other business counterparts. Singapore was settled originally by male immigrants seeking work. Because they left their extended families behind, most families in Singapore consist of only one or two generations. Today, Singapore is a modern multiracial state. Seventy seven percent of the population is Chinese; fifteen percent is Malay; six percent Indian or Pakistani; and two percent European. Singapore has four official languages: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English. The national language is Malay and English is the primary business language. The three Asian cultures of Singapore, Malay, Indian, and Chinese, have been influenced by Western culture since the arrival of Portuguese traders in the Sixteenth Century. By the time the British dominated the island, some three hundred years later, local Asians were feeling the full brunt of western imperialism. Its aggressive mercantile spirit and confident Christianity left certain marks, such as the use of English for business. GOVERMENT Singapore is one of the world’s few city-states. A city-state is a small self-governed country, primarily dependent upon the commercial activity of a single city. City-states were common in the ancient world and the Middle Ages. Today only a few survive: Monaco, San Marino, and Singapore. The political history of Singapore is closely intertwined with the person o... ...gether with Asian talent, could help solve this problem. Movies could also be made in Mandarin, which is widely spoken throughout North and Southeast Asia. Singapore just launched Channel U, a new television channel in Mandarin, hoping to attract millions of viewers who speak that language. A substantial amount of young viewers in Singapore are bilingual and want more television shows in English and Mandarin, which means this audience would probably embrace movies in either language. Competition in Singapore is scarce. A small company with adequate funding could be able to make movies that appeal to an extensive market. Why do business in Singapore? Singapore is an attractive base for an Asian corporate headquarters because people speak English; it is less costly than Tokyo or Taipei and it does not have the political problems of Hong Kong. Singapore offers manufacturing corporations well-trained labor at reasonable wages. For traders it offers a free port. For international financiers the island provides a location, which bridges the time gap between business hours of major world stock exchanges. Finally, the government actively encourages foreign trade and investment.

Retail Tracking Systems

Retail Tracking Systems Retail Pro or MicroStrategy? Retail Pro is Business Intelligence software that enables retail store owners to customize a â€Å"Point-of-Sale† (POS) method of retailing. The key feature of this software is the ability to create multiple revenues of sales inside one store. The software allows employees to select from an array of add-on modules to run a retail establishment using strategic planning and undergoing the various tasks involved operating a retail establishment.Retail Pro is flexible, easy to use, and accommodates small businesses to large corporations by increasing retention and customer satisfaction by creating the â€Å"better client experience†. (Retail Pro International, 2010) Retail Pro Software Features * Software infrastructure * Point of Sale and Store Operations * Merchandising * Central Customer Management * Central Returns Management * Oracle Database Engine This software creates very flexible reporting of business data you n eed at the time you need it.The POS and back office has extensive capabilities creating a work flow customized upon the needs of your business such as inventory management, purchase ordering, integration with payment solutions, store replenishment, receiving, and employee management. Retail Pro is perfect for businesses starting out small and grows as the business grows. There are several modules that are centrally focused on what types of products you sell in your retail establishment. Some of these modules are as listed: * Gifts and Toy Solutions Hard Goods Solutions * Home Furnishing Solutions * Specialty Apparel Solutions * Jewelry Solutions Each of these modules specialize in helping keep track of inventory, merchandising, customer management using role-specific dashboards capable of period to period analysis and reporting to improve business, store performance, and profit margins. The advantages of its Business Intelligence is that it saves time and money, improves profit marg ins, increases business and store performance, and maximizes returns on existing data sources. Retail Pro International, 2010) MicroStrategy is Business Intelligence Software for retail tracking systems in the palm of your hand. It’s the Mobile Business Intelligence that applies iPad as a business tool. You can access dashboards to create brilliant business analysis and reports any time, any where. Besides having extraordinary displays for data, MicroStrategy includes the following features: * Unlimited data analysis * Data mining * Forecasting * Operations Management * Executive decision makingMicroStrategy’s mobile iPhone and iPad views videos on YouTube and views Podcasts in iTunes. This mobile retail tracking system even comes with a free custom dashboard. The Business Intelligence Architecture is low in cost for ownership and delivers high performance and sophisticated analytics. If you are interested in Beta Programs, there are options one can participate. The fo llowing is what is included in MicroStrategy’s business applications: * Mobile Business Intelligence Financial Analysis * HR Analytics * Supply Chain Analytics * Sales Analytics * CRM * Balanced