The changing law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The changing law - Essay Example This is illustrated in the manner that an impetus for change is met with either acceptance or reservation by the public to be directly affected, and the legal system who will implement such change. In this regard, this essay aims to discuss the manner that legal change proceeds in the British legal system to illustrate how legal changes are dynamically linked with the society at hand through the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003. Anti-social behaviour is defined as a behaviour that is "capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance to another person", and "directly or indirectly relates to or affects the housing management functions of a relevant landlord" or that "consists of or involves using or threatening to use housing accommodation owned or managed by a relevant landlord for an unlawful purpose" (Anti-social Behaviour Act [2003] s.153A; s.153B). As a public offence, it has been dealt with by Common Law as public nuisance, considered as both a crime and a tort. Thus, given its potential to harm individuals and communities, and disrupt peace and order, it is of no surprise that the British government pays due attention to this problem by passing the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. Prior to 1996 and the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, anti-social behaviour is address... This was followed by the Noise Act (1996) and Protection from Harassment Act (1997) to address non-tenure behaviour; and Crime and Disorder Act (1998), which created the Anti-Social Behaviour Order as well as the Police Reform Act (2002) to increase local authorities' enforcement powers. Despite such comprehensive legislations and precedents, however, there are numerous problems that surround both the implementation of the law, on the part of authorities; and prevention of the problem, within the society. This is illustrated in a study conducted by the British Crime survey, where it was reported that except for nuisance and litter, the percentage of individuals perceiving anti-social behaviour as a serious disorder has been rising (cited in Hunter 2003). Furthermore, as evidenced by Nixon and Hunter's study (cited in Hunter 2003), the number of reported complaints for every 1,000 tenancies by housing landlords, has also risen from 1998 to 2003. In addition, there has also been a growing concern among intellectuals that the laws governing anti-social behaviour have the potential to conflict with human rights (Wright, H & Sagar, T 2000, 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind', NLJ, no. 150, p. 1792; Collins, D 2001, 'Anti-social Behaviour Orders - a new false dawn', NLJ, 15 June 2001). In contrast to the human rights argument, however, law enforcement officers and local authorities complain that there is not enough "bite" with the existing laws, such that they are prevented from persecuting offences by juveniles (Wookey v Wookey [1991] Fam 121), and persecuting offenders that persistently commit anti-social behaviour in the totality of their offence (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act [1994] s.5). All the aforementioned problems created a tremendous amount of pressure

Mac & Cheese Essay Example for Free

Mac Cheese Essay The article â€Å"Why Games are Good for You† by Steven Johnson presents reasons why electronic video games are not harmful. While other people have written and talked about the harms that video games bring to young people. , Steven Johnson argues just the opposite. He says that video games have many benefits including making us smarter. Steven Johnson begins his article by describing what the critics say about video games. First, they are a great waste of time says Dr. Spock. At their worst, they promote violent responses from children. The main argument about video games is that they take away from children reading. Then the author presents the reasons that reading is so good for people. However, the author then says that a lot of the criticism about video games is because they are being judged by old standards by people who believe reading is the main way for children to learn skills. He asks the reader to think of a world where video games came before books. Then he argues that the criticisms of books would look a certain way. The criticisms are the author’s way of showing benefits of video games, like they are three-dimensional, and they have strong visual images and sound. The user uses complex motor skills to navigate them. Also, he shows that the children interact with the games and can control what happens in them. Steven Johnson then shows that the arguments used against books in this made up situation are like the ones used for video games. They do not show the benefits of reading like using the imagination or the shared experience of reading the same story. The arguments against video games are limited also says the author. He says if you compare video games to books, then the games will not be judged well because the two are so different. Next, he talks again about the benefits of reading like concentration and making sense of words and meanings. After showing how reading brings many benefits, he then argues that some of the benefits of readings are found with video games. He says, â€Å"By almost all the standards we use to measure reading’s cognitive benefits—attention, memory, following threads and so on—the nonliterary popular culture has been steadily growing more challenging over the past thirty years† (485). Research is showing in the last few years that people who play video games regularly are gaining important skills. In fact, Steven Johnson argues that â€Å"Increasingly the nonliterary popular culture is honing different mental skills that are just as important as the ones exercised by reading books† (485). He provides examples of why he believes this. Steven Johnson does not agree with critics of video games who believe they are not only a waste of time for children, but can cause harm. Instead, he argues that video games provide many benefits and skills for children including motor skills, interaction with a narrative, a rich landscape of sounds and images and so forth. Other researchers are starting to agree that video games are providing some benefits. Steven Johnson believes that video games should be valued more, but he also suggests that reading is still important. The main point, though, is that parents and others should stop thinking that video games are all bad and appreciate the value they bring to the child.

Buddhism Essay -- Religion Buddha Essays

Buddhism Gautama Buddha, previously known as Prince Siddhartha (before his enlightenment) founded the religion of Buddhism. Gautama Buddha was born to Queen Maha-Maya at Kapilavastu, Nepal, Indian. Buddha taught and organized the Sangha, monastic orders, until his death at Kusinagara, at the age of 80. There are 308,000,000 Buddhist devotees in the world today. They believe that there has been Buddha before Him; Bodhisattvas who come as Saviors of all and that all beings are Buddha whether they realize it or not. There are 4 cardinal events in the life of Buddha that represents 4 major pilgrimage centers for Buddhists: His Birth at Kapilavastu, His Enlightenment at Bodhgaya, His First Sermon at Sarnath, and His Death at Kusinagara. There is a Gandhara style, frieze on stone, located in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., that shows all 4 of these events. After Alexander the Great conquered Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir, these areas, for the first few centuries, were not allowed to portray images of Buddha. However, the Gandhara style, of the late 2nd and early 3rd century AD, derives from the Hellenistic and Roman style, so appealing to the Western taste. The â€Å"Buddha Head†, Gupta style, 5th century AD of Sarnath shows the face’s combination of Buddha awareness and artistic style with its balance of all the features. The story of Buddha’s Divine Conception begins with the Future Buddha still in the heaven of the Tusita gods, where He decided to arise in the world. He was reminded, by deities, of his accumulated merit, saying to him â€Å"Attain in your next existence your high destiny† as He died. Then he was conceived in the womb of Queen Maha-Maya. At that very time during the Midsummer Festival, in the city of Kapilavastu, Queen Maha-Maya, feel asleep on the royal couch, and dreamed of four angels that came and lifted her up, couch and all, to the Himalayan Mountains, under a sal-tree. Wives of the guardian angels bathed her in Anotatta Lake, clothed her in divine garments and flowers and anointed her with perfumes. Then they laid her down upon a divine couch, in a golden mansion, at nearby Silver Hill. The Future Buddha had become a white elephant wandering about on Gold Hill. Upon reaching Silver Hill, he plucked a white lotus and went into the golden mansion and walked around his mother’s couch. Striking her on her side he ... ...intings blend into the environment. Such Confucian religious concepts of The Way are as follows: 1. T’IEN Heaven the way of spiritual trust and action. 2. TAO The Way the way things are and are meant to be. 3. JEN Goodness the way of dignity and generosity. 4. CHUN-TZU Gentleman the way of moral and spiritual etiquette. 5. LI Propriety the way things should be done. 6. TE Right Rule the way of government evokes respect. 7. WEN Peace Arts the way of music, poetry and painting. 8. HSIAO Filial Piety the way of family respect and loyalty. 9. CHUNG YUNG Harmony the way between extremes. Confucius died in 479 BC and was buried in a tomb at Shantung province where he was born. Beautiful stone rubbings have been made from his tomb and Temple of Confucius nearby depicting him in his scholar’s robes and his gentle demeanor. During his life and after his death, many alternatives to Confucianism developed. It is no wonder, no one in the history of China has achieved so much reverence and respect as Confucius. Buddhism Essay -- Religion Buddha Essays Buddhism Gautama Buddha, previously known as Prince Siddhartha (before his enlightenment) founded the religion of Buddhism. Gautama Buddha was born to Queen Maha-Maya at Kapilavastu, Nepal, Indian. Buddha taught and organized the Sangha, monastic orders, until his death at Kusinagara, at the age of 80. There are 308,000,000 Buddhist devotees in the world today. They believe that there has been Buddha before Him; Bodhisattvas who come as Saviors of all and that all beings are Buddha whether they realize it or not. There are 4 cardinal events in the life of Buddha that represents 4 major pilgrimage centers for Buddhists: His Birth at Kapilavastu, His Enlightenment at Bodhgaya, His First Sermon at Sarnath, and His Death at Kusinagara. There is a Gandhara style, frieze on stone, located in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., that shows all 4 of these events. After Alexander the Great conquered Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir, these areas, for the first few centuries, were not allowed to portray images of Buddha. However, the Gandhara style, of the late 2nd and early 3rd century AD, derives from the Hellenistic and Roman style, so appealing to the Western taste. The â€Å"Buddha Head†, Gupta style, 5th century AD of Sarnath shows the face’s combination of Buddha awareness and artistic style with its balance of all the features. The story of Buddha’s Divine Conception begins with the Future Buddha still in the heaven of the Tusita gods, where He decided to arise in the world. He was reminded, by deities, of his accumulated merit, saying to him â€Å"Attain in your next existence your high destiny† as He died. Then he was conceived in the womb of Queen Maha-Maya. At that very time during the Midsummer Festival, in the city of Kapilavastu, Queen Maha-Maya, feel asleep on the royal couch, and dreamed of four angels that came and lifted her up, couch and all, to the Himalayan Mountains, under a sal-tree. Wives of the guardian angels bathed her in Anotatta Lake, clothed her in divine garments and flowers and anointed her with perfumes. Then they laid her down upon a divine couch, in a golden mansion, at nearby Silver Hill. The Future Buddha had become a white elephant wandering about on Gold Hill. Upon reaching Silver Hill, he plucked a white lotus and went into the golden mansion and walked around his mother’s couch. Striking her on her side he ... ...intings blend into the environment. Such Confucian religious concepts of The Way are as follows: 1. T’IEN Heaven the way of spiritual trust and action. 2. TAO The Way the way things are and are meant to be. 3. JEN Goodness the way of dignity and generosity. 4. CHUN-TZU Gentleman the way of moral and spiritual etiquette. 5. LI Propriety the way things should be done. 6. TE Right Rule the way of government evokes respect. 7. WEN Peace Arts the way of music, poetry and painting. 8. HSIAO Filial Piety the way of family respect and loyalty. 9. CHUNG YUNG Harmony the way between extremes. Confucius died in 479 BC and was buried in a tomb at Shantung province where he was born. Beautiful stone rubbings have been made from his tomb and Temple of Confucius nearby depicting him in his scholar’s robes and his gentle demeanor. During his life and after his death, many alternatives to Confucianism developed. It is no wonder, no one in the history of China has achieved so much reverence and respect as Confucius.

