Teton Dam

Teton dam was constructed after a thorough research that took several years with the first site visit taking place in 1932. The research and the process of identifying the appropriate site took place over the years leading to the identification of eight alternative sites between 1946 and 1961. This was followed with100 boring to determine meant to determine the most appropriate site for the dam to be constructed. In 1972, the actual construction of the dam started, giving the dam the capacity to hold 356 million cubic meters of water.However, soon after the waters were allowed in the dam, it started leaking and eventually the leaks gave in and the dam gave in killing claiming 14 lives. This left several ethical questions that this work shall analyze using the virtue principle of decision making. The work shall be addressed to a government regulatory agency. A description of the engineering failure It was on 3rd June of 1976 when it was noticed that there were small seepages in the no rth abutment wall of the dam.The responsible department pictured the wall and it was taken to the Bureau of Reclamation which was to take the necessary action from then. The only measure taken was that the readings were to be taken twice every week instead of the previous once a week trend. On the next day, the right abutment also indicated wetness and some tiny springs were beginning to appear. It is not recorded of any measures that were taken at this point in time and this consequently led to more destruction on 5th June 1976 when leaks were noticed at around half past 7 in the morning and eight in the morning (Arthur 11).This leak was flowing at a rate of 800 liters per second from the right abutment that had been noticed the previous day. After just an hour, the flow had accelerated to 1,3oo liters per second. The rate was almost doubled within a single hour. At 11. 00 a. m. four bulldozers were sent to the site to rescue situations since a whirlpool was emerging from dam direc tly. This was suicidal since the bulldozers were swallowed by the water meaning that the back up plan that could rescue the situation was already a failure at a very early stage of the failure.Half an hour after the bulldozers were swallowed, the whole dam collapsed and nothing more was left to be rescued. This left 14 lives being lost courtesy of the whole engineering failure while over 200 families were left homeless in five different towns (Arthur 16). An in-depth analysis of major issues surrounding the failure Engineering Issues Following the failure and destruction of the engineering project, the Governor of Idaho commissioned a committee which unveiled that the pre-design and the geological studies that had been conducted were not only appropriate but also deeply founded.The first engineering error though was that attention was not given to the unusual geological condition of the land while the USBR practices were being followed. Another source of failure was that the grout c urtain that was built was not sealed convincingly. Finally, the dam’s geometry was the reason behind the dam’s arching which ensured that cracks opened channels through the erodible fill. Management and Regulatory Issues The case of the failure during the day of the incident shows clearly a massive case of negligence in the hands of the management and the regulatory bodies in the country.As it is stated above, the pictures that were taken to the Bureau of Reclamation when the seepages were noted for the first time never received any firm action. On 5th June 1976 too, the failure occurred in different segments and the lack of a back up plan to help solve it was a clear indication of the lack of preparedness from the management and the Bureau of Reclamation (Sharma, 64). Socio-Technical and Ethical During the infamous failure of the dam, the workers had been warned of the danger that seemed to be in store for them since early detections had indicated a possibility of wha t happened.The case was not the same for the residents and the society in general since they were kept in darkness about the issue with the main reason being that they never wanted to trigger any fear among the citizens. The end result though was that there was no precaution that had been put in place to safeguard the residents. The 14 lives that were lost and the massive displacement that faced over 200 families was totally an unethical issue (Sharma, 64). An analysis of the ethical lapses The process of the dam’s construction is analyzed ethically; there are a number of ethical lapses that were ignored.To begin with it has been noted that the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation failed to include all the stakeholders during the implementation process. This overlook led to the faulty foundation which acted as an important factor for the breaking of the dam as a failure to adequately consult the necessary experts who could have provided important leads and help to averse the effects o f the dam breaking in. the greatest question that arises here is that it is expected that the construction of the dam was for the common good.By constructing such a huge dam in rocks that could easily leak and give way for a possibility such a destructive breakup, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation team was overlooking the principle of common good (Dylan 158). Another ethical issue with this case was the decision and the rationale to open the dam even before its outlets were complete. Anurag (98) notes that the constructors ignored the fact that the water was rising at a higher rate than what was supposed to be the case and failed to act.This shows that the team assigned the role of manning this dam were negligent in their roles as they failed to ensure that the take any action to ensure that the water intake was as the original plan. The decision to let water in before the outlets were totally finished was a total contravening the principles of ethical responsibilities. The U. S. Bure au of Reclamation ought to have known the dangers it was putting to the people downstream when they let the waters to flow into the dam without fully completing the outlets, and worse still ignoring, the signs that all was not well when the dam stated leaking.These actions flouted the principle of common good, as these negligent acts were not to the interest of all the stakeholders. Worse still, it ignored the principles of courteousness, reasonableness, as well as thought fullness. This case has no justifications for the blatant ignorance of the possible risk that the dam would cause if it burst open. The team monitoring failed to act to mitigate the potential of the dam bursting by ignoring the early signs that the dam was going, to collapse.Recommendations for Actions with Analysis The need to reverse the collapse of the Teton Dam draws the implementation of certain measures. First and foremost, there is need that the pedology in the area. The need to reconsider solid ground in t he reconstruction of the dam is based on the fact that the collapse of the dam was aided by the dam being situated on a permeable loess soil. This loess soil was used as the core of the dam. At the same time, the loess soil had been used on the cracked rhyolite at the bottom of the dam.This allowed the dam water to seep through and under the dam. By extension, it is well adduced by oceanographers, limnologists and hydrologists that this collapse of the dam had been cracked at its bottom. This allowed water to seep through the dam, giving way for piping [internal erosion]. The collapse of the dam was the culmination of this development. The need for regular and effective dam inspection cannot be gainsaid as an effective panacea to the collapse of a dam after the manner of Teton Dam.Additionally, logistics and funds must be set in place to ensure that the sealing of the fissures at the bottom of the dams are clearly sealed. The gravity of the matter is that the panel had soon establis hed that piping was taking place. Nevertheless, there was nothing that was done to revert the fracturing of the core materials. The need to ensure that highly skilled personnel are involved in the construction of the bottom of any dams is also paramount.This is underscored by the fact that the panel that oversaw the construction of Teton Dam was not able to determine the presence of totally erodable fill which had been left unprotected which had been aided by an unsealed rock situated beneath the grout cap. That this situation was primrose, leading to the development of an erosion tunnel which in turn further promoted the widening and development of the fissure underscores the aforementioned need for skilled personnel. Skilled personnel would have identified and carried out correctional measures.Outcomes and Justification Based On One or More Ethical Frameworks The need to ensure that there are skilled personnel is underscored by one of the ethical oversights that were committed on the side of the panel. Precisely, the panel allowed the dam to be opened a little too soon before the completion of its outlets. If it is that only skilled experts were employed, the panel would have been informed that water at the time had been rising at a dangerously higher rate. In addition to this, the right correctional measures would have been deducted, prescribed and executed.By extension, the fact that the team that was also assigned the role of manning the dam remained negligent as failure to ensure that the water level as originally prescribed confirms some degree of incompetence. The gravity of the matter aforementioned is clearly also clearly confirmed by the fact that the US Bureau of Reclamation allowed water into the dam without the dam’s outlets. It suffices to point out that the US Bureau of Reclamation ought to have been aware of the dangers it had posed on the locals who were leaving downstream as the outlets had a higher propensity of being overwhelmed.Wor k Cited Anurag Srivastava, Generalized event three algorithm and software for dam safety risk analysis Utah State University 2008, < http://digitalcommons. usu. edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi? article=1031&context=etd > Dylan McDonald, The Teton Dam Disaster, New York; Acadia Publishing, 2006. Arthur, Green, â€Å"Teton Dam Failure. † The Evaluation of Dam Safety: New York: ASCE, 2007 Sharma, Saxena, Dams: Incidents and Accidents: Washington D. C: Taylor and Francis