Scoreboard MicroStrategy is World Class Business Intelligence for all your business needs. It is very user friendly migrating from departmental Business Intelligence to enterprise Business Intelligence. MicroStrategy can develop and deploy department Business Intelligence applications quickly and deliver enterprise Business Intelligence with higher performance and efficiency. (MicroStrategy, 2010)I knew there was a strategy involved in running a retail establishment, but I did not realize that retail tracking systems available today creating your Point-of-Sale could be as easy as using the computer to keep track of the elements involved in various levels regarding merchandizing to keeping inventory, customer satisfaction to the â€Å"better client experience, and payment solutions to business analysis reports. It is wonderful to know that there are solutions you can implement that can make your business experience a good one!What features of a Point-of-Sale retail tracking system would be important to me would be directly related to how I plan to expand my business levels beyond the brick and mortar retail establishment. My boutique is going to retail various products that I create and design myself which includes fashion design apparel, jewelry, home decor items, Nature Crafts, custom-made gifts, and toys—items that are included inside my product labels of my brand. I would have to start out with a tracking system that meets these needs to run my retail establishment which are as follows: * Inventory Management system for each label separately Merchandising of products under each label separately * Payment Solutions that allow payment by other methods that are not cash purchases * Customer Management * Point-of-Sale options * Business Intelligence for a nalytical reports and business operations * Employee Management * Consumer behavior, geographical, economic, and social trends statistics * Security of business operations and store location I plan to add to my business by featuring instructional classes teaching various types of crafts a couple times a week, changing the activities when consumer interest and participation changes.I am also adding a new element of offering custom designed clothing and accessories upon customer request. A couple of my product labels will expand in the operations of how the product is presented to consumers by expanding the activities and product in various ways. Basically, the changes that will happen beyond the brick and mortar retail establishment will happen upon expanding the different business levels of each label, adding a few new features that compliment the products, and by getting customer participation teaching various art activities.I will also expand my marketing boundaries by adding a we bsite customers can purchase my products, contemplate the possibilities of creating a product catalog, and have certain products available to consumers placed in other stores that carry similar items. Plans of expansion beyond the retail location will need a more complex Point-of-sale retail tracking system than what would already be in place. Features I would consider important due to the changes of business operations at this point would be as follows: Multiple levels of sales reflecting the expansion of the various labels group * Website operations and Point-of-Sale system attached to various labels group * Packaging and drop shipping department added to business operations which will require a more complex system so that product sales are attached to correct label group * Retail accounts added to business revenue * Adding a Point-of-Sale system that involves the custom designed apparel made upon customer requests, or alterations made to purchased store apparel * Customizable Bus iness Intelligence features and POS system accommodating business expansion levelsBased upon my business needs at the beginning of my retail establishment, features that I would require of a POS retail tracking system would be relatively basic of retail operations and tasks. I would want to start my retail business operations with a POS tracking system that would allow the changes of various nature when I started to expand my business operations. Of the two tracking systems discussed in this report, Retail Pro and MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Software, the system I feel would be the best fit would be Retail Pro because of the versatility of the Business Intelligence features the software includes.Retail Pro has the capability of customizing the system of operations to accommodate the complexity of each product label group as expansion is implemented. My business level of operations is definitely one that does not resemble what would be considered a traditional retail system o f operations because each product label is considered to be a separate unit of business to start. When expansion changes the avenues on which each product label makes revenue, the already in-place POS tracking system has to be able to accommodate these changes.Retail Pro’s features and customizable system of operations can accommodate changes very easily. Even with the most complex system of operations a business could have, Retail Pro would be the best fit to meet all the needs and expectations I need to operate my retail business. MicroStrategy is, in my opinion, not as convenient a fit for my establishment and nature of my multiple revenue types because the product’s mobile capabilities is not a feature I consider important, if at all, when choosing a POS retail tracking system and it working efficiently for its purpose matching the structure of my business operations.I would use a POS retail tracking system upon business start-up because starting my POS system as t he business grows will be a positive action that will get results for the purpose of the tracking system benefits. As my business grows, doing business without a tracking system in place would be a sure failure. Company websites included inside this report: http://www. retailpro. com/ http://www. microstrategy. com/

