Leadership in organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leadership in organizations - Essay Example However, Ms. Kirchner went on to become president as did Margret Thatcher, who was the prime minister of Britain. Though the former British premier was known for her tough policies the current Argentina presidents tenure has been marred by rumors that her presidency is actually being run by her husband. Kirchner has also had good relations with the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chà ¡vez. Kirchner accepts the fact that Chà ¡vez has had helped Argentina in its financial crisis with the oil wealth of the country. Argentina is on friendly terms with Venezuela because not only Chà ¡vez helped the country during the energy crisis, but also the Argentineans believe that Chà ¡vez won the presidential elections in a fair way and with the approval of the international observers (Time, 2007). Her foreign relations are aimed at forming a regional bloc with Venezuela and Brazil. Argentina has a close alliance with Venezuela because the US alleged Ms. Cristina of being funded illegally by Hugo Chavez for winning her presidency. They both denied the accusation and called it a trashing operation orchestrated by the US to bring disunity amongst the nations of Latin America (New World Encyclopedia, 2008). All four political figures have held powerful positions in their respective nations though Ms. Cristina acquired her position comparatively easily than her counterparts as the ticket to run for president was thrown in her lap whereas Ms. Clinton had to run a fierce campaign for a democratic ticket and Margret Thatcher also had to do the same for her conservative party whereas Chà ¡vez has also had to weather coup dà ©tat attempt and wage a political struggle to be reelected (Historic Figures). Both Ms. Thatcher and Ms. Clinton are known to be politically active with a somewhat conservative outlook in their style whereas Ms. Kirchner has been known to support stylish and

Discuss How the Concepts of ‘Race’ and ‘Ethnicity’ Essay Example for Free

Discuss How the Concepts of ‘Race’ and ‘Ethnicity’ Essay Australia is known for its multicultural society, but race and ethnicity are a huge factor of persistent racism and inequality in this country. The driving force behind this is the strong belief that some of the population still hold against people who appear different to themselves. To gain a clear understanding of this sensitive topic one must look at the origins, forms and effects of racism. This essay will look at how the concepts of ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’ perpetuate inequality in our society, a brief history of Australia in relation to racism and how people experience these inequalities today in a society that we call multicultural. Modern Australia was established as a ‘region of recent settlement’ in 1788 which was a small part of a larger process of European colonisation (Bessant Watts, 2002, p. 219). They had a set of ideas, values and beliefs and assumed that aborigines had no system of land ownership, agriculture, animal husbandry. Indigenous people have been in Australia for more than 100,000 years (Bessant Watts, 2002, p. 222). The White Australia Policy in the 20th century encouraged immigration only from Britain, but didn’t allow ‘Asians’ and ‘Non-whites (Economou N, 1998, p.363). By 1950’s people from all countries were allowed to migrate into Australia to help post war reconstruction. The colonial immigration saw a mass migration of European people mostly from Britain to Australia. It is said that between 1788 and 1852 approximately 170,000 people moved to Australia, and the gold rush era after 1851 made it a highly desirable country for migrating (Bessant Watts, 2002, p. 231). By end of World War two, as war forced Australia to get closer to other countries, which resulted in the first significant weakening of the policy in 1951. Later in the 1950s and 1960s other parts of the White Australia Policy were gradually dismantled. By the 1970s the federal government had removed all racial restrictions from its immigration law (Bessant Watts, 2002). Various writers have contradictory approaches and ways of looking at racism, making it a complex topic. It takes many different forms, ranging from physical violence to derogatory language. A person or group’s belief that their race is superior or inferior, or their moral and social traits are predetermined, based on biological differences can be termed ’racism’. A group of people sharing the same skin colour, same values, coming from the similar backgrounds may constitute as ’race’. One of the most common forms of racism found today is Institutional Racism, which stems from established corporations, and other powerful forces in society, thus making it hard to question and faces less public condemnation. Examples include housing, employment, businesses, education, religion and media (Healey, 2002). Typically, the basis of this type of discrimination is from irrational fear of people at the receiving end who belong to a different culture or ‘race’. Although, there have been ongoing debates about racism all around us for centuries, it is an assault on human rights as it methodically refuses people of different caste, colour, race, sex or their country of origin basic values underlined by Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which states that human rights are everyone’s birthright and apply to all without difference (Healey, 2002). Common perception of shared origins, culture, lifestyle and traditions amongst a group of people or society is the universal definition of ethnicity (Bessant Watts, 2002). People can share the same nationality but have different ethnicities. A few writers have put forward fascinating explanations of ethnicity. Edward Shils in his ‘primordial approach’ argues that he believes everyone has a primordial attachment to their motherland, people and religion which brings out strong emotional ties by socialising, which further gives rise to the need to have a separate identity and belonging. Then the ‘Mobilisationist Approach’ suggests that nothing is predictable or normal about ethnicity. Rather, ethnic identities come into sight and are toughened in political contexts where groups struggle to get access to inadequate and valued resources (Van Krieken et al, 2000, p. 519). The basis of ethnocentrism is a conscious or unconscious belief that one’s ethnic group, culture, religion, custom or behaviour is superior to another ethnic group. Politicians boast that Australia is a multicultural, open and classless society. Despite the well known image of Australia’s everyone have â€Å"a fair go†, the country is still full of both institutional and popular racism. Education has always been very important when it comes to moving up in class and has been very liberating in Australian society. However, indigenous and ethnic groups have been somewhat disadvantaged in opportunities to acquire education. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics only five Indigenous Australians per 1,000 obtain tertiary qualification, compared to 70-80 per 1,000 for Anglo Australians. In the 1990s welfare, health care and education support for Aborigines accounted only to 2% of total budget outlay (ABS 2000:21). In order to receive an education a person requires an income, but to get an income one needs a job, and a job is challenging to find without an appropriate level of education. Therefore an individuals chance of education is influenced by the socio-economic status of one’s parents which is a cyclic social inequality hard to break. Migrants and their children often find it challenging to adjust to the Australian school system as they often come from countries that have a poor education system, and even if they have tertiary qualifications they mostly are not recognised, resulting in them taking lower paid and lower status jobs. Working class children often attend schools in working class suburbs where pupils are directed into working-class jobs. A high number of students leave school early and the expectation that they will attend university is low. In comparison, upper-class children attend private schools, and the expectation that they will attend university is high. Migrants and ethnic groups are often at a lower end of the socioeconomic scale (Aspin, 1996, p. 87) Migrants arrive with little money and few skills. Already at a disadvantage with language barriers, migrants and ethnic groups are also faced with racism and discrimination in their search for employment. In 1996, One Nation political party leader Pauline Hanson made a speech that claimed that Australia was being overwhelmed by ‘Asians and feared that Asians were taking over jobs. The fact is that Asians at the time only accounted for 5% of total population and ‘there is little evidence to support the claim that high rates of immigration ‘cause unemployment or ‘cause Australians to lose their jobs (Bessant, 2002, p. 219). Indigenous people had a 24. 3% unemployment rate according to 1996 census (ABS 2000:23). Indigenous people are usually poorer than most non-indigenous Australians and receive a lower income on average than the total population. The household income for Aborigines in 1994 was $158 compared to $310 for white Australians (ABS 2000C:23) This also reflects the fact the there is a higher reliance by the Aboriginal population on social security payments (ABS 1996b: 122-4) Socioeconomic status is a major determinant of inequality as it influences access an individual has to the economic resources of a society. L. J. Aspin (1996) explains that white Australian-born males have a better chance of obtaining access to the resources of society. Inequality is also reflected in the differential access to housing and health services. For people who are paying rent and on a low income, it is almost impossible to save for a deposit on a house at the same time. Aborigines and migrants suffer discrimination in rental accommodation, where landlords preferring a two-parent, white, Anglo-Saxon families. Only 10% of Aborigines own housing compared to 70% of white Australia population (Aspin, 1996, p. 87). Most Aborigines live in rural and provincial Australia (Bessant, 2002, p. 226) far from big cities where there are more jobs, higher paid jobs, better education, better housing, good water and sanitation services, hospital medical services and other community amenities. Some ethnic backgrounds are still not accepted in our society and are treated differently and unequally. We see and hear about them on a day to day basis. In recent months the Indian community in Australia, especially students have become a vulnerable target for attacks, whether racist or not. On 31 May 2009 in Melbourne, about 5000 students marched through the streets of Melbourne protesting against these attacks on Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi students. 25-year-old Sravan Kumar Theerthala was in a serious condition in intensive care after being stabbed in the head with a screwdriver one week earlier (Bolton Peterson, 2009). In an article in The Age newspaper on February 19 Victorian police claimed that these attacks are not racially motivated, but opportunistic where Indian students are â€Å"over representing themselves as victims† and can be looked upon as soft targets. The police also advised them â€Å"not to speak in their native language loudly† or display signs of wealth. Attacks on Indians aren’t the only allegation Australia has faced over the years. It seems that anyone in power, including police, politicians or the media has had the tendency to somehow flare these attacks. In the Herald Sun on 11 June 2009, 3AW’s Neil Mitchell said: â€Å"Australians are also bashed and die in India, which does not provoke parades of chanting ocker backpackers in the streets of Mumbai†. In 2007, the then immigration minister Kevin Andrews referred to the Sudanese community when he said â€Å"Some groups don’t seem to be settling and adjusting into the Australian way of life as quickly as we would hope. † A spate of violent attacks were then unleashed against Sudanese migrants, and one was bashed to death by a group of white men (Bolton Peterson, 2009). As Australia continues to argue that it is a just, tolerant, open and classless society, there is still evidence of race and inequality among us and affecting the many lives of migrants and Indigenous people. It is interesting to note that the very determinants of class power, money, education, family background, occupation, health and general way of life are also the same factors where others experience inequalities. Race and ethnicity perpetuate inequality, and in any country including Australia, one would find that there are always some people with very strong values of racism, and media outlets which help in manipulating the views of general public. There still needs to be a massive drive by communities and governments on racism and inequality and it will be long before we will be a â€Å"happy multicultural Australia†. Bibliography Aspin, L J 1996, ‘Social stratification and inequality’, Focus on Australian society, 2nd edn, Longman, Melbourne. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009, Australian Bureau of Statistics, viewed 28 November 2009, http://www. abs. gov. au/ . Bessant, J Watts, R 2002, ‘Neighbours and nations: ethnic identity and multiculturalism’, Sociology Australia, 2nd edn, Allen Unwin, St Leonards, NSW. Bolton, S Peterson, C 2009, Indian students speak: Stop the racist attacks! , viewed 28 November 2009, http://www.greenleft. org. au/2009/798/41083. Economou, N 1998, ‘The Politics of Citizenship: identity, ethnicity and race’, in Alan Fenna, Introduction to Australian Public Policy, Vol 1, Addison Wesley Longman, Melbourne. Healey, J 2002, ‘Racism: Beyond Tolerance, A Fair Go’, Racism in Australia, Vol 180, The Spinney Press, Rozelle, NSW. Van Krieken, R, Smith, P, Hobbis, D McDonald, K 2000, ‘Migration, ethnicity and Australian Aboriginality’, Sociology: themes and perspectives, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest, NSW.