American Literature Before 1865

While the land issue is frequently invoked as the reason behind the extermination of indigenous Americans by European settlers, the real issue was a clash of cultures that held incompatible world views. Among Native Americans (hereafter referred to as â€Å"Indians† for convenience and because this is actually Native peoples’ preferred appellation according to Coeur d’Alene writer Sherman Alexie), society was usually very egalitarian, and even democratic. Europeans on the other hand believed in top-down, societal structures with rigid orders and classes.Most Indians were hunters and gatherers; this is how they survived, acknowledging game and wild edible plants as gifts of nature. In light of the harsh, puritanical Yahwist world view of the Europeans, it is significant that those in a hunting-gathering society rarely have to work more than five or six hours per week in order to satisfy their basic needs; Euro-Christians were children of a vengeful, patriarchal go d who demanded that they earn their bread by the sweat of their brow (unless of course, one was a successful capitalist, in which lower classes would do it on one’s behalf).Their warped belief system demanded that they till the earth; hunting was for sport. Many (not all) Indians found the thought of agriculture as an affront to the earth; if the Great Spirit had provided berries, roots and game animals, why would they scratch open the Great Mother seeking more?Sexuality was another issue; while most Indians embraced it as any normal, healthy life form and exhibited great tolerance for homosexuality and trans-gendered people (some of whom had high status, as was the case of the Cherokee â€Å"Two Spirit†), Europeans were – as many Americans are now – embarrassed, ashamed, intolerant and repressive when it came to sexual matters. Women among many Indian tribes also had a huge degree of freedom and equality with men, which was rigidly denied to European wom en. Different European groups had very different experiences and problems in encountering and interacting with Indians.In A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virgina, written in 1587 prior to the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Colony, the explorer Harriot – a product of the Elizabethan England of Shakespeare – wrote under the heading Of The Nature and Manners of the People that the Indians â€Å"†¦are not to be feared, â€Å" but warning â€Å"that they shall have cause to feare and love us, that shall inhabite with them† (241). Harriot goes on the describe them in some detail as to their animal-skin clothing, their lack of edged tools and their style of warfare.He writes, â€Å"In respect of us, they are a people poore, and for want of skill and judgement in the knowledge and use of our things, doe esteeme our trifles [toys, coins and cooking tools] before things of greater value† (242). This statement is significant, partic ularly in light of later experiences of the English in Virginia – experiences that involved great suffering, death and privation. Here, Harriot indulges in typical English chauvinism, judging Indian society and culture by the standards of his own.It should have become obvious over the ensuing twenty years that a lack of technology did not necessarily make for an inferior culture; masters of their environment, the Indians were well able to survive and even thrive in a place where the first English settlers starved, existed in poverty and frequently died. Even Harriot’s statement that â€Å"should they desire our friendship and love, [they will] have the greater respect for pleasing and obeying us† – a clear declaration of intentions to enslave Indians – proved to be based on this faulty logic as future English settlers discovered when they attempted to do just that.Harriot’s description of the local Indian’s religion indicates there we re some traits shared with their own Christianity; immortality of the soul, analogues to Heaven and Hell, and even formal worship rituals held in â€Å"houses appropriate or temples† (243). While by no means typical of all Indian spirituality or religion, it was these kinds of similarities that some Catholic missionaries were able to use in their successful conversions elsewhere.With similarities such as described by Harriot, one wonders if some elements of Christianity had not filtered north from Spanish claims in Florida. Alternatively, given the chauvinistic tendencies of Europeans in general and the English in particular that led to so many misunderstandings, it is quite possible that Harriot may have been simply seeing what he expected and/or desired to see. In any event, the English did not hesitate to use the Indian’s own normal fears of the unknown against them for their own advantage.During a drought, local Indians (some of the few who did engage in agricultur e, apparently) came to believe their problems had been brought on by their own actions, and offered to play to the â€Å"God of England, that he would preserve their Corne,† offering the English a portion when the harvest came in. Later, when diseases carried by the English were spread to those Indians who had no natural immunity, the English were all too happy to attribute the plague to their vengeful God for their â€Å"wicked practises† (245).In the case of Indians to whom such things had never happened and had no concept of how disease spread through bacteria and viruses, this self-serving explanation on the part of the English was all too acceptable. The Spaniards’ experiences with Indians were as varied as the Indian cultures they encountered. For example, with complex urban societies such as the Aztecs and Incas, the Spaniards were forced to deal with powers that were nearly equal to their own in terms of technology and organization; only through collabor ators within these civilizations were leaders like Cortez and Pizzaro able to succeed in their conquests.Further north, the Dine (Navajo) and Zuni presented somewhat less of a challenge. Unlike the English who came for land, the Spaniard’s main objective was plunder; gold, silver, slaves and souls. Unlike the primarily secular English expeditions, the Spaniards operated under the blessings of an aggressive Roman Catholic church, whose tool was the Holy Inquisition (rather different from the â€Å"kinder, gentler† brand of Catholicism brought by French missionaries to Indians further north).The Zuni – linguistically related to the Nez Perce, Yakama, Klamath and Modoc peoples of the Pacific Northwest, yet living in New Mexico – embraced a kind of spirituality that was completely unlike Christianity. There religion was organized into different â€Å"societies,† each of which governed a specific aspect of the community (22). In many ways, Zuni religion resembled that of the ancient Mayans; a â€Å"sun priest† known as a Pekwin kept a calendar; there was also a belief in â€Å"Hero Twins,† hearkening back to the Mayan legends of Hunahpu and Xibalanque.The Hero Twins also appear in the mythology of other Southwest peoples, including the Navajo (34). This and many other aspects of Zuni culture are revealed in their own creation myth, whose relationship with the Spaniards was hostile practically from the beginning; taken as one of the â€Å"Seven Cities of Cibola,† this sedentary, semi-urbanized, agricultural people successful drove off the initial Spaniard invasion in 1540. A Catholic mission was eventually established some ninety years later, but in 1680, the Zuni were in rebellion once again, joining other Pueblo Indians against the Spaniards.Zuni attitudes toward the Spaniards are apparent in a later version on the Zuni creation story, in which the Trickster, or â€Å"mischief-maker,† is associated wit h Mexicans, or Spaniards. The Trickster is a common figure in nearly all myths in all cultures on the planet; the late Joseph Campbell considered the Trickster as an integral part of the archetype â€Å"mythic journey,† or Hero’s Quest. The purpose of a Trickster was to lead the Hero astray, or attempt to delay or even foil the Quest.Among American Indian cultures, the Trickster could take many forms, but most frequently appeared as a Coyote. While he could be a teacher and frequently force one to confront that which they might not otherwise wish to deal with, Coyote could also be a mischief-maker. Associated Coyote with Mexicans/Spaniards had a negative connotation. In this version of the creation story, Mexicans also emerge later than the Zuni. This is yet another point of significance; like many tribal peoples, their name for themselves translates as â€Å"The People,† with the implication that others are not â€Å"people.† The name Halona-Iriwana, the Zuni pueblo, means â€Å"The Middle Ant Hill of the World,† suggesting that chauvinistic self-centeredness was not unique to the English and Spaniards. It has been suggested that this type of mentality was what allowed the Europeans to decimate the Indian populations; had all Indian peoples been able to unite against the invaders, European settlers might not have been quite as successful. The problem with this idea is in the sheer diversity of Indian peoples, not only in terms of language, but culture and even physical traits.While warfare among American Indian tribes never reached the kind of wholesale slaughter that it did among Europeans, conflict and competition for resources and prestige was still quite common. Cultural diversity may be something to treasure today, but in American history, it has had great – and often tragic – consequences. Works Cited Baird, Forrest E. and Walter Kaufman, eds. From Plato to Derrida, 4th Ed. (Upper Saddle River: Prentice H all, 1997).

