English as the official language of the U.S. Essay

The English language has already been established as the official language in 28 States; this would beg the question, what made these States pass such an Act, especially since the Courts already designated such a law as being unconstitutional and infringing upon the First Amendment speech rights (Feder, 12). This question will be addressed throughout the paper, which will first consider the legal proceedings that have occurred thus far for this ‘Official English’ movement. The finding of this paper is self-evident in that the objections to this movement have been rendered invalid, largely due to a lack of irrefutable arguments as the paper will demonstrate. The numerous advantages that will be highlighted will argue for, and show, the benefit to the nation – to both the majority as well as the minorities – of making English the official language of the U. S. U. S. Legislature As of the publishing of the CRS Report in 2007, 28 states in the United States have declared English as the official language in their state constitutions. On the flip side, the U. S. Constitution has enacted several laws such as the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act in an effort to protect the language rights of the country’s minorities. These Acts authorize, amongst others, the use of voting materials in states and political subdivisions, with instructions in two languages at the same time, as well the use of languages other than English, when deemed essential, to provide effective and efficient public and private services. The U. S. Congress initiated its effort towards the Official English movement in 1984 with ‘The English Language Amendment’ that was proposed for the Constitution, and it culminated when ‘The Language in Government Act’ passed the House in 1996, but failed to do so in the Senate. Amendments to ‘The Language in Government Act’ were later introduced, with the Inhofe Amendment passing in the 109th Congress which affirmed English as the ‘national language’, and later as the unifying language of the U. S. ; at the same time, ensuring the rights of minorities (Feder, 4). Consequent to Amendments that were later introduced, the passage of such Legislature would now largely be a symbolic one with negligible or zero actual effect on the inhabitants of the country, with regards to the legal aspects. This is largely because â€Å"†¦ an affirmation by the Congress of the central place of English in our national life and culture †¦ would not, of its own force, require or prohibit any particular action or policy by the government or private persons. Nor would it, without more, imply the repeal or modification of existing federal or state laws and regulations sanctioning the use of non-English for various purposes,† as stated in Feder, 4-5. Benefits The basic principle upon which the proponents of this movement rest their reason for making English the official language of the United States is that it serves to create a bond of unity. While this bond can be used in order to address any issues through more effective communication between the relevant parties, it also does not rob anyone of their heritage. As stated by Adams, 111, â€Å"All languages and cultures are precious in our history and are to be preserved and maintained. These are not, however, public responsibilities. † Parsimonious equity is another, much touted reason for the movement. Where equity states that all judicial hearings should allow a defendant the right to be heard in the language (s)he is most conversant and comfortable with so as to permit the population to be served by the government. Parsimonious equity, on the other hand, maintains that in order to ensure that the government is not bogged down under administrative costs of ensuring an interpreter for each individual need, an official language must be recognized that will ensure that all legal and government related proceedings be dealt with in English. Such a system remains equitable, as well as, limits the costs associated with such activities (Fishman, 59). With regards to the ‘language-rights’ argument it must be noted that while protecting the rights of minorities in of itself is a sufficiently altruistic and, in the case of the U. S. , required task of the government, it must be ensured that the majority not be discriminated against either. Such a paradox would result in the formation of extreme political parties that would effectively shut out the minorities, due to their large, and united, numbers. In light of this argument, the proponents stress that by officiating the role of the English speaking majority in the United States the government will preclude the establishment of such highly biased and extreme parties, and maintain the unity and equity of the nation. Therefore, while it may be historically justified for minorities to seek redress for past acts of subjugation, as usually happens with minorities, and oppose the majority, it would be more I keeping with the â€Å"interest of [the] linguistic minorities to seek a balance,† as stated by Joseph, 62. To an extent it seems understandable that the minorities might feel as if they are being presented with a raw deal, but when the minorities themselves start supporting the cause for making English the official language this argument against the movement is rendered void, and is in fact turned into another reason for supporting the movement. Such a case was witnessed in Alabama, where the black-majority counties voted for the movement by a significant margin (Tatalovich, 244). Learning from Canada Looking at the northern neighbor of the United States, proponents of the movement have found several examples that corroborate their stand of maintaining a single official language for the country. The numerous political conflicts that Canada has faced over its bilingual official languages status have merely served to show how not to operate in one’s own country, in addition to clearly distinguishing the effect of considering the language issue as irrelevant and trivial. As stated by Ricento, 37, â€Å"the disconcerting strength gathered by separatism in Canada contains a lesson for the United States and its approach to bilingual education. † In trying to placate a larger amount of people by using its dual official language system, Canada has only shown to its more powerful neighbor how it is sometimes in the interest of the minorities to ignore their protests and support the decision of the majority. By catering to the Quebec speaking individuals in their country Canada has given them the right to lose out on greater economic benefits as shown by the research conducted by Li, 135-136: the effect of the use of an official language is signified by the â€Å"†¦$911 [male earnings] above the mean even after controlling for other variables,† and similarly, in the U. S. (Zavodny, 449). Conclusion The English language is the language of the majority as far as the U. S is concerned. There has been a movement towards making it the official language of the country in addition to it being so in over half the States already. However, this movement has subsequently led to the minorities crying foul over the perceived loss of their rights and the perceived inequitable behavior that they expect. The proponents of this movement, on the other hand, cite the greater cause of national unity, as well as that of parsimonious equity to vie with the concern of future lost income of minorities. It is the duty of the Government to now realize the potential benefits that will result in letting Acts based on making English the official Language through Congress. Especially since the greatest objection of minority language rights and perceived subjugation by the majority has been proven to be baseless in light of the Alabama vote. The remaining minorities should seek to overcome their emotional attachment to their original heritage, and understand that this movement will not necessarily threaten their roots; instead, it will result in greater opportunities for them through a more equitable treatment at court and business. Beyond these realizations, the government should initiate a budget towards facilitating the teaching of English to immigrants who cannot afford to learn it through their own devices. This is in light of the view that current instructions for the English language, in the United States, are inadequate to prepare them for their future life in the country (Citrin, 108). With Canada serving as an example of the effects of having more than one official language, the United States can ensure that it does not fall into the same trap by creating the equivalent Spanish-speaking enclaves in their country. Economically, politically, and culturally, having only English as the official language will help deal with a lot of problems along these facets of life that will prove to, over time, strengthen the role of equality in the society – a value that is immensely appreciated in the current era, especially in these neck of the woods. Eventually this movement will succeed, because it not only enjoys widespread support from the majority and a few minorities of the U. S. , but it has also managed to secure enough political support behind it to make it a key bill: one that is presented to the Congress in almost every sitting since the mid-1890’s. Works Cited Adams, K. L. & Brink, D. T. Perspectives on Official English: The Campaign for English as the Official Language of the USA. Walter de Gruyter. Fishman, J. A. The Rise and Fall of the Ethnic Revival: Perspectives on Language and Ethnicity. Walter de Gruyter. (1985). Joseph, J. E. Language and Politics. Edinburgh University Press. (2006). Ricento, T. & Burnaby, B. Language and Politics in the United States and Canada. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (1998). Tatalovich, R. Nativism Reborn? : The Official English Language Movement and the American States. University Press of Kentucky. (1995). Citrin, J. â€Å"Language politics and American identity. † Public Interest. (1990): p96-109. Feder, J. â€Å"English as the Official Language of the United States: Legal Background and Analysis of Legislation in the 110th Congress. † CRS Report for Congress. (January 25, 2007): pp18. Li, P. S. â€Å"The Economics of Minority Language Identity. † Canadian Ethnic Studies. (2001):