New Financial And Statistical Measures To Monitor The Success Of Ge :: essays research papers

New Financial and Statistical Measures to Monitor The Success of GE To : The Board of Directors, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Subject : NEW FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL MEASURES TO MONITOR THE SUCCESS OF GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY After Mr. Weltch announced my new assignment, I pondered how I could go about guaranteeing the best possible result: a creditable and well organized work that is going to help you, the Board of Directors, plan for the future of the company in a better way. Before starting my analysis, I must specify that my target is not to abolish the traditionally used financial and statistical measures but to develop new ones to be used as guidance for the corporation's future development. Our Chairman recently wrote that "the hottest trend in business in 1995 -- and the one that hit closest to home -- is the rush toward breaking up multi- business companies and spinning off their components, under the theory that their size and diversity inhibited their competitiveness ... breaking up is the right answer for some big companies ... for us it is the wrong answer. ²1 For us the new trend is the entrance into the service industry. The question must then be: is this the right answer? GE is expecting to increase its revenue by the year 2000 to $120 billion compared with $58 billion in 1990. In other words, if the forecast proves to be correct, it will obtain an average annual rate of growth of 7.5%. This high rate is mainly attributed to the expansion of the services sector of the company, which is estimated to increase by an average annual rate of 13% compared with a corresponding one of 2.1% for manufacturing. Today nearly 60% of GE's profits comes from services -- up from 16.4% in 1980.2 This is our new direction and therefore my target is to find these measures that are going to help us understand how the business is going to perform in that particular field. I also consider that our attempt to expand internationally is extremely important and in a way is something new for us. International operating profit was $3.0 billion for 1995 compared with $2.3 billion in 1993.3 This extremely rapid expansion hides a lot of dangers, and at the same time shows another new "trend" of our corporation. In my analysis I will include the international sector. I will also narrow in on employees, stockholders, goodwill and on potential investors. 1) MIEC (Manufacturing Industry Expenses Comparison) As we know, the basic organization of the company Å’s continuing operations consists of 12 key businesses, which contain management units of New Financial And Statistical Measures To Monitor The Success Of Ge :: essays research papers New Financial and Statistical Measures to Monitor The Success of GE To : The Board of Directors, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Subject : NEW FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL MEASURES TO MONITOR THE SUCCESS OF GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY After Mr. Weltch announced my new assignment, I pondered how I could go about guaranteeing the best possible result: a creditable and well organized work that is going to help you, the Board of Directors, plan for the future of the company in a better way. Before starting my analysis, I must specify that my target is not to abolish the traditionally used financial and statistical measures but to develop new ones to be used as guidance for the corporation's future development. Our Chairman recently wrote that "the hottest trend in business in 1995 -- and the one that hit closest to home -- is the rush toward breaking up multi- business companies and spinning off their components, under the theory that their size and diversity inhibited their competitiveness ... breaking up is the right answer for some big companies ... for us it is the wrong answer. ²1 For us the new trend is the entrance into the service industry. The question must then be: is this the right answer? GE is expecting to increase its revenue by the year 2000 to $120 billion compared with $58 billion in 1990. In other words, if the forecast proves to be correct, it will obtain an average annual rate of growth of 7.5%. This high rate is mainly attributed to the expansion of the services sector of the company, which is estimated to increase by an average annual rate of 13% compared with a corresponding one of 2.1% for manufacturing. Today nearly 60% of GE's profits comes from services -- up from 16.4% in 1980.2 This is our new direction and therefore my target is to find these measures that are going to help us understand how the business is going to perform in that particular field. I also consider that our attempt to expand internationally is extremely important and in a way is something new for us. International operating profit was $3.0 billion for 1995 compared with $2.3 billion in 1993.3 This extremely rapid expansion hides a lot of dangers, and at the same time shows another new "trend" of our corporation. In my analysis I will include the international sector. I will also narrow in on employees, stockholders, goodwill and on potential investors. 1) MIEC (Manufacturing Industry Expenses Comparison) As we know, the basic organization of the company Å’s continuing operations consists of 12 key businesses, which contain management units of

Catcher in the Rye Essay

Author’s Background: J. D. Salinger was born on January 1, 1919, in New York City, New York. Jerome David Salinger was born to Sol Salinger and his wife Miriam (J. D. Salinger). Though he was a bright young man, when he attended McBurney School, he ended up flunking out and was soon after sent to Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania (J. D. Salinger). After graduating Valley Forge, a couple years later, Salinger finally found the right school, Columbia University, where he met Whit Burnett, who helped him take off in his writing career (J. D. Salinger). After returning to New York, his writings were published in the New Yorker magazine and other publishers. He continued to push forward with his writing career and finally, in 1951, the Catcher in the Rye was published and instantly went worldwide after World War II (American Literature). Though some critics were harsh in their reviews on the novel, it still grew more successful and vaulted Salinger into literary fame. The fame did not suit Salinger, so he remained secluded from the public. His only other published work while he was still alive was a short story called the â€Å"Hapworth. † He later died on January 27, 2010, in Cornish (J. D. Salinger). Impact of Work: Salinger’s work has had an impact on many Americans of the 20th century and today. Their are many opinions on his novel and whether or not it is considered conventional and well-written. Many agree that it is not a well-written novel, while some argue that it is very well-written and easy to connect with because his character, Holden Caulfield, points out much of the negative truth about society. His book was also considered to negatively impact society due to the fact that the man who shot John Lennon considered him to be â€Å"phony,† yet it was controversial. There was and still is an argument whether or not school’s should allow the continuation of reading this novel. Some accept this book and others don’t, but still this piece of literary work is still and will for a long time be both appreciated and neglected by some, it’s just a matter of opinion. Significance of Title: The significance of the title is easily found within he book. It is most obvious when Holden is having a conversation with his sister, Phoebe, and he tells her what he wants to do, which is to become a catcher in the rye. By this he means that in order to protect innocent children from falling over a cliff into the corruptness of the adult or â€Å"phony† world, he must catch them and save them from this stained fate. This idea that he has is crazy, and until this conversation, he did not realize the ridiculousness of his â€Å"plan. It is not until later in the book does he realize that this ambition that he has chased for so long is impossible to reach and that it’s inevitable to protect the youth from being introduced to impurity from society. Theme: One of the main themes that is found in the book is that by using introversion, one can protect oneself, yet can also hurt themselves in the process. Throughout the entire novel, Holden exemplifies this theme because even while trying to be social, Holden seems to shy away from becoming to close to any one person, including his family members. For example, at one point in the book, Phoebe hugged Holden, and he complained that she shows her affection too much. Even from the beginning of the book, it began with Holden’s alienation: while everyone else was at the football game, Holden was alone. Though the reader can see that this is the main reason for the cause of most of Holden’s internal problems, he nor anyone who does in fact associate with him, tries to correct this behavior. Other examples from the book are when he tries to call someone, and he could not even simply do that because his isolation has drove him to feel unwanted and neglected in some sort of way. He sees and criticizes so many of the corrupt people in the world that it drives him to become overwhelmed to simply speak to those he wants to connect with, such as Sally. Though he may not see that his introversion causes his mental and social decay, the reader can see that it may be the one cause for why he is so obsessed with the superficiality of society. Literary Devices: One of the literary devices that Salinger uses quite often is the use of symbolism. One of the symbols that are found in the novel are the ducks that he asks the taxi driver about. The ducks and Holden’s curiosity of them reveals his innocence, but the ducks could possibly represent the fact that there is change in the world, and though Holden does not like change, it can be noted that his curiosity would then lead to discoveries of the world, and some discoveries are likely to be negative and corrupt, while others can be innocent. Another symbol found in the book is the museum displays because they are unchanging and remain the same every time he visits the museum. These play a key role in highlighting the change that Holden goes through because he points out in the book that whenever he visits the displays, even though they have remained the same, Holden is the one that has been changing, and that creates a timidity in him when embracing the adult world. Both of these symbols are meant to highlight Holden’s development as a character, yet to also define the reasons why he is so against change in his life. Important Quotations: â€Å"‘†¦ I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all,’† (173). This quote is important because it gives the title its meaning and gives an explanation as to why Holden thinks the way he does about protecting the innocence of the children. It also exemplifies the oddness of Holden’s thought process and how blind he is to the reality of the world. The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move†¦ Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you,† (121). From the earlier reference about the museum, Holden says this before he goes on his date with Sally, and this shows how much he dislikes change in his life. Yet, it can also be noted that because Holden can conclude that the displays never change, yet whoever goes in the museum does, that he is starting to grasp that change in one’s life is inevitable. The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them,† (211). This is also a major turning point in the novel because Holden finally comes to terms with the fact that it is impossible for him to protect children from encountering the impurity of the world and at this point, he then faces reality, and there is an obvious change in his character.