Americans and Voting Essay

There is value in having and exercising the right to vote. Americans today have developed a mindset that their vote does not make a difference, and that voicing out their opinions is a waste of time. This is not the case, however, as the rights that Americans are neglecting are the same rights that our ancestors have fought for during the enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment. The laws that affect the average individuals, the influences of various platformed parties, and the importance of voting in society exemplifies why Americans should value their right to vote. Many laws affect the American’s rights to vote as an individual. For instance, the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution states that it grants Americans the right to vote, furthermore stating that the â€Å"right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.† This declares, simply and literally, that there is no discrimination in voicing out one’s opinion, no matter what the race, color, or previous condition of servitude. African Americans of the 1960’s suffered greatly from injustice and racism, thus, abolishing the discrimination within voting is extremely important and healthy for our society today. Another example is the Voting Rights Act, as it â€Å"banned the use of literacy tests, provided for federal oversight of voter registration in areas where less than 50 percent of the nonwhite population had not registered to vote, and authorized the U.S. attorney general to investigate the use of poll taxes in state and local elections† (www.history.com). Along with the abolishment of direct discrimination of race, is the abolishment of indirect discrimination, such as literacy tests. The purpose of this Act is to intentionally block all types of discrimination as well as prejudice in the area of voting. Society should voice out their opinions through voting, because there are laws that protect one so they do not face injustice. Influences of various plat formed parties affect the outcomes of lawmaking bodies. An example of this would be the Democratic Party. The party has a mindset that the economy of America should be â€Å"built not from the top down, but from a growing m iddle class, and that provides ladders of opportunity for those working hard to join the middle class† (assets.dstatic.org). This means that the Democratic Party aims for a country that is focused on developing the middle and lower class. A president running with a Democratic perspective can easily win the votes of the Democratic Party. Likewise, the Republican Party is based on their aim to â€Å"grow the economy . . . from the top down† (assets.dstatic.org). The party has a goal that bases off of the idea that building a strong foundation of the top class will make the country better. Of course, â€Å"[voting] does not guarantee that one’s preferences will prevail, but choosing not to vote denies a person one of the key tools of having a say in a democracy† (congresslink.org). Once may not get the president he or she elected for, or the laws they wanted passed, but the Republican and Democratic Parties all have one mindset: ‘Make America a better country.† Therefore, nothing can go wrong with voting. Voting is a privilege that everyone should exercise because there is no wrong decision; everything is mean for the good of the country. America is run based on a democracy. This means th at our government highly considers our beliefs and opinions, and that the future political impacts on our country are going to be in the hands of the citizens who choose to take advantage of their right to vote. This expresses the importance of voting, because when we vote, we don’t just simply choose what president we are going to have; we are electing the person that decides how the government is run, the management of wars within our country, and how resources are used. Furthermore, in a country where there is a large population, it is difficult for an individual to have their voice heard. Therefore, society should consider, once again, their rights to vote because â€Å"casting a vote is the most widely understood and discreetly effective way to have one’s voice heard in American politics† (www.law.seattle.edu). Voting gives on the ability to voice their own outlooks on politics, in a society within a large population. Our voice, our opinions, our vote is important and valued in society. Americans should vote so that these rights and powers do not go to waste. Society today neglects and refuses to voice out their outlooks on politics, which was once a right that American ancestors have fought for. It is valuable to have and exercise the right to vote because there are laws that protect one from discrimination, it is a choice made that benefits the country no matter what the outcome, and lastly, it is the easiest, most effective, and most important way to have one’s voice heard in society. An individual’s vote is important, and it certainly is not a waste of time. Thus, Americans should  exercise their rights as a citizen of a democratic country, and vote.

Personal case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal - Case Study Example Most human being are unique in many ways hence psychology tends to explains the similarities through understanding of their respective societal ethics. In understanding different human traits, personality psychology explains how human differ from others. This school of psychology also explains why some of aspects contradict or complement on human life. According to research, this field of discussion came later after all other schools had been discussed by psychologists. Stages of Development According to Freud’s explanation on the theory of psychodynamic, personality is structured in three major categories namely; Id, Ego and Superego and psychosexual stages of development. Whereby Id explains the basic instincts of all human beings, Ego refers to the stage which connects an individual’s Id and superego. Superego depicts human morals acceptable behaviors while psychosexual stage is the last stage in this theory which paves way for behavioral stage. The first stage of de velopment starts immediately after birth to 1 year of age. This is the stage where infants tend to acquire pleasure from sucking. At this stage, the infant may be at a position of chewing pencils, rubbers, thumbs, finer nails biting as an affixation. The next stage is the anal stage (1-3years). At this stage, young children enjoy releasing urine and other waste products from the body. Parent have difficult work in training their children how to use toilets because if they are not well trained they will end up becoming anal retentive. Cleanliness is the major affixation at this stage or messiness. In that a child may hold urine for quite sometime and release it at his or her own will. The enjoyment at this stage is crucial to parents for the development of their children. Between the years of 3 to 6 refers to as the phallic stage. At this stage, the Id of an individual focuses on the genital impulse which explains why children find pleasure from their genital stimulation. Parentsâ₠¬â„¢ major worry is the Electra conflict and oedipal conflict for both girls and boys respectively. The child tries to explore his or her body needs with the opposite sex hence may result to wrong sex forcing the parent to have anger towards them. Parents tend to take much time with their children so as to teach them on the various life outcomes but not in depth since they fear they are not grown enough to follow their parents’ restrictions. At the latency stage, the child’s superego develops. At this stage it is believed that there is no much change as of developmental happenings. Lastly is the genital stage of development. It also takes place at the adolescent stage where the child tries to find pleasure through sex or they may have the need for sex. Parents have enormous task of advising their children intensively so as not to indulge in unwanted pregnancies and unhealthy relationships which may affect their later lifestyles. Bandura explains cognitive theory as a s chool of thought which gives an individual the right to socialize free within the given environment which helps in the developmental learning due to the immediate environment. The psychologist believed this theory is the connector between the environment and the human behavior. The theory focuses most on the observations or imitation of others behavior thus triggers an individual to behave the same. For example

Discussions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Discussions - Assignment Example The future is very unpredictable and I do not plan for the predictable but also prepare for the unpredictable which I do not know when or where it will happen. In the old aged institution that I work, my decisions are based on evidence and am also led by research. This ensures that the decisions that I make are real and viable. It also ensures that the firm I work in can compete favorably in the market. I also get things done. My propulsion for doing things this way is because I am always striving to make a difference. Also, by doing this, I am able to inspire my junior workers to do the same as some of them look up to me. Getting things done when you set to do them reduces the wasting of resources. Opening new horizons by setting out to get new ways of getting things done is another of my leadership qualities (Quong &Walker, 2010). This is mainly evident by the fact that I make decisions that are based on evidence and led by research. Sustainability goes beyond the triple bottom line. It includes what people think and this is mainly concerned with some myths that are common in business organizations. These myths have been carried on from one generation to another. Such myths could have been true when the business environment was still young and premature but as of the day-to-day business environment, such myths deserve to be done away with. One of the common myths in business organizations is that the manager is more important that the other employees. The importance of the manager is tied to the position that he/she occupies. It should instead be viewed that the managers are stewards or people who offer guidance to the other junior employees. Leadership should be viewed as a teamwork kind of thing, every employee contributes towards attaining it (Harrison, 2015). There are numerous changes that are taking place and the business organization that merely concentrate on social, environmental, health and safety rules are going

Insurance in the GCC Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Insurance in the GCC - Research Paper Example Although economic growth in this region is very high, the insurance sector has fallen behind drastically. According to him, the opportunities for different local and international insurance company are very high, which will be accounted for increased competition, and also a challenging business environment (Ashcroft, 2013). There is also an expectation that the region’s insurance sector will also mature structurally in way of going forwards. Apart from this, in line with positive regulatory developments, there are constant efforts by some of the key insurance players towards achieving greater operational scale and functional efficiency. These companies want to take the first mover advantage. There are huge amount of opportunity in the GCC Insurance sector with the bigger organizations in the insurance market getting more and larger in terms of operational volume as well as the penetration in different parts of the world, and in that way leading to the marginalization of smalle r companies. The GCC Insurance Industry Outlook: With the untapped open market in place many leading insurance sectors are now looking forward for setting up their business unit in GCC. The opportunity of untapped market is huge and therefore every organization is looking for taking the â€Å"first mover advantage†. According to the report published by Alpen Capital (2013), the projective growth rate of the insurance industry in the Gulf region is 18.1% (CAGR) between the time periods of 2012-2017. According to their estimation the market value of the insurance industry in the gulf region will reach up to us $ 37.5 billion. Out of this, the life insurance segment will contribute US $ 2.4 billion and non life will account for US $ 35.1 billion. The growth in the non life part is more due to strong impetus of construction and infrastructure industries. An enormous portion of oil revenues in the GCC countries is being moved to the development of the non-oil segment in order to s upport the economic diversification of the sector. As a result, there is strong momentum in the construction sector. This momentum will help the region’s non-life insurance segment. Moreover, higher infiltrations of medical insurance and constant growth in the new vehicle sales are also likely to help the growth in the motor insurance sector which in turn will aid the segment’s growth. The rate of insurance penetration in GCC is also likely to go up from 1.1% in 2012 to 2% by the end of 2017. The industry growth rate is comfortably exceeds the pace of GDP expansion in this sector, Non-life insurance growth in the line of increasing infrastructure development and more vehicle sales, is likely to surge from 0.9% to 1.9% during the period, and will be the key behind the growth of this sector in the GCC region. UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Saudi Arabia are the two largest insurance market at present in GCC; the trend is such that there is every possibility that Saudi Ara bia may overtake the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the largest insurance market in GCC with coming years. (Alpen Capital, 2013). Key Growth factor of Insurance Industry