The Legalization of Marijuana :: Illegal Drugs Substances Essays

The Legalization of Marijuana The purpose of this paper is to discuss marijuana and compare the issue of legalizing it from both sides. We have two factions fighting each other, those who are pro-marijuana and those who are anti-marijuana. These two factions have been fighting on this issue in the halls of justice for years. Pro marijuana legalization groups such as the Physician's Association for AIDS Care and the National Lymphoma Foundation argue that Marijuana should be legalized in order to treat terminally ill patients. Among them are AIDS victims who find that marijuana stimulates their appetites so they can fight off dangerous emaciation, glaucoma sufferers who said it has prevented them from going blind, and cancer patients for whom it alleviates the severe nausea that often accompanies chemotherapy and sometimes makes lifesaving treatment impossible. Due to all these, lobbying groups which show substantial evidence that marijuana can be used as a prescribed drug. Many advocates who are pro marijuana complain that morphine and cocaine are legal and very dangerous drugs, which brings up the question "why not legalize marijuana as a medical drug" when it is proven safer than cocaine and morphine. Lobbying groups in San Diego, California, unanimously voted to urge president Bill Clinton and congress to end federal restrictions against the use of marijuana for " legitiment medical use". City council women Christine Kehoe said she wanted the city of San Diego "to go on the record we support the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana can be a drug of necessity in the treatment of AIDS, glaucoma, cancer and multiple sclerosis". Many agencies, which are anti marijuana such as, the Drug Enforcement Agency and police departments argue that marijuana shouldn't be legalized. These agencies believe that if marijuana is to become legal, then there will be thousands of more patients using marijuana. Then people will raise the question of "why is marijuana even illegal at all, if its a medicine". The main reason why the Drug Enforcement Agency doesn't want marijuana to be legalized is because their is no hard core evidence that proves marijuana is an effective drug as a medicine. In twenty years of research, there has been no reliable scientific proof that marijuana has any medical value. The American Cancer Society , American Glaucoma Society, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association , say that their is no evidence that marijuana is a medicine.

Paying Collegiate Athletes Essay

A college is an educational institution, where students live together under a common set of rules. A college can be said to be a part of the university, which lack degree-awarding powers. Athletes can be said to be a collection of sport events. These sport events involve running, throwing and jumping, and can also be referred to as track or field athletes (Arlott . J, 1975). Athletics is very important in colleges and universities, where its benefits are undeniable. Anyone who is involved in athletics benefits. Athletics as sports teach the college athletes skills and experiences that cannot be taught in the classroom. These same skills are extremely helpful when students are looking for a career. Students who hold positions in the sport’s clubs acquire leadership skills. In sports students participate as a team. They support each other in order to succeed. They are able to learn and practice teamwork, which will assist them in undertaking other activities in their lives. Participation in a sporting event requires the dedication of the participant. Through sport events, students develop a sense of dedication to what they do. The desire to win drives the students to work very hard. They put aside their time and energy to take part in athletics. They later learn how to create desire for something and work hard to attain it. Collegiate athletics are found in numerous countries of the world. College athletics in the United States have the greatest impact and popularity globally. This is due to a large extent of participation. Due to the great importance and benefits that the college athletics offer, sport events continue to grow. There has been a general progression of athletic organizations over time. In recent years, a debate over payment of college athletes has raised concerns. The debate argues whether college athletes should be paid or not. Athletes do not receive any compensation even after the instatement of the collegiate athletics. There has been pressure for college athletes to be paid. On the other hand, another group of people feel that college athletes should not be paid. There are reasons that support the view against payment of college students. More voices are advocating for payment, with convincing reasons. The reasons that support payment of collegiate athletes will be discussed. Implementation of such a move would greatly benefit all the sports participants in colleges. Discussion College athletes need to be paid. One major reason for this is due to the great economic impact that the college athletics create. For example, in the US, college athletics are said to contribute greatly to the American economy. The colleges spend a huge amount of money on their college organizations. The athletes programs in turn generate a large amount of revenue. For example in the sale of tickets and merchandise it would be very fair therefore for college athletes who are major participants in generating revenues, to get a share of it. The athletes who help colleges make a lot of money do not get even the smallest share of it. Some look at this as students’ exploitation. They argue that if colleges benefit or make profit off of student athletes then the athletes should be paid since they helped the college make a lot of profit. In the world over, people believe that one should be paid for the work. Just like an employer, employees are paid according to their productivity. It would be very correct therefore to pay college athletes for their productivity in the sport events. In addition to profits that colleges earn from the sports or games themselves schools officials make a lot of money by marketing their team players. For example in USA, college students J. J Redick and Adam Morrison Jerseys have been sold all over the country, bringing in a lot of profits to the college. However, Morrison and Redick do not benefit from the profits earned. This is because they need to protect their status ( It’s an observation that college officials have no problem making a lot of money for themselves while exploiting ht well known college players. Well known players have their basketball or football jerseys dominate a market. The team officials make money from the sales, while the athlete himself gets nothing â€Å"millions of dollars are made off of video game and jersey sales every year (Jean. M. 2001 ). The players create great marketing opportunities and do not see any money made from the profits. The quality of play in a game is very critical for a future career. Paying college athletes helps in improving the quality of play they display during the major college sports. These games require skills and experience for a player to play well. Students who join professional sport clubs without experience and skills may end up being put on the bench. This limits their ability to gain required experience. This may be as a result of lack of payment if a student plays in a college team. This may ruin the student’s future sports career. By paying the college athletes, the students are encouraged to play for the college teams for a much longer time. This assists them in acquiring the much needed skills and experience for a future career in sports. Some students are very talented and it only requires practice to perfect their skills. This will also improve the college game because skilled players can remain for much longer. It is considered wrong, for schools to make money off of players, while the players do not benefit at all. When the players are paid, the quality of the college games is improved. This is because it becomes possible to keep borderline professional athletes in the involved colleges. The players can get more money at a professional level due to the already developed skills. Games coaches or officials sometimes demand a lot of time from the players in order to practice. This compromises on the time the players would work or maintain a job. Players who need to support themselves in order to make a living find themselves in a difficult situation. They are ton between participating in the games or working. If the players are paid, they can be able to put aside the required time for practice and participation in the games. It would make it easy for players to become committed in sports while at the same time earning a living. Gaming companies are given the right to use school names and numbers by colleges. The companies use these names and numbers at a fee to the respective college. The players have every right to enjoy money that is made by use of their names and numbers in the college. Players work very hard in sports and games (Athletic Journal. 1987). They commit their time to rain and play at the expense of doing their homework. Though they may balance between the two their fellow classmates who do not participate in games have more time to study than the players. They dedicate their time and energy in ensuring high quality games. Any hardwork and dedication that a person portrays need to be appreciated and recognized. Paying college athletes would fit so well in recognizing the student’s efforts in the growth of the game. In addition, to recognizing their efforts, players require to be motivated in doing their training and playing. Motivation encourages players to be determined even when they lose in a game (Charles. E. 1954). They keep on the faith and hope that there is always room for improving their skills and quality of the game. Motivation is a great ingredient towards success of players. Sometimes players may lose miserably to another team. The players may become discouraged to play since they may seem to believe that there are no benefits in their participation. The sports officials thereby step in to encourage them and train them to rectify former mistakes that they committed in the past matches. The players require more than just words in order to keep working on their skills. The need to motivate college students to work harder and improve their skills boils down to some way of rewarding them. One of the best ways to reward and encourage players would be by paying them. Any game event exposes the players to risks. One of the major risks that players are exposed to is injury. Players when in the pitch are involved in defending their team against losing while at the same time maximizing their chances of winning. This demand some form of aggressiveness to succeed. Aggressiveness means quick movements, tricky play (skills) and effective defense actions. When a player is doing all this, accidents may occur that lead to body injuries. These injuries may require intensive medical attention and may be very expensive to pay for the medical services. For example some players get fractured bones, broken joints and tissue damage. Some may even have their body organs impaired. Medication and healing of such body ailments may be too expensive for the players especially where no medical cover takes care of such accidents. The medical expenses may become an economic burden to the player and family. Paying the players, would therefore play a very big role in easing up of such a burden. It makes it easy for students to get the right medication if injured. Any college trains students on how to acquire skills and knowledge and apply them. Teamwork creates a spirit of working together towards success. This spirit is built by organizations and sport clubs in a college. The sport teams and clubs give the students a spirit to be one to work together and to support each other. A good example is the support students give their own team when playing. There is cheering and encouragement from their fellow students who are spectating. Winning a game gives the college students a spirit of victory or conquering especially if the team wins against a well re-known stronger team. This kind of spirit need to be maintained and encouraged in colleges. Maintaining the quality of game through players in order to keep this spirit burning needs a sacrifice. A sacrifice on the sports organization’s or officials may clearly translate into paying of the players. The spirit lives on. Colleges appreciate and recognize good players during the sports events. College students spend a lot of money on ticket in order to go and watch their own team play as well as showing their solidarity with the team. College athletes encourage community participation. The community that surrounds the college joins students in major sports events and offers their support. The community identifies the college team as belonging to them. Students’ parents come in big numbers to support their children in the sports events (Patricia. A. 2007). The students and the community are able to interact with each other, which creates good relationship between the students and the neighborhood. This promotes harmony and peaceful living in and outside the college. Supporting college athletes consequently results to support of community participation. Paying athletes is the greatest form of support that the players can get. Lack of community participation affects the relationship of students and the community itself. Community participation also encourages community service. The students are able to develop community service programs and later undertake activities that help the community in which they live in for example, cleaning exercises, organizing community programs funds rising and even providing support to disaster victims. This is a great way in which students can show support for the community. As earlier stated, community service will be developed in students, if they have a chance to interact and identify the needs of the community. Interaction through events offers a chance for the students to create a good relationship with the community. One way to encourage community service will be through support of college athletics . Paying the students/players may be just one of the effective ways to support athletics. Sometimes an argument is given that college athletes get scholarships. Therefore they have already been paid for their participation and efforts in games. However, other students benefit from scholarships without necessarily participating in the games. Paying college athletes will be a great way to promote justice in the student fraternity. Players feel that they have a right to be rewarded for their efforts. This may even encourage talented students who are discouraged to participate to change their mind and utilize their talents in athletics. In conclusion, college athletics are very important. These games should be given the seriousness they deserve. The players on the other hand need to be motivated for their hardwork and dedication. They deserve to be rewarded. Exploitation of college players by the officials or companies need to be stopped. All these measures require payment to the players and players will feel that justice is done to them. The spirit of college athletics will continue growing and so the future career of players.