Importance of Criminal Justice Administration

Class: Criminal Justice Administration Date: 9/10/2012 Importance of Criminal Justice Administration The role of a Criminal Justice Administrator is to manage a criminal justice system. She/ He direct the administration of the day-to-day operations, participates in administrative decision making, enforce policies and procedures, and sets work flow priorities. Criminal justice administrators also oversee agencies’ budget, policies and program requirements. Each public agency, according to its primary function, has a support team.The criminal justice administrator is in charge of supervising all agency staff; which can include lawyers, judicial clerks, secretaries, investigators and line officers. He/ She review and approve their reports, as it is his responsibility to make sure all information is accurate and prepared in accordance with established policy and procedure. The United States criminal justice system is a system that acts to enforce the criminal laws of the country. In the United States, the criminal justice system is divided in three categories: federal, state and military.In addition to these three categories, each state has separate divisions that deal with adult and juvenile cases. Each of these systems is comprised of three major components. The first component of the criminal justice system and perhaps the most important and dangerous is law enforcement. This includes the local police department with all of its police officers and detectives. These people head the criminal justice system because they are the ones responsible for finding and capturing individuals who break the laws set forth by the state, federal government or the military.The second component is the court; the court system includes prosecution and defense lawyers, judges and juries. These individuals make sure offenders are given fair trails. Judges, also known as finders of facts, hear the cases and preside over the participants to make sure that all laws are followed wh ile the cases are being tried. Some cases are tried in front of a judge only, while others have a jury of 12 citizens who determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant based on facts brought forth during a trial.The last but not least is corrections. The correction system, which is tightly intertwined with the previous two components, is very important and quite large. The correction individuals ensure that a defendant’s punishment and all of its stipulations are carried out. Like any organization, state and local criminal justice agencies must deal with issues of organizational management and employ the management styles that best allow them to achieve their objectives of crime prevention, adjudication of criminal offenses, and punishment of offenders.In today’s world we have developed different styles of management that could apply to law enforcement agencies, criminal courts, and correctional facilities and departments. In my opinion managers are more important th an supervisor because they have more responsibilities under their shoulders. Systems management requires a complete approach to organizational leadership, which involves not only management of personnel, but also of organizational knowledge. A systems approach to management recognizes the complexity of modern organizational processes.In this perspective, organizations function based on the information and data that employees can access. A successful agency must properly manage all of these elements. Features of systems management include specialization within components of a large system and coordination among different components. System management could serve criminal justice agencies well, and some organizations exhibit elements of this approach. For example, many large law enforcement organizations have specialized divisions, such as homicide, gang enforcement, vice, and others, but with cooperation among these different units.In general Criminal Justice Administration it is imp ortant because in order for law enforcement agencies to work properly a Criminal Justice Administrator needs to be in charge. Law enforcement agencies and organizations devoted to research in the field of criminal justice administration sometimes need professional researchers to perform ongoing work. Examples might include research into the most effective ways to run criminal justice agencies and how budgets impact the administration of criminal justice.Administrators may have tasks that can include mathematical models and other methods in order to assess policies so those in the administrative side can make informed decisions. I personally believe that Criminal Justice Administration is not failing it just have its ups and downs. We have to keep in mind that in order for a criminal justice administrator to be successful he/she has to have a good working idea of the legal system and the role they play in it.

Thoreau and Kings ideas essays

Thoreau and Kings ideas essays There are times throughout the history of the United States when its citizens have felt the need to revolt against the government. There were such cases during the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau, when there was unfair discrimination against the African American community and Americans refusing to pay poll taxes to support the Mexican War. They used civil disobedience to eventually get legislation to stop the injustice brought against them and their nation. Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to obey civil laws or decrees, which usually takes the form of passive resistance. People practicing civil disobedience break a law because they consider the law unjust, and want to call attention to its injustice, hoping to bring about its withdrawal. Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience in 1849 after spending a night in the Walden town jail for refusing to pay a poll tax that supported the Mexican War. He recommended passive resistance as a form of tension that could lead to reform of unjust laws practiced by the government. He stated civil disobedience as An expression of the individuals liberty to create change. Thoreau believed that the government had established order that resisted reform and change. Action from principle, the perception and the performance of right, changes things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary. Thoreau refused to pay the poll tax because the money was being used to finance the Mexican War. Not only was he against the war itself but the war was over Texas which was to be used as a slave state. His friend Staples offered to pay the tax for him, but to Thoreau it wasnt the tax he was objected to, it was how the money would be used. He thought strongly against paying money to a war that he did not support, and would rather end up in jail that go against his will. A certain passage shows how ...