Barriers to Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Barriers to Change - Essay Example The group concurred with this view. Ineffective communication hinders change efforts. The leader needs to articulate goals clearly and give frequent feedback on the change process. Moreover, the group agreed that leaders need to communicate the reasons for change and how it will affect those involved. This eliminates fear, uncertainty and doubt about the change. Another barrier is unclear processes and procedures. If carried out in a haphazard way, change could fail. It makes people to lose direction of where they are going and what is expected of them and consequently lack of commitment and resistance. Lastly, the group cited not paying attention to people issues as significant to success of change management. Leaders need to pay attention to psychological processes that people experiences in dealing with change hence help them to overcome. The group also discussed how the leaders might provide psychological safety to individuals in times of change. They agreed that correctional leaders should have the will to share mistakes with staff to promote organisational learning. Employees also need to feel that they can air their views and give input regarding the change without fear of reprisal. Giving them rewards and recognition for achievements is vital. The role of the leader is to help create effective relationships in the organisation. By being transparent, the leader creates an environment of psychological safety which in turn leads to increased participation in decision making and greater trust in the leader. Psychological safety also entails honesty, openness and will to learn continually which in turn leads to higher degree of physical safety. The employees thus feel secure and learn more leading to positive change. People are unique hence react to change and conflict in different ways. Change management is all about ensuring

What is the relationship between tuberculosis and poverty in the uk Essay

What is the relationship between tuberculosis and poverty in the uk - Essay Example risk of developing tuberculosis include age, gender, ethnicity, genetic factors, body build, pregnancy, lifestyle (occupation, poverty, diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, drug abuse, place of residence), specific protection (BCG vaccine), medical factors like the presence of HIV AIDs or certain types of cancers, or undergoing treatments like haemodialysis or Immunosuppressive treatment. (Davies, 2005). There are strong indications that susceptibility to both the infection and the disease of tuberculosis is dependent on a variety of factors. The current research is aimed towards finding direct and indirect linkages between poverty and tuberculosis. The indirect links between poverty and TB can be analyzed from the positive correlation of factors like ethnicity, the presence of HIV AIDs, lifestyle, both with the rates of incidences of tuberculosis and with the presence of poverty. For presenting evidence on poverty affecting the rate of tuberculosis more directly, there have been several studies that have quoted poverty as a major factor in the cause of the disease. This paper hopes to carry out an exhaustive literature survey by an intelligent analysis and presentation of the interpretations and findings of an exhaustive list of available resources. By doing this, it is hoped to establish how poverty is related to tuberculosis in the United Kingdom. The primary objective of the present study is to discover if poverty does indeed influence the incidence of tuberculosis in the UK. In addition, this paper also aims to explore and present revealing insights about various possible factors that lead to the infection and disease of TB. This is done so as to find if these others factors are in anyway related to poverty, thus making poverty a major risk factor for TB. It is important to explain the methodology that was adopted and the consequent methods that were employed, and also the reasons for using them. The following pages will help to elaborate upon the above so

Information management system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Information management system - Essay Example ............12 Information Management System –  Google Plus Executive summary The advancements that have been made in technology over the years have led to a change in the ways that organizations conduct their business activities, with new methods and practices having been introduced in this neo modern era as a result. Whereas many functions were mostly handled manually or at least supervised thus in the past, the progress that has been made in the software and hardware industry have allowed for more mechanized responsibility to take over. This has proved to be more efficient and accurate in terms of capability and companies are beginning to realize the importance of inducting their organizations to this technological revolution. Among the various advancements that have been made in this era is the creation of Information Management Systems. These are one of the more popular inventions to enter the various industries and have proved to be a great success in the various field s in which they have been applied. A thorough study of the various models available to an organization serves to educate the company on the best strategy to implement according to their particular needs. Introduction Information management systems can be described as a collection of both hardware and software combined with the ability to receive and filter raw data and then process and use it to create new data relevant to certain organization.. The ability of Information Systems (IS) to perform these tasks has made life a whole lot easier for organizations operating on the basis of large amounts of different types of information flowing within and without the company in order for it to function efficiently. What previously took a lot of man power and hard labor can now be done in a span of minutes as the Information Systems are able to calculate needed equations at a considerably faster rate than man. As a result, these Information Systems have now occupied a strategic role in cont emporary business  Ã‚   organizations that now use them to build sustainable competitive advantages over their rivals as they try to maintain an edge above the rest of their peers in the industry. Conceptual framework Google is one such company that can be used as an example of the importance of Information Systems in the new age business (Google). As this organization started out as a search engine, it can be said that information was the forte that it dealt with and this is something that is still needed to date not only in their original business, but in their in-house activities as well. The organizational strategy of the company can thus said to be the future expansion of its influence on the social network market through the introduction of new and unique services within Google Plus to attract new clientele. Before one studies the various Information Systems that are used by the company and the various advantages that they bring to the table however, it is essential to first try and understand the strategy that they have undertaken within the market to ensure that they maintain their competitive edge and are not usurped by their rivals (McKeen & Smith 89). This can be done using the Michael Porter’

Memory Boy Essay Essay Example for Free

Memory Boy Essay Essay The book that I choose to read this 9 week period is called Memory by Will Weaver. The book is based on the lives of a family of 4 people; Miles, Sarah, and their two parents. Memory Boy starts out in the Mid West after a mountain range in Washington erupts and spews ash what seems billions of feet up, and over the entire United Sates like a blanket. The ash is so thick that people have to wear dust masks outside to avoid the risk of breathing it in. Miles and his family finally decide to leave the town that they live in to head northwest. Since the ash is so heavy they can’t drive a car because those are restricted, and people can only use them on certain days to avoid the problem of pollution. So Miles assembles a new vehicle that he calls the Princess. It is a mix between a bicycle and a boat that they must pilot by either peddling, or when there is enough wind they have a sail from a boat to put up. They decide to leave under the curtain of night to avoid being detected by other people who would want to take their vehicle from them. As they make their way North they must face encounters with many obstacles such as road blocks, bandits, hunger, the government, nature, each other, and other hazards. In between telling us about they’re adventure north, Miles, who is the main character tells us the events leading up to their departure, starting with the day that the eruption happened. The novel starts out a peaceful journey by the family but they soon learn that their trip will not be easy and they must work together to survive. Miles is our main character and we watch all the events happen through his point of view. He would be a junior in high school if they still actually went to school. Miles is a smart individual who enjoys doing the job of a mechanic. He built the Princess by himself and is the only one who is about to fix and maintain it throughout the book. He takes a strong leadership role; even his parents look to him to solve the solutions. When the volcano erupted he was only in the 9th grade. So every other chapter he will flashback to his 9th grade year to tell us a story about after the volcano erupted. He often compares his life now to that of his 9th grade year, and how he would have done things different. He used to be disrespectful and would often act out in school to seek attention. He will explain to us how some of the events he tells us about have changed him. Miles sister Sarah is a few years younger than he is. She is a dark and morbid girl; the type that is into vampire, dark music, and dark literature. But even though she seems tough on the outside, but she is actually just hiding how scared she has been throughout this entire ordeal. She secretly looks up to miles even though she would never say so to him. She doesn’t like her father very much because he was always away when she was a child. Miles’s father was a jazz musician in a band before the eruption. He was always on the road with his band, so he wasn’t around much when Miles and Sarah were growing up. Although he seems quite docile at the beginning of the book we soon learn that he is actually quite the leader, and when Miles gets overwhelmed his father is always there to take the lead for awhile. Miles’s mother was the main caretaker of the children so she was always around. At the beginning of the book she kept the family together as a unit, they referred to her as being. The children see their mother as being helpless most of the time. It isn’t until later in the book that she really blooms as a character, and becomes a very useful asset to the group.