In economic geographic analysis, the ‘firm’ usually is assumed, at least implicitly, as a coherent and unitary economic actor. The WritePass Journal

In economic geographic analysis, the ‘firm’ usually is assumed, at least implicitly, as a coherent and unitary economic actor. Introduction In economic geographic analysis, the ‘firm’ usually is assumed, at least implicitly, as a coherent and unitary economic actor. IntroductionConclusionRelated Introduction In economic geographic analysis the ‘firm’ has an ontological and epistemological privilege (Grabher, 2004). Since 1980s onwards the notion of firm as a ‘black box’ a coherent and unitary factor was challenged. There is an increase in investigation of the relation between firms. The concept of firm as a coherent and unitary economic actor was diminished by the concept of ‘projects’ (Grabher, 2002). This essay aims to discuss the centrality of ‘the firm’ in economic geography, and examine the concept of project that undercut the integrity of firm as a coherent and unitary actor by using the evidence from the recorded music industry. The firm in neoclassic economics is defined as â€Å"the theoretical in which production take place†. This does not take the activities of the real firms or corporate organization into accounts (Williamson 1999: 1089). While market is viewed as the most efficient ways of organizing economic activities, much of neoclassical economic geography simply perceive the firm as â€Å"black box† (Hodgson, 1989) which means that it converts inputs into outputs according to the demand and supply in the market. In the perfect markets, all firms in the industry have an equal opportunity to access to perfect information without the need of human or social interaction (Hirchman, 1982). The firm is considered as ‘self-contained and homogenous’ (Yeung, 2005). Grabher also suggests that in economic geography the ‘firm’ have been unproblematised as coherent and unitary actor. This was evidence in â€Å"geography of enterprise† approach in which primary concerned with a dominant firm, rather than industry or a regions of firm (Yeung, 2000 ).   Much economic geographic analysis was focused only with the role of motivation, location, and individual firm’s behaviour (Krumme, 1969). This was called as pseudo-concrete analysis (Sayer, 1982) because it does not take the complex organizational processes inside the representative firm into accounts. Therefore it reduces organisational structures of firm into simple dichotomies such as single-plant or multi-plant enterprises. However, single-plant firms are difference from multi-plant firms and separate plants within multi-plants firms are much more similar (Yeung, 2000). Hence, the notion of firm as a coherent unitary economic actor usually leads to misrepresentation of spatial organization of production. However, the concept of firm as a ‘black box’ a coherent unitary economic actor was challenged by the practice of project-based organizing. Project is defined as system of productions that constituted by different agents such as economic, social and cultural agents with specialize, difference and complementary skills. They aim to accomplish usually a complicate task in which the task requires cooperation of multidisciplinary skills that it more economically efficient to bring together on a temporary basis (Lorenzen and Frederiksen, 2005 ). In order to coordinate the division of labor, it focuses on the ‘relational proximity’ instead of ‘spatial proximity’ and represents particular forms of temporal and spatial actor-networks (Boggs and Rantisi, 2003). Project organizing diminishes the integrity of firm as a coherent and unitary actor because boundaries of project organization operate and cooperate across different firms (Gann and Salter, 2000). In many project-based businesses, project teams work closely with a variety of difference firms rather than their home base manager (Grabher, 2002). In addition, instead of assuming the firm as a single and coherent actor, projects focus on the role of individuals with in firms, specifically how individuals’ interest coincides with or differs from material interests of the firms (Boggs and Rantisi, 2003 ). Grabher (2001) also illustrates a number of paradoxes that challenge the key assumptions of organizing. Projects often have high complexity, high risk and high stake outcome; however, they could be unorganized and lack formal structure that could coordinate the complexities. Since projects depend on collective knowledge and diverse skills; nevertheless there is little time for individuals to clarify members’ abilities and skills. Furthermore, there is not enough time to develop trust and confidence among the members. However, Grabher (2001) argues that these paradoxes can be partly resolved by including the social context into projects. Networks, localities and institutions supply legitimation and trust that are preconditions for the ‘projectification’ of economic organisation. He further explains that reputation is essential for success in projects. Reputation in project organization is not about certificate; it is about how well we work with other people. In addition, the success of project also depends on inter-personal skills and co-operate attitude. Furthermore, location plays a crucial role in the success of the project.   Grabher (2001) explains that project collaboration often takes place in densely knit clusters. The co-location of project partners reduces transaction costs and increase face-to-face interaction. This also provides a local ‘communities of practice’ that serve as informal educational system for sharing knowledge. Moreover, rather than formal firm contractual networks, it is personal networks that provide the basic social infrastructure for learning. In addition, he argues that since projects are embedded in an institutional context of normative structures that manage complex tasks, it allows the emergence of ‘swift trust’. Swift trust is where actors are viewed from their role instead of their individual personality. For example, engineers are trusted because they are engineers and they believe that engineers are trained to apply their principles. As a result, expectations are more standardised and stable because it is defined in term of tasks than personalities (Grabher, 2001). Nevertheless, since project becomes more popular, it has the impact on the employment.   There will be more self-employ job and freelance labor in the future. There are some disadvantages such as short contact, job insecurity and uncertainty. Grabher (2002) argues that project does not entirely replace the firm, but there are interdependencies between projects and firms as well as the personal relations, localities and corporate networks from which these projects mobilize essential sources; this is called project ecology. He uses example of the project ecology of record music industry. The recorded music industry is characterized by high innovation and task complexity that requires cooperation from difference skills. Recorded music industry illustrates that projects are more likely organized on the market instead of inside the boundaries of firm. However, the localized cluster in the advertising village shares the same basic principles of social organization with the global communication group. In addition, both ‘the village’ and ‘the group’ represents high level of diversity of organizational forms which is crucial in working. In addition the periods of ‘idleness’ in project work mi ght be considered economic inefficient; however period of idleness is a part of the process that give a chance to rest and reflect. Furthermore, the evidence from recorded music industry shows that geographical clustering has a significant role in market organized-project (Lorenzen and Frederiksen, 2005). Recorded music ecologies are often clustered in the world’s major cities (Scott, 1999). This because clustering allows people to interact with each; it creates social trust and allows information to be shared and available to all local firms (Grabher, 2005). Conclusion To conclude, the notion of the firm as a ‘black box’ was challenge by organizational practices which are built instead around ‘projects’’. Project organizing undercuts the integrity of firm as a coherent and unitary actor because boundaries of project organization operate and cooperate across different firms. There are some paradoxes of project such as there are a lack the normative structures, there is no time to clarify member’s ability and develop confidence building. However these paradoxes could be overcome by including the social context into projects. The evidence from record music industry also illustrates that the projects are not completely replace the firm, but there are the interdependencies between projects and firms as well as the personal relations, localities and corporate networks.

New Galaxy essays

New Galaxy essays By utilizing various stylistic elements that evoke feelings in people, Alma Thomas creates an aesthetic painting that is not only pleasing to the eye, but also to the soul. The painting, cleverly named, New Galaxy, was done in 1970 with acrylic paint. Thomas painted New Galaxy on a 54 x 54 inch canvas. Through the use of a monochromatic blue color scheme, vertical lines, and impressionistic brush strokes, Alma Thomas conveys feelings of calmness, strength and renewal in her painting New Galaxy. The first element that caught my eye when I came across the painting was the mostly monochromatic color of the painting. Although a very small portion of the left side of the painting is painted with light pinks and whites, the vast majority of New Galaxy is painted in about three different blues. After contemplating the title of the painting, I figured that the artist used the small light pink and white part of the painting to represent the old part of an ancient galaxy. The bright blue portion of the painting represents calmness and confidence in the New Galaxy. The artist juxtaposed the small portion of light pink and white and the much larger portion of blues to emphasize the change from feelings of confusion to feelings of tranquility. The color blue resembles water. Water is usually calm and the sound of water flowing is very soothing to the ear. The calm and soothing characteristics of water are clearly presented with Thomas use of a monochromatic blue color scheme i n her painting. The painting itself is expressed in a number of tiny vertical lines. The lines are carefully placed very close together, both side-by-side and on top of one another. Not only does the use of vertical lines provoke feelings of strength, they also convey feelings of stability. When I looked at New Galaxy, the plethora of vertical lines overwhelmed me with feelings that the fresh galaxy was going to outlast the old one, surpa ...