Strategic and Stakeholder of Boots The WritePass Journal

Strategic and Stakeholder of Boots   STAKEHOLDERS: Strategic and Stakeholder of Boots Abstract:  STAKEHOLDERS:  1. Employees:2. Managers:  Connected Stakeholders1. Distributors:2. Shareholders:  External Stakeholders:1. The Government:  2. The Media:  Monetary and fiscal policies:Taxations:Money supply:Interest rates:Market forces:1. Competitors:2. Demand for boots products.Types of market:1.   Monopoly markets:2.   Oligopoly:Global Factors:Political FactorsPolitical instability:Strikes: Taxation:Economic factorsSocio-culture factors:PopulationCultureREFERENCE and BIBLOGRAPY:Related Abstract:   In this assignment discuss about Stakeholders, Monetary Facial polices, Market forces and global factors impacting on boots. Firstly, discuss the different stakeholders of Boots as well as their interest and impact on stakeholders such as suppliers, stockholders, political, economic and technological. Secondly, discuss the monetary and fiscal policies that can impact on Boots operations as well as their interest. Thirdly, discuss about the market forces that are most likely related to boots business operations, it should respond to these forces as well as include the type of markets the company operates Finally, discuss about the global factors that can impact on boots its operations in China. Q.1: Identify key stakeholders of Boots and discuss the strategies that the company can use to meet the interests of its key stakeholders.   STAKEHOLDERS: Stakeholders are persons or company who has concern in the positive and can be affecting by the performance of the firm.It is an individual, grouping or association that has through or indirect chance in a group because it can affect or be affected by the organization’s activities, objectives and policies. Worthington Britton (2003)   Different Types of stakeholders:    There are people who work inside the company and they are directly related to the operations of the organisations.   1. Employees: Someone who is paid for the performance of his or her duty by his or her company and can contain an officeholder, partner and sole-proprietor. It is an important to please workers as pleased and motivated employees be inclined to confirm superior level of production. The interest of employees in the company includes the flowing: Encouraging the interests of their members in terms of better pay and training. Fair behaviour by company. Personal development and good working environment. If their interests are not satisfied, the Boots are impact in following way: 2. Managers: A manager is the person who responsible for controlling or planning or directing or administering or monitoring employees works for a company. The interest of managers in the company includes the flowing: Job security. Keep personal power. Develop of the firm. If their interests are not satisfied, the company can impact in any of way:   Connected Stakeholders 1. Distributors: Distributers make the products of the company available to the customers. It is a representative who supplies product to stores and other industry that sells to customers. The interest of distributors from the company includes the flowing: Timely delivery of orders from the manufacture. Supply goods quality of products. Select fair prices by manufacture. If their interests are not satisfied, the distributors can affect the manufacturing company in any of way: Provide special treatment to the manufactures challengers. Delay payments to the manufactures. Not stocking the manufacturer’s products 2. Shareholders: A shareholder is a person or group personals encourage in a business and one who individual shares of stock in a firm or joint finance The interest of shareholders in the company includes the flowing: Market value of the investment. Safety of investment. Liquidity of investment. If the interest of shareholders is not pleased, than it can impact the firm in any of the following way: The firm close down. The company will lose capital. New people are not interest to invest money.   External Stakeholders:   These are people or organisations that survive outside of the company’s but can affect or be affected by the performances of the organisations. 1. The Government: The act or method of management, especially the organize and admin of public rule in a following element. The interest of the government from the company includes the flowing: Payment of tax regularly. The company should create jobs sector. Obey the laws or terms and condition of the country. If the interest of the government is not pleased, than it can impact the firm in any of the following way: Close down the company. Fine on the organisations. Force penalty.   2. The Media: The media general means is communication. For example radio, newspaper and television are different types of media. The interest of the media from the company includes the flowing: The firm should provide to them stories and news. Buying advertising space. If their interests are not convening, then they can impact the company in such ways as: Write negative or bad stories. Provide false news. Bad comment about the firm. 02: Boots is predominantly based in the UK and the national business environment can affect its operations. Identify and discuss the monetary and fiscal policies that can impact on Boots operations in the UK.   Monetary and fiscal policies:    Monetary: The regulation of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank, such as the Word Bank, in order to control inflation and stabilize currency. Sloman (2007) Fiscal policies: Decisions by the President and Congress, usually relating to taxation and government spending, with the goals of full employment, price stability, and economic growth. By changing tax laws, the government can effectively modify the amount of disposable income available to its taxpayers. For example, if taxes were to increase, consumers would have less disposable income and in turn would have less money to spend on goods and services. Sloman (2007) Monetary and Fiscal issues: Taxation Exchange rates. Government borrowing and spending. Inflations levels. Money supply. Interest rates. Regional Business Cycles. Monetary and Fiscal policies Impacts on boots:    Taxations: The taxations are a payment charge by a management or government on a manufactured goods, earnings or action. If tax is levy straight on private or group profits, it is a direct tax. If it is levy on the cost of a good quality or service,it is called an indirect tax. The intention of tax is provide money to government. For example, United Kingdom (UK) government has increased 17.5% to 20% income tax from jan-2011, it will be more impact on boots such as the company will increase their products price and they will lost consumer very shortly because the costumer are not interest to buy the products. If the government will reduce tax it will be more effect on boots positively. For example, the boots will reduce their products price and the costumer will buy the products more. Money supply: The money supply is all total deliver of cash in movement an agreed country’s financial system at a particular moment. The money supply is consider an essential tool for controlling price increases by those economists who speak that development in money supply will only guide to increase if currency claim is secure. Interest rates: The interest is a charge is pay or the use of cash. An interest rate is frequently spoken as a yearly profit of the most important. Interest rates frequently change as an effect of price increases and central formality policy. For example, if a lender (such a private or government bank) charges a customer  £50 in a year on a loan of 1000, than the interest rate would be 50/1000*100%=5%. If interest rates is low the boots are more interested to borrow money from the bank to invest in their company, if it is high they are not more interest to loan. Q.03: Explain the market forces that are most likely related to boots business operations and discuss how it should respond to these forces. Your discussion should also include the type of markets the company operates. Market forces: Market forces mean are the economic factors disturbing the price and ease of understanding of a service or product in a free market. Economic pressure caused by free trade and not governed by the action of the government. Weatherston   Wilkinson(2010) There are different market forces: Competitors: Demand for boots products. Suppliers of boots product. Consumers disposable incomes Consumer’s life style. Availability of substitute products. Cost of production for boots products. Employment levels. 1. Competitors: In industry, a corporation in the similar manufacturing or a comparable business which offer a related invention or facility. The attendance of single or extra competitor can diminish the price of merchandise and military as the company endeavour to increase a big market allocate. Opposition as well require company to develop into extra resourceful in command to decrease price. Campbell Craig   (2005) The competitors are a company who challenger each other for their products, marketing policy, manufacturing etc.For example: Supper Drugs and Glaxo Smith Kline are company are competitors. The impacts on boots are capturing new customer or keep in touch with old customer, take the great idol, rise on the top marketplace possible. 2. Demand for boots products. The sum an exacting financial high-quality or provision so as to a buyer or collection of customers will desire to purchase at a known cost. The demand is regularly descending slanting, because customers will covet to obtain additional as cost decrease. Demand for a high-quality or overhaul is strong-minded by various diverse factors other than charge.   Blair Hitchcock  (2007) For example: Co-co cola and Pepsi are   Ã‚  the cost of replacement products and fully separate to value or just about unlimited at a programmed price. The boots want that products those want to customer more. Types of market: A market is a position where consumer and seller act together. Basically there are many types of market whose classification is based on the use of the products that these markets offer, the different types of which are explained below. Monopoly markets Oligopoly Consumer markets Business-to-business markets Institutional markets 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Reseller markets 1.   Monopoly markets: Monopoly lies at the opposite end of the spectrum to competition. In its purest from a monopolistic market is one in which there is no competition at all, there is a single producer supplying the whole market. Morrison, (2011) There are many explanations why it happens. Few of them are refer to below: When a businessman get capital for a product which other people can’t get. When one gets expert enough such that others can’t handle his level of skill for that service. The manufactured goods provide excellent public utility and is most easy to use. May be the product or facility is recently made-up and therefore the technology existing booked with that provider. 2.   Oligopoly: An oligopoly is a marketplace subject by little large dealers. The amount of market attention is very high. Firms within an oligopoly produce branded products and there are also barriers to entry. Morrison (2011) Another main quality of an oligopoly is mutuality between the companies. This funds that each firm should get into bank account the possible reply of other firms in the marketplace when creation price and savings decision. These create insecurity in such market which economists request to copy from side to side the use of game theory. The Boots are operating in market following way:   A great compact of market power. A secure price rank, the price set by price management. A lot publicity or advertising and brand name. Non-price opposition is common. Irregular income can exit; their amount depends on the power of competitors. Q: 04: Boots has now entered the market in china as part its growth strategy. Identify and explain the global factors that can impact on its operations in China.    Global Factors: Global factors in China are relating to the whole word, worldwide, the communication will be in the global economy. Political factors. Economic factors. Socio-culture factors. Technological factors. Legal factors. Ecological factors. Political Factors Political factors is truthful information which is acceptable, but on the other hand able to be info Political factors are truthful information which is correct, but on the other hand can be information which knows how to be challenged politicians. This can be a number of equipment. For examples, Education, Employment, etc. Worthington Britton(2003). Political instability: Political factors in China have a tendency to concentrate on the identification of what improves  economic performance and governmental stability. China is a big country, both geologically and population wise. So a main concern is how to resolve the overall development of the nation. Strikes: Strikes are bad news for a country. If a person or company strike against of government or any other countries, it will be more harm for a country because the boots will not interest to invest. In this time boots will think, no invest any more or try to find another country. For example, in China, â€Å"Five big emerging powers expressed misgivings on Thursday about NATO-led air strikes in Libya and urged an end to the fighting which, together with turbulence elsewhere in the Arab world, has added to global uncertainty†. The Reuters, (Chaina, Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:21pm IST), Taxation: The taxations are a fee charge by a government on a product, earnings or action. If tax is levy instantly on private or group profits, than it is a direct tax. For example, In China, income is texted gradually at 5% to 45% and tax rate for domestic and foreign companies is 25%. Sometimes the boots are not interest to make a company because there have many to have below 25% tax. They will find better options. Those political factors are impact on Boots in China: The Boots in China their Company close down. The Boots will lose investor and shareholder. They will think alternative. They will lose trust of shareholders. Economic factors Economic factors are an activity of country, company or person. It will be exchange rates, demand of company or supplier, competition, transport costs, fuel or power prices and interest rates. If country’s economic growth is low the boots business will close down, staff cut, lose money and economy performed will run poorly. For example, In China, as the year 2009 fades into the distance in the rear view mirror, the Chinese economy has entered into unknown territory in 2010. Investors are universally far more upbeat than one year ago. Policymakers talk busily about adjusting economic structure as the new top policy priority, seeing no risk in achieving above 8 per cent growth. Huang (2010) The economic factors are impact on Boots in China: The Boots will lose capital. They will lose man power. Lose supplier. They are not able to sell low price products. The firm close down. Socio-culture factors:    Population In china directly connected to this is the people matter. If women observe staying at home and bringing up children as their chief role, they will have extra children than persons who job. (Appendix: 01) sustainablescale.org/images/uploaded/Population/World Population Growth to 2050.JPG Culture China might be a main control now, but it was the world’s residential country in the middle ages and stagnated for centuries. Part of this was cultural, a pleasure and sense of self-sufficiency that led to a closing of China’s borders. China looks to have long been stationary. Sometimes socio-cultures impacts on boots negatively, they are not interest to accept global business with other country peoples. As a reason boots are not interest to invest. REFERENCE and BIBLOGRAPY: Worthington, I. Britton, C. 2003, the Business Environment, Mandarin, London.   Aguilar, F. J.(1967) Scanning the business environment, Macmillan, New York. Sloman, J. (December 3, 2007), Economics and the Business Environment, Financial Times/ Prentice Hall, London Weatherston, J ,  Wilkinson, G. (Sep-2010),The International Business Environment, Lan brooks, UK. Campbell, D. Craig, T.   (2005), Organizations and the Business Environment, Prentice Hall, UK   Blair, A. Hitchcock, D.  (2007), Environment and Business, unlike print books,London,UK   Reuters, (News) ( China  |  Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:21pm IST), Chain News,(2010), (online) Available at worldwide-tax.com/china/china_tax.asp (Assess at12.00 pm on 14-04-2011.   Makmal,J. (2006), attitude of chain government, (online) Available at: ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?contentid=6821   (access at 3.37 pm on 14-04-2011. Huang,Y. (2010) Peking University and ANU press relies, (online) Available at: eastasiaforum.org/2010/01/10/five-predictions-for-the-chinese-economy-in-2010/. (Access at 4.00 pm on 14-04-2011)