Assess the functionalist explanations of social inequality Essay

Asses the Functionalist explanations of Social Inequality. (40) Social Inequality refers to any difference between groups or individuals in society which results in one having inferior life chances than the other. Functionalists believe these inequalities are the result of the meritocracy we live in. This is a system based on the idea that social stratification is necessary and desirable for the society. Functionalists argue that inequalities have a purpose; they are functional for society. Functionalism is a structural theory based on the notion that society is based on shared values. This consensus means that society will be in a state of equilibrium and there is harmony, as a result of which there will be social solidarity. Inequalities, functionalists argue, exist in all societies and are inevitable and necessary. Durkheim argued that industrial societies are complex. Within these complex societies social inequality and social difference were an inevitable and important part of maintaining social order and preventing a state of ‘anomie’ or chaos. He believed that society needs specialists to undertake the various jobs and roles required to make it run smoothly. This harmony could be achieved by a division of labour whereby people have different jobs based on their talents. Some of the jobs would have higher status than others and greater rewards and power, for example jobs such as lawyers, doctors and barristers. People would accept this as long as they could see that the system was fair. Conflict might occur but it could be controlled by socialisation. Socialisation was the process whereby shared values could be passed from one generation to the next. Disharmony might arise when people felt the system was not fair, for example, when large bonuses are paid to bankers during a recession. Parsons developed on Durkheim’s ideas and stated that in industrialised society’s stratification, and therefore inequality, exists on the basis of which roles are agreed to be the most important, and therefore the most functional for society. The agreement occurs because people are socialised into the shared norms and values of society, initially by the family, and subsequently by education and other agents of socialisation. The value consensus that results is what holds society together and it gives it social order. Sharing a common identity gives people a sense of purpose and a commitment to the maintenance of society. These values also give people common goals such as to work hard. People have a number of roles that women are most naturally suited for and  the instrumental roles of men. These roles are ascribed rather than achieved. Two other functionalists, Davis and Moore, have built on the ideas of Parsons and Durkhiem. They argue that society needs the most talented people to perform the most skilled jobs and therefore has to pay them accordingly and give them high status. There is a meritocracy and the most able will, through the examination system, be allocated to the most important jobs. Their class position w ill reflect this role allocation. There is an expectation that the most talented will be prepared to make sacrifices early on to be educated and trained, and for this they will be rewarded later. The examination system will ‘sift and sort’ people into appropriate jobs. This means that the system is legitimated. The stratification that results will ensure those at the top work to maintain their position and those lower down try to better themselves. However people do not all start from the same point, therefore a true meritocracy is not possible. Society is not harmonious. Functionalists present an over rosy picture of social inequality being a positive force for the society. There is evidence of conflict between social groups in the form of strike as well as disaffection amongst, for e.g. young people who cannot get work. Differences between men and women are socially constructed. Their identity is formed by the expectations the society holds against their gender, therefore they will behave the way the society expects them to. There is not a consensus with regard to which are the most important jobs; for e.g. bankers are paid very well but most people would proba bly argue that nurses are more important to society. Some groups start with more power and status and are therefore are able to ensure they and their children get access to the education that will mean they then get a higher status jobs. Life chances are affected by status and wealth and the poor have less access to opportunity to gain access and wealth. Tumin argued that going to universities is not really a sacrifice, although many people in the UK would probably argue it will be as fees go up. The work of the functionalists is not supported by empirical evidence, particularly with regard to the idea that there is a value consensus. Marxism is based on the macro theory which, like functionalism, is concerned with the structure of society. Marxism explains inequalities in societies such as the UK by examining the ways in which the bourgeoisie exploit and oppress the working class or  proletariat. Inequalities are a result of the economic arrangements people make to meet their basic needs. Bowles and Gintis used Marxist ideas to explain how the education system reproduced the ideas of the ruling