51 Euphemisms for Youre Fired

51 Euphemisms for 'You're Fired' A euphemism is a seemingly nice or polite way of expressing a harsh or unpleasant truth.  In the  Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms  (2007), R.W. Holder observes that euphemism is often the language of evasion, hypocrisy, prudery, and deceit. To test that observation, consider these 51 alternative ways of saying Youre fired.   Dan Foreman:  Guys, I feel very terrible about what Im about to say. But Im afraid youre both being let go.Lou:  Let go? What does that mean?Dan Foreman:  It means youre being fired, Louie.(Dennis Quaid and Kevin Chapman in the movie  In Good Company, 2004) Throughout much of the world, unemployment remains a problem. Yet of all those people who have lost their jobs, few were ever told, Youre fired. Apparently, those day-long seminars in workplace sensitivity have paid off: firing is now as outdated as a defined-benefit pension plan. In its place is a brightly colored file folder filled with smiley-faced  euphemisms. True, a few of the terms sound rather dour and legalistic (involuntary separation, for example, and workforce imbalance correction). A few others are simply perplexing (decruit, lateralize, waive). But many sound as cheery as a year-end bonus: constructive discharge, career alternative enhancement, and- no kidding- free up for the future. Youre not losing a job, these expressions seem to be saying. Youre regaining a life. Euphemisms for Job Termination Here, according to management guides and personnel documents found at a host of online human resources sites, are 51 bona fide euphemisms for job termination. career alternative enhancementcareer change opportunitycareer transitionconstructive dischargeconstructive dismissaldecline a contract extensiondecruitdefunddehirede-selectdestaffdischargediscontinuedownscaledownsizeearly retirement opportunityemployee transitionend of a trial periodexcessingfree up for the futureindefinite idlinginvoluntary separationlateralizelet gomake internal efficienciesmake redundantmanage downnegotiate a departureoutplaceoutsourcepersonnel realignmentpersonnel surplus reductionrationalize the workforcereduce headcountreduce in force (or  riffing)re-engineer the staffreleaserelieve of dutiesreorganize (or  re-org)reshufflerestructureretrenchrightsizeselect outseparateskill-mix adjustmentstreamlinesurplusunassignwaiveworkforce imbalance correction Forget those condescending reminders that youre now free to pursue other interests and spend more time with the family. As anyone who has ever lost a job is keenly aware, euphemisms such as these rarely achieve their goal of softening the blow. The terms that  we  use for getting fired tend to be  dysphemisms: sacked, dumped, bounced out, canned, axed, eighty-sixed, and given the old heave-ho. More About Euphemisms and Dysphemisms Why Do We Use Euphemisms?Euphemisms, Dysphemisms, and Distinctio: Soggy Sweats Whiskey SpeechSoft Language

Ancient Goddesses of the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ancient Goddesses of the Middle East - Essay Example However, during the past few thousand years, women have experienced marginalization from their power source. In the male dominated religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the female aspect of the Creator has been put aside. History reveals that remnants of the Goddess worshippers were annihilated because they were considered witches. It is alarming to note also that it was all done in the name of a loving God.1 By 4500 BC, the European continent hosted a flourishing group of Goddess worshipping cultures. Over the preceding two millennia, from about 6500 BC to 4500 BC, these cultures had undergone a peaceful evolution, and by the end of this time achieved what could properly be called a Golden Age of Old European civilization. They produced arts and crafts of remarkable quality. Communities achieved populations of many thousands and were laid out in a planned manner. Towns were located at consistently even distances from each other, with larger cities acting as religious and trade centers. According to Curtis, the peoples of this era believe and practice their religion in all aspects of their lives such as life, death, regeneration that is embodied in the female power, that is, the Goddess. Proof of this are the figurines and sculptures, the burial rites, the rich religious symbolism that were rampant during that age. Religion was so much a part of their lives that even ordinary chores like weaving was done inside the temples. It is almost common knowledge that in the present-day witchcraft, the central figure is a woman, the Goddess or the Great Mother. She represents life and fertility. She symbolizes the living force that connects all things in nature and the whole universe. She serves both as the creator and the destroyer. She is also called the Queen of Heaven as well as the moon. The Great Mother is endowed with magical powers and is often associated with feelings, intuition and the psychic faculty. Scholars agree that the Goddess is supposed to be without gender, however within the universe both the male and the female principles do exist. Furthermore, both in the Goddess worship both the male and the female principles are acknowledged.3 It is also recorded that, the Goddess has many features, titles and characteristics. At present however, particularly in witchcraft and Neo-paganism, she is worshipped as the triple Goddess such as the Virgin, the Mother and the Crone. Record shows that goddess worship dates back to Paleolithic times. Many anthropologists believe that the first "God" or gods of the peoples were feminine in nature. There is the so-called self-fertilization such as the ones mentioned in ancient creation myths and beliefs that all things came to order through this method. It means that there was no participation of a male counterpart and that the Goddess did all the creation by herself. Thus, it can be noted that the agricultural rituals and religions acknowledge that the gods were only successful because of the blessings of wisdom and goodness from the Great Goddess. This is evident in the existence of many matriarchal societies and tribes in the past. However, no concrete evidence can pinpoint that either of the gods or goddesses are superior to the other. The Great Goddess does not lord it over the male gods. In other

Thinkertoys Week 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thinkertoys Week 4 - Essay Example By dint of a comprehensive and thoughtful planning, the company jumped from seventh position to second position in the market. Michalko has defined steps to be applied by a company in order to turn out successful even at the most unfavorable situation. The same is being adopted by the researcher in the present research, which is as following: Since I tend to start my own consultancy, after completing my graduation in business administration, in order to provide the young people with counseling regarding career selection, I plan the following possible scenario for starting my career: I will start my consultancy at the heart of the city, where commercial activities are at boom; so that I could capture the attention of the visiting clients too along with the clientele out of my personal relationship. In case I find difficulty in finding out possible clientele, I will shift my office from commercial zone to the area adjacent to the colleges and universities, so that fresh graduates and students could discover a career counseling consultancy in their area. I will also examine the market scenario and will assess whether I am working under perfect competition or monopolistic competition. I will revise my business strategy time and again on the foundation of business environment. Since business administration degree provides its graduates with the opportunity of working in numerous fields, I may start working in the fields of real estate, advertising, marketing and others. Since I strongly believe in hard work and honesty, I will never escape from my duties and obligations towards others. I will work diligently for the promotion of my business as well as obtaining dexterity in my skills and abilities. I will not confined my thinking to myself alone; rather, I will consult the specialists, professionals and experts regarding my thoughts and

Renewable energy disadvantages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Renewable energy disadvantages - Essay Example On the contrary, solar power produces little or no carbon emission. Its use will not affect the level of energy in the earth’s crust. Capentieri et al (1993, p.160) argues that it is very important to put into consideration technology used to convert renewable sources of energy to meaningful use. It is critical to carry a feasibility study then match with appropriate technology to covert the energy source. One other factor to consider before investing in renewable energy is the collection of data. Most data is available as a primary source of other activities like flood control and weather forecast. This data may be flawed and lack precision. Once data is, available next is to put the appropriate technology. For renewable energy to be a success story, policies and guidelines should be in place to facilitate the whole process. For instances, stopping the use of coal to produce electricity will promote renewable sources like wind power. In general renewable sources of are friend ly to environment. It makes it appropriate for use in industries and reduces the damage on the ozone layer. Despite renewable energy offering best alternatives for energy, it has disadvantages that affect its use. Disadvantages of Renewable Energy Solar energy- it is the energy derived from the rays of the sun using solar panels. Cost- the cost of installing solar panels is relatively high and few can afford to install large photovoltaic solar cells to produce electricity. So harnessing solar power still remain a challenge. Space-for solar energy to be effective, it requires large space for efficiency of the equipment used to tap its power. It is not appropriate in places where surface area is small. Photovoltaic cells cannot reach optimum level where pollution is high. It reduces effectiveness of solar panels. In winter and rainy weather the solar panels are less effective. Solar panels attract extra expenses in harnessing solar energy. They cannot perform at night, having the need to purchase accumulators to store energy. Wind Power- it is the energy derived from wind using wind turbines. Noise-despite wind being clean energy, turbines produces huge noises. Destruction to animals-birds is the major casualties of wind turbines. Turbines scare away birds in places they are constructed, hence interfering with their habitats. Strength of the wind- at times when large amount of wind power is required, wind may be low to turn the turbines and because of this wind energy is unreliable. Location- coastal receive strong wind completely year round. Areas away from the coastal line do not benefit much form wind energy. Space- wind turbines takes ocuupy much space that would otherwise be used for other economic purposes. Cost- construction of wind turbines is costly. Several turbines should be constructed to produce equal amount of energy produced by other sources of energy. Hydropower-this is the energy derived from moving water. Toxic gases- hydropower produces toxic gases, affecting plants surrounding the dam. This leads to emission of methane gas, which pollutes the environment. Destruction of habitat-animals and people around the dam has to move due to water making conditions near the dam unbearable. Costs-equipments for installation of hydropower are very expensive. Initial cost both capital and labour are relatively very

Corn-based Ethanol Production Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Corn-based Ethanol Production - Thesis Example Theoretical framework The study is conducted in the theoretical premise of macroeconomics among other sub-theoretical domains of significant proximity to the objectives and focus concept of this study. . The premise provides the theoretical components that illuminate an understanding of how economic and macroeconomic policies and factors affect the fuel, food production and distribution dynamics. The theoretical framework also presents macroeconomics analysis and inference tools that will help in the establishment of the 'real world' effects of the production of corn-based ethanol on the price of corn. Definitions of Terms Ethanol Ethanol; is also called ethyl alcohol or pure alcohol is a flammable and colorless liquid which is categorised as a psychoactive drug. In common organic chemistry notation ethanol is abbreviated as EtOh. Hayashi, Fumio (2007) states that ethanol is a pure-chain alcohol with molecular formula C2H5OH. Ethanol fuel is ethyl alcohol which constitutes the same kind of alcohol that is contained in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol can be used as fuel biofuel like gasoline. This kind can be produced from common crops such as corn and sugar cane. Ethanol is a growing source of renewable energy alterative to gasoline. Biofuels Biofuel is a term used to refer to solid, liquid or gas fuel that has been produced from biological or organic material. The kind is differentiated from the fossils fuels which are drawn from long metamorphosed biological material. "From a theoretical perspective Biofuels can be made from any biological carbon source" (Hayashi, Fumio 2007). The commonly used sources of biofuels nonetheless are photosynthetic plants. Commodity Markets Commodity... This research exercise is not being conducted in a vacuum. The research exercise fits into a broad body of knowledge which has had numerous contributions from various scholars, researchers, professionals and students who have carried similar or related research exercises. Also; the scope and objectives of this research endeavor occur within related and implied theoretical, ideological and philosophical frameworks which largely influence the disciplines of business. As such the researcher is spurred to consider the multiple contributions relevant and related to this research endeavor. The researcher will present a literature review conducted in locating the object of this study within the broader confines of the bodies of knowledge in focus. The thrust at accomplishing set goals in pursuing the ’green world’ philosophy and theory much based on the need to curtail the towering global climate upheavals has seen the emphasises shift in policy in various industry and agriculture fronts. President George W. Bush has had the production of corn-based ethanol as part of the core of his energy policy. This has brought in some merits and demerits. The resonating concern is that is that the emphasis on corn based ethanol production has adverse impact on the entirety of the national and international agriculture sector. More so the thrust on the production of corn-based ethanol has been the part of the root causes of the escalating food prices.