Beneficios de los indocumentados en California

Beneficios de los indocumentados en California El estado de California es el que cuenta con un mayor nà ºmero de inmigrantes indocumentados. Reconociendo este hecho, a lo largo de los aà ±os ha aprobado leyes que reconocen derechos y beneficios a estos miembros de su comunidad. Licencia de manejar Los indocumentados que pueden probar residencia en California pueden solicitar una licencia de manejar.   Este documento, junto con la matrà ­cula consular, son importantes a la hora de probar la identificacià ³n de una persona. Sin embargo, este à ºltimo debe llevarse con precaucià ³n en los lugares en los que sugerir que se est en EE.UU. en situacià ³n de indocumentado puede ser peligroso. Licencias profesionales La ley que se conoce como Senate Bill 1159 establece que los indocumentados tienen derecho a sacar licencias profesionales para desarrollar sus profesiones, como por ejemplo, dentista, enfermera, etc. Esta ley es consecuencia de la lucha de Sergio Garcà ­a, quien ganà ³ el reconocimiento de la Corte Suprema de California para obtener la licencia de abogado. Ayudas para los estudios universitarios La California Dream Act autoriza a que los estudiantes indocumentados que llegaron a Estados Unidos antes de cumplir los 16 aà ±os de edad a que puedan beneficiarse de becas pagadas con fondos pà ºblicos y a pagar in state tuition en las universidades pà ºblicas. Asimismo, el State Dream Loan Program ha creado fondos para que los indocumentados que estudian en uno de los dos sistemas de universidades pà ºblicas de California tengan acceso a prà ©stamos. Por ley no pueden beneficiarse de prà ©stamos federales y tambià ©n estn excluidos de la mayorà ­a otorgado por organizaciones privadas. Tambià ©n pueden beneficiarse de becas, esto à ºltimo al igual que ocurre en el resto de Estados Unidos. Y, si no obtienen suficientes recursos econà ³micos pueden considerar la opcià ³n de comenzar sus estudios universitarios en un colegio comunitario. En los siguientes artà ­culso se brinda informacià ³n sobre ello: Las ventajas de estudiar en un Community CollegeBecas para Dreamers13 universidades de à ©lite que becan a estudiantes internacionales e indocumentados Ciudades Santuario California es el estado con ms ciudades santuario. En ellas, las autoridades locales no preguntan sobre el estatus migratorio de las personas con lo que no hay distinciones entre ciudadanos americanos, residentes permanentes e indocumentados a la hora de calificar por ciertos beneficios. Este es el listado de ciudades santuario en California. Salud Por ley los inmigrantes indocumentados no pueden beneficiarse de Obamacare (ACA, por sus siglas en inglà ©s), ni siquiera los muchachos a los que se les ha aprobado la Accià ³n Diferida (DACA, por sus siglas en inglà ©s). Asimismo por ley no pueden beneficiarse de programas de salud financiados con fondos pà ºblicos, esto hace que en la mayorà ­a de los estados en USA no puedan tener derecho a Medicaid. Sin embargo la situacià ³n es distinta en California ya que todos los fondos proceden del estado. Asà ­: Sin embargo jà ³venes con DACA podrà ­an enrolarse en Medi-Cal (el Medicaid de California), si tienen pocos recursos econà ³micos. Adems, algunos condados brindan asistencia sanitaria a su poblacià ³n ms vulnerable sin importar el estatus legal. Y a partir de mayo de 2016 se ampliar Medi-Cal para cubrir a indocumentados de escasos recursos econà ³micos. En el campo de la cobertura sanitaria en todo Estados Unidos el programa WIC brinda ayuda a la nutricià ³n a mujeres embarazadas o lactantes y los bebà ©s e infantes, sin que importe el estado migratorio. Y las salas de emergencia de los hospitales (ER) tienen obligacià ³n de aceptar los pacientes cuyas vidas corran peligro hasta que se estabilizan, aunque no tengan papeles, seguro mà ©dico o tarjetas de crà ©dito. Ayuda econà ³mica para asesorà ­a legal Por ley, el estado de California ha dado $3 millones a organizaciones sin fines de lucro que brindan ayuda legal a los menores centroamericanos detenidos en la frontera.   Derechos laborales Este es el salario mà ­nimo que aplica a nivel federal y en cada estado, incluido California. Los indocumentados tambià ©n tienen derecho a que se le respete. Y esto es lo que se puede hacer en casos de abusos. Adems, al igual que en el resto de Estados Unidos, las và ­ctimas de fraudes migratorios pueden reportarlos. PRUCOL Los inmigrantes indocumentados en estatus PRUCOL pueden obtener en el estado de California acceso a ms beneficios. Disfrutar California En el sur de California se encuentra Disneyland, estas son 7 recomendaciones para comprar boletos ms baratos. A tener en cuenta A veces la vida en Estados Unidos puede ser muy dura. Si has tenido pensamientos suicidas o sabes de quià ©n los tiene, por favor, solicitar ayuda gratis y en espaà ±ol. No importa el estatus migratorio. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis slp 03 Essay

Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis slp 03 - Essay Example The chapter provides the basics of the topic and is simple to read and understand. The chapter also provides a clear understanding and provides a seep insight into the topic. The references for the Steps 2 and 3 have been taken from the website of LOWE Home Improvements. The website is one of the most reliable sources of information for the company and to gain the all financial figures. Also a research that was conducted by one in January 2008 has also been used as it provides a deep analysis of the company and also provides all essential information and details about the company. The benefits of using these references are that they provide reliable and accurate information along with being recent. The references are also easily accessible and the details provided are easy to understand and are apt as they are focused for the investors. Bharatbooks, 2008, ‘Premium Company Profile: Lowes Companies, Inc.’, Accessed on 29th November 2009, Retrieved from http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Premium-Company-Profile-Lowes-Companies-Inc.html Heller, Z., 2009, ‘Home Depot vs. Lowe’s: Where is the  Difference?’, 6th July 2009, Accessed on 29th November 2009, Retrieved from

Organizational Culture In The Toyota Company Case Study

Organizational Culture In The Toyota Company - Case Study Example When Toyota built plants in the west, they attempted to copy Toyota’s production system details without studying the difference between how workers in the East felt about their work compared to their Western counterparts. This difference can be referred to as employee engagement. Western employers have begun to realize the huge value to be realized from engaging their workforce. However, apart from running surveys aimed at discovering how engaged their employees are, not many are aware of how to synthesize engagement. When Toyota’s cars were recalled, those recalled had been made in the West. The recalls did not happen to vehicles manufactured in the East since the employees could have spotted them due to their engagement. Employees in the West might have noticed the faults, but due to their disengagement, did not report it. Negative reports regarding Toyota came to such functions as customer satisfaction, risk analysis, and government. The corporate culture at Toyota needs increased evaluation instead of making assumptions that their culture is aligned to that of the West. Their corporate culture bred leaders whose most pressing concern was saving face, which led to the postponement of making the recalls. These problems have proved to be problematic for Toyota because they do not dismiss a worker because of temporary absence resulting from illness or injury. Additionally, the scope of this provision granting increased protection to officials of the unions, as well as members, should see an increase due to the initial adverse action cases brought before the appellate court. If, as claimed by the unions, those dismissed happen to be union representatives, then Toyota is in for a rough ride. Toyota has been swamped by this culture clash because of the lack of communication and consultation. Traditionally, Toyota has prided itself on its communicative skills with its workforce and its exemplary teamwork.

Classic Airlines Marketing Solution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Classic Airlines Marketing Solution - Essay Example The airline’s CEO is under immense pressure to turn around the fate of the company. The most problematic situation for the company is that it is currently incurring a large cost per customer per mile, and, to add to this problem, the company has just made a mistake in its marketing program. Thus, in this scenario, a new and a fresh marketing approach is required, implications of which should trickle down to the entire organization. This marketing strategy should keep customers as its focal point, because current customer satisfaction level is very low for the organization. Another important crisis which this marketing strategy should resolve is that of positioning. The current positioning statement of the company is taking it nowhere in terms of differentiating its services. Another implication of this is that the employees of the company are feeling an identity crisis. This situation is further made complex by the inability of the airline’s CEO act effectively regardin g the utility of the functional areas of the airline. Her focus on numbers is creating a friction between her and the various departments of the organization, especially the marketing department. This friction is being felt at various levels of the organization and thus is a reason of worry because of its potential negative impact on the airline’s organizational culture. This report recommends a market driven strategy to be adopted by the airline. The major aspects of this strategy are the customers and the market; the company is required to tailor its business processes keeping customers as its focal point. In order to effectively implement this strategy, the airline needs to identify its distinctive capabilities and match them with the needs and aspirations of the customers. The company needs to identify all of its distinctive capabilities so that it can come up with a sustainable value proposition. The airline needs to make considerable efforts to align its various busines s processes. It needs to build systems which help in the coordination of different organizational activities and facilitate the flow of information. Last but not the least, an articulated vision from the CEO of the airline can do wonders for it. 9-Step Problem Solving Model and its application on Classic Airline Problem Definition Today’s airline industry is undergoing or has undergone a paradigm shift. This paradigm requires from airliners to seek operational excellence and nurture customer loyalty. The fundamental variables defining this new face of the industry are increased fuel cost and rising level of inflation. These two variables have severely hurt the profit margins of airline companies. By increasing the cost per mile per customer for these airliners, these variables have dried the operating profits of these airliners. As a result of this, many airlines have declared bankruptcy. These dynamics show that those airlines which are not operationally efficient and lack c ustomer loyalty are bound to be eradicated from the industry. Framework of the Problem As mentioned above, the two variables which have changed the face of airline industry are fuel cost and inflation level. Due to these variables, airlines have to come up with strategies which allow them to absorb these costs. Airlines also need to come up with some