The feature of inequality in modern society

The feature of inequality in modern society Inequality is an inescapable feature of modern society. Inequality affects modern society in a variety of ways. It is an inescapable feature of the world we live in. The most common inequality is gender. Men and Women are treated different in a number of ways such as in wages and in sports. This has been the same for centuries. Social class also plays a very big role in inequality. 89% of People are still judged by their class. (Glover 2007) Gender inequality is a huge problem in modern society today. One of the most common issues is wages. It is a known fact that men receive higher wages than women. According to a report by the government in 2006 there is a 13% pay gap between men and women. (The Financial Times 2006) The Office for National Statistics website (2008) says that this statistic has risen to 17.1% in 2008 for full time workers and 36.8% for part time workers. The Equal opportunities Commission published an article Facts about women and men in Great Britain 2006 It stated that 66% of mangers and senior officials are men, while women hold 81% of administrative and secretarial jobs. In the finance sector women are just over half the workforce, yet the average hourly pay for a woman working full time in finance is 41% lower than men. Jenny Watson, the chair of The Equal Opportunities Commission states that: Jobs traditionally seen as womens work such as early years care and education are undervalued and underpa id, and later in life many women are forced to take a pay cut for the flexibility they need to raise their own children Men and women usually have an equal start with their career, but when womens childcare responsibilities kick in, this is where the problems start. Most companies and organisations blame maternity leave and childcare responsibilities for the pay gap between men and women. Women are allowed up to six months maternity leave. Recently men have been able to take just as much as women. So why is there still a gap in wages? Women have always been seen as the nurse the teacher or the secretary. The International Labour Organisation website (2010) claims that women only hold 34% of mangers jobs in great Britain. They only receive two-thirds the pay of their male counterparts. According to the International Labour Office Women and men in lower-paid non-manual jobs such as clerks, shop assistants are closest to being equal. Growing up we all had the idea of mens work and womens work. Men were builders and doctors while women were teachers and nurses. This idea hasnt changed much as we grow older. We will all automatically look twice if we see a female bus driver, a male nurse or a female foreman. Its a natural reaction. From birth we see inequalities immediately in boys and girls. Blue is the colour for boys and pink for girls. Girls have their own toys that society deemed appropriate for girls and so do boys. It seems wrong or unnatural in some way to see a boy playing with a Barbie doll or pushing a toy pram. We have all grown up with these perceptions of what colours each sex should wear and what types of toys they should play with, that its no wonder men and women are treated differently when they grow up. It is what is natural to all of us. Gender inequality also exits in the education system. In same sex schools the subject choices concentrate on the gender of the school. For example in a girls only school it is rare that they would offer subjects such as construction studies or woodwork studies, the same for boys schools, they would rarely offer their male students the choice to take home economics. These subjects can only be taken for both boys and girls in mixed gender schools. Another area where gender inequality is present is Sports. Women are in a male dominated world when it comes to sport. The ancient Olympic games website (2009) claims that Women have been fighting to gain equality in sport since 776 B.C. at the Olympic Games, originally known as the Games of Hera. Women were not allowed to play nor watch the games. Although women play the same sports as men do, women receive little or no air time. It is very rare that you would see a womens soccer or rugby match being shown in a sports bar. The media has largely contributed to false stereotypes regarding men, women and sports. They see women as inferior to male athletes. Tennis especially has seen many centuries of gender inequality. Women only play the best of three sets whereas men play the best of five. Im sure any female tennis player would be more than capable to play five or more sets if given the opportunity. There was also a dramatic difference in prize money up until 2006. There was a big di fference in prize money between men and women in Wimbledon. Men were being paid a lot more money than women. A spokesperson for Wimbledon said that the difference in prize money was due to the fact that mens tennis was more exciting than womens. The Wimbledon website (2006) said this all changed in 2006 when both the ladies and mens winners were paid the same amount of prize money. This is a step in the right direction for gender equality in tennis. On the other hand soccer needs to follow in the same path. Women soccer players do not receive the same recognition or the same money that their male counterparts receive. Wayne Rooney earns  £90,000 a week being a professional soccer player for Manchester United and is world famous. I dont think many people would be able to name one professional female soccer player. Men get all the fame and all the recognition. Golf is another sport where females are treated unequally. In most golf courses, women can only play on ladies day and are not allowed to play alongside the male players. Professional Female golf players just like professional female soccer players, do not receive as much money or recognition. These are some of the many inequalities which women are trying to challenge and overcome today. It has stopped women from advancing as fast as their male counterparts. In my opinion women have been neglected in sports just as they have been in many other areas of life such as education and work. More often or not people are judged by their social class. They are discriminated against by where they come from. 90% of 18-24 year olds say people are judged by their class (Glover 2007). This has been happening for centuries and I do not think that it will change in the near future. As suggested by Macionis and Plummer (2008) Gordon Therborn has suggested that social class is one of the key features of modern Europe, as Europe was the first major arena of industrialisation. All the main political parties in Britain are trying to work against social class. Gordon Brown claimed recently that a class free society can become a reality in Britain. There are three shapes of class: The upper classes, the middle classes and the working classes. According to Glover (2007) the upper class is almost extinct with only 2% claiming to be part of it. The Middle class used to be the group between rich and poor. In 1998, 41% of people thought as themselves as middle class, exactly the same proportion as today. (Glover 2007) The Working Class is the lowest of the classes. A few centuries ago working class people were miners. They are known as the poorest of society. Glover (2007) said, Of people born to working class parents, 77% say they are working class too. One one fifth say they have become middle class. The fact that we still have a structure of class shows that people are discriminated because of their class and where they come from. They are discriminated against in the workplace and in schools. As Hutton (2007) described in his article, pupils from schools from middle class or working class areas are receiving little to no places in prestigious schools such as Oxford, even though they have received excellent marks. Their marks sometimes were better than pupils at Upper class schools. This just proves that there is inequality in social class. It obviously depends on where you come from and which school you attend that shapes your future education. No matter where we go in life we will be judged by our class and where we come from. Karl Marx and Max Weber have different views upon social class. Macionis and Plummer (2008) said that Marx defined class in terms of those who own the means of production and those who do not with a residual class in between He says that the owners or the means of production exploit those who produce goods and services, while the working class become alienated consumers. Marx focuses more on the economic side of social class, especially the labour force. Weber and Marx have similar ideas. In Webers view, a persons class status is a determinant of how they will turn out in later life. People will have a better life if they are higher up in class. He thought that a persons possessions and the way they lived was the cause of class conflict. Although Weber believed as Marx did that the economic side of social class was important and caused most of the conflict, he didnt believe that this was the only cause of the conflict between social classes. He saw society back then as having many st atus groups who held a vast amount of power. For example teachers do not own their schools they work for people, but they may be higher up in status than a mechanic who owns his owns and runs his own business. Weber thought that people in politics had more power in society. Weber said that conflict between the classes was a result of many different inequalities. Inequality is definitely an inescapable feature of our society. There are still gender inequalities present in modern society and some that have been around for centuries. I think there will always be inequalities between men and women. It has been around for centuries and nothing has changed, so I do not see it changing in the near future. There will also always be inequalities in social class. It was around in Karl Marxs era and is still here to the present day. People are being judged and criticized by where they come from. Even though the government is claiming that social class will not exist in years to come, they have not backed up their claims yet.