Technology in Literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Technology in Literacy - Essay Example f civilization, as an individual can only progress if he or she has the ability to read and write, thereby gaining knowledge and experience about the dynamics of life and the world in general (Kemp 3). The definition of literacy does not stop at the ability to read and write, but extends to include the capacity of an individual to exercise all the knowledge and skills that they gain through reading and writing to shape the course of their lives, or draw up their destinies. As such, literacy becomes a flexible collection of closely linked strategies and skills to the context and purpose of learning and progress. In such a manner, technology comes in a revolutionary way to define the manner or style by which these individual acquire the capacity to read or write. The effect of technology under these considerations is whether it enables many people to acquire literacy, or spoils the same effort of literacy acquisition by exposing these individuals to knowledge and skills far beyond their understanding. In such a case, technology ends up being a pitfall rather than a ladder to the advancement of literacy in the modern world (Felderman and Vasquez 45). The research to establish the effect of technology in literacy used both qualitative, as well as, quantitative methods to discern the degree of influence. The participants in the research involved both the old and the young, in different geographical settings. A group of old men and women, both from town and from the rural settlements took part in the research, and similarly to the young boys and girls of the same age group and from different backgrounds. This enabled the researcher to collect the honest opinions of each side of the market and determine the true effects of technology in the advancement of literacy. Analysis of data was particular in establishing the level of gains made by literacy due to incorporation of technology, as well as, the negative effects of the inclusion of technology in the advancement of

Corn-based Ethanol Production Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Corn-based Ethanol Production - Thesis Example Theoretical framework The study is conducted in the theoretical premise of macroeconomics among other sub-theoretical domains of significant proximity to the objectives and focus concept of this study. . The premise provides the theoretical components that illuminate an understanding of how economic and macroeconomic policies and factors affect the fuel, food production and distribution dynamics. The theoretical framework also presents macroeconomics analysis and inference tools that will help in the establishment of the 'real world' effects of the production of corn-based ethanol on the price of corn. Definitions of Terms Ethanol Ethanol; is also called ethyl alcohol or pure alcohol is a flammable and colorless liquid which is categorised as a psychoactive drug. In common organic chemistry notation ethanol is abbreviated as EtOh. Hayashi, Fumio (2007) states that ethanol is a pure-chain alcohol with molecular formula C2H5OH. Ethanol fuel is ethyl alcohol which constitutes the same kind of alcohol that is contained in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol can be used as fuel biofuel like gasoline. This kind can be produced from common crops such as corn and sugar cane. Ethanol is a growing source of renewable energy alterative to gasoline. Biofuels Biofuel is a term used to refer to solid, liquid or gas fuel that has been produced from biological or organic material. The kind is differentiated from the fossils fuels which are drawn from long metamorphosed biological material. "From a theoretical perspective Biofuels can be made from any biological carbon source" (Hayashi, Fumio 2007). The commonly used sources of biofuels nonetheless are photosynthetic plants. Commodity Markets Commodity... This research exercise is not being conducted in a vacuum. The research exercise fits into a broad body of knowledge which has had numerous contributions from various scholars, researchers, professionals and students who have carried similar or related research exercises. Also; the scope and objectives of this research endeavor occur within related and implied theoretical, ideological and philosophical frameworks which largely influence the disciplines of business. As such the researcher is spurred to consider the multiple contributions relevant and related to this research endeavor. The researcher will present a literature review conducted in locating the object of this study within the broader confines of the bodies of knowledge in focus. The thrust at accomplishing set goals in pursuing the ’green world’ philosophy and theory much based on the need to curtail the towering global climate upheavals has seen the emphasises shift in policy in various industry and agriculture fronts. President George W. Bush has had the production of corn-based ethanol as part of the core of his energy policy. This has brought in some merits and demerits. The resonating concern is that is that the emphasis on corn based ethanol production has adverse impact on the entirety of the national and international agriculture sector. More so the thrust on the production of corn-based ethanol has been the part of the root causes of the escalating food prices.

Not Your Dream Team Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Not Your Dream Team - Assignment Example The first stage is formation where the team members will come together with the aim of fulfilling a goal. The second is the storming stage where each member is struggling for his or her ideas to be heard and therefore marked by chaos and conflicts. The third stage is the norming stage where now the members come to know each other and start accepting each other’s ideas. The next is the performing stage where the group now focuses on achieving the goal and hence no conflict at this stage. Finally, having achieved its purpose, the group adjourns. 2. Mallory joined Think Link as assistant marketing manager for new products; two software programs were being designed to help high school students learn algebra and geometry. Murray’s manager is Lin Chen (marketing manager). Other members on the cross-functional development team with her are Todd Schlotsky (senior programmer); Sean Traynor (vice-president for marketing); Joyce Rothman (a former high school teacher who co-founded Think Link; she works only part-time in the company); and Harlow Gray (educational consultant). In this paragraph, the bases of power are mentioned and this will determine the decisions made in the organization. Sean for example is the Vice president and he has therefore the most authority in the company based on the positional power he is holding. The decisions Sean will make will therefore not be contested or argued with as a result of his prestigious position in the organization. Sean holds legitimate power due to his position as the vice-president, Lin and Todd and Mallory hold expert power as a result of their knowledge in their different fields. Mallory, Joyce and Harlow also hold referent power due to their ability to be consulted by others in different places. Sean also holds coercive power which is portrayed later when he fires Lin. The above team also hold reward power which they use to give bonus on software. 3. After her first week on the job, Mallory was considering qu itting. â€Å"These people are so opinionated and competitive,† she complained. Sean, Joyce and Harlow, in Mallory’s opinion, don’t listen to anyone’s ideas at team meetings; they only talk about their concerns. â€Å"Sean thinks his rank entitles him to make all the decisions in the team. Joyce thinks her opinions should carry more weight because she was instrumental in creating the company. And Harlow views everyone as less knowledgeable than he is and discounts their information as â€Å"out-of-date†, because he consults with the â€Å"outside† – other software firms and school districts. Lin, who is supposed to have the leadership role in this team, is passive and quiet. While he sends out agendas, and organizes meetings, people ignore him at the meeting; when he is speaking, people interrupt him or talk over him. He appears to avoid all the conflict and lack of progress by rushing off to another meeting. The team didn’t a ccomplish any agenda items at the first meeting I was at.† When a group is forming, it undergoes several stages and the hardest and most challenging one is the storming stage where every member wants his or her opinion to be taken into consideration. This is exactly the stage this group is in where the members are not willing to listen to each other’