Rapid Rise of E-commerce in Modern Global Business Essay

Rapid Rise of E-commerce in Modern Global Business - Essay Example D. I have conducted a thorough research on this topic to bring out the significant impacts of e-commerce in the general global business environment as well as the challenges or limitations that have been associated with e-commerce. 1. Global business processes are usually characterized by various operational strategies. Some of these strategies entail the use of human resources, while some entail the application of business technology (Kopper & Ellis, 2011). It is apparent, taking into consideration the current business data that, that e-commerce is currently one of the highest technology applied in commercial activities 2. The corpus of e-commerce entails the process of undertaking business activities through enhanced computer networks especially the internet. Research indicates that e-commerce activities depend heavily on technologies such as Inventory Management Systems, online transactions, online marketing, data interchange through electronic processes et cetera (Cohan, 2010). I. With the integration of electronic technology into majority of Company’s operational procedures, e-commerce has been associated with effective and efficient technology, thus facilitating efficient business processes i.e. reduction of human errors usually associated with it (Laudon & Traver, 2012). II. In addition, economic experts have asserted that the essence of implementing e-commerce has been majorly driven by the fact that it entails reduced costs of operation: This occurs in the sense that it reduces costs associated with manual modes of operation specifically, inventory costs, employee management costs et cetera (Cohan, 2010). III. On the other hand, the application of e-commerce in most of current business activities has been ascribed to improved competitive advantage of most organizations; this is due to the fact that it creates a platform for easy

McFagues Metaphorical Theology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

McFagues Metaphorical Theology - Research Paper Example Richard Niebuhr’s. Sally McFague’s major contribution is bridging literature and theology. Her works frequently touch on literary theory and theology, and her theories are known as Metaphorical Theology. Metaphorical Theology has four defining aspects and this has greatly influenced how McFague created her idea. It will be discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. First: theology is achieved by â€Å"hearing† out God’s word. Secondly, God being in Jesus Christ means that all the flaws in humanness, all the problems and ambiguousness, is significant. Thirdly, theology should be reviewed and renewed constantly to avoid â€Å"idolatry and irrelevance†. And lastly, the world, or the human world at least, is made of language. Theology is achieved by â€Å"hearing† out God’s word. If a person does not â€Å"hear† or understand the word of the God, then it is unsuccessful, it is a farce. This thought echoes throughout McFague’s wo rk, and it is has seen to be heavily influenced by Barthesian ideas. The mere fact that it constitutes communication as a part of major theory, is a sign that McFague’s thrust understanding of literature is evident in her study of theology. The second aspect, â€Å"God being in Jesus Christ means that all the flaws in humanness, all the problems and ambiguousness, is significant†, is an aspect that shows that McFague tries to bridge the gap between the relationship of theology and literature. It is quite evident that the tension. ... This second aspect is an attempt to articulate that tension, and it turns out to be possible. The third aspect of McFague’s Metaphorical Theology is theology should be reviewed and renewed constantly to avoid â€Å"idolatry and irrelevance†. This is also heavily influenced by Barth’s ideas and the nature of language, which is dynamic. Anything that is related to God can be deemed powerful and substantial. These images, or words, related to God can be overvalued (as it is related to something divine) and abused. This makes some words and images prone to overvaluation and idolatry. Corollary, the overvaluation of some things can make other aspects of faith and belief overshadowed and will exclude them in other analyses of idolatry. This makes theology, or religion in this matter, rather biased (Wildman, 1994). The fourth aspect is about language. For McFague, the world, or the human world at least, is made of language. This theory is quite Barthesian in nature and proposes that everything exists because of its own definition. This is probably the most important aspect of metaphorical theology. This is where McFague’s literature background comes in. Language is quite powerful. It dictates meaning, and with meaning comes reality. Therefore, language is the medium of reality, because it conveys it: how we mean things and how we interpret things. Without words and things of expression, we cannot have realities. Although with language comes not the realities of fact, it qualifies meaning; meaning is different for every reality, for every person. Meaning-making is practically making a metaphor for one uses contrasting words and comparisons to convey meaning.

Managerial accounting and finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Managerial accounting and finance - Essay Example which requires the depreciable period to begin from when equipment is available for use to the period when it is derecognized (International Accounting Standards  Board 2003), the depreciation in the given case has been accounted for four months. Besides, on the basis of the fact that extra use of production line for two more months would reduce its scrap value, one can analogize that the production line would not be as ‘good’ as a new machine even in four months and thus should be depreciated month-wise. The annual salary of production staff is decomposed into monthly salary given that salary will be paid to them up till the month when they are sacked. [That’s why the union might have negotiated notice payments for the staff as they would be loosing the salaries on the remaining months of the year when they will be sacked]. Committed fixed costs are assumed as those expenses, such as electricity charges, which are incurred on monthly basis and so the annual fixed cost in decomposed into monthly fixed cost and is taken up till the period of production in the industrial unit. Rent expense, committed fixed cost, and salary expense for initial four months and variable cost of initial 500 units is also considered as sunk cost since these costs have been incurred before taking any step with respect to any of the two options. All the incremental figures are incremental in comparison with the figures incurred before considering either of the deal. That is, each of the two deals is analyzed in incremental form as compared to the cost incurred before going for any of these two options; its not like that incremental figures of one deal are expressed as incremental in comparison with the base figures of either deal. Instead the initial figures are expressed as base figures for each of the deals. This is meant to smoothly compare each deal from the initial situation separately and then comparing the incremental results of each. Facing with the severe cost of writing

McFagues Metaphorical Theology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

McFagues Metaphorical Theology - Research Paper Example Richard Niebuhr’s. Sally McFague’s major contribution is bridging literature and theology. Her works frequently touch on literary theory and theology, and her theories are known as Metaphorical Theology. Metaphorical Theology has four defining aspects and this has greatly influenced how McFague created her idea. It will be discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. First: theology is achieved by â€Å"hearing† out God’s word. Secondly, God being in Jesus Christ means that all the flaws in humanness, all the problems and ambiguousness, is significant. Thirdly, theology should be reviewed and renewed constantly to avoid â€Å"idolatry and irrelevance†. And lastly, the world, or the human world at least, is made of language. Theology is achieved by â€Å"hearing† out God’s word. If a person does not â€Å"hear† or understand the word of the God, then it is unsuccessful, it is a farce. This thought echoes throughout McFague’s wo rk, and it is has seen to be heavily influenced by Barthesian ideas. The mere fact that it constitutes communication as a part of major theory, is a sign that McFague’s thrust understanding of literature is evident in her study of theology. The second aspect, â€Å"God being in Jesus Christ means that all the flaws in humanness, all the problems and ambiguousness, is significant†, is an aspect that shows that McFague tries to bridge the gap between the relationship of theology and literature. It is quite evident that the tension. ... This second aspect is an attempt to articulate that tension, and it turns out to be possible. The third aspect of McFague’s Metaphorical Theology is theology should be reviewed and renewed constantly to avoid â€Å"idolatry and irrelevance†. This is also heavily influenced by Barth’s ideas and the nature of language, which is dynamic. Anything that is related to God can be deemed powerful and substantial. These images, or words, related to God can be overvalued (as it is related to something divine) and abused. This makes some words and images prone to overvaluation and idolatry. Corollary, the overvaluation of some things can make other aspects of faith and belief overshadowed and will exclude them in other analyses of idolatry. This makes theology, or religion in this matter, rather biased (Wildman, 1994). The fourth aspect is about language. For McFague, the world, or the human world at least, is made of language. This theory is quite Barthesian in nature and proposes that everything exists because of its own definition. This is probably the most important aspect of metaphorical theology. This is where McFague’s literature background comes in. Language is quite powerful. It dictates meaning, and with meaning comes reality. Therefore, language is the medium of reality, because it conveys it: how we mean things and how we interpret things. Without words and things of expression, we cannot have realities. Although with language comes not the realities of fact, it qualifies meaning; meaning is different for every reality, for every person. Meaning-making is practically making a metaphor for one uses contrasting words and comparisons to convey meaning.