Csr Essay

â€Å"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently. † Warren Edward Buffet, Entrepreneur. Social responsibility of business is a very contradicting topic and there clearly can be no perfect answer as to what extent corporations should employ it. Milton Friedman and Ivar Kolstad have contrasting opinions on the issue, and both of them listed weighty arguments for their positions. In this essay I would like to express my view on the problem presented in the articles.The argument can in fact be called â€Å"shareholders vs. stakeholders†. Management is bound to be responsible to shareholders; otherwise there will be some other management who will be responsible to them. In this respect, management does not have a choice. But they do have a choice whether or not to be responsible to other stakeholders as well, that is, employ some general and non-legislative principles of doing business. Sh areholders are central in Milton Friedman’s opinion. He believes that a company exists in order to satisfy the shareholders and give them the most possible out of it.I cannot agree with this view and I think that it is quite narrow, because most companies are so much more than just profit-generators for stockholders. Of course companies need to make profit – otherwise they cannot survive, but owners should indeed feel the difference between fair profits, fair return on their money, and unlimited profits created at someone’s expense. Let’s look at managers’ choice between maximizing profits and caring for stakeholders from the perspective of different schools of normative ethics.Kantian deontology states that there are actions that are always good and actions that are always bad, and humans should act according to their moral duties, not to selfish motives and wishes. In the world of capitalists, this theory is quite hard to apply, since businesses inherently pursue the goal of profit generation, which is selfish by its nature. However, an idea of universal law can be used to evaluate moral actions: if one manager chooses to deceive his customers, let’s assume that all managers choose to deceive their customers. What would the result be?All customers would be deceived and would no longer trust the companies. So when making decisions, Kant suggests thinking in terms of universal laws. The opposing theory – consequentialism, suggests that the moral value of an action only depends on its consequences. However, let’s imagine that an employee of a nuclear power station decides to talk to his friend on the phone instead of controlling the process. If everything goes right and no catastrophe happens, can his action be considered ethically good? In this sense, the theory is not very useful.However, if we are talking about managers’ decisions, they should always think about consequences that their actions ca n cause. Another theory is utilitarianism, which evaluates the moral value of an action in terms of the summed happiness of all members of society that resulted from it. Shareholders make themselves â€Å"happy† by maximizing profits at any expense, but a whole lot of stakeholders are left â€Å"unhappy†. Therefore, owners of the company minimize the good in society by maximizing profits. On the other hand, a company can make a lot of people deliriously happy by giving out its products for free, and soon go bankrupt.So where does the thin line lie between maximizing customers’ value while staying financially sound and giving up profit opportunities for ethical motives, getting no or a very moderate return? It’s a very hard question, but in my opinion, companies should try to avoid doing harm to customers, employees and environment whenever they can. Another school is called classical school, and it states that the moral value of an action depends on its n ature, motives and consequences. In my opinion, this theory is the most sensible one, because it comprises all other theories and does not look at actions from a narrow perspective.As long as customers are concerned, CSR is integral when dealing with them. If customers are dissatisfied with the quality of a product or service they get, or a company somehow deceives them, thus maximizing its profits, it receives a bad reputation and as a result can lose all of its customers and the shareholders would not get any returns. However, all too often companies cut costs at the expense of their customers’ well-being: for example, feed chickens with hormones that can have adverse effect not only on an individual, but also on his genes; or use low-cost resins in the production of furniture that poison humans’ breathing system.Frequently customers do not know about these hazards and assume that the product is of decent quality. I am not saying that companies should openly declare that their products are harmful, but rather that from the ethical point of view it would be right if the customer could have an overall image of the product that he is purchasing. It makes sense to also mention the billboards advertising make-up products where all women seem perfect and consumers subconsciously think that if they buy the product, they would be closer to the perfect image presented to them.However, it appears that most of these photos are heavily photoshoped and there is no way a real woman can look like this. However, these images do affect the overall standards of beauty, and make many women depressed about their appearance and many men to admire not the real natural beauty, but a fake photo of a woman he might never notice in the real life. In this sense, Dove has made quite an ethical move and launched a â€Å"Campaign for Real Beauty† (although it may as well be that this so-called â€Å"responsible† campaign was nothing but a fresh marketing move) .However, it attracted attention to the topic and made more people aware of it. From Friedmanian point of view, can good quality goods be seen as a deviation from maximizing profits? Or should a company’s managers strive to cut costs, but so that it is not so evident to customers, in order to get more money? For example, a manager of a food company knows that he can substitute one ingredient for another, cheaper one, which may cause cancer if often consumed, and the customers most probably won’t realize it, because the appearance and the taste of the product will not change.Should he maximize profits in this case? According to Friedman’s view, if a manager knows about the possibility but decides not to use it, he taxes the shareholders who would not get this additional profit. In the end it all comes down to the agent-principal theory, which states that managers have skills and knowledge that the shareholders do not themselves possess, therefore owners often can not estimate, whether or not the management is doing a good job, so they need to trust the management.It follows that the management indeed has a choice, because shareholders do not really know to what extent management acts in owners’ interests. And again, shareholders most often can go away, sell their shares and have nothing more to do with the company, so they are likely to involve with strategies that damage other stakeholders. If we talk about employees, would it be fair to use child labor or underpaid labor in some third world?Kolstad says that companies have bigger responsibility in poor countries than in rich countries because poor countries’ governments cannot guarantee their citizens’ rights. I agree with him and I believe that there should be some sort of a moral code for companies, which defines that a company cannot exploit these unethical means of getting profits and involve in such â€Å"dirty† operations. Also, if we talk about layoffs, w ould it be fair to dismiss employees who have worked in a company for many years and who actually created its image and reputation?Shareholders are sort of blank in this sense – they are not involved in the development and production and often they do not put anything personal into the company, nor are they loyal – if the company does not promise good returns, they simply invest their money somewhere else. It is rather an ethical question whether these people need to be a priority for the management. Sure, their expectations need to be met, otherwise management will be dismissed, but a company is not its shareholders – in fact, they can be anyone.I believe that the main principle a company can adopt in relation to its employees is guaranteeing that everyone involved in the process gets a fair return. This means that there should be no miniscule salaries, regardless of where a company does business. However, if we talk about countries’ differences, surely a salary of a worker in China would be lower than that of the same worker in Finland. The point is that a company should not aim to just exploit the labor force of the country it chooses for its production, but rather think about how to make life for the workers better as well.If workers in a China are prepared to work for 100$ a month, but in this case it only gives them a chance to get by and not die, it would be very ethical from a company’s point of view to pay them 140$ a month. It would still be many times cheaper than hiring the same worker in Finland, but at least a company would give Chinese workers a chance to live decently. So all in all I believe that a company should not aim at employing people at the lowest possible salary in order to cut costs, but instead respect employees and ensure they get a fair return on their work. Another dimension of corporate responsibility is environment.It is special because the environment cannot cry for help, and if not enough att ention is paid to it by the state or people, and a company does not treat it healthily, it becomes absolutely insecure. European and American companies that have factories in the third-world countries have no pragmatic interest in caring for the environment. Governments of these countries have to make a difficult choice between food and goods for its citizens and pollution caused by First World companies that choose Third World because environmental laws are much less strict there than in developed countries.So how should a company behave in regard to the environment? I believe that it is integral that a company does not just exploit it and leave the state and the population of the country dealing with the negative consequences. For example, managers are frequently tempted to cut costs by not installing waste filters and pouring unfiltered dump into rivers, lakes and soil. They can foresee that the consequences of this negligence can be disastrous, but they just do not care because they can always move their factories to another poor country with loose environmental legislation.This behavior is morally ill from the point of view of classic school of normative ethics. The nature of an act in obviously damaging – they pollute the environment. Their intention is to cut costs by involving in this negligence, and is by no means noble. The circumstances are bad and the managers actually could foresee it, but they are either too happy themselves with the stream of money or shareholders make the decisions for managers and make them behave in an environmentally harmful way.In this case managers become â€Å"Dams† and the organization can be considered ethically ill. However, who could directly punish companies for such actions? Their customers in the First World may have some idea of this irresponsibility, but they like the cheap product and most of them still are not so environmentally conscious. Home government does not really care what the company does in some Third World country. So in the end it all falls down on the Third World country, its government and especially people.It also has to be said that all environmentally irresponsible decisions are relatively short-term from the whole mankind’s point of view, because for now we have only one planet with the fixed amount of non-renewable resources. However, the safety and sustainability of nature is always dependent on numerous individuals who face trade-offs between clean environment and their own advantage, and people are generally prone to choose what is best for them. In conclusion, it has to be said that there are no perfect companies – each business inevitably pursues its own selfish aims.However, in modern globalized world, where corporations have a lot more influence and power than ever before, they also have a lot more responsibilities to the society. Unfortunately, managers all too often forget that they are the ones who can make all the difference to a c ompany that is avoiding its responsibilities. â€Å"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities† Josiah Charles Stamp, English Economist and President of the Bank of England

The Baby Boomers Have Squandered Their Children’s Future

THE BABY BOOMERS HAVE SQUANDERED THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE We should protect ourselves from the self centred attitude of the elderly. A generation that have ‘pulled the ladder they climbed up after them', intending to prevent youth from attaining the merits of their own yesteryears. I am painting the picture of intergenerational fairness – a product of blame and a constant of culture designed to justify the impeding nature of society today. This vociferous claim is stifling nations as the desire to classify a diagnosis implants the division of ages through a unjustified mood.The baby boomer generation filled the hole opened by the wounded and dead, supplied a new workforce and bolstered prosperity, developing consumerist nations. A 1958 story in Life magazine declared that â€Å"kids† were a â€Å"built-in recession cure. † Whilst the thousands of men who returned infertile are denied scrutiny, despite declining fertility rates, aiding an ageing generation an d contributing a diminutive amount to society. To destroy the idyllic past is the recollection of rationing, utility clothing, national service and events such as the Vietnam war.Can dwindling resources, debt or the enevitable issues of over population really be placed on these elders' shoulders? Especially as, since October those over 65 are allowed to remain in occupations, so state reliance beforehand is free from their influence, just poor government prediction. Opposition then utter words of stunted growth. However the labour market is dynamic, not static – mature workers continue to pay taxes, fuelling the wealth that will expand employment, providing those opportunities for the young. In the UK university attendance has increased by 40%, the literacy rate is 99%, minimum wage will increase to ? . 31, we face higher life expectancy, and greater affluence as wealth is expected to double by 2050. Is this prospectus so detrimental or terminal? Since when has spending equal led squander? It merely stimulates the monetary cycle of the economy. The end of the post war economic boom, arrived from the collapse of the Bretton Woods System in 1971,the 1973 oil crisis and The Nixon shock causing the stock market crash. It is the traditional conservative government that now promotes that each generation has a moral obligation, acting as a trustee and beneficiary, moving attention towards insubstantial social issues.But western society is not expected to evaluate through ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation as it tends to distort conceptions, this can be applied to age. It is vital to consider that one single group, circumstance or historical event has ever been solely to blame. There is always a collective of responsibilities and actions, therefore to burden the baby boomer's would be naive and childish. An ideological obsession has formed causing the propagation of every single inequality and injustice between generations. A western, educated, modern socie ty judging averages, demonising the elderly rather than adapting and extending change.