class and legitimated inequalities. They argue students’ experience of schooling is an alienating one. School specifically prepares students for their future as workers in a capitalist system. They argue that school does not prepare everyone in the same way it prepares them according to their future position in society. Bowles and Gintis believe that schools are not meritocratic and that claiming they are is part of the ruling class ideology persuading people that inequalities are fair. Neo Marxists have developed on the ideas of Marxism. They argue that the infrastructure and the social relations that arise from it are important in understanding inequalities, but so too is the role of ideas and culture. They particularly focus on a number of areas to explain inequalities. Areas such as the role of the media; the dominance of the ruling class; the nature of the class str ucture; and the relationship between cultural, social, and economic capital. Weber argued that stratification is not just based on the economic relationships people enter into, as Marx argued, but the standing or status a person had and the political influence or power a person might have as a result of membership of a political party or trade union. Class, status and party are all linked to power. However, he accepted that class is the most important determinant of the three in relation to the acquisition of life chances and inequality. Postmodernists argued that the world was becoming increasingly characterised by uncertainty and diversity which cannot be explained by the old grand narratives, that is, the traditional sociological theories. The service sector is now bigger than the primary and secondary sectors. People do not see themselves in class terms; they construct their identities via the media and what they consume. For postmodernists the key to inequalities lies in the development of the post industrial world and the fact that the production of kno wledge has taken precedence over manufacturing.

Marketing Syllabus Spring

The student will then have ten (10) days to respond in one of the following ways: Sign the form and request a meeting with the Academic Dean to discuss the allegations and or proposed sanctions; Sign and return the form to the Academic Dean accepting responsibility for the violation and agreeing to the recommended sanction(s); If the student fails to respond within thirty (30) days, a hold will be placed on the students account and the right to participate in the resolution of the allegation will be forfeited.Formal Resolutions: If the alleged violation could result in the suspension or dismissal from the university, or if the student or faculty member requests a formal resolution, the Academic Dean will notify the faculty member and the student(s) that a formal hearing of the Academic Dishonesty Committee will be convened. The committee will be comprised of seven (7) full time faculty members to be appointed by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs on an annual basis. The Academic Dean will serve as chair and will not have voting privileges. The Vice-President for Student Development will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.The Academic Dean will schedule a hearing in a timely manner and all parties will be notified often and location. If the accused student requests, the Academic Dean will assist the student in securing a member of the university community to advise and assist the student in preparing for the hearing. All parties will have the opportunity to present his/her evidence to the committee. The documents, testimony and record of the hearings will be confidential. Upon completion of the testimony, the Committee will meet in closed chambers and vote on the disposition of the student's status at the university.Penalties: Depending upon the intent and severity of the violation, a student found responsible for any act of academic dishonesty will be subject to one or more of the following penalties: The student is placed on academic honor pro bation until graduation. For any student on academic honor probation, a second violation will result in a minimum sanction of one semester of suspension from the university. In addition to academic honor probation, a student might also receive a grade of â€Å"F† on the assignment or test; students might also receive an â€Å"P' in the course; or be suspended or dismissed from the university.No provision will be made for the student to receive a â€Å"W† regardless of whether the professor or student initiate said request. If the student receives a grade of â€Å"F† for the course or is suspended or dismissed from the university, the transcript will indicate the grade with â€Å"HP† and/or the notation â€Å"Academic Honor Suspension (Dismissal). † All students found guilty of academic honor violations shall have a written letter detailing the violation and sanction placed in their permanent record. Copies of this letter will also be sent to the f aculty member of the course, appropriate College Dean, and to the Vice-President for StudentDevelopment. Appeals: A student may submit a written appeal of a guilty finding to the Vicissitude for Academic Affairs within ten days of receipt of the original decision. Appeals must be based on new evidence, additional information, or procedural errors or misconduct. The Vice-President's decision is final. 4) Exam Policy: The administration of a final examination prior to the date designated is considered a violation of University policy; therefore, no final exams for this course will be given other than on the specified day and time without the express approval of the Dean of the College of Business and Management.Such exceptions may be given for only the most extreme and sensitive cases. Other than such exceptions, no â€Å"make-up† examinations shall be administered. It is essential that each student plan accordingly, especially regarding post-term travel plans. 