Crucial role of women in Death of a Salesman by Artur Miller Research Paper

Crucial role of women in Death of a Salesman by Artur Miller - Research Paper Example Contrary to other women characters who live for money and personal benefits, Linda is a boss to her family. Linda takes the part of an instructor who guides the entire family with timely intervention. Even though the sons refuse to obey their father, they support their mother and recognize that she is an important part of their future and to the end of their lives. Linda is a devoted and conservative wife. She exudes love and sympathizes with her husband. The play opens with Willy cancelling his business trip abruptly and returns home in a noticeably tense state. Instead of questioning him, Linda calmly asks him what led to his return and offers him a sandwich and cheese from the refrigerator and goes back to bed without worrying about anything (Miller, 11). She knows that the cause of his malady is deep rooted and that he is facing serious issues. Instead of dwelling on his mental derangement and a state of worsening health, she goes on to speculate on the vehicle’s condition by informing her husband that maybe the mechanic had not mend the steering wheel or that Willy ought to change his spectacles to assist him in seeing the road clearly. She advises her husband to request his employer to retain him at the local office, that he was better off in New York rather than in New England as he cannot pain of long distance travelling at his age. Linda is loved by Willy. The moments when Willy reveals his devotion to his wife are persuasive in the play. Even though Willy turns away from the right norms, is lying and full of delusion, Linda never leaves his side and never punishes him for his sins. A self-sacrificing character due to remarkable forgiveness, Linda strengthens the bond between the family members. She is aware of her husbands’ misgivings: that he is secretly borrowing cash from the neighbor Charley so as to manage bills, knows that Willy could possibly be having an affair, is aware of the rubber hose that is hidden behind the heater but she puts all these aside. She wants to protect her husband from himself and from the rest of the world. This is because her husband has attempted to take his own life several times before. She is afraid that he may try to asphyxiate himself with the rubber hose. When Willy realizes this, he also strengthens his love for her and reaffirms his need for her in his life. Willy says â€Å"You’re the best there is, Linda, you’re a pal, and you know that on the road I would want to grab you sometimes and just kiss the life out of you† (Miller 37-38). Linda is kind to her sons. She speaks in defense of Biff to her husband when she says that â€Å"†¦it is natural for young people to seek company outside home†. Parents should gladly let off their mature sons and not to try to possess them. She says that it requires a considerable amount of time for a young man to settle down. Biff is moved by her kindness. He often calls her ‘pal’. Happy on the other hand looks at her as an ideal woman. He says that he is looking for a woman of his mother’s character and ‘resistance’ to marry. Happy appears to be searching for a mother –figure or surrogate mother (Miller 37-38). Linda does not hesitate to admonish her sons when they misbehave. She frankly tells Biff that he should not be like a bird coming to the garden in spring and deserting it in winter. She stresses the need for Biff to support his father in his old age. She emphasizes that he should either respect his father or stay away from home

Rising Tuition Essay Example for Free

Rising Tuition Essay Most people have heard an elder complain about rising prices saying, â€Å"When I was your age I could go to the store with a quarter and buy a bag of chips, a few pieces of candy, some cookies, a drink and still have change left over.† Although the prices from decades ago are ideal, the concept of inflation and the decrease in the value of money have been accepted. Inflation affects the price of everything like milk, clothing, medical care, gas, and especially college tuition. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, college tuition prices have increased at the highest rate compared to any consumer item, medical care, or even gas. In fact, college tuition and fees, as of 2012, are 600% of the tuition and fees in 1985 (Rampell 4). This statistic poses the question of why the cost to obtain higher education is steadily rising. A simple explanation can be found in the key economic principle that demand drives prices up, but the issue goes much deeper than that. The structure of the financial aid system, additional accommodations offered by colleges, and most of all the decrease in government funding toward higher education are the causes directly correlated to the continuous rise in tuition. Firstly, the structure of the financial aid system is a contributing factor to the steady increase in college tuition. Dr. Joshua Robinson, an economics professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explained that it is often argued that the increase in federal aid simply leads colleges to raise their tuition costs to reflect the financial aid in hopes that it will buffer the increase. This idea represents the Bennett Hypothesis, which was created by U.S. Secretary of Education, William J. Bennett (Robinson). There is much argument over this hypothesis, but there have been many credible findings that support this idea. Title IV deals with the federal student aid programs. According to an article by Judith Scott-Clayton, similar programs offered by non-Title IV â€Å"cost about 75 percent more when offered at Title IV institutions – with the difference in tuition roughly approximating the size of a Pell Grant (Scott-Clayton 8).† In addition, the amount of financi al aid given out to undergraduate students on a national level has sharply  increased over eight billion dollars since 2007, which means that more students are attending college and needing financial aid (Schworm 3). Referring back to the same information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is especially interesting to note that from the year 2007, when financial aid increased, to present day the percentage increase in college tuition became exponentially higher than the rest of the increasing percentages (Rampell 4). This proves that the federal aid system has a significant connection to the increasing tuition rates. Another way that the structure of the financial aid system contributes to the rise in tuition is through the scholarships that colleges give out. In the academic article entitled â€Å"Why Tuition Costs are Rising So Quickly,† Robert Martin explains how the scholarships that colleges offer are a factor in the rising tuition crisis. He shares that when colleges offer scholarships they are really price discounts, so â€Å"the education and general expenses are overstated by the amount equal to scholarships.† Martin also shares that for colleges to ensure that their f unds balance out, they â€Å"record tuition revenue as if every student paid the posted price for tuition (Martin 93).† In other words, the amount of revenue that a college lacks once all tuition is paid is equal to the amount in scholarships given. As a result, the tuition goes up for the non- scholarship students as a whole to make up for the amount dispersed in scholarships. With this occurring at colleges all across the nation it is clear to see how financial aid is a causal factor in the increase in tuition. The rise in college tuition is also affected by the additional accommodations that these institutions have found to be â€Å"necessary† benefits. Just as the world evolves, institutions of higher learning evolve in the same way. This means colleges have become much more dynamic as far as the things they offer to their students and employees. For instance, many institutions have invested in having emergency alert systems. Most colleges did not have this feature many decades ago, so implementing this requires additional funding, which can explain a portion of the increasing tuition cost. For example, public universities spend 23% more on offering services like counseling compared to what they were spending in 1995 (Clark 6). This additional focus on accommodating the student is partly stemming from the rise in tuition, which means that colleges are trying to satisfy their consumer by bettering their services to sustain or increase  demand. Though the previous reasons are factors of the rising tuition, the primary factor of the continuous increase is due to the decrease in government funding toward higher education. Ronald Ehrenberg, the director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute and a trustee of the State University of New York System, explains that â€Å"If you’re a state legislator, you look at all your state’s programs and you say, ‘Well, we can’t make prisoners pay, but we can make college students pay (Rampell 10).’† This particular reasoning clarifies the thought process that led to the decrease in funding colleges receive from the government. The basis of the issue stems from the fact that these institutions of higher learning now have to come out of pocket on expenses that the government used to fund. In 2006, â€Å"the per-student subsidy state taxpayers sent colleges† was $1,270 less than the amount sent in 2002 (Clark 4). That is a significant decrease in funding that colleges had to find a way to make up for, which resulted in raising the tuition cost. When interviewing Dr. Robinson, he also explained that at one point professors salaries were paid completely by taxes, but because of cutbacks in government expenses tuition must cover their salaries now. If there was not a decrease in government funding for higher education, colleges would not have to raise tuition to offset financial aid or the implementation of accommodations, which is why it is regarded as the primary reason for the rising tuition. Inflation is a very relevant concept in today’s society because prices of all types are rising. As previously stated, college tuition costs are increasing at the highest rate compared to any consumer item, gas, and medical care. This is quite ironic because most people equate obtaining a college degree to financial stability. Even so, the explanation for this steady increase in tuition is a very popular topic. On a very simple scale the rise in tuition can be explained by the basic economic principle that explains demand increases prices. However, the explanation goes much deeper than this economic principle to include the structure of the financial aid system, additional accommodations offered by colleges, and most of all the decrease in government funding toward higher education. Nothing in life ever truly comes free, which shows to be true when observing how the structure of the financial aid system contributes to the rise in tuition. The same  concept proves to be true as colleges provide additional accommodations or benefits for their students and employees, but these too come at a cost. Even so, there is a large amount of money no longer available to these institutions of higher learning due to the lack of government funding. In order for these institutions to sustain, the money must come from somewhere, which results in the increase in tuition and fees for the students. It is important to understand these causes of the rising college tuition because this is the only way a solution will be reached. Works Cited Clark, Kim. â€Å"The Surprising Causes of Those College Tuition Hikes.† Usnews.com. U.S.News World Report, 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. Scott-Clayton, Judith. â€Å"The Hidden Majority of For-Profit Colleges.† New York Times. New York Times, 24 Feb. 2012. Web. 5 March 2013. Martin, Robert. â€Å"Why Tuition Costs Are Rising So Quickly.† Challenge 45.4 (2002):88- 108. Jstor. Web. 1 March 2013. Rampell, Catherine. â€Å"Why Tuition Has Skyrocketed at State Schools.† New York Times. New York Times, 2 March 2012. Web. 3 March 2013. Robinson, Joshua. Personal interview. 4 Feb. 2013. Schworm, Peter. â€Å"Colleges Boosting Financial Aid to Students.† Boston.com. The Boston Globe, 17 August 2012. Web. 5 March 2013.