Investment Appraisal Essay Question Essay

Q3) Using quantitative and qualitative information, suggest which school Felix and Holly should invest in. In the case study we are told that Felix and Holly are finding it hard to decide whether to invest in a soccer school or a netball school. They can use many different investment appraisal techniques which are both qualitative and quantitative in order to identify which investment would be most appropriate or worthwhile. They need to consider the level of risk involved, how quickly the investment will take to pay off and whether the investment will be profitable. There are three main types of quantitative investment appraisal techniques that Felix and Holly could use to identify which investment is most profitable. The first investment appraisal technique is payback and this measures how quickly the investment can be paid back. Using the estimations that Felix and Holly have submitted, the payback period for the soccer school is 3 years and 4 months. The payback period for the netball school is 2 years and 8 months. This means that Felix and Holly would be better off investing in the netball school as it would take a shorter period of time to cover their cost. Another investment appraisal technique that could be used is accounting rate of return. This appraisal measures the profitability of any investment and the profit is expressed as a percentage. Look more:  capital budgeting examples essay For the soccer school the accounting rate of return is 8.8% whereas it is 17.6% for the netball school. The comparison between these two proves that the netball school would be a better investment as the percentage of accounting rate of return is much higher than that of the soccer school. In addition, another quantitative method of appraisal is net present value. Unlike payback and ARR, this investment appraisal considers the value of money over time. It converts all monetary values into today’s values to allow for a realistic assessment of the returns of the years ahead. At 8% over 5 years, both the soccer school and netball school investments have a positive value which means that they are both worthwhile. However the value of the netball school is  £12,430 which is a lot higher than the soccer school value at  £6,950. This means that the netball school would be much more profitable for Felix and Holly as the value of the money is still greater than the soccer school. Qualitative methods of investment appraisal can also be used to identify which school would be most worthwhile for Felix and Holly to invest into. Some important factors that would need to be taken into consideration by Felix and Holly for their business are their objectives, resources available and the economy. A qualitative method of appraisal that can be used is internal rate of return. This investment appraisal allows specific information such as the return on the investment to be calculated. When calculated for the netball school, the internal rate of return is over 20% whereas the internal rate of return for the soccer school is between 16% and 20%. This means that the netball school has a higher rate of return than the soccer school. In conclusion, after using both quantitative and qualitative methods of investment appraisal I have identified that the most worthwhile appraisal would be the netball school. My reasons for this is because it has a shorter payback period which means that it would take a much shorter period of time to pay back. In addition, the accounting rate of return of the netball school was much higher than the soccer school. Moreover, the net present value proves that the value of the money invested within the netball school will be much higher than that invested in the soccer school over a 5 year period. Consequently, the internal rate of return shows that the rate of return on the investment of the netball school is higher than the return on the soccer school. Overall, all the various investment appraisal techniques that have been used have their advantages and limitations. A payback appraisal is quick and easy to calculate and can be easily understood but it does not calculate the overall profitability of the investment or consider timing of cash flows within the payback period. Whereas an accounting rate of return does take cash flows into consideration. It also focuses on the profitability of the investment and is a good source for comparisons. Its limitations are that it ignores the timing of cash flows and the value of money over time. A net present value appraisal considers both timing and size of cash flows but it is a fairly complex system to use. Lastly, the internal rate of return can be easily used to compare different investments but is also very complex to understand and use. All appraisal techniques have many limitations but they are valuable methods to consider when deciding on a particular investment. In this case all four appraisal techniques have been used to conclude that the most appropriate investment would be to invest in the netba ll school.

Unit 26

Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production Assignment Brief Television & Film | |Unit 26: Film Studies |Title: Analytical Approaches and Relationships between Films and | | |their Production Context | | |Year: 2013 |Group: Year 12 | |Assignment Handout: |Assignment Deadline: |Assessor: | | / /2013 |Draft Submission: / /2013 |G. Rushworth | | |Final Submission: / /2013 | | |This brief has been approved by: |Date: | |J. MacKay |Jan 13 | Context | | | |This unit aims to develop learners’ understanding of how films are created for specific audiences and how they make meaning for those | |audiences through an exploration of industry practices and the application of a range of theoretical approaches. The insights that | |learners develop will inform their future production work. | |Learning Outcomes: |Unit: | |Be able to apply different analytical approaches to films |26. 1 | |Understand the relationship between films and their production contexts |26. 2 | Useful Resources: | |www. imdb. com | |Film website with range of industry and film information | |www. empireonline. co. uk | |Possibly word’s biggest and best film magaizine with huge back catalouge of reviews/features | | | |There is a very large selection of DVDs available in Media Studies.Just ask a Media teacher to take a look. | +-+ |Task 1: Analytical Approaches | |PASS |Using the analytical approaches of genre analysis, content analysis and auteur theory, create a |? |P1 | | |detailed discussion of the gangster genre. | | | | | | | | | |You will look at the film Goodfellas, and extracts from The Godfather, Scarface, American Gangster| | | | |and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. | | | | |? | | | |Your discussion of the genre may be done as a 1400 word report, or as a fifteen minute Power Point| | | | |presentation with accompanying notes. | | | | | | | | | |In your analysis of the gangster genre you should also consider the following: | | | | | |? | | |Codes and Conventions | | | | |Iconography | | | | |Findings from both your content and textual analysis | | | | |Narrative structure | | | | |Audience Readings |? | |MERIT |In addition: | |M1 | | |Relevant examples that draw upon elements or details of the films studied will be given to support| | | | |what is said, but you will not describe these examples to show how they illustrate the point they |? | | | |support. In discussing codes and conventions in a genre analysis you might note: | | | | | | | | | |‘The knife is part of the iconography of the horror movie and is often the means by which the | | | | |victim is killed.In 12 of the 15 movies I studied for my content analysis a knife was used for at| | | | |least one of the murders and in five it was used for all of them. The other two common means of | | | | |killing were strangulation with a rope and with the bare hands. Knives have connotations of | | | | |slashing movements and gushing blood. The most famous example of this must be the shower scene in | | | | |Hitchcock’s Psycho. Being knifed to death is particularly frightening because you can see the | | | | |person killing you.It’s not like shooting, which is done at a distance and is a much more | | | | |cold-blooded way of killing. This is why the gun is the conventional weapon in gangster movies | | | | |like Scarface. ’ | | | |DISTINCTION |Ideas will be developed and points supported with arguments and well focused examples which are | |D1 | | |elucidated in such a way as to draw out of the example precisely what it is about it that |? | | | |exemplifies the point it illustrates. | | | | |Examples will refer to precisely defined elements or details of the films studied.In discussing | | | | |codes and conventions in a genre analysis you might note: | | | | | | | | | |‘The knife is part of the iconography of the horror movie and is often the means by which the | | | | |victim is killed. In 12 of the 15 movies I st udied for my content analysis a knife was used for at| | | | |least one of the murders and in five it was used for all of them. The other two common means of | | | | |killing were strangulation with a rope and with the bare hands.What | | | | |these methods all have in common is that they involve close bodily contact between the victim and | | | | |the killer, | | | | |which makes the murder more frightening, unlike shooting which is done at a distance and is a much| | | | |more | | | | |cold-blooded way of killing. This is why the gun is the conventional weapon in gangster movies | | | | |like Scarface | | | | |or war movies like Platoon, where the killing of Elias by Barnes shows how far apart they are | | | | |morally as well | | | | |as physically and Barnes’s act seems even more calculating because it is so careful and | | | | |deliberate. Knives have | | | |developed connotations through intertextuality that are specific to horror movies, such as | | | | |slashing mov ements | | | | |and gushing blood. In the most famous example of this – the shower scene in Hitchcock’s Psycho – | | | | |we never actually see the murderer, but we do see the movement of the knife repeated over and over| | | | |again, and the blood swirling down the shower outlet as though it is just water. ’ | | | Task 2 Relationship Between Films And Their Production Contexts | |PASS |Empire, an established film magazine, wants you to write an illustrative article (800 words) about| |P2 | | |Hollywood’s Goodfellas (1990) and Britain’s Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). |? | | | |You can use your notes from task 1 to help you. Your article will look at the relationship each | | | | |film has with the production company and the factors that influence that relationship. | | | | | | | | |Your article should discuss the following: | | | | |Stars | | | | |Social issues | | | | |Regulatory bodies | | | | |Financial determinants | | | | |Distribution and Exhibition | | | | |Vertical and horizontal ntegration | | | | |Synergies between different films |? | | | | | | | | |You will ensure your article looks professional. You should add stills from both films, and use | | | | |appropriate font and layout. | | | |MERIT |You will talk about the relationships between production contexts and films, in such a way as to | |M2 | | |show why they are the way they are, or the effects they have on the films that are produced. |? | | | | | | | |Relevant examples that draw upon elements or details of the films studied will be given to support| | | | |what is said. | | | | | | | | | |Relevant factual information about production contexts will be offered although it will not be | | | | |used to support developed argument. | | |DISTINCTION |You will talk critically about the relationships between production contexts and films, justifying| |D2 | | |points |? | | | |made with supporting arguments or evidence. | | | | | | | | | |Yo u will draw out of an example precisely what it is about | | | | |it that exemplifies the point it illustrates.Material about production contexts will be well | | | | |researched and will refer to precisely focused elements or details of the film/films studied. | | | | | | | | | |You will provide full and extensive explanations and consistently provide arguments to support | | | | |points made. Relevant examples that draw upon elements or details of the films studied will be | | | | |given to support what is said. | | | |Guidance for this Assignment |Task |? |To achieve a PASS grade, the evidence must show that you are able to: | |P1 |Apply approaches to analysing films with some appropriate use of subject terminology |1 | | |P2 |Describe the relationship between films and their production contexts with some appropriate use of subject |2 | | | |terminology | | | |To achieve a MERIT grade, the evidence must show that you are able to: | |M1 |Apply approaches to analysing films cohere ntly with reference to detailed illustrative examples and generally|1 | | | |correct use of subject terminology | | | |M2 |Explain the relationship between films and their production contexts with reference to detailed illustrative |2 | | | |examples and generally correct use of subject terminology | | | |To achieve a DISTINCTION grade, the evidence must show that you are able to: | |D1 |Apply approaches to analysing films critically, supporting points with arguments and elucidated examples and |1 | | | |consistently using subject terminology correctly | | | |D2 |Comprehensively explain the relationship between films and their production contexts with elucidated examples|2 | | | |and consistently using subject terminology correctly | | | Tutor’s Feedback | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Referral – What the learner should do: | | | |Tutor’s Signature/Date |IV Signature/Date | | | | |Learner’s Feedback | | | | | | | | | | | |Learner’s Signature/Date | | | ———————– Grading Criteria: Text taken directly from criteria in BTEC guidelines