5) Accommodation Statement: â€Å"Lynn University makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (DAD) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If special accommodations are needed, please contact the DAD compliance Officer at 561-237-7069 or [email  protected] Du to assist in commenting and defining those needs.Accommodations are not retroactive therefore, for any accommodation the instructor must be presented with the form specifying the needs. The Academic DAD Specialist is located in the Green Center. 6) Incomplete Grade: A. For a student to be eligible to receive an incomplete for a course: 1) The student must provide to the dean of students documentation of the extenuating circumstance(s) that prevent him/her from satisfying the course requirements and learning outcomes of that particular course. 2) The student, at the time of applying for an incomplete, must have employed 2/3 of the term and have a passing gr ade.B. The application process: 1) The student will have the option of applying for an incomplete in one or more courses. 2) The student will obtain and complete the incomplete application form and bring it to the dean of students with appropriate documentation. The dean of students will verify that the student's application satisfies the eligibility criteria. If the application satisfies the eligibility criteria then the dean of students will return the approved form to the student who will then take the form to the professor of the course.The professor and student will draw out contract, which includes but is not limited to: all coursework to be completed and the deadline for this material to be submitted. After the student agrees to the terms of the contract and signs the form, the professor will take the contract to the dean of his/her college. The dean will then review the contract and sign the form upon approval. The â€Å"l† is now official and the contract is binding. The dean of the college will distribute copies of the contract to the professor, the student, the dean of students and the Registrar.Each recipient will place the copied contract in the appropriate file. The roofless will keep one copy and the original will be placed in the student's file in the college of his/her major. C. The form: 1) Will be available online. 2) Will contain current grade, what specific assignments are to be completed due date for all material (not to exceed One year beyond the original term final grade due date), and state that the final course grade will be a ‘W† if the student does not complete the requirements. 7) Withdrawals: Students are limited to eight undergraduate and three graduate course withdrawals. ) Assignments: Papers must be submitted ONLY through the Assignment link n Blackboard. For assistance with Blackboard, contact the IT Help Desk at 561-2377979. Late papers will not be accepted without penalty without the prior consent of the professor. Extensions may be granted on an individual basis and will only be granted for particularly sensitive cases. The granting of makeup papers shall be at the sole discretion of the professor and will not be given except for particularly sensitive cases that are discussed at length with the professor.In any group project, the student is expected to become an integral team member, with active input, interaction, and contributions. Once mea members have been selected, it is the responsibility of the team to agree upon the work assignment and allocation of team resources. A student who does not completely follow through with that student's commitments to the team will not receive a passing grade for the project. 9) Dress code: For all activities in the classroom that involve a guest presenter, as well as for field study visitations, the student shall be required to dress in business casual attire.If the instructor determines that the student's appearance is inappropriate for a sc heduled activity, the student will not be permitted to participate. 0) Questions and concerns: Students who have concerns or questions regarding academic matters relating to this course are urged to consult with the instructor. Students should be familiar with information found in the current Lynn University Academic Catalog. Required Texts Articles, Videos, and e-mails throughout the term as provided by the professor, including postings on this course's Blackboard companion site.Suggested Reading and Sources (1) Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, subscription available at www. Superciliousness's. Com Course Requirements Each student will complete all assignments and is responsible for Discussion Board postings on Blackboard. Details about each of these projects are attached to this syllabus. You may complete any assignment in any order you please. Try to complete one project every two weeks, and to complete your Discussion board posts on a Weekly basis. All work is due by Fr iday Feb. 27 at 1 1 :pm properly posted in Blackboard.Grading Grading is based on the following system: Deal Maker USB LOC Discussion Board USB Advertising USB Launch Party Total 20 points 100 points Grades for each of the factors listed above will be posted progressively throughout the semester, and will be accessible to the student through the university online Blackboard system. Student final grades shall be rounded by tenths to the nearest whole number. A grade of exactly one-half point shall be rounded to the next highest whole number. Student grades shall not be rounded by hundredths to the nearest tenth.