Final Project Essay Example for Free

Final Project Essay To turnaround an unprofitable company, Joan imposed new management ideas despite her father’s business practices and culture. With her leadership, Joan will lead and motivate Invitations Inc. employees, and the company will become more profitable. This leadership void threatens Invitation’s Inc â€Å"sustainable pattern of customer focus and profitable growth† (Millikin 9). Invitations Inc. needs to continue the momentum and motivation to accomplish growth. Replacing Joan with as the new CEO by use of a search committee represents the obvious solution to the problem. However, this assumes a replacement could and would be Joan’s equal, including leadership and management style, vision, and knowledge. Garrett could allow Joan to transition the leadership role to a replacement of her choice, with approval of Invitations Board of Directors, after a mentoring and trial period. On the other hand, Invitations Inc. could negotiate with Garrett to extend Joan’s stay as CEO to ensure the status quo. This would allow Joan to continue her successful leadership and strategies, or run the company as CEO of Invitations Inc, while decreasing redundancies and increasing operating efficiencies. Analysis of the Alternatives Search committees often replace the traditional hiring of upper management and leadership. The committee must define present conditions and develop a consensus of criteria used in evaluating candidates, including the leadership qualities needed at this stage in the company’s revival plan. Next, the committee can identify, screen, and interview candidates. Afterwards, the committee can recommend candidates to the board for consideration and their eventual decision (Poston 1). Alternatively, if one exists, Invitations Inc. should implement their succession management plan. Evaluation criteria are critical to the search committee. To build consensus, the committee should examine the past and the present to understand the future. With her recent success and credibility, Joan might become a benchmark for the search committee. An  examination of Joan would reveal her background and multicultural experiences, which have enabled her to embrace the cultur al differences between her dad and her. She fervently believes that â€Å"cultural conflict, if paced and channeled correctly, could provide opportunity for rapid innovation† . In hindsight, as the case suggests, Joan recognized the primary need to focus on corporate culture without passing judgment, recognizing its pros and cons. As an example, Joan confronted her dads method of performance evaluations and employee advancement. In US, factors like age, education level, and years of service to an organization determine career advancement. Except for those whose actions reflect poorly on the group and its members, seniority is the key factor for recognition and promotion. This paradigm often resulted in delays to the decision making process in an effort to achieve consensus,† thereby impeding the company’s decision-making (Millikin 3). To address these corporate cultural issues, Joan successfully balanced eastern collectivism and teamwork with western individualism. First, to develop a trust with employees, Joan displayed her strong interpersonal skills; she was the first manager to walk around the entire company and meet every employee in perso n (Millikin 5). Next, she developed systems for employee opinions and recommendations instead of hiring outside consultants. She also exposed managers to unfamiliar cultures, different areas of the business outside their boundaries, and more information through transparency and cross-functional teams. Nevertheless, she demanded personal commitment within the team environment by demanding accurate work, playing off the strength uncertainty avoidance (Millikin 8) Joan felt could use adjustment is the extent to which the people focus on the past, present, or future. Joan recognized that Invitations Inc. employees did not have a sense of urgency about the future, a potential bankruptcy. It makes sense for employees not to worry about such financial matters when the government bails out large employers. Thus, after careful detailed analysis, Joan recognized management did not have a vision for employees to follow. Therefore, he developed a long-term plan focusing on profit and listening to the customer. By mixing the cultural norms, Joan capitalized on the strength of the Invitations Inc. employee. As a leader, she understood cultural behaviors while appreciating their differences. Her cultural sensitivity coupled with her people skills helped turnaround the company. These skills  and decision-making ability are not mutually exclusive to Joan’s normative decision model, which assumes decision-making styles are learnable. Therefore and a possible near-identical substitute could exist. One major problem with search committees are the significant amount of time and effort necessary by the members, who are often upper management, might produce less than ideal candidates (Poston 1). Although best practices exist for search committee, Joan’s replacement might not harmonize with the company. The replacement might undue the corporate cultural changes under Joan, reverting to old habits, or tip the balance of cultures too far in the other direction. According to the case’s timeline, Joan would continue as CEO of Invitations Inc. for as long as needed. This could be time spent by Joan to mentor a successor of her choice. Joan should follow the succession management system, if one exists, to find the future leader for the company. If such a system does not exist, Joan will need to follow a similar process to that of a selection committee: identify, screen, and interview candidates, and make the recommendation of a candidate to the Board of Directors. There must be full confidence and trust in Joan’s decision by the board and the company, and in return, Joan needs to be fair and as objective as possible, using the same criteria and documenting all steps during the selection process. During her time with the company, Joan stablished relationships with other managers and leaders, some of high-quality, some of low-quality. According to the Leader-Member Exchange model, â€Å"those followers with high-quality relationships are in the in-group (Nahavandi 87). Applying this model would assume Joan’s in-group enjoyed her attention, support, confidence, respect, and more favorable job performance ratings, often leading to promotions. Remember, Joan moved away from the cultural norm of the seniority promo tional system to a pay for performance system. Moreover, Joan might know those in the in-group intimately from non-work related social networks. Since she developed employee-based programs to eliminate the hiring of consultants, using the in-group as a pool of replacement candidates seems the most logical. However, should Joan feel her option, the entire company, are not suitable, she could use this time to search outside of the company, maybe her personal in-group. As part of Joan’s selection criteria will be support for her change management principles, including establishing cross-functional teams to address silos; focusing on key basic  metrics of quality, cost, and customer satisfaction; ensuring transparency and communications that connect all levels of employees across the company. Additionally, Joan believes the CEO should align employees with company goals and strategies through the leader’s vision, which initially would be the revitalization plan established by Joan. Once Joan chooses her successor, she can personally groom and mold this individual. However, as Fiedler and his Contingency Model suggest, leadership effectiveness is a function of the match between a leader’s style and the leadership situation (Nahavandi 70). Essentially, Fielder proposes the leader cannot change his style but can change the situation. As such, unless Joan wants significant change within the company, she should not tolerate candidates lacking the core values necessary to meet leadership needs, like respect for employee buy-in. LEADERSHIP VERSUS MANAGEMENT From these definitions, it should be clear that leadership and management are related, but they are not the same. A person can be a manager, a leader, both, or neither. In the company, there are many different activities, the manager and leader would have different function in the activities. On create an agenda, the manager needs to planning and budgeting. The manager establishes detailed steps and timetables for achieving needed results. The manager needs to allocate the resources necessary to make those needed result happen. The leader needs to establish the direction. The leader develops a vision of the future, often the distant future, and strategies for producing the changes needed to achieve that vision. On develop a human network for achieving the agenda, the manager needs to organizing and staffing. The manager establishes some structure for accomplishing plan requirements, staffing that structure with individuals, delegating responsibility and authority for carrying out the plan, providing policies and procedures to help guide people, and creating methods or systems to monitor implementation. The leader needs to align the people. The leader communicates the direction by words and deeds to all those whose cooperation may be needed to influence the creation of teams and coalitions that understand the vision and strategies and accept their validity. On executing plans, the manger needs to control and solve the problem. The manager needs to monitor the results vs. plan in some detail, identifying  deviations, and then planning and organizing to solve these problems. The leader needs to motivating and inspiring. The leader needs to energize people to overcome major political, bureaucratic, and resource barriers to change by satisfying very basic, but often unfulfilled, human needs. On outcomes, the manager needs to produces a degree of predictability and order and has the potential to consistently produce major results expected by various stakeholders. The leader needs to produces change, often to a dramatic degree, and has the potential to produce extremely useful change. Joan and her father will need to establish a knowledge of the above to strengthen their relationship. Works Cited Face Value: The $10 Billion Man. The Economist World News, Politics, Economics, Business Finance. The Economist Newspaper Ltd, 24 Feb. 2005. Fonda, Daren. CARLOS GHOSN, RENAULT: He Did So Well, Lets Give Him Two CEO Jobs TIME. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews. Time, 1 Dec. 2003. Moffett, Sebastian, and Mike Ramsey. Renault CEOs Image Takes Hit. MarketWatch. Wall Street Journal, 12 Apr. 2011. Millikin, John P. The Global Leadership of Carlos Joanat Nissan. Publication no. A07-03-0014. Thunderbird, 2003. Muller, Joann. The Impatient Mr. Joan- Forbes.com. Information for the Worlds Business Leaders. Forbes, 22 May 2006. Nahavandi, Afsaneh. The Art and Science of Leadership. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Poston, Muriel E. AAUP: Presidential Search Committee Checklist. American Association of University Professors.