Importance of English Essay

anguage, so far as we know, is something specific to human beings. It is a source of communication among human beings. It distinguishes humans from all other living things. It is the code we all use to express ourselves and communication to others. Language is a medium of instruction between people to express their feelings as well as ideas and attitude. IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH : The word English is derived from the word â€Å"England†. There are different kinds of English language like British English, Canadian English and American English. English is without any doubt the actual universal language. It is the world’s second largest native language. English can be at least understood almost everywhere among scholars and educated people, as it is the world media language, and the language of cinema, TV, pop music and the computer world. It is also important because it is most common language spoken everywhere. All over the planet people are familiar with English in this era of mass communication. English has now achieved the global status. English is quickly becoming the World’s most spoken international language, therefore anyone who wants to progress in the world needs to be able to read and speak English. English is used in over 104 countries as an official or semi-official language. It is believed that over one billion people worldwide are currently learning English. Read more: Essay on importance of English In today’s business world, English has become the default second language. English is the key to open the world of success. English is thought to be one of the most important language in the world. English is also considered as the business language. It is widely spoken across the world, even on the internet. It is a way of communication. Most employers prefer their workers to be able to speak and write English fluently. English language has become one of our principal assets in getting a global leadership. It is a mean not only for international commerce it has become increasingly essential for inter-state commerce and communication. English is also use to promote our ideas worldwide and it will be in future. We can see on internet 90% of websites are written and created in English and even when we look at some sites in other language, they also give you the option to translate in English. Another factor which make English so popular is that it is very easy to learn. May be some people think that English is so difficult and confusing language but in real if they start learning English only for a week and they will feel easy with English. It is also the official language of air transport and shipping. On the other hand if we are good in English we can travel throughout the world without any problem because all round the world we can communicate with other people in English and get information about our journey. EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS: Now a days English is a medium of instruction at universities because of these few reasons, communicating with international world, accessing scientific sources in the student’s major fields and enable us to communicate with the people internationally. In this modern age every one need to follow the development in technology. Most of the software such as Windows, Microsoft Office or Mozilla Firebox are also written in English and these are things which are basic link to communicate with Computer. Just like if we want a little search about something we need programs and internet to find necessary sources and information. There are many English medium schools constructing day by day in our country. In Pakistani universities the education is given in English because if students will be capable to understand and speak English they can find there favorite jobs all around the world. Moreover university student need to know English to access information. In our country English is tau ght to student at every stage because he become able to communicate in English in his professional life. This thing is also very helpful to international students those went to Europe for studies. English is one of the best tool to establish our viewpoints. Through English we can also share our ideas and theories with the world. A vast source of knowledge is internet in this modern age a lot of data is present on the internet for studies but only students those are familiar with English can use that data. All the lectures given by the teachers in university level is in English. In universities all the interviews, viva and presentations conducted in English so we can say that usage of English in education is very important factor.English is leading language of science, technology, computers and commerce. It is a major medium of education. Therefore, the importance of English language cannot be degraded. so! Students should learn English language by heart otherwise they will feel too much difficulties in their life. ADVANTAGES: As I mention earlier there are countless advantages of English language. Study of English can provide us useful benefits and knowledge. We can use English to develop ourselves culturally and materially so that we can compete with the best side in the world of mind and matter. We can say that English language is our window to the world. One of advantage is that it is the world most used business and political language. Those who are still unaware about the importance of English. They should start learning English as a time come when everything would be understood , spoken and written in English.

LIT 201 Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

LIT 201 Final - Essay Example The paper mainly seek to explore the literary works of both Oedipus Tyrannous and Don Quixote utilizes irony is a vital aspect of literary brilliance Irony as a theme is a vital tool in any literature or piece of work. It literally means using words in a way to give out a meaning that differs from what the same words are actually supposed to mean in any normal grammar set up. It provides a contrast between the form and truth in the meaning of the words used (Bandera, 89). In our set up for the classic works of Oedipus and Don Quixote it means the expression of a character’s self by employing a language that usually depicts the reverse, archetypally for either humorous or unequivocal impact. It is among many literature equipment used to make the plot more interesting and keep the devoted audience involved in the literature or piece of work. It is usually applicable in both social and personal aspects of a literature piece of work (Bandera, 77). In our two main classic works of Oedipus and Don Quixote irony is the predominant theme utilized throughout the plot of the piece of work. The two characters display innumerable ironies in both the personal and the social concepts. In Oedipus’ work there is a presentation of man’s futile attempt to act against God, a supernatural being. In Don Quixote’s case, irony is based on the literal set point of view where the character literally believed in the words from his book and even tries to live it with regard to its main ideas of heroism and gallantry. A close comparison of the literature works of Oedipus Tyrannous and Don Quixote gives the depiction of irony, dramatic and situational, depicted in two literally unique set ups to fully utilize irony as an aspect of literature brilliance. The two characters display dramatic and situational types of irony. Dramatic in the sense that the characters are unaware of the actual situation as implicated yet the audience that is

History Midterm Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History Midterm - Term Paper Example A detailed introspection into the history of both the ancient civilisations would culminate into the fact that both the civilisations developed in the basin of the great rivers which not only provided a life – line to the population but also provided most favourable conditions for the development of civilisation and human settlement. Yet there is a vast difference in the nature and development of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisations. Mesopotamian civilisation gradually became the rink for the Romans and the Parthians. The part of Mesopotamia concentrated on the Assyrian region was gradually taken in control by the Romans for a time being and gradually it fell into the hands of the Sassanid Persians and remained so till 7th century. Between 1st century BC and 3rd century AD, many neo-Assyrian and Christian native Mesopotamian states existed. Whereas, the Egyptian civilisation had a peaceful rule till it was conquered by foreign powers in the later period. It reached the omnipotent regime of power during the Rammesside period. The success of the Egyptian civilisation can be found in its extreme adaptability with the changing conditions of the Nile River Valley. The flooding was predictable and the over-fertile Nile basin produced surplus crops which initiated the development of the Egyptians socially as well as culturally. If I would have been a peasant in the 2nd Millennium BC, then I would have definitely chosen Egypt for the place of settlement because during that time Egypt was the only civilisation which had a very peaceful and calm geographic and social environment which accelerated its development and prosperity. In Egypt, there was a huge prospect for the farmers. Irrigation facility was evident and the floods were predictable. The soil was extremely fertile and it provided the best opportunities to grow more and good crops. In Mesopotamia, the conditions for the cultivation were favourable. It was

Analysing specific financial issues in Oxford Instruments PLC Essay

Analysing specific financial issues in Oxford Instruments PLC - Essay Example The company has a vision to actually turn smart science into viable and affordable commercial products which can be easily available to the target market. It is involved in the development of sophisticated The company started as a small company manufacturing magnets used in the scientific research however, over the period of time, company grew and become one of the most important players in the market. Its history also suggests that it was the first spin-off from the Oxford University and was the first venture which was successfully launched from Oxford University. This paper will explore the financial performance of the Oxford Instruments Plc with special reference to how stock markets are related with the public limited companies and their performance, relationship between the investor values and financial performance of the firm, the gearing level and issue of debt to the investors besides summarizing the overall things with special reference to the limitations of the ratio analysis. There are different methods under which an organization can actually raise money and utilize those funds for the expansion and development of business. One of the key methods of having funds is to basically borrow from the banks, financial institutions or through issuing debt to the investors. Debt or the money borrowed by the companies however, have to be paid repaid along with the interest rates to the debt holders i.e. the persons who actually buy the debt and expect to be repaid with their original principal amount and the interest. Secondly, however, firms can also raise money by selling their equity on the stock markets. A firm, when issuing stocks for the first time to raise money, enters into what is called primary issue of stock listing. Primary issue is basically when the firm sells its stocks for the first time at the price they decide to set whereas secondary selling of the stock market takes place

Evidence based paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evidence based paper - Essay Example This is an even greater challenge for new nurses who are not yet familiar with the physicians’ handwritings, making them more prone to mistakes. Computers should replace handwritten prescriptions. Doctor’s orders and prescriptions should be given through a computer so that they will be more understandable. This can reduce confusion and mistakes, making the delivery of healthcare faster and more efficient. It can also serve as a better way of keeping track of doctor’s orders since computers make it easier to compile data and save them to a hard drive as opposed to keeping the orders in a clipboard or a folder. Computers can be more beneficial than just reducing mistakes. There are many advantages to using computers in giving orders and prescriptions. Computer-inputted orders and prescriptions are clear and easy to understand; the files can be saved more securely than a physical copy; the files can be shared easily between departments. For example, when a doctor orders a new drug to a patient, once it is noted on the computer, the nurse can forward the new drug orders to the pharmacy so that they can provide the new drug immediately. Documentation becomes easier due to computers, freeing up more time for the nurses to take care of patients. This new speed and efficiency from being able to understand and manage prescriptions better translates into better patient care that can make a difference for the patient’s health and can prevent many accidents involving medication errors from happening. The downside to computers would be cost and reliability. The cost to place a computer and to maintain it in every area of the hospital is significant, and it would also need a powerful backup power supply in case power runs out, which could cripple the whole care process since the computers, with all the patients’ data, cannot be accessed. The ultimate goal of digitizing prescriptions is the

Compare and contrast Roshomon or Godzilla to Japan from 19301970 Essay

Compare and contrast Roshomon or Godzilla to Japan from 19301970 - Essay Example The havoc that Godzilla wreaks upon the people of Japan is certainly a symbolic representation of the devastation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. Yet Godzilla also works a symbol for the future of Japan as a reborn world power that focuses not only military might, but on mastering science and technology itself. Almost immediately, Godzilla launches into specific commentaries on Japanese culture, especially its history of vulnerability to attacks from the Other, whether natural disaster or the threat of annihilation by a superior power. Nuclear testing in the Pacific proved to be causing significant health dangers to Japanese fishermen and the early images of an unknown lethal force destroying fishing boats on an island directly connects with those real life concerns. The concept of radiation creating problems for the people of Japan long after the actual atomic bombs goes to the core of Japanese life following those detonations. It is not just the man-made threat engendered by scientific progress that the film speaks to, however. It also is concerned with the historical concerns of the Japanese regarding the precarious position as a small island subject to the might of nature. Godzilla represents the obvious fears of helplessness that stem from being a small, isolated island nation suddenl y stripped of its military might. In essence, the post-war treaty stripped Japan of its very right to defend itself while also providing precautions against its entertaining imperialist ambitions in the future. The vulnerability that the Japanese have always naturally felt was doubtlessly a contributing factor to their imperialist confrontations with Korea, China and Russia. Rather than waiting to be attacked and putting their ability to defend themselves to the test, their vulnerability could be counteracted by becoming the aggressors themselves. Faced with the unquestioned inability to defend themselves against an enormous opponent who could destroy lives and buildings on a massive scale, there can be little argument that at heart Godzilla was a concrete symbol of the fear of American might. But within that specific fear lies a much larger element. America and its technological superiority did not just mean an end to Japan's imperialist ambitions in World War; those massive explosions signaled a host of other changes as well. America was barely a baby in comparison to the millennia-long history of Japan. The Japanese tradition of ancient warriors and rituals were epitomized by the existence of its emperor. One important element of the particular vulnerability that Japan faced following World War II was the death of their historical identity. The powerful nation that had beaten back far more imposing military powers and had conquered foreign lands was no more. A modern nation still ruled by ancient tradition saw, with the atomic bombings, their empire reduced to rubble and forcibly democratized. One pointed episode that takes place in the film may address this confusion of identity. The Diet Building had over the years come to symbolize the Japanese movement from its imperial tradition to its status among the democracies

American culture has infiltrated and marred China culture Essay

American culture has infiltrated and marred China culture - Essay Example It is much easier for American culture to infiltrate as compared to Chinese culture. Considering that English is the language of communication in America and many other countries across the world, the American culture has a much greater possibility of infiltrating Chinese culture than the vice versa. One impediment to the infiltration of Chinese culture across the word is the language. The Chinese language still has a very small presence across the world and this, therefore, limits the spread of the culture. Similarly, many people are still much reluctant to appreciate and fully accept Chinese culture as part and parcel of their daily operations (Sanvictores, 96). It is indeed true that American culture has infiltrated and marred Chines culture in many parts of the world. As China seeks to create a strong presence especially in the developing world, it encounters a series of challenges in relation to American culture. Part of this cultural hindrance arises out of the common assumption that American culture is superior to most of the other cultures. In this case, people might always want to be associated with this form of culture and not really the Chinese culture (Sanvictores, 56). In addition, America has greatly mastered the art of cleverly spreading its culture and making many people adopt some of the things it deems proper. In China today, many people are greatly trying to adopt the western way of life by learning English and practicing some of the cultural practices realized in America.