Analysing Business Ethics And Corporate Social Responsibility Philosophy Essay

Analysing Business Ethics And Corporate Social Responsibility Philosophy Essay The question of business ethics has been at the forefront of business studies for several decades. It is an issue that has been discussed by everyone from philosophers to economists, many of whom placed an emphasis on the social responsibility of corporations and their shareholders. With the unprecedented success and profits that corporations have experienced within recent history it is no surprise that ethical problems may arise. However, is it the responsibility of corporations to help eradicate such problems even if doing so is in direct conflict with shareholder interests? This paper will explain the stakeholder and stockholder theories of corporate management and argue in favor of the stakeholder theory on the basis of the harms the shareholder argument poses in terms of both social responsibility and the stability of the corporation. In order to fully concretize its argument it will use research of Edward Freeman, Milton Friedman, and John Boatright. Stakeholder theory is one of the most well-known theories of business management. Managing for stakeholders is based on a set of relationships among groups which have a stake in the activities that make up the business. This can include but is not limited to customers, suppliers, employees, stockholders, banks, etc. Executives play an integral role in the activity of the business since they are expected to look after the health of the overall enterprise, to keep varied stakes moving in roughly the same direction, and to keep them in balance. (Freeman R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholdersp.63) Freeman explains that the primary duty of the executive is to create as much value as possible for stakeholders. Where stakeholder interests clash, the executive is required to work to find solutions and bring these interests together. Executives must understand that business is fully situated in the realm of humanity. (Freeman R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholdersp.64) The benefit of the stakeholder theory is that businesses, and the executives who manage them, actually do and should create value for customers, suppliers, employees, communities, and financiers (or shareholders). Edward Freeman explains in his paper The Purpose of the Corporation that the model of business is no longer workable, is resistant to change, not consistent with the law, and for the most part, simply ignores matters of ethics. He states, each of these flaws is fatal in the business world of the twenty-first century. (Freeman, R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholders, pp. 56) By using the stakeholder as a basic unit of analysis, it is more difficult to ignore matters of ethics. To explain this, Edward Freeman argues that the primary responsibility of the executive is to create as much value for stakeholders as possible, and that no individual stakeholders interest is more important than that of another stakeholder. This in turn guarantees the rights of all the stakeholders. T he problems that pose risk lie within the shareholders capitalism theory. Furthermore, if the stakeholder theory is examined, one would find that all stakeholders have rights and if one is denied theirs, the others are undeniably affected. Edward Freeman further supports this with an argument about character. He explains that one of the strongest arguments for stakeholder theory concerns character because it asks executives and entrepreneurs to consider the question of what kind of company they want to create and build. (Freeman, R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholders, p. 66) Finally, Freeman poses the pragmatist argument which seeks to know how we can live better, how we can create both ourselves and our communities in ways where values such as freedom and solidarity are present in our everyday lives to the maximal extent. (Freeman, R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholders, p.66). For the pragmatist, business and its close relative capitalism have evolved into a social practice, an important one that we use to create value and trade with each other. Consequ ently, the stakeholder model is always aiming to find the best possible solution for all parties involved in the corporation. Its social responsibility lies within the company as a whole. Social responsibility comes in many forms and recognizing any one form means it is required to recognize all. Conversely, Friedman states that if these are social responsibilities, they are of individuals not of a business. (Friedman, The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits, p.52) He contends that, in any situation, the executive would be spending someone elses money for the social responsibility. For example, if the executive makes expenditures on reducing pollution beyond the amount that is in the best interest of the corporation; and he then must hire hard-core unemployed applicants instead of better qualified workmen, he is spending someones money by reducing returns to stockholders for his environmental responsibility and lowering wages of some employees by spending what he would have given to a more experienced employees. According to Friedman, if the employees, stockholders, or consumers, want to spend their money towards social responsibility then it is their money and their decision. Friedman concludes his paper by stating; in my book Capitalism and Freedom, I have called it a fundamentally subversive doctrine in a free society, and have said that is such a society, there is one and only one social responsibility of business to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud. (Friedman, The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits, p.55) Friedmans point here can be used to understand the stakeholders benefit because it is its own form of social responsibility. Who is to say that social responsibility can only be defined in narrow terms? What is clear is that no one set of criteria can unequivocally define it and if under these ambiguous circumstances a corporation manages to achieve it, then it has guaranteed the rights of the stakeholders, thus creating social responsibility. Moreover, John Boatright explains that advocates of stakeholder management are correct in their insistence that the modern for-profit corporation should serve the interests of all stakeholder groups. Where stakeholder management fails is in its refusal to recognize that a business organization working in the interests of shareholders does not have to be in conflict with the interests of stakeholder groups. Boatright assumes that this failure is due in large part, to a second mistake on the part of proponents of stakeholder management. Stakeholder management assumes that management decision making is the main vehicle by which the benefits of corporate wealth creation are distributed among stakeholders, but these benefits can also be obtained in other ways; namely by groups interacting with a corporation through the market. This is where Boatright is taking a risk in his argument because he wants the corporation to obtain its benefits externally when it can be done internally. The bene fit of the stakeholder theory is that all the rights are guaranteed from the top down, top stakeholders all the way to the consumers at the bottom of the model. When all stakes have their rights preserved by the executive equally, there is no need for the corporation to act in the best interest of the shareholders solely. The managerial model positions its shareholders at the center of the firm as the principal group for managers to worry about. Increasing shareholder value has become common wisdom in modern business and many companies have instituted complex incentive compensation plans aimed at aligning the interests of executives with the interests of shareholders. (Freeman, R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholders page.57) Edward Freeman poses three arguments in regards to shareholders. Firstly, he explains that management of the firm becomes separated from the ownership of the firm and in order to be successful the top managers of the company were required to satisfy the owners, employees, suppliers, unions, and customers. If managers worried about the shareholders only, the stakeholders will in turn be harmed. When the stakeholders are harmed, the whole corporation is harmed leading to instability. From another angle, Freeman explains that the model poses harm and risk because it is so rigid. It unabashedly puts shareholders interests over and above the interests of customers, suppliers, employees, and others, as if these interests must conflict with each other. The only change that matters is the kind that is oriented toward shareholder value. In addition, Edward Freeman also explains that the law of corporations gives a less than clear answer to the question of in whose interest and for whose benefit the corporation should be governed. It has evolved to give a de facto standing to the claims of groups other than shareholders. Even more harmful is the fact that the shareholder model is not consistent with basic ethics. Practically any business decision has some ethical content or concern. Milton Friedman refers to this by stating that, responsibility of the executive is to make profits subject to law and ethical custom. The purpose of ethics is to create a better world for all of us. (Freeman, R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholders p.60) Numerous theorists have argued that the main reason that the dominant model of managing for shareholders is a good one is that it leads to the best consequences for all involved. These arguments invoke Adam Smiths idea of the invisible hand, whereby each business actor pursues her own self-interest and the greatest good of all actually emerges. (Freeman, R. E.: 2008, Managing for Stakeholders p.65) However, in reality, each business actor can have a different approach and a different idea of their own self-interest which in turn, may harm the corporation internally and externally. Although the stakeholder concept has been developed in various ways, it has expressed the moral prescription that managers, in making decisions, ought to consider the interests of all above those of the few. This is proven in the laws that have evolved to protect the interests of local communities and employees of corporations through unionization. Laws such as The Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Clean Water Act of 1977, and the Clean Air Act of 1990, all have helped stakeholders to achieve a great level of equality. The laws that are relevant to business have evolved differently around the world, to take into account the interests of groups other than just shareholders. (page 58) The dispute between stockholder and stakeholder management revolves around the question of how best to enable each stakeholder group or corporate constituency to benefit from the wealth-creating activity of business. Stakeholder management is correct in its emphasis on the moral requirement that every stakeholder group benefit from corporate activity and to make managers aware of their responsibility to create wealth for the benefit of everyone. The stakeholder management theory is superior to the shareholder theory because in such a system of corporate governance, all the groups would share the control of the firm. Hence, the interests of the involved stakes would be to maximize the profit for all stakeholders. The most important point, however, is the social responsibility of the managers to their corporations. As has been proven, the stakeholder management theory has the responsibility to assure the stakes interests and rights through a clear guideline that has been proven to work in modern day corporations.