The Roper Logan Tierney Model Nursing Essay

The Roper Logan Tierney Model Nursing Essay The aim of this study is to demonstrate the care management that a nurse can provide to a patient who had Laparotomy and mesh repair of incarcerated incisional hernia. It also shows how the Roper- Logan- Tierney Model was utilized in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patients care. The core of this care study is on infection and wound healing management which was identified as the patients main problem. According to NICE (2008), a minimum of 5 out of 100 surgical patients develop infection and that this covers almost a quarter of all infections acquired in a hospital. The patients name was altered to uphold confidentiality (NMC, 2008). In this study, health and social care policies affecting the patient care were also considered. PATIENT PROFILE Mrs P is a 63 years old lady who was admitted due to symptoms of small bowel obstruction like vomiting, bloating and abdominal pain. She lives with her husband in a privately owned house who also has impaired mobility due to stroke. Mrs P weighs 111 kilograms, 5 feet 7 inches tall and body mass index of 38. Previous medical history includes Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 2 (2008), Congestive Cardiac Failure (2007), leg cellulitis (2006), Essential Hypertension (2005), Primary repair of Incisional Hernia (1992), Type 2 Diabetes(1991), Repair of Umbilical Hernia(1985), Total Abdominal Hysterectomy NEC (1979) and Cholecystectomy (1976). After series of examination, she was found to have incarcerated incisional hernia which was repaired with mesh on the emergency list. Post- operatively, she was admitted to ITU for ventilator support and post-op care. When she was stable, she was transferred in the ward and two weeks post- op she developed infection and her abdominal wound dehisced. Patient has to take several medications while in the hospital to help her recover. She had Augmentin (Co- amoxiclav) 625 mg via oral route three times a day, followed by tazocin (Piperacillin with Tazobactam) 4.5 grams intravenously every 8 hours interval, Fragmin (Dalteparin) 7500 units once at 6 pm, senna (7.5mg) two tablets in the evening, bisoprolol 10 mg once daily, furosemide 20 mg daily orally, ramipril 5mg daily orally, amlodipine 10 mg daily oral, paracetamol 1 gram 4-6 hourly oral, domperidone 10mg three times daily orally, insulin Glargine(Lantus) twice a day SC injection, Novorapid three times daily SC injcetion, and oxycodone hydrochloride (oxynorm) 10 milligrams every 4-6 hours orally when needed. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY The development of an surgical site infection depends on contamination of the wound site at the end of a surgical procedure and specifically relates to the pathogenicity and inoculum of microorganisms present, balanced against the hosts immune response(NICE,2006). Typically, wound infection is caused by migration of patients normal flora to the wound site. Another way of surgical site being contaminated is being in contact with contaminated surgical equipments, environment, and hands of staffs. (NICE, 2006). ASSESSMENT The Roper- Logan-Tierney Model of Nursing based on activities of living was used in planning the care of Mrs P which is a widely used model in practice areas in the UK(Roper et al 2000). Maintaining a safe environment Mrs P was alert and orientated however she is diabetic, hypertensive, uses eye glasses and obese. She has an infected wound that is oozing and painful, poorly healed, dehisced, abdominal wound. She has a urinary catheter in situ which can be a potential site of another infection. Communicating Patient can communicate effectively, her primary language is English, can hear and talk without any aids and difficulties, and very conversant but when it comes to her care she tends to stay quiet and just wait for her turn to be look at. Breathing Patient is at risk of developing chest infection due to decreased mobility and respiratory depression due to oxynorm medication. Patient has a respiratory rate of 15 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation of 98% on air, no shortness of breath noted, no signs of respiratory distress and no complaints of pain during breathing. Eating and Drinking Patient claims to have decreased appetite after operation and risk of poor wound healing since although she is obese, she still needs some important nutrients like protein and vitamins like vitamin A,C, and K. Also patient is scared that when she ate, it will cause more pressure to her abdominal wound. Patient is able to eat and drink independently, no complains of difficulty of swallowing, and she is on normal diet. Eliminating Mrs. P has urinary catheter in situ draining adequate amount of urine at present which made her at risk of further infection. She was continent of faeces and uses bedside commode with assistance of two staffs. Because of the pain on her wound when moving and the need of two staffs to help her get out of bed, she keeps refusing her senna tablet and end up opening her bowel on bed. Personal Cleansing and dressing Nurses are the one irrigating and changing her wound dressing. Mrs P is unable to wash and dress herself independently due to her current state of health. Did not have any shower since admission because of her difficulty in mobilising. Controlling body temperature Although Mrs P got an infection, her temperature during assessment was 36.8 degree Celsius, no sweating noted, skin warm to touch, uses only hospital gown and dressing gown to keep her warm during the day, and uses top sheet and one blanket at night. She has limited mobility which predisposed her to poor blood circulation. Mobilising While on bed, Mrs P can turn on her sides but still with assistance of one staff because of her abdominal wound and shes an obese patient. Patient complains of pain on the surgical site when moving and mobilising. Three days before she was being hoisted from bed to chair and back to bed with assistance of 3 staffs but at this time after referral to physiotherapist, she can transfer to chair with assistance of two staffs and use of a zimmer frame. She was able to stand during the transfer and can make 2-3 steps during transfer. Working and playing Patient worked in an office before but had early retirement due to illness. Enjoys knitting and playing with her grandchildren at home. Although she can still do knitting, she cannot run or look after her grandchildren at home in her situation. Expressing sexuality Mrs P is 63 years old, menopause, and still lives with her husband. Her abdominal wound makes her anxious about her body image. Sleeping Patient says shes not able to sleep well due to environment change, pain and sometimes bowel urgencies. Mrs P takes two glasses of milk before bedtime. Death and Dying Mrs P keeps asking about worst thing that could happen to her regarding her present condition. She is worried for her husband when it happens to her first. Patient does not have a will. IDENTIFICATION OF PATIENTS PROBLEM While in the ward, Mrs P was assessed using the RLT Model based on activities of living. From those activities, all problems identified were related to her infected wound that is not healing normally. She has to stay further in the hospital until her infection is dealt with and that her condition will be manageable by primary care. This is a serious problem that if not attended immediately would cause further injury or problems to Mrs P therefore these problems which are related to each other should be the priority and the focus of her care plan. GOALS After nursing interventions, Mrs P will be able to verbalize feelings regarding her condition and understand the course of treatment being done to her. In three to 7 days, patient will be able to mobilize on her own using her zimmer frame and will be infection free. NURSING CARE PLAN PROBLEMS INTERVENTIONS RATIONALE REFERENCES 1.Wound Infection >Monitored patients vital signs. >Assessed wound site daily and documented. >Maintained aseptic technique when changing dressing and irrigation. >Administered antibiotic as prescribed. >Encouraged patient to eat nutritious food and increase fluid intake >Educated patient about wound infection control and prevention. >Infection is frequently linked with pyrexia >As basis for treatment >To prevent further deterioration in wound >Inhibits growth and kill microorganisms >Enhance immune response >To have an idea on how to manage her surgical wound Rico et al, 2002 Shultz et al, 2003 MEP,2008 Colier, 2004 Dealey,2012 NICE, 2006 2. Poor wound healing >Assessed the wound and its surroundings >Monitored blood glucose regularly >Maintained strict infection control measures >Encouraged patient to eat nutritious food and increase fluid intake >Encouraged diversional activities like knitting and reading papers. >Maintained a moist wound environment but not saturated >Managed exudates to ensure that surrounding skin is protected from leakage. >Referred to tissue viability nurse >To assess healing and as basis for treatment. >Associated with delayed wound healing. * need to expand >To prevent further infection >Poor nutrition increases infection risk. * how does protein, calories affects healing, hydration? Link poor healing with nutrition. >To reduce stress caused by pain on the wound surroundings. >Supports wound healing >Exudates can damage surrounding skin and is ideal for bacterial growth >To give advice on appropriate wound dressing for wound healing by secondary intention. Daugherty and Lister, 2004 Patel, 2008 Pratt et al,2007 Dealey, 2012 Augustine and Maier,2003 Shultz et al,2003 Vowden and Vowden, 2002 NICE, 2006 PART 2 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE POLICIES The basic principle of NHS is that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth(NHS website,2011). In order to maintain it, the NHS is regulated by several policies. DH policies are designed to improve on existing arrangements in health and social care, and turn political vision into actions that should benefit staff, patients and the public (DH 2010b). Mrs Ps information are compiled in a folder and kept in a secure place so that only members of the Multi-disciplinary team responsible for her care will be able to access it. It is the responsibility of healthcare professionals to safeguard their patients information and share it only to appropriate individuals (NMC, 2008). Mrs Ps personal information were handled in accordance with Data Protection Act of 1998. According to Mental Capacity Act of 2005, every adult has the right to make his or her decision and must be assumed to have capacity to make them unless it is proved otherwise. Informed consent was taken from Mrs P before any procedures or treatment was given or done. Doctors, anaesthetists and nurses has the responsibility to explain all tests and procedures being carried out on her and made sure she understood why it is being done or given to her. The consent is not valid when the person did not understand intervention (DH, 2009a). The vital signs of Mrs P were kept monitored and documented using the National Early Warning Score (NEWS)Chart. It is a new observation chart (implemented July, 2012) used in the ward where Mrs P was admitted. RCP (2012) says that this is also used as a surveillance system for all patients in hospitals, tracking their clinical condition, alerting the clinical team to any clinical deterioration and triggering a timely clinical response. Another tool used in Mrs Ps ward is the SBAR Tool. It is a structured method for communicating critical information that requires immediate attention or action(NHS Website, 2008). The patient was also assessed using the Waterlow Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Tool and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool(MUST). In the chart it says there that although the later was incorporated to Waterlow, they should be assessed individually to ensure patient needs are addressed and their care was implemented (Waterlow 1985, Revised 2005). This tool helps nurses and other healthcare professionals in identifying what measures and equipment are needed for the care of the patient. NICE (2006) recommends that all hospital inpatients on admission and all outpatients at their first clinic appointment should be screened (weighed, measured and have Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated). Screening should be repeated weekly for inpatients and when there is clinical concern for outpatients. The abdominal wound of Mrs P was also assessed and documented on the Wound Management Chart implemented by the trust. Mrs Ps surgical team decided to leave her dehisced wound open and heal by second intention. The team looking after her prescribed antibiotic, and twice a day irrigation and dressing of her wound. Mrs P was referred to the Tissue Viability Nurses (TVN) for advice on appropriate dressings to be used on her wound as it was planned to heal by secondary intention (NICE, 2012). Another issue to consider in looking after Mrs P was infection control. The fact that she was already infected does not mean healthcare staffs no longer follow Infection control procedures. Infection control should be strictly manifested in order not to aggravate her situation. Hand hygiene is important especially before touching the patients wound to minimise introduction of pathogens and also after changing wound dressings to prevent self and cross- contamination of patient. The WHO (2006), provided Five Moments as to when healthcare professionals should perform hand hygiene. Use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) should also be worn when irrigating and renewing the surgical wound dressing of Mrs P to prevent spread of infection. Guidelines on how to put on PPE and how to take it off were also produced by WHO(2007). Proper disposal of sharps used by Mrs P like needles used for her antibiotic, insulin, and fragmin injection should also be observed. They should be th rown directly to designated sharp bins as uncapped and still assembled (RCN,2011). OVERALL EVALUATION AND CRITIQUE OF FRAMEWORK The nursing process is an orderly method of designing and providing nursing care which are collecting information and assessing the patient, planning care and defining objectives for nursing care, implementing interventions and evaluating results (Uys Habermann, 2005,p.3). Roper et al(2000,p.124) pointed out that assessment which is considered to be the first phase of the nursing process should be done regularly and not only once. Being this the case, the use of Roper- Logan-Tierney (RLT) Model based on Activities of Living is preferred for Mrs Ps case. It does assess the patient needs wholly and can determine the impact of infection and poor wound healing to her identified twelve activities of living as recognized by the model. Using RLT model, an overview of Mrs Ps health status was created and from it prioritization of her needs is easier. This model enabled healthcare professionals to produce a care plan which is unique or aligned to her needs. The author of this care study find this framework to be an ideal model in assessing patient and useful for healthcare professionals as they do not miss out any aspect of care. Looking at the down side of the model, it is a very long process of assessment and it takes time for a healthcare staff to finish all the twelve areas. The author of this study thinks although it is an ideal one that in a ward where Mrs P was confined, there might be an issue in doing this regularly to all patients. It is a very busy ward and if all patients are assessed regularly using this model, problems on other aspect of nursing process will be left untouched and cause additional work to incoming staffs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE PRACTICE Health and social care policies are indeed very important and has a great impact to the healthcare system. It serves as the basis for the trusts in making their own policies and it guides healthcare professionals to their practice. Nurses practice in accordance with the NMC Code, Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives and other laws and guidelines provided by the British government and different departments or agencies like the Department of Health, National Institute of Clinical Excellence, World Health Organization, etc. After using the Roper-Logan-Tierney Model The care of Mrs P went smoothly during her stay in the hospital. Her post- operative complications have been managed without any major issues. Since the very start, nurses and other members of the MDT reassured her that personal details and all information regarding her care is treated as confidential and that this could only be shared to appropriate people only on her approval. The MDT members based their interventions on the protocol and policies of the trusts which was based on National policies. Mrs Ps problems were managed by the interventions provided in the hospital and was now discharged and back to her home. Long term goals were also taken into account therefore a proper referral to the district nurse was done before she went home.

Change in Life from Antebellum to the New Deal Essay -- essays researc

Modern America can be considered one of the world’s economic and industrial leaders. This didn’t happen instantaneously. It was a long process that took centuries to occur from when America was first colonized by England. America started slow and far behind England and other European countries in the technology race but a diverse culture and the work ethic of American people all helped to push this country forward. From antebellum America in the 19th century, to the Progressive Era in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and finally to the New Deal period in the 20th century, many changes occurred as millions of people lives were affected greatly during this time. Throughout these eras in U.S. history, there was a general improvement in the lives of most Americans from the progression of economic life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the antebellum period, the United States was a predominantly pre-industrial society. There were very few factories open at this time. Most of the factory workers were from rural and village cultures. These jobs usually required no skill or knowledge and were quite simple to learn. Working conditions in factories were at its worst with extremely low pay, long workdays, and dangerous conditions. Most workers remained as farmers and artisans. They devoted their lives to their work and were skilled at their jobs. Artisans usually worked closely with agrarians to make different products. Farmers worked the fields, growing crops and raising livestock. Their work would occasionally become easier from new tools made by artisans. Women during this time were housewives. They were doing everything at home. They took care of the children, the house, and the food for the family. Sometimes, life demanded that they work the fields with their husbands. Most women did not have jobs outside the home but a small number did work outside in factory jobs. There was a great influx of immigrants at this time. Many of them worked at factories, usually taking the lowest paying positions available. Their different cultures and work habits often caused many problems because they were not accustomed to the American customs. Most of the immigrants chose to settle in American cities, where most jobs were located. As a result, the cities became extremely crowded. Housing in cities became a major problem from the large number of immigrants. Most ... ...evel administrative positions due to various New Deal agencies and programs. Not many reform programs were intended for women. Most of their benefits came indirectly from programs targeted at men. From the three eras of America, antebellum, Progressive, and New Deal, there seems to be a general increase in quality of life in the workplace and outside. Although there were also many inhumane things that happened, such as the growth of monopolies which prevented many small businesses to fail, the overall improvement of life is still evident. From the antebellum period, when Americans were having trouble finding jobs and many jobs were taken by immigrants, to the New Deal, when Americans have their rights protected and secured by the government, the quality of life has improved. Especially through the efforts of the Progressives and their reforms and Roosevelt and his New Deal, the American worker has never had more security in their life than ever before. Because of the security of their jobs and wages, the number of people that can live relatively comfortably have increased since the last 19th century. Therefore, in general, most people did improve their lives during these perio ds.