Financial ratios and their implications along with their usage Literature review

Financial ratios and their implications along with their usage - Literature review Example This essay discusses that financial ratios have been used by firms around the world to analyse how one firm performs in comparison to the other firm as well as to analyse the performance of the firm over the period of years. Therefore management calculates and uses financial ratios to identify the performance gap of the firm against its own past performances as well as against the performance of competing firms in the industry. In addition to this, management uses to analyse the financial performance of the firm against the average financial ratios of the firms operating in the industry as well and then identify areas where the firm has not been performing up to the mark. Some organisations use the financial ratios for the purpose of benchmarking as well and they tend to set different targets for different kinds of financial ratios and then make efforts to achieve these financial ratios. For instance, a firm would like to achieve a profit margin of 20% and therefore in order to achie ve this profit margin, the company would be making efforts to reduce the cost of the company or generate more sales so that costs is allocated to more sold units and targeted profit margin is achieved. Financial ratios are an important indicator about the performance of the firm and therefore it has been used not only by the management of the organisation but these financial ratios have also been used by investors, shareholders, suppliers, distributors and other stakeholders to analyse the financial performance of the company. ... Financial ratios can be subdivided into five major types of financial ratios on the basis of what these ratios reflect: 1. Profitability Ratios 2. Liquidity Ratios 3. Activity Ratios or Efficiency Ratios 4. Leverage Ratios 5. Market Ratios There are different financial ratios included in each of the five categories discussed above and each type or of ratios have their own importance and implications. TYPES OF FINANCIAL ratios Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios reflect how the firm is making profits using the assets or resources it has (Kaplan, and Atkinson, 1998). There are different types of profitability ratios and some of the most important profitability ratios have been discussed below: Profit Margin Profit margin of the firm is calculated using two variables; net profit of the company and the net revenue or net sales. Profit margin reflects the percentage of profits the firm earns out of the total revenue it generates. Formula for calculating profit margin is as follows: Higher profit margin of the firm shows that the cost of making profits is low and lower profit margin indicates that the cost of the company is high. Negative value of profit margin indicates a loss. Gross Profit Margin Gross margin of the firm reflects the profits generated by the company after deducting the production cost (Khan, 1993,). Higher gross profit margin reflects that the cost of production of the firm is low and vice versa. The formula for calculating gross margin is as follows: Operating Margin or Operating Profit Margin Operating profit margin of the firm reflects the ratio of operating profits of the firm against the net sales (Atkinson, Kaplan, Matsumura, & Young, 2007). Operating profit margin can be calculated using the following ratio: Operating

Policemen of the World Pper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Policemen of the World Pper - Essay Example This operation is somewhat controversial in both America and Guatemala. Guatemalan citizens are anxious about the fact that their soldiers, who have engaged in human rights abuses in the past, are now being given more in depth training on how best to confront drug traffickers. The American public, on the other hand, is concerned about spending on such foreign missions while the American nation itself is plagued with drug abuse (hotdogfish, 2012). In 2011, America also committed troops to Africa. President Obama sanctioned the operation of 100 troops to assist in the Ugandan government in its objective to capture, Joseph Kony, the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army- an outlawed resistance group that is responsible for the death of more than 30,000 Ugandans, and which uses drugged child soldiers to murder and brutalize others. The LRA has been functional in the northern part of Uganda for approximately two decades and has resulted in the massive displacement of more than one mil lion people. Joseph Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and refuses to sign any agreements to surrender until the warrant for his arrest is disqualified. This operation is controversial among Ugandans because the LRA has been functional for 20 years with no forthcoming help. There are concerns that the choice to send help recently was tied to other desires to take advantage of Ugandans natural resources such as newly discovered and unmanned oil deposits. Two (2) factors that propelled America into a dominant military and diplomatic force after World War II Immediately after the Second World War there was a power vacuum on the world stage because the formerly powerful British Empire had been brought to its knees. Britain was almost financially destroyed by the effects of fighting two World Wars within two decades. Other European nations such as France, Germany, and Spain had all but been decimated financially (Huchthausen, 2003). The only nation in the world that had not suffered extremely in the Second World War was the United States. Even though America lost millions of soldiers in the war, the only time when its mainland was attacked by the enemy was at Pearl Harbor. The fact that it survived with a relatively healthy economy at a time when the other formerly powerful nations were financially crippled allowed it to presume the mantle of world leadership. During the war, America’s economy was actually strengthened. Before its entry into the war, America sold arms and weapons to European nations involved in the war. After its entry into the war, the production of ammunition and weapons increased drastically. By the end of the war, the American economy was healthy enough for its government to bail out the economies of numerous European nations through the Marshal Plan. America had the most powerful economy in the world at the end of the Second World War. Differences in American foreign policy before and after World War II. Explain th e main reasons why the differences in pre- and post-war policy occurred Before WW II, America embraced isolationist principles and refused to be a part of any organizations which were created to maintain peace between the world’s nations. The League of nations was signed by numerous Western nations with the exception of the USA. This is because America’

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Reflection - Essay Example However, even in the stories these masters have produced, the question of how or whether we can establish our identities as human individuals is answered with our experiences and our personal approaches to solving problems. Identical twins such as the characters that appear in Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors create an immediate sense that there is no way we can become individuals as they are duplicates of each other. In this play, the characters are even all given the same names, increasing the confusion of the action of the play and revealing the degree to which we are easily confused with our double. Part of the reason they struggled so much is that their personalities were also very closely matched - both Antipholus characters being hotheads and both Dromios being rather sarcastic. However, it is their experiences that distinguish them as being different as the Ephesian set are already aware of their wives. The doppelganger effect is somewhat subdued in Stevenson's story of The Str ange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because the Hyde character reflects all of the evil that was once a part of Dr. Jekyll leaving the Dr. Jekyll personality to express all the good.

Employment Laws and HRM Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Employment Laws and HRM Strategy - Essay Example HRM strategy refers to a particular approach that is used in the management of human resources with the aim of providing a strategic framework to support short and long term strategies of an organization (Dessler, 2010). Employment law is one of the essential functional areas that provide organizations with the foundation for effective development of workforce that will support the organizational goals and objectives (Moran, 2007). In order to have a better understanding of the subject of employment laws and HRM strategy, this essay will apply the employment laws of the Virginia State to one of the HRM strategy problems. In particular, the essay will apply the employment laws of the Virginia State on the HRM strategy problem of introduction of new technology for employees who may experience physical limitations. The subject of physical limitations of employees is one of the most comprehensive in the employment laws in the United Constitution. This issue is covered under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), as well as under the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEOA) (Walsh, 2012). The ADA is designed to protect the rights of people with physical limitations including in the employment environment. This Act provides framework within which people with physical limitations can fully access and participate in all aspects of employment. It requires that employers should provide facilities and means through which employees with disability can access and participate in activities with as little difficulty as possible. The Act requires that the employer should do enough to remove the barriers that might deny people with disability with equal opportunity in accessing and using the facilities and services within an employment set up (Dessler, 2010). The provisions of the ADA are enforced by t he U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The employment laws related to this subject prohibits employers against discrimination of any kind to

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Education - Essay Example As the report declares educational status in the United States is much ahead of the developing countries. Though funds for education are quite high, proper utilization of these funds is very essential. The educational systems in United States must focus on for certain issues such as character development, moral formation, discipline, safety, protection from drugs and early sex in the schools etc. These issues are as important as the subject knowledge. Therefore it is essential that the instructors and the parents together need to look into these aspects more seriously. This paper stresses that the aim of teaching is to make student learning possible. The role of a facilitator, or instructor, in Education is to understand the need and interest of the students and provide them the ideal conditions for learning. The task of the instructor in education is the creation of a learning environment in which students are encouraged to think carefully and critically and express their thoughts, and in which they wish to confront and resolve difficulties, it involves constantly monitoring and reflecting on the processes of teaching and student understanding and seeking to improve them. The first and foremost reason people want to become a facilitator or instructor is that it is a one of the most creative profession that provide a unique, definite, and essential social service. Teachers play a most important role in formulating the future of our civilization by providing the best education. This profession gives a sense of satisfaction.

Language Development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Language Development - Research Paper Example Children show more receptive than productive language. Articulation disorders, Fluency disorders, Resonance or voice disorders Language disorders, Expressive disorders are the common forms of disorders that can be recognized when a child is delayed in the language improvement and these can be cured by the speech training and speech therapy. Speech-language therapy is the treatment for most children with speech and/or language disorders. A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas. Edward.Carr observed that a combination of simultaneous communication training and separate vocal training may have a synergetic effect on speech development. Hence while planning language intervention programs, providing ideal situations and contexts for language learning that supports the use of various effective approaches is of utmost importance. The context or type of activity (e.g., play-dough, book reading) can strongly influence the level of caregiver responsiveness (Girolametto & Weitzman, 2002) during the speech training. This suggests that different child learning levels require different teaching methods of language learning. Hence the current study observes various approaches of speech training tools at different stages of child development. The study observes different speech training tools like drama, mime, and improvisation for language development in different age group children from 3 years to 18 years. As children make a deliberate effort to master the sounds and sound patterns of the adult language, Ferguson and Farwell (1975) noted that children work simultaneously at mastering the sound system of the language as a whole and the sound patterns of individual words. So linguists caution against assuming that the correct adult pronunciation always underlies a child's mispronunciation (Waterson 1981). So this advice for careful speech training during the speech storage during early childhood and in school going children.