The Grapes Of Wrath Essay: The Malice of Society -- John Steinbeck

Malice In Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, the Joad family represents the thousands of migrant families who came to the west with the fantasy of obtaining a peaceful life after the Dust Bowl. Conversely they are faced with something resembling the epitome of human cruelty. Business owners and Californians do what they can to keep the Oklahoma families from breaching the invisible line that divides the privileged and the poor. This line, which only exists in the mind, causes people to loose their sense of humanity. The following quote describes the attitude of the wealthy: â€Å"And in the little towns pity for the sodden men changed to anger† (Steinbeck 434). In the beginning of the novel, Steinbeck describes the devastating Dust bowl that settles â€Å"on the corn, on roofs,† and blankets â€Å"the weeds and trees† (Steinbeck 3). His use of imagery instantly installs the picture of destruction into the reader’s mind. The Dust Bowl is the beginning of the hardships that are to come for the migrants. There is an anecdote of a turtle who struggles to get to the other side of the road. The turtle struggles up the embankment like the families struggled to get to California. When he was trying to cross the highway he was nearly hit twice, which is similar to the business owners and Californians running over the Oklahoma people. This small chapter symbolizes the entire journey of the Joad family, in turn it symbolizes the journey of all the Oklahoma people. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. The crops eventually fell and â€Å"the owners of the land came onto the land† (Steinbeck 31). The Oklahoma families are forced to leave the land that they lived on for generations. There isn’t any negotiating. It was either flee or die of ... ...ld be compared to the story of Moses and the Hebrews. The Californians and the wealthy business owners symbolize the Pharaohs while the migrants symbolize the enslaved Hebrews. However the happy ending to Moses’ story doesn’t correspond with the ending of the Joads or other families. In the end, they are still impoverished, homeless, and hungry. While Egypt suffered plagues, the Californians and business owners suffer none. There isn’t any reason for the vindictiveness of the Californians and wealthy business owners to cease. Steinbeck uses the story of one family to ultimately cry out to everyone that â€Å"food must rot, must be forced to rot† (Steinbeck 349). The ones forcing poverty upon the migrants are the same ones sitting comfortably in their chair reading The Grapes of Wrath. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1978.

Essay --

Gender affects every aspect of our life, from how we feel about ourselves to setting goals in our lives as well as the nature of our participation in social and civic life. It has a strong influence on the way we dress to how we practice our beliefs, the way we express our feelings and the essence of all of our relationships with other people. The film First Position displays the different gender roles taken on by different children who are competing in competitive Ballet. Growing up, children are socialized into â€Å"doing their gender†, which basically means doing something that asserts your gender (Discover 215). There are many factors that come into play when children are exposed to their gender. Gender roles are learned in society through personal experience, through interaction with other people and through what children are exposed to. Children are socialized through family, friends, school, media, etc. At a young age, parents have a huge role in teaching gender to their kids and usually give their children certain clothes, toys, books, etc. based on their sex. The parents are do...

What Has Suddenly Made People Across the World Willing to Pay Three to Four Times More for a Cup of Coffee Than They Used to?

Topic: Topic Question No. 3, McDonald’s (from Week 12 case study ‘China’s Big Mac Attack’ ) and its strategic appreciation using SWOT analysis and its possible future developments -Introduction- This paper analyses possible development in McDonald’s’ future based on the strategic appreciation using SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). Firstly, the paper briefly explains the outline of the case study. Secondly, it identifies the organisation’s current mission, objectives and strategies. Then the argument moves onto SWOT analysis. In this part, the paper analyses the environment in which McDonald’s is given, and the opportunities and threats are identified. The organisation’s resources are also analysed and it identifies strengths and weaknesses. In next chapter of the paper, it conjectures possible future strategies formulated within the organisation. Subsequently, the implementation of strategies is discussed. Lastly, the evaluation of results carried out by the organization concludes this paper. The case study entitled ‘China’s Big Mac Attack’ written by James L. Watson focuses on how McDonald’s – a leading American fast-food franchise – could accomplish to break down a barrier of Eastern Asian dietary habits and expand its franchisee territories. According to the case study, McDonald’s ought to be considered not only as an outstanding international mega-hamburger chain but also as a representative of the cultural message transmitted through Hollywood and other American culture. The author points out that even though McDonald’s franchises outside the United States are mostly operated and managed by non-American franchisees, its distinguishing double arches of McDonald’s always represent the United States of America as Stars and Stripes does. This fact shows both pros and cons, which are explained later on in this paper. In China, a rise of new middle classes and its single-child family policy accelerate the expansion of McDonald’s chain, which is also caused by a rise in the amount of money and attention lavished on children. This enormous social and cultural change is certainly a reason why McDonald’s managed to have become so prominent in China. This globalization (Westernization or in other words Americanization) has also caused new type of localization. Just as any other multinationals such as Nokia, Sony, General Motors and Starbucks, McDonald’s is no longer American company but Chinese, German, Brazilian, Indian and Japanese company. The detail is explained afterwards. It also must be noticed that McDonald’s has changed people’s behaviour in China e. g. lining up when they order or wait for meals. McDonald’s stunning strategy is not only exclusive in its franchise but also its unique management system. Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Illinois – McDonald’s world-wide management training center – is designed exclusively to instruct personnel employed by McDonald's Corporation or employed by McDonald’s Independent Franchisees in the various aspects of the business. (www. mcdonald’s. com) The author notices the importance of McDonald’s in China as a public space where local students and elderly gather and socialize. McDonald’s proudly shows its highly guaranteed food quality management. This trust also helped McDonald’s to become a dominant fast food chain in China. An imitation of brand image and products is considered to be harmful and aging population due to single-child family policy may well require McDonald’s to change its customer target segment. What’s McDonald’s’ current mission, objectives and strategies? Every organization holds its own mission, objectives and strategies – so does McDonald’s. McDonald’s was firstly founded in Illinois, the United States, in order to provide affordable meals to everyone anywhere. As the company grows, the company has continuously developed its brand image and moved its customer target segment onto children. (http://www. mcspotlight. org/media/press/index_mcds. shtml) The child-friendly atmosphere and its family-oriented space provided by McDonald’s has amazed substantial number of customers. McDonald’s greedily sought after its market overseas. According to the case study, McDonald’s today has more than 25000 outlets in 119 countries, and most of the corporation’s revenues now come from operations outside the United states, and a new restaurant opens somewhere in the world every 17 hours. Above all, it is most likely that McDonald’s current objective is to acquire the market share and pursue further establishment and standardization of its strong brand image. As strategies, recently McDonald’s rapidly expands its market share in developing countries as depicted in the case studies in China, Russia and East Europe and moreover India. It uses the image of a lighter side of American sub culture and represents a ‘gate to the world’ for customers mainly in developing countries. As to be shown in its clean toilet policy, shops are kept clean and they create a good family-friendly atmosphere. On the top of it, its strict food safe guarantee system is one of the stunning strategies of MacDonald’s. Mac’s child-friendly strategy is a key of its expansion strategy. American-style birthday parties, Ronald Room, toys and happy meals are concrete examples of the strategy. Also ‘localization’ policy must be noticed at this stage. James Cantalupo, the president of McDonald’s Corporation, remarks that his strategy is to become as much a part of local culture as possible and protests when people call McDonald’s a multinational or transnational. I like to call us multilocal,† he told The Christian Science Monitor in 1991. The another eminent strategy introduced by McDonald’s is ‘self-service’. Customers line up, self-seat and clean up by themselves. It facilitates customer rotation within shops and enables cost-saving shop keepings. SWOT analysis consists of an organisation’s strengths and weaknesses, and its e nvironmental opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis is useful to identify a strategic niche that the organization might exploit. [pic] Identifying the organization’s opportunities Firstly, the environment in which McDonald’s is given varies from place to place. Analysing the environment is a critical component of the strategy process since successful companies have a strategy that aligns well with the environment. Wherever people dwell in the world, there is always a demand for fast food restaurant. McDonald’s main consumer target, middle-classed family, is everywhere in any countries. Thinking of other competitors within the same market such as Hungry Jacks (Burger King), Jack in the Box and KFC, McDonald’s focuses more on the children as a target rather than the other age groups. This can differentiate McDonald’s from other fast food chains. The external environment seems to be best-suited to MacDonald’s. (see ‘opportunities in the environment’ in the above figure. ) Secondly, resources that McDonald’s acquires are well-known brand name, distinguishingly unique, safe and nutritious food, an abundant workforce supply due to its relatively easy manual work, and its strong franchising management system. As stated above, McDonald’s has achieved to build its powerful brand name over years and its trust, reputation and core customers are considered as precious assets of the company. The fact that anyone can open a new McDonald’s anywhere using its strong brand name facilitates its fast growth. Its original franchise management theory is also one of the resources McDonald’s owns. (see ‘organisation’s resources/abilities in the above figure. ) According to the environment and resources noticed above, the organisation’s opportunities are determined. (see ‘Organisation’s opportunities in the above figure. ) Positive American image is one of the positive external environmental factors. So is wide recognition of its brand image. But more importantly, an ease of access reasonable part-time workforce specializing manual work, the fact that it only needs limited ingredients available everywhere such as potato, chicken, etc should be remarked. Especially, in a developing country such as China, the radical social change can be an opportunity for McDonald’s. As noticed above, single-child policy and a rise of middle classes and a collapse of outdated Confucian family system resulted from rapid expansion of McDonald’s in China. On the contrary to this, there are some threats – negative external environmental factors. Being a representative of American cultural imperialism can be harmful when a strong Anti-Americanism outbreaks outside the U. S.. MacDonald’s in Mexico City, Rome, Macao, Rio de Janeiro, Prague, London, Jakarta and Beijing have been attacked and boycotted by protestors. Another environmental threat is its food safety. Mad Cow disease and Foot and Mouth disease caused a slaughter of thousands of livestock in Europe. The market has been immensely damaged including a supply chain of Mac’s ingredients. There is a big concern for franchisees of McDonald’s in China i. e. rapid aging population caused by single-child family policy. This rapid environmental change may well eventually force MacDonald’s to switchover its targeted customers to elderly people. The plagiarism of McDonald’s idea and strategies done by the competitors is also considered as a critical threat. Some fast food chains can be mighty rivals for McDonald’s if they tried to be more localized and lower the price. Strengths (activities the firm does well or resources it controls) of McDonald’s are its promotion strategy mainly focusing on children, being capable to provide the same menus, tastes and design of shops all over the world, and its strict quality control not only over food quality but also over quality of shops. A huge customer capacity and its fast rotation generate a massive amount of sales in a short time. Talking about weaknesses of McDonald’s, it is firstly pointed out that a typical image of McDonald’s is ‘junk food’. It means that the food obtained at McDonald’s is unhealthy, bad for diet, tasteless and low quality. As many can easily realize that McDonald’s cannot compete with luxurious cuisine restaurants in terms of its variety, taste, quality, nutrition and luxurious image. Those who care for health and weight may try to avoid McDonald’s due to its ‘junk food’ preconception. SWOT analysis and grand strategies Valuable strengths Critical weaknesses Abundant environmentalcritical environmental opportunities threats Now, based on the above-stated SWOT analysis, possible developments in the organisation’s future are outlined. According to the SWOT analysis, and other investigation into Mac’s activities, McDonald’s is currently implementing ‘Corporate Growth Strategies’ which is placed in the left above of the figure above. It is acquiring valuable strengths and abundant environmental opportunities. Since McDonald’s’ market share is rapidly growing, McDonald’s may well be taking corporate growth strategies until it reaches a maturity stage or moves onto a decline stage. McDonald’s is still one of the fastest growing companies and considered to be on a growth stage. The corporate strategies implemented by McDonald’s are still active and it will most likely hold current strategies in the future. By implementation of its strategies, McDonald’s will seek markets mainly in developing countries as its markets in developed countries are mostly saturated. Next possible destinations may include South-East Asia, Sub-continental region, South America and East Europe including Russia. It might firstly emphasis its American image initially then it will be eventually localized and integrated into each of the societies naturally as it is perfectly exemplified in China. -Conclusion- Consequently, the possible results, which McDonald’s will show are evaluated. This Mac type globalization is not exclusive to fast food chain. It is also observed in other industries, for example, computer and communication industries. McDonald’s is no longer small company, which is always influenced by the environment it is given but conversely, it can change and influence the environment itself. McDonald’s will continue to expand itself until people start becoming satiated with its tastes and image or a strong rival against McDonald’s emerges. But McDonald’s will probably change the strategies or its targeted customers in order to survive. Even if McDonald’s starts declining, the strategies used by McDonald’s will never be forgotten since they are one of the most prominent and effective management strategies ever to have been established. BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOK Robbins, S. , Bergman, R. , Stagg, I. , Coulter, M. , 2000. MANAGEMENT 2ND EDITION. NSW: Pearson Education Australia Pty Ltd. JORNAL Watson, J, W. , May-June 2000. ‘China’s Big Mack Attack’ Foreign Affairs. Pp. 120-134. WEB SITES http://www. mcdonalds. com/ http://www. media. mcdonalds. com/secured/index. html http://www. mcspotlight. org/media/press/index_mcds. shtml ———————– Corporate growth strategies McDonald’s Corporate stability strategies Corporate stability strategies Corporate retrenchment strategies Firm Status Environmental Status