Pass The Weed :: essays research papers

Pass The Weed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The cries of conservatives across America has grown to a riotous roar. The problem is that the long-standing and unjust prohibition of the psychoactive drug marijuana has been lifted by voters in Arizona and California. Under the new law, doctors can prescribe marijuana to those patients who can possibly benefit from the drug's medicinal purposes. Used for alleviating pain and suffering, the drug can provide needed relief for many people. However, to the concerned, it appears that with the new propositions government has granted permission to posses and consume a drug that has been banned for decades. The â€Å" smoke† has yet to settle in Washington, but a reaction to the new laws from the federal government seems unlikely. Optimistic supporters hope that similar policies and propositions will soon come to voters in other states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The debate over the legalization of Cannabis Sativa, more commonly known as marijuana, is currently one of the more heated controversies in the country today. The drug has been unrightfully prohibited since the 1930's for its dangerous effects. However, earlier and more primitive cultures were able to safely explore marijuana's usage for both medicinal and hallucinogenic properties. The usage of marijuana has existed for thousands of years in many countries world wide and can be documented as far back as 2700 BC in ancient Chinese writings. In the earlier cultures, marijuana usage was accepted and its effects documented. However, the United States government overlooked all of the information and banned the drug. Recently, however, there has been a resurgence in the opinion of the drug's positive medicinal purposes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Studies on the medicinal uses of marijuana have been conducted on many patients that suffer from various health problems. In patients with the AIDS, the drug served as a beneficial way to stimulate appetite. Thousands of AIDS patients already use marijuana illegally for this condition and have reported excellent results. For those AIDS victims, marijuana can reduce the nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite that are common to the syndrome. Another medical function for marijuana is to combat glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Glaucoma is an eye disease that results from pressure that builds up over time and causes great pain and vision loss to sufferers. In the glaucoma patients, marijuana can aid in relieving the intraocular pressure on the eyeball, and thereby alleviate the pain and sometimes stopping the progress of the condition. Multiple sclerosis is another incurable condition that could benefit from the legalization of marijuana. The disease disrupts the normal functioning of the nerves in the brain and the spinal cord.

Political science as a social science Essay

Political Science is in part a social science, and in part a humanity. Both are important. In this topic, we will look at the basics of social science inquiry, and then proceed to show how this differs from, on the one hand, inquiry in the natural sciences and, on the other, inquiry in the humanities. Social Science Social science inquiry seeks to develop empirical theory. ?Empirical? refers to things that can be experienced through the five senses of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, or (in the case of political corruption) smelling. Theory? basically means explanation. An empirical theory of politics, then, is an attempt to explain why people behave the way they do politically. If a social scientist (or anyone else) observes people engaging in political behavior, he or she will need to focus on certain characteristics of the people being observed. The observer may wonder why some people differ from others in their political characteristics. Why, for example, are some people Liberals while others are Conservatives and still others are New Democrats. Characteristics that differ from one person to another are called one variables. Those that do not are called constants. Constants are generally less interesting than variables. There is not much point in trying to explain voting behavior in a country in which only one party appears on the ballot. Of course, we might then ask why some countries have only one party whereas others have multi-party systems, but now we are treating ? number of parties? as a variables. Everyday language is full of what are, in effect, hypotheses about political behavior. For example, talk about a ? gender gap? in voting hypothesizes that vote (the dependent variable) is in part a function of gender (the independent variable), with women more likely to vote for the Liberals or New Democrats and men more likely to vote Conservative. Social science research differs from everyday discussion of politics in two ways. The first is where hypotheses come from. Anyone who follows politics will likely carry around in his or her head a lot of ideas about what explains political behavior. Such ideas may come from personal experience, from conversations with others, or from following politics through the mass media. This is true as well for the ways social scientists think about politics. In addition, however, social scientists develop hypotheses more systematically by studying the scholarly literature for the results of previous research. This is important for at least a couple of reasons. For one thing, it is usually the case that the more you learn what is already known about a subject, the more new questions you are likely to have. A review of the literature helps generate new hypotheses. Even more important, social science seeks not merely to describe raw facts, but to explain why people behave the way that they do. To accomplish this, we need to put our ideas into a broader theoretical context that offers such an explanation. It is a fact that in the United States, from 1936 through 2000, the incumbent party has always won the presidency whenever the Washington Redskins won their last home game before the election, and lost whenever the Redskins lost. However, since there is no reasonable explanation for why this should be the case, it is merely an interesting bit of trivia, and no serious observer of politics would rely on it in analyzing the next presidential contest. A second difference is that, for many people, ideas about patterns of political behavior remain merely assumptions. Social science insists that the validity of assumptions must be tested against data. Conceptual definition. We need to know, and be able to communicate to others, what our independent and dependent variables mean. What, in other words, is the idea in our mind when we use a term? Definitions found in dictionaries are examples of conceptual definitions. Sometimes, the idea that is in our mind when we use a term will be obvious, but often it will not. Many concepts used in political science are anything but clear. If we are to study political ideology, for example, we need to spell out with as much precision as possible what that concept means in the context of our research. Operational definition. For hypotheses to be tested, we will need to come up with measurements of our variables. An operational definition is one stated in a way that can be directly measured by data. We strive for a one-to-one correspondence between our conceptual definitions and our measurements (operational definitions) of them. If we succeed, then our measurements have validity and reliability. Data needed to provide operational definitions of our variables come from a wide variety of sources. We may gather the data ourselves. Analysis of data that we gather in order to test hypotheses that we have formulated is called primary analysis. Often, however, this approach would be totally beyond our resources of time, money, and expertise. A nationwide survey of public opinion, for example, would take months to design and carry out, would cost many thousands of dollars, and would require the services of a large survey research organization. Often, secondary analysis of data (that is, analysis of data originally gathered for other purposes) will suit our needs far better. Indeed, very important databases are used almost exclusively in secondary analysis. The Census Canada data is a good example. Other surveys such as the Canadian National Election Study and the General Social Survey were created, in part, for the express purpose of providing quality survey data for secondary analysis by students of Canadian politics. Indeed much of the work using the Canadian National is based on secondary analysis. To facilitate secondary analysis, the University of Toronto Data Library, and other university-based data archives have been established throughout the world. The largest of these is the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) established in 1962. Today, over 500 colleges and universities from all over the world, including the University of Toronto are member institutions. Students and faculty at these institutions obtain datasets that provide the basis for numerous scholarly books, articles, and conference papers, graduate theses and dissertations, and undergraduate term papers. The Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences What we have described as the social science method ? the effort to explain empirical phenomena by developing and testing hypotheses ? could as easily be called simply ? the scientific method,? without the ?  social? qualifier. There are, however, differences between social sciences, including political science, and the natural sciences. Though these are differences in degree, they are important. One difference is that the natural sciences rely much more heavily on experimental design, in which subjects are assigned randomly to groups and in which the researcher is able to manipulate the independent varia ble in order to measure its impact on the dependent variable. Often, when people think about the scientific method, what they have in mind are these sorts of controlled laboratory experiments. In political science, we for the most part are not able to carry out experimental designs. If, for example, we wish to study the impact of party affiliation on decisions by judges, we cannot very well assign judges to different parties, but rather have to take the data as they come to us from observing judges in their natural setting. Experimental design, however, does not define the natural sciences, nor does its absence define the social sciences. Astronomy, for example, must of necessity rely on observation of things that cannot be manipulated. ?Epidemiological?  medical research also relies on non-experimental data. Conversely, the social science discipline of social psychology has been built in large part from experiments in small group laboratories. In political science, a great deal of laboratory research on the impact of campaign commercials has been carried out in recent years. Field experiments are also common, as when survey researchers will test the impact of alternativ e question wordings by splitting their sample and administering different questionnaire forms to different subsets of respondents. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that experimental designs are much less common in the social sciences, including political science, than in the natural sciences. Most of our research design is, in effect, an effort to approximate the logic of experimental design as closely as possible. Other differences, also differences in degree, have to do with lower levels of consensus in the social sciences. There is less consensus about conceptual definition. Even if we agree that power is a key concept for the study of politics, we may not agree on what power means. Chemists, on the other hand, not only agree that molecules are important, they also mean pretty much the same thing when they use the term. There is less consensus about operational definition. Chemists also agree on how to measure the atomic weight of a molecule. Social scientists are far from unanimous in the ways they go about measuring power. It bears repeating that these differences are ones of degree. In the natural sciences there are also disputes at the frontiers of the various disciplines about what concepts are important, what they mean, and how they should be measured. In the social sciences, consensus is likely to break down from the start. Even if we can agree that a particular concept is important, on what it means, and on how it should be measured, we will encounter far larger problems of measurement error than those in the natural sciences, where measurement is not without error, but is typically much more precise. Finally, remember that we are involved in trying to explain human behavior. People do not seem to behave as predictably as molecules. Philosophers are not in agreement on this point, but it may be that human behavior is inherently less predictabl The fact that we deal with tendencies rather than with laws means that, for the most part (and despite impressive work by ? rational choice? theorists to develop formal mathematical models of political behavior), political science makes relatively little use of elegant systems of deduction, but considerable use of statistics, which provides us with valuable tools for dealing with probabilities. Despite its unavoidable limitations, political science as a social science has produced an explosion in our knowledge about politics. This has had important practical consequences. For example, no serious aspirant for a major elected office in an economically developed democracy would consider embarking on a campaign without consulting experts in survey research, a signature social science technique. In addition to being, in part, a social science, political science is also in part a humanity. Political science as a humanity means at least a couple of different things.