Beckett vs Satre Essay Example for Free

Beckett vs Satre Essay Samuel Beckett’s vision of two lowly tramps in the middle of a derelict environment can be placed in direct contrast to the claustrophobic and eternal nightmare presented by Jean-Paul Sartre , but each playwright possessed objectives for their respective audiences and each shared a valued opinion on the theories of existentialism which can be established in the plays Waiting for Godot and No Exit. Beckett introduces the audience into a world of questioning and surrealist virtues and encourages the spectator to actually discuss the play and find the answer within. Sartre, however, presents his play as a placard for the virtues of existentialism and attempts to prove that â€Å"hell is other people†. When being asked about the sources for his ideas or advocating him as a pioneer for the Theatre of the Absurd, Beckett’s replies were often curt or dismissive. The Theatre of the Absurd was a term conceived by the critic Martin Esslin to describe the various playwrights who gave their artistic interpretations believing that human existence is futile and without meaning. According to Beckett himself the Theatre of the Absurd was too ‘judgemental’, too self-assuredly pessimistic: I have never accepted the notion of a theatre of the absurd, a concept that implies a judgement of value. It’s not even possible to talk about truth. That’s the part of the anguish. Sartre, however made his existentialist philosophies quite apparent. With his own theories he collaborated with the Dadaists and Surrealists after the Second World War and achieved to create his own ‘humanist’ way of thinking but with a prominent atheistic outlook. Sartre quoted rather proudly â€Å"L’homme est condamne a etre libre†¦l’homme est liberte. † Loosely translated he proclaims that â€Å"Man is condemned to be free†¦man is freedom. † Sartre firmly believed that man is nothing except his life and that consequently he is fully responsible for his actions. In Sartre’s existentialist world, man is committed to choose his own destiny without the help of any religion whether he wants to or not and he made this philosophy apparent in all of his works, unlike Beckett who used a more cryptic or absurd stance in his plays. With or without the use of absurdist ideals and other forms of the genre Beckett certainly portrayed the human values in his characters and considered the ideas of social conditioning and the existentialist notion of absolute freedom. Of all the ideologies written or philosophised over , existentialism seems to lend a lot of its virtues to Waiting for Godot. Ronan McDonald argues that absurdity and existence are fundamental to Beckett‘s work: There may be more affinity with another association of existentialism and Beckett’s beliefs, namely the idea of ‘absurdity’, though here (too) caution is advised. Without any grounding, without any reason for our being in the world, a certain strand of existentialist thought concludes that life is absurd, disordered and meaningless. The ‘absurd, disordered and meaningless’ which McDonald mentions is evident in the dialogue used in Waiting for Godot. Conversations between the two main characters of Estragon and Vladimir are often erratic and pointless and never seem to resolve at a natural climax. They bounce off each other instigating a retort which is unexpected and prompts an audience to laugh at the scenario with confusing intrigue. The dialogue in No Exit, on the other hand is logical and justified as it relates to the actual settings and situations of the characters. Beckett’s erratic streams of consciousness that materializes from his characters sometimes make no sense and compared to the confronting and direct speech in Sartre’s work, can sometimes be slightly confusing. Sartre’s characters all have a back story which can be deduced and discovered by the dialogue as opposed to the lack of any character history in Waiting for Godot. The audience can conclude that Estragon, Vladimir and Pozzo, although having different character traits, are all just waiting for Godot but do not know for how long or for what reason. Garcin, Estelle, and Inez in No Exit all have different traits, as does Beckett’s characters, but their characters are shaped from past despairs, sexuality or previous happenings in their lives which have evidently placed them in the hellish scenario in which they find themselves. Because of the situation in Sartre’s play, the audience can relate themselves to the characters on an empathetic level and create stronger opinions and less questionable virtues than that of Beckett’s enigmatic trio. The despair and degradation towards many civilians during the Second World War became an established influence in both Sartre and Beckett’s works during their most prolific period of writing after the conflict. The persecution of the Jewish people by the Nazi’s occupying Paris and Beckett’s personal actions within the French Resistance seemed to have spawned a firm principle and an underlying subtext within his plays. McDonald makes this apparent when he says: In his post-war career, though his work became ever less connected to a recognisable world, one could say, paradoxically, that it became more political, more shaped by exploitive power relations, edicts handed down from above, secrecy and inscrutability and descriptions of human torment. Many of these influences are indisputable in the relationship between Pozzo and Lucky throughout the first act in Waiting for Godot. During Act I of the play the abhorrent abuse Pozzo extends towards Lucky and the dismissive way in which he converses with the two slightly passive tramps creates a clear power divide between the characters. Beckett reverses the divide when in Act II Pozzo finds himself in distress and the power is redirected to the two tramps. As Pozzo is struggling helplessly on the floor like an up-ended beetle the two tramps, reminded of the chicken bone they received from him the day before, explain: VLADIMIR: He wants to get up. ESTRAGON:Then let him get up. VLADIMIR:He can’t. ESTRAGON:Why not? VLADIMIR:I don’t know. [POZZO writhes, groans, beats the ground with his fists. ] ESTRAGON:We should ask him for the bone first. Then if he refuses we’ll leave him there. VLADIMIR:You mean we have him at our mercy? By using Pozzo as the one in need and the two tramps as the one’s who can help, Beckett creates a pessimistic vision of human needs in a deliciously black pratfall. McDonald agrees when he says: Beckett’s work is notorious for it’s intense preoccupation with pessimism and human suffering, notwithstanding its bleak beauty and darkly acid comedy. Power and conflict can be found aplenty in Sartre’s hellish hotel room as all three characters seem to find themselves guilty of contraventions which have rendered them no better or worse for conscience in the eyes of the audience. Whereas Estragon and Vladimir use repetition and slapstick to form the basis of comic moments, Sartre’s characters use no such implements and keep the play solemn throughout. Garcin is the forlorn sadist, Estelle shrugs off her murderous past by being the conceited love-starved damsel and Inez stalks the room as the inert lesbian. Each character submits their own tales of woe and it is evident that none of them has the patience or understanding to cope with the others because as soon as a bond occurs between two characters, the third intervenes. Having one man and two women in the room (one of them being a lesbian with a keen eye on the other) sexual frustrations boil over to create various power struggles and along with the inept attempts to befriend or belittle and vexed attitudes on their morbid incarceration, the atmosphere becomes a tense hot-bed of conflict with each character in turn venting their grievance towards another. In Frederick Lumley’s New Trends In 20th Century Drama, he states; No love is possible in the presence of the third, no end is possible since the three must be together for eternity , â€Å"neither the knife, poison, rope† can enable them to escape this fact. With this fact constantly put forward by Sartre; the trio’s future looks bleakly endless and this inevitable outcome contributes to the rise in tension and conflict. Lumley continues; The play presents an endless repetition, a study in monotony which, far from being monotonous, is in fact intensely dramatic and most seducing. Beckett’s characters in Waiting for Godot all have their own motives and opinions but all seem to be quashed by the ever present threat of Godot appearing. The characters’ vivid streams of consciousness and erratic conversations take the audience along a confusing and often pointless narrative but Beckett seems to relish this as it makes the spectator question the morals and whole raison d’etre for the piece. Is Godot some sort of religious deity? Are the characters dead and living a life in endless purgatory? Is the story a tale of class and the power struggle that ensues from it? Beckett’s aims can be discussed and divulged for years to come and I believe that there is no one conclusive answer, but Eric P. Levy sums up his plays excellently when he says: â€Å"Beckett explores human experience as he finds it today: denied any explanations but desperately needing them. † I believe this to be the perfect description of what Beckett‘s aims were for the audience; being denied any explanation from Beckett himself and desperately wanting to know who or what Godot is. In stark contrast to Beckett’s surreal settings and arbitrary dialogue, Jean-Paul Sartre holds no blows when delivering his existentialist piece No Exit. The set itself is more representative of the hellish circumstances in which he has placed his characters as opposed to the stark emptiness of Beckett’s setting. The setting is just one room with no windows so characters and spectators alike have no sense of what time of day it is and a claustrophobic awareness is supported further by keeping the whole play within one act. In Waiting for Godot we observe all of the action in a sparse wilderness with just one solitary foliage-free tree as a visual representation of the outside world. The only hint of time passing is when the characters mention the previous days events or when the tree shows a mere sprouting of greenery in the second act of the piece. Along with the scenery the title of the play, No Exit, precedes dialogue and induces drama by giving a sense of inescapability and hopeless struggle to the play. Frederick Lumley describes the set beautifully in saying; †¦with it’s barren walls, it’s bricked up windows excluding daylight so that night and day are alike, the space where a mirror once hung (for in eternity one must look at others, not oneself anymore), is all part of a masochistic nightmare where continuity becomes an endless symphony of torture worse than any physical torture. With these points in mind it is evident that Sartre relied more on the situation in which his characters were based rather than the frivolities of Beckett’s characters and his absurdist approach. Although Beckett and Sartre shared the same philosophical outlooks on existentialism and the nature of human behaviour, Sartre used the theatre as his soap-box to create and present his philosophical views and tended to show the drama in the situation rather than the character based approach which Beckett utilized in most of his plays. Sartre himself states; As a successor to the theatre of characters we want to have a theatre of situation. The people in our plays will be distinct from one another not as a coward is from a miser or a miser from a brave man, but rather as actions are divergent or clashing, as right may conflict with right. Sartre uses the situation in No Exit to create the dramatic conflict and tense atmosphere whereas Beckett uses the theatre of absurdity with sparse and stunning dialogue to create some form of dramatic tension in Waiting for Godot. Conclusively this makes Beckett’s play very much more ambiguous compared to the out and out existentialist views portrayed in No Exit. The characters in Sartre’s piece all seem familiar to an audience who after witnessing the play have no quandary in deciding where the play leads or where it leads from and the content from it’s start to it‘s twisted and violent conclusion definitely advocates Sartre‘s theory; â€Å"Hell is other people. † Waiting for Godot, however, leaves the audience perplexed at the outcome and offers various questions as to the origin of it’s characters along with their motivations and mundane existence. With the erratic lines of action and the surreal and often pointless conversation, the audience can derive that the whole point of Waiting for Godot is; there is no point. But is this correct? Only Samuel Beckett could have revealed that answer. Bibliography Beckett. S. Waiting For Godot. Chatham: Faber Faber. 2006 ed. Sartre. J. P No Exit and three other plays. Vintage International. 1996 ed. McDonald. R. The Cambridge Introduction to Samuel Beckett. Cambridge: CUP. 2006. Levy. E. P. Beckett And The Voice Of The Species. Dublin: Macmillan. 1980 Knowlson. J McMillan (eds. ) The Theatrical Notebooks of Samuel Beckett, vol I: Waiting for Godot. London: Faber Faber, 1994. Unwin. S Woddis. C. A Pocket Guide To 20th Century Drama. London: Faber Faber. 2001. Lumley. F. New Trends In 20th Century Drama. London: Barrie Jenkins Ltd. 1972 ed. References Styan. J. L Modern Drama in Theory and Practice2 (Symbolism, Surrealism and the Absurd) Cambridge: CUP 1998 Lenny Love 2007 [ 2 ]. Knowlson, Damned to Fame, p. 178. [ 3 ]. New Trends In 20th Century Drama, Ch10 p139 [ 4 ]. Cambridge Intro to S. Beckett [ 5 ]. Cambridge Intro to S. Beckett Ch2, p22 [ 6 ]. Cambridge Intro to S. Beckett ch2, p23 [ 7 ]. Levy. E. P. Beckett the Voice of Species. p. 3. [ 8 ]. New Trends In 20th Century Drama. Ch10, p150 [ 9 ]. New Trends in 20th Century Drama. Ch10, p141.