A New Era of Terrorism Essay example -- Terrorism

Since September 11th, when the Twin and Pentagon towers were hit by planes, controlled by Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists. The perception toward Muslims being violent has been spread throughout the world. Innocent people who have never been involved in any crime act are being limited in practicing their religious duties. To be more exact, Freeman vs. Florida case ruled that Freeman has to take her veil off when taking a photo for a state driver’s license. The State argued that it had a compelling interest in the full-face photograph requirement because promotes safety and security, combats crime, and protects interstate commerce. The importance of a driver’s license is clearly known, not only for driving matters, but also identification document even when using a credit card. Freeman claimed that, wearing a veil is a Muslim woman’s duty, as well as driving for her is a must because of her daily routine. Freeman suggested that the free exercise of religion is pro tected under Article I, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution, which grounds the right to religious freedom. Cases like this have allowed the Criminal Justice System to give birth to other ways of identifying people. Today’s generation of portable electronic measurement devices offer new possibilities. A routine police patrol pulls over a vehicle for traffic violation. Instead of asking for driver’s license, the officer snaps a digital picture of the drivers face and transmits it back to the localization via a wireless link in the patrol vehicle. The picture is compared against a facial image database, a match found, and the identity of the driver flashed up on the officer’s in-car terminal; without needing the cooperation of the driver, who may be incapacitated or abusi... ...o accommodate individual beliefs. Thus, until biometric identification has been fully studying and implemented, the utmost importance is public safety. Public safety should continue to outweigh those feeling that showing your face for a driver’s license is a blow to their religious freedom. Works Cited Armstrong, C. (2003, June 12). Freedom Line. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from CFIF.ORG: http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/guest_commentary/sultaana_freeman.htm Retinal Scan. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinal_scan Sultaana Freeman. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultaana_Freeman Zalman, A. (n.d.). Biometrics: Retinal Scanning. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from About.com: http://terrorism.about.com/od/controversialtechnologies/g/RetinalScans.htm

On Social Classes In Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice :: essays research papers

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, life for the upper-middle class and the aristocracy was simple and comfortable, at least on the surface. Strict manners and “morals,'; that often prevented them from asserting or protecting themselves, bound these two classes of people. Such lifestyles are illustrated quite honestly in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. The characters in this novel have comfortable lives on the surface; however, internally they are victims of their social status.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The husband and wife duo of Collins and Charlotte Lucas-Collins are two prime examples of this mentality. Collins, who is a minister, and bound by the social class of his benefactor, Lady Catherine, always puts on a faà §ade that makes him seem much classier than normal when he is around others. He constantly showed off his possessions. Charlotte, Collins’ wife, was not so much his wife by choice, but rather, out of necessity. Charlotte, a twenty-seven year old single woman nearly doomed to remain a spinster for the rest of her life, had to marry soon, and the only man that made a proposal was Collins, therefore she had to say yes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs. Bennet, the mother of Eliza, always hurriedly rushes about to get her daughters married. Her haste is understandable, partly, because, the Bennet family has no male heir, therefore any daughters left unmarried will be thrust into poverty upon their father’s death. However, most of her rushing seems nothing more than the nagging, useless bickering of a gossiping old biddy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mr. Bingley seems not to be a victim per se, but the people around him and their superficial motives tend to cause him harm. His sister, Caroline, causes many people to avoid Bingley because of her snobbishness. Mr. Darcy, though good intentioned, almost ruins Bingley’s most promising marriage conquest by breaking Bingley and Jane Bennet up.

The Discovery of DNA

It is amazing how important things are being discovered by persons who spend most of their lives dedicated to research. It is perhaps more amazing how a scientist discovers one thing while trying to discover other things. Imagine if no one was patient enough to conduct experiments to prove their assumptions. If that was the case, we would not know today that DNA is the genetic material. This paper will discuss how DNA was discovered, its structure and the scientists who contributed to the discovery.Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is considered as the molecular blueprint of life that can be passed to the next generation. It was discovered in 1953 (University of Georgia, 2007) from experiments seeking to understand bacterial pneumonia which claimed many lives during the twentieth century. During these experiments, researchers stumbled into discoveries which later on became the reagents for further experiments leading to the discovery of DNA as the genetic material (O’Connor, 2008).D NA looks like a twisted ladder wherein rungs are secured by two out of four molecules that are interlocking. These molecules are nucleic acid bases. The four molecules include thymine, adenine, cytosine, and guanine (University of Georgia, 2007). Certain scientists have been notable for conducting experiments leading to the discovery of DNA. One of these was Oswald Avery whose team was trying to find out how to treat lobular pneumonia. From his experiments, he proved that DNA indeed carries genetic information.During that time, many people believed that the gene would be made up of protein and not nucleic acid (WGBH, 1998). Another scientist which contributed to DNA discovery was Frederick Griffith who, in 1928, conducted an experiment utilizing pneumonia bacteria and mice. Recent studies pointed that Griffith’s experiment was one of many others hinting that DNA was the hereditary material. Griffith assumed from his experiment, wherein he used a smooth (S) and rough (R) strai ns of Streptococcus pneumoniae on a mice, that polysaccharide coating was the cause of the illness to the mice.Further into his experiment, he found out that something in the living cell, and not the polysaccharides, caused the disease. Later on he speculated that the R strain bacteria he injected into the mice has absorbed the dead S strain bacteria’s genetic material. Furthermore, he speculated that the protein contained in the chromosomes was not the genetic bacteria due to the finding that heat denatures protein (Biology at Clermont College, n. d. ). At first, Avery was skeptical of the results of Griffith’s experiment. However, other researchers further studied Griffith’s findings.In 1931, Sia and Dawson found out that transformation, a process wherein one strain absorbs the genetic material of another strain and becomes that bacterium, could also take place in liquid cultures of pneumococci and mice. In 1948, Linus Pauling found out that proteins are shape d in alpha helix, which looks like a spring coil. Another significant discovery took place two years later, when Erwin Chargaff discovered an important foundation of the description of DNA: nitrogen bases in DNA varied, but some bases occur in one-to-one ratio.Pauling’s findings have further aroused interest into two researchers, namely: Francis Crick and James Watson. They were not the only ones interested in studying DNA. Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin from London were also studying DNA. Franklin discovered the possibility that DNA can occur in two forms. It depends on the humidity of the air. Franklin figured out that the molecule’s phosphate was located on the outside. Watson and Crick, determined to redeem their studies after a failed model, conceptualized that there are two chains of nucleotides in the molecule.These two chains were in a helix, as what Franklin has discovered, but one chain was moving to the opposite direction of another. Furthermore, they believed that the strands of DNA molecule served as the template for the other. The strands separate during cell division. In addition, a new half is built on each strand. The team found out that this was the way DNA reproduces without change in its structure (WGBH, 1998). The discovery of DNA was considered as the most important biological work and it has paved the way for further experiments and studies. Crick and Watson won the Nobel Prize for their findings. References Biology at Clermont College. (n.d). DNA structure and function. Retrieved January 30, 2009, from http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/dna.htm O’Connor, C. (2008). Discovery of DNA as the hereditary material using Streptococcus pneumoniae. Nature Education, 1(1). University of Georgia. (2007). Study suggests how DNA building block might have formed. Retrieved January 30, 2009, from http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071102_adenine.htm WGBH. (1998). Watson and Crick describe structure of DNA. Retrieved January 30, 2009, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/do53dn.html

3m Innovation Case Study

1-What are the roots of 3M’s culture of entrepreneurship and innovation? What were the key tenets of this culture as they emerged over time? 3M goes back to 1902 when five Minnesota businessmen established the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. to mine a mineral that they thought was corundum, which is ideal for making sandpaper. The mineral, however, turned out to be low-grade anorthosite, nowhere near as suitable for making sandpaper, and the company nearly failed. To try and salvage the business, 3M turned to making the sandpaper itself using materials purchased from another source.In 1907, 3M hired a twenty-year-old business student, William McKnight, as assistant bookkeeper. This turned out to be a pivotal move in the history of the company. The key to institutionalizing innovation at 3M has been the principle of â€Å"patient money. † The basic idea is that producing revolutionary new products requires substantial long-term investments, and often repeated fail ure, before a major payoff occurs. Another key component of 3M’s innovative culture has been an emphasis on duel career tracks.Right from its early days, many of the key players in 3M’s history, people like Richard Drew, chose to staying research, turning down opportunities to go into the management side of the business. Although 3M’s innovative culture emphasizes the role of technical employees in producing innovations, the company also has a strong tradition of emphasizing that new product ideas often come from watching customers at work. 2. What were the strengths of the organization and culture of 3M during the McKnight to DeSi-mone era? What were the potential weaknesses?Leadership, CEO George Buckley is highly respected, and 3M is repeatedly recognized as a top company for developing leaders. Innovation gets a load of these stats patents awarded researchers worldwide. In many ways, 3M was ahead of its time in management philosophy and human resource practi ces. Geographically diverse Sixty-three percent of sales are outside of the United States; the company has operations in more than 65 countries. Diverse in terms of revenue streams, too. 3M has six key business units, none of which account for more than 33% of sales. Financially, there was strong paid a dividend every quarter since 1916. – The expansion of 3M into international markets was highly successful. What explains this? What was the drawback with 3M’s international expansion strategy? The first steps abroad occurred in the 1920s. There were some limited sales of wet and dry sandpaper in Europe during the early 1920s. These increased after1929 when 3M joined the Durex Corp. , a joint venture for international abrasive product sales in which 3M was involved along with eight other U. S. companies. The international businesses were grouped into an International Division that Sampair headed.From the get go, the company insisted that foreign ventures pay their own wa y. The company would start by exporting to a country and working through sales subsidiaries. The philosophy can be reduced to several key and simple commitments: Get in early, Hire talented and motivated local people, Become a good corporate citizen of the country, Grow with the local economy, American products are not one-size-fits-all around the world, Enforce patents in local countries. Program to encourage new product and new business initiatives born outside the United States.By 1983, products developed under the initiative were generating sales of over $150 million a year. 3M Brazil invented a low-cost, hot-melt adhesive from local raw materials, 3M Germany teamed up with Sumitomo 3M of Japan to develop electronic connectors with new features for the world wide electronics industry. By the 1990s 3M started to shift away from a country-by-country management structure to more regional management. Drivers behind this development included the fall of trade barriers, the rise of tr ading blocks such as the European Union and NAFTA, and the need to drive down costs in the face of intense global competition.