Ecology Report of Brighami Rockii Essay Example for Free

Ecology Report of Brighami Rockii Essay Any region with significant level of biodiversity exposed to threat of destruction can have severe deforestation and other forms of agricultural clearing like logging, charcoal-making, etc. Due to this degradation of its ecological habitats, such region may become a home for critically endangered endemic species. Researchers have it that the less rainforest a given region has, the greater the proportion of endangered species it hosts. In Hawaii, two native plants were identified as the most critically endangered species. Brighamia rockii Brighamia insignis are endemic to the region. Both of these species are similar to each other except their respective colors. Both of them also have succulent stems that function as water storage allowing them to sustain amidst drought season. B. rockii though is different in color. It is a native plant with purple trunks that develops in its early stage, while B. insignis does not change its color at all. B. Rockii can grow spectacularly as a branched plant 1 to 5 meters tall along with its thick succulent stems that narrows from the base. It has elliptical leaves that forms and looks like the head of a cabbage. B. Rockii produces fragrant flowers that have corollas in white and anthers which are grouped in three to eight in its axils. Few of the associated species of B. rockii are Metrosideros polymorpha (ohia), Canthium odoratum (alahee), Diospyros sandwicensis (lama), Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (ulei), and Scaevola gaudichaudii (naupaka). B. Rockii is an endemic native plant that belongs to the family of bellflowers known as Campanulaceae. Its common names are alula, ‘olulu, pu aupaka and pua ‘ala. B. Rockii is also tagged with taxonomic synonyms namely, Brighamia remyi, Brighamia rockii fa. and Longiloba Known to have been extinct, this plant is only found on sea cliffs in the island of Moloka (Hannon 2002; Wagner 1999) i. Its natural habitats, however, are coastal dry forests, moist shrub lands above sea level up to 470 meters elevation. B. rockii is common to Molokai and extends to the northern part of the island – Kalaupapa to Halawa. However, just recently, it has been found out that it has become an almost died out specie in Lanai and Maui. Hand pollination for cultivated plants allows its seed production to increase because its native pollinator are also extinct. Similarly, for the Brighamia to be hand pollinated, the use of a small paint brush is needed to transfer the pollen grains. When the flowers of B. Rockii are yet a few days old, the pollen will begin to drop. The paint brush can then be used to pick up the pollens that fell onto the flower tube and place it over to another flower’s stigma. This stigma is good to receive the pollen when it appears sticky and glossy. Researchers found out that the seeds of Brighamia need the presence of light to produce and sprinkle the seeds onto the surface of a damp medium. These seeds can also be stored in a refrigerator from 2 to 3 years but its capability depreciates after 10 to 12 months. It was also found out from NTBG report ((Ragone 1993) that came out on 1993 that the seeds of Brighamia were no longer viable after it has been stored in an area with a temperature of 80 degrees F and humidity of 25 % for 1 year and 5 months (Hannon 2002; Koob 2000; NTBG 1992; Ragone 1993; Wagner 1999). The plant was believed to be extinct but was rediscovered in 1996. From its discovery, only few remained and became part of the current population estimated to run at most 5 in numbers. â€Å"No bird, butterfly, flower, tree or animal disappears alone. When they slip into extinction, they disappear with their unique genes – the building blocks of life (Dr. Norman Meyer of Oxford University). † These species, rare finds and threatened, may cease to exist even without being given a name. Yet again, Brighamia rockii is just one of the most critically endangered. There are more that are susceptible to extinction too. Still, some remained unnoticed. Perhaps, extinction is natural but if we, humans alike are hastening the process, then probably our race comes with the extinction as well. â€Å"Man has lost the capacity to foresee and forestall. He will end by destroying earth (Schweitzer 2004). † References Hannon, Dylan P. and Steve Perlman. 2002. The Genus Brighamia. Cactus and Succulent Journal 74 (2):67-76. Johnson, Margaret. 1986. Brighamia citrina var. napaliensis. Kew Magazine 3 (2):68-72. Koob, Gregory A. 2000. Cabbage on a baseball bat. Hawaii Horticulture 3 (6):9-11. National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). 1992. Alula. In Native Hawaiian plant information sheets. Lawai, Kauai: Hawaii Plant Conservation Center. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Unpublished internal papers. Ragone, Diane, (Program Coordinator). 1993. Hawaii Plant Conservation Center Collection Propagation Project: Progress Report (USFWS Grant 14-48-0001-92581). Lawai, Hawaii: National Tropical Botanical Garden.

Contemporary Issues In Business Commerce Essay

Contemporary Issues In Business Commerce Essay 1.0 Introduction This report is based upon a critical evaluation of British Airways in response to a matter in contemporary issues in business. The report will first identify the issues to British Airways and then evaluations on how British Airways is dealing the issue by the means of using academic research critically. 2.0 History of British Airways The British Airways group consists of British Airways plc and a number of subsidiary companies including British Airways Holidays Limited. British Airways is a worlds leading airlines with a group that supply passenger and freight services to 149 destinations in 72 countries. In 2004/05, the company carried over 35 million passengers and nearly 900,000 tonnes of cargo. Its airline network is based in the United Kingdom, where 85% of its 47,500 workforce is found. The mission of the group is to deliver a service that matters for people who care how they fly. To welcome this, the company recognises the importance of working in partnership with its stakeholders. This has influenced its approach to business social responsibility. Its approach has also been influenced by the acknowledgment that airlines generate major social and economic benefits, but also have significant impacts on the environment (for example, noise and air quality) and on areas around airports. British Airways (2010) 3.0 Findings 3.1 The External Environment 3.1.1 The general environment This represents the outer layer of the environment. These dimensions influence the organisation over time but often are not involved in day to day transactions with it. The dimensions of general environment include international, technological, sociocultural, economic and legal-political. 3.1.2 The international dimension This dimension of the external environment represents events originating in foreign countries as well as opportunities for U.S companies in other countries. The international environment provides new competitors, customers, and suppliers and shapes social, technological, and economic trends, as well. Today, every company including BA has to compete on a global basis. High quality, low priced automobiles from Japan and Korea have permanently changed the American automobile industry. In cell phones and handhelds, US based companies face stiff competition from Koreas Samsung, Finlands Nokia and Taiwans High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC). For many US companies, such as Starbucks and Wal-mart, domestic markets have become saturated and the only potential for growth lies overseas. E-commerce organisations too are making international expansion a priority. The US share of worldwide e-commerce is falling as foreign companies set-up their own e-commerce ventures. This is the case for BA where they have to compete with foreign airlines offering similar services. Kotter (1979) The most dramatic change in the international environment in recent years is the shift of economic power to china and India. Together, these countries have the population, brainpower and dynamism to transform the twenty first century global economy. If things continue on the current track, analysts predict that India will overtake Germany as the worlds third largest economy within three decades and that china would overtake the US as number 1 by mid century. In china, per capita income has tripled in a generation, and leaders are building the infrastructure for decades of expansion, as reflected in the countrys hunger for raw materials. In 2005, china represented roughly 47 percent of the global cement consumption, 30 percent of coal and 26 percent of crude steel. No one can predict the future, but it is clear that however things in India and china shake out, US and other western firms have no choice but to pay attention. This could be an area BA could go into and grow. Daft (2009) The global environment represents a complex, ever changing and uneven playing field compared with the domestic environment. Managers who are used to thinking only about the domestic environment must learn new rules to remain competitive. When operating globally, managers have to consider legal, political, sociocultural and economic factors not only in their home countries but in various other countries as well. For example, the rising consumer class in china and India plays a growing role in setting the standards for high tech products and services such as cell phones, multimedia gadgets and wireless web services. 3.1.3 The technological dimension This includes scientific and technological advancements in a specific industry as well as in society at large. In recent years, this dimension created massive changes for organisations in all industries. Twenty years ago, many organisations didnt even use desktop computers. Today, computer networks, internet access, handheld devices, videoconferencing capabilities, cell phones, fax machines and laptops and the minimum tools for doing business. A new generation of handhelds allows users to check their corporate email, daily calendars, business contacts and even customer orders from anywhere theres a wireless network. Cell phones can now switch seamlessly between cellular networks and corporate wifi connections. This dimension for BA is crucial as it uses new technology all the time to maximise efficiency. Daft (2009) 3.1.4 The economic dimension This represents the general economic health of the country or region in which the organisation operates. Consumer purchasing power, the unemployment rate, and interest rates are part of an organisations economic environment. Because organisations today are operating in a global environment, the economic dimension has become exceedingly complex and creates enormous uncertainty for managers. The economies of countries are more closely tied together now. For example, the early 2000s economic recession and the decline of consumer confidence in the US affected economies and organisations around the world. Similarly, economic problems in Asia and Europe had a tremendous impact on companies and the stock market in the US. One significant recent trend in the economic environment is the frequency of mergers and acquisitions. Citibank and Travelers merged to form Citigroup, IBM purchased Pricewaterhouse Coopers Consulting, and Cingular acquired ATT wireless. BA is also considering merging with a foreign airline to help get through the economic downturn. Cope (1998) 3.1.5 The legal-political dimension This includes government regulations at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as political activists designed to influence company behaviour. The US political system encourages capitalism, and the government tries not to over regulate business. However, government laws do specify rules of the game. The federal government influence organisations through various administrations and agencies. Many organisations also have to contend with government and legal issues in other countries. The European Union adopted environmental and consumer protection rules that are costing American companies hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Companies such as Hewlett Packard, Ford motor company and General Electric have to pick up the bill for recycling the products they sell in the EU, for example. Pressure groups also work within the legal political framework to influence companies to behave in socially responsible ways. This is area is changing all the time because of threat of global warm ing and the need for governments to do something, and so it affects BA. Daft (2009) 3.1.6 Task environment A corporations scanning of the environment should include analyses of all relevant elements in the task environment. Managers need to consider the competitive environment, also referred to as the task environment or industry environment. The profitability of the firm and the nature of competition in the industry are more directly influenced by developments in the competitive environment. 3.1.7 Industry Analysis Industry group of firms producing a similar product or service. The firm interacts with a more specific environment, the industry. Four main components that exert influence on industry: 1. Suppliers 2. Competitors and potential substitutes 3. Potential entrants 4. Buyers 3.1.8 Competitors, potential substitutes and potential entrants The number of firms operating within the industry as well as the number of firms wishing to enter the industry is regulated by barriers to entry which determine continued participation in and/or exit from the industry. Some of the constraints are the rate of industry growth, the level of fixed costs, and the degree of differentiation. Potential competitors are not limited to firms considering to offer exactly the same or differentiated products or services, substitutes to the existing products and services are also a potential threat. Substitute products/services may co-exist with the present range of products and services or may render the present range obsolete. 3.1.9 Buyers and Suppliers The competitive situation of business firms is influenced by the nature of its transactions with its buyers and suppliers. Buyers exert their power in the industry when they force down prices, bargain for higher quality or more services, and play competitors against each other. Suppliers can exert bargaining power over participants in an industry by threatening to raise prices or reduce the quality of purchased goods or services. In addition, we usually think of suppliers as other firms. But labour has to be recognized as a supplier as well one that exerts great power in many industries. 3.2 The organisation Environmental Uncertainty Organisations must manage environmental uncertainty to be effective. Environmental characteristics that influence uncertainty are the number of factors that affect the organisation and the extent to which those factors change. When external factors change rapidly, the organisation experiences high uncertainty. Companies have to make an effort to adapt to the rapid changes in the environment. Adapting to the environment If an organisation faces increased uncertainty with respect to competition, customers, suppliers or government regulations managers can use several strategies to adapt to these changes, including boundary-spanning roles, interorganisational partnerships and mergers or joint ventures. Boundary-spanning roles Boundary Spanning is concerned with the detection of information. It has two primary roles 1) to detect information and bring it into the organisation. 2) Send information into the environment presenting the company in a favourable light. There are two main sources of information 1) business intelligence which is information about the general environment. 2) Competitive Information which is information about an organizations competitors. Interorganisational partnerships An increasingly popular strategy for adapting to the environment is to reduce boundaries and increase collaboration with other organisations. North American companies have typically worked alone, competing with one another, but an uncertain and interconnected global environment has changed that tendency. Companies are joining together to become more effective and to share scarce resources. Head to head competition among independent firms is giving way to networks of alliances that compete for business on a global basis. Mergers and joint ventures A step beyond strategic partnerships is for companies to become involved in mergers or joint ventures to reduce environmental uncertainty. A frenzy of merger and acquisition activity both in the US and internationally in recent years is an attempt by organisations to cope with the tremendous volatility of the environment. A merger occurs when two or more organisations combine to become one. A joint venture involves a strategic alliance or program by two or more organisations. This usually occurs when a project is too complex, expensive, or uncertain for one firm to handle alone. BA is considering a merger with a foreign airline to help cope with the economic uncertainty. 3.3 The Internal Environment: Corporate Culture Corporate culture refers to the shared values, attitudes, standards, and beliefs that characterize members of an organization and define its nature. Corporate culture is rooted in an organizations goals, strategies, structure, and approaches to labour. As such, it is an essential component in any businesss ultimate success or failure. [It] is an unwritten value-set that management communicates directly or indirectly that all employees know and work under, stated John OMalley in Birmingham Business Journal. It is the underlying soul and guiding force within an organization that creates attitude alliance, or employee loyalty. A winning corporate culture is the environmental keystone for maintaining the highest levels of employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and profitability. Every company has a culture, though not every culture is beneficial in helping a company reach its goals. A healthy corporate culture is one in which employees are encouraged to work together to ensure the success of the overall business. Developing and maintaining a healthy corporate culture can be particularly problematic for entrepreneurs, as the authoritarian practices that helped establish a small business often must be exchanged for participatory management strategies that allow it to grow. An Increasing Emphasis on Culture Since the 1980s, several factors have led businesses to evaluate corporate culture alongside such traditional hard measures of corporate health as assets, revenues, profits, and shareholder return. One such factor is the transition from a manufacturing-based to a service-based economy, with the corresponding shift in emphasis from the quality of a material product to the quality of business relationships. Another factor is the need for American businesses to compete in a global marketplace against international rivals whose corporate cultures are distinct but demonstrably effective. A related factor is the need for many businesses to successfully adapt to technological advances in the marketplace or acquisitions/mergers that require assimilation of previously separate business entities. Corporate culture affects many areas of a firms operations. One broad area of corporate culture involves corporate citizenship-the companys relationship to the larger environment. In this area, a companys culture helps determine its overall ethics and attitude toward public service. A second broad area of corporate culture involves human resource management. A companys culture affects a variety of human resource policies and practices, including the nature of interaction between managers and employees, the responsiveness to diversity issues in the workplace, and the availability of flextime and telecommuting options, safety and training programs, and health and recreation facilities. In a smoothly functioning organization, all such policies and practices foster an internally consistent corporate culture. Daft (2009) 3.4 Environment and Culture In considering what cultural values are important for the organisation, managers consider the external environment as well as the companys strategy and goals. Studies suggest that the right fit between culture, strategy, and the environment is associated with four categories or types of culture. These categories are based on two dimensions:1) the extent to which external environment requires flexibility or stability; and 2) the extent to which a companys strategic focus is internal or external. The four categories associated with these differences are adaptability, achievement, involvement and consistency. The adaptability culture emerges in an environment that requires fast response and high risk decision making. Managers encourage values that support the companys ability to rapidly detect, interpret and translate signals from the environment into new behaviour responses. Employees have autonomy to make decisions and act freely to meet new needs and responsiveness to customers is highly valued. The achievement culture is suited to organisations concerned with serving specific customers in the external environment but without the intense need for flexibility and rapid change. This results oriented culture values competitiveness, aggressiveness, personal initiative and willingness to long and hard to achieve results. The involvement culture emphasizes an internal focus on the involvement and participation of employees to rapidly adapt to changing needs from the environment. This culture places high value on meeting the needs of employees and the organisation may be characterised by a caring, family like atmosphere. Managers emphasize values such as cooperation, consideration of both employees and customers and avoiding status differences. The final category of culture, the use of consistency culture, uses an internal focus and a consistency orientation for a stable environment. Following the rules and being thrifty are valued and culture supports and rewards a methodical, rational, orderly way or doing things. In todays fast changing world, few companies operate in a stable environment and most managers are shifting toward cultures that are more flexible and in tune with changes in the environment. Lewin (1989) Each of these four categories of culture can be successful. In addition, organisations usually have vales that fall into more than one category. This is the case for BA, who has values in all of the above. 4.0 Conclusion To conclude to this report, it has been evident that British Airways to take in consideration of several contemporary issues especially in the Environment and Corporate Culture. In other words, by BA becoming more adaptable to environment and culture it has and still is a booming success. After several failures, BA learnt its mistakes and overcome them. Today knowing the fact that BA, as a company, is one the leading corporate culture companies in the world. Moreover, BA can handle change and innovation extremely well. In other words BA is dealing with issues that are faced their way pretty well. However, there are a few issues that BA is up against such as implementing change, not everyone is happy for change specially if they are comfortable with the old. 5.0 References ADAAG Regulation (September 2002) online ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities, available from: http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm#4.33 [Accessed on 20/04/10] Apple Store-Store List. Apple Inc.. available grom: http://www.apple.com/retail/storelist/. [Accessed on 16/04/10] Bartol, KM, Martin, DC al et (2001) Management: A Pacific Rim Focus . 3rd edt. Roseville, NSW: Mc Graw-Hill Book Company, Pages 576-578 BBC (2010) Whats the BA dispute about? Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8413529.stm [Accessed: 14/09/10] Business Week (2008), How Nokia Drive Innovation available from: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb20080430_764271.htm accessed on [15/04/10] Business Week (2009) available from: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_16/b4127046256572.htm [Accessed on 15/04/10] Business Week (2009) available from: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_16/b4127046256572.htm [Accessed on 15/04/10] Burnes, B. (2004) Managing Change 4th edn. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall Cope M. (2003) Seven Cs of Consulting. 2nd ed, Harlow: FT Prentice Hall Daft, R.L. (2009) New Era of Management. Cengage. Dictionary, Bnet, [2009] available from: http://dictionary.bnet.com/definition/organizational+change.html [Accessed on 15/04/10] Dillion , A (1999) A study of Toyota production system., New York, Sheridon books. 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