Marvin Bower

The late Marvin Bower, who transformed McKinsey & Co. into one of the best management consulting firms in the world, said that the â€Å"ability to inspire and require workers to be their best is the greatest resource of any business, and that the rewards for doing so include growth for the business itself, and growth in competitive position, size, and profits† (Edersheim, 2004, p. 65). Much literature about theories of motivation and work relate to the subject of inspiring employees to do their best (Gagne and Deci, 2005; Ambrose and Kulik, 1999). This paper explores how managers can use theories of motivating employees to make the workplace better, more profitable, and efficient. A manager’s job is to get things done through their employees, so knowing how to motivate employees is always a challenge that has never been easy. Many changes driven by worldwide social and economic forces are happening at the workplace. The end of the Cold War in the early 1990s and the globalization of businesses are transforming corporations – public and private, large and small – in a radical way (Stiglitz, 2002). Global competition and the rise of democracy are pressuring companies to be more competitive, agile, and lean, changing the nature of organizational structures and the relationships between managers and workers (Micklethwait & Wooldridge, 2000). Another change agent is the progress of information and communications technology, especially the Internet and mobile computing, which has altered the nature of communication within the organization and the quality of the workforce. Workers are more educated and knowledgeable, able to gain quick access to information and perform knowledge-based tasks in an atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration (Heerwagen, Kelly, & Kampshroer, 2005). As the workplace structure and the workers themselves change, management faces the problem posed by Gerstner (2002) after a successful ten-year effort to bring IBM Corporation out of a crisis: -How do you pull the levers of motivation to change the attitudes, behavior, and thinking of a population? Of course, different people are motivated by different things. Some by money. Some by advancement. Some by recognition. For some, the most effective motivation is fear – or anger. For others, that doesn’t (sic) work; it’s learning, or the opportunity to make an impact, to see their efforts produce concrete results. Most people can be roused by the threat of extinction. And most can be inspired by a compelling vision of the future. Over the past ten years, I’ve pulled most of those levers (p. 203). Effectively changing the attitudes, behavior, and thinking of workers demands that a manager knows what levers of motivation to pull in the first place. Much research has been done to identify empirically-proven theories and methods that managers can use to motivate their employees (Gagne and Deci, 2005, p. 333). Maslow proposed that a person is motivated by satisfying five levels of human needs: (1) physiological (hunger and thirst); (2) safety (bodily); (3) social (friendship and affiliation); (4) esteem (for oneself and others); and (5) self-actualization (growth and realization of potential) (Chapman, 2004a). Herzberg stated that work satisfaction results from the presence of hygiene factors like salary, status, working conditions, supervisor and management, security, relationship with subordinates, and policies, and motivational factors like achievement, recognition, work itself, responsibility, advancement, and personal growth. A worker will be satisfied if the motivation factors are met (Chapman, 2004c). According to Adams’s Equity Theory, what workers put into their work (inputs) is fairly balanced with what they expect to get out of it (outputs). Motivation will get the most out of employee inputs like personal effort and hard work by making the employee see it balanced by outputs (salary, benefits, and intangibles like praise and achievement) (Chapman, 2004b). Vroom’s Expectancy Theory states that three factors should be present for motivation to take place: valence (value placed on the expected reward), expectancy (belief that efforts are linked to performance), and instrumentality (belief that performance is related to rewards). Knowing each employee’s valence and expectancy, and showing the instrumentality between the two, will help the manager trigger the motivation of the employee. Porter and Lawler built on Vroom’s theory by proposing a model of intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, which states that people are intrinsically motivated if they do something they find interesting and from which they derive satisfaction, and that people are extrinsically motivated if they do the activity because they are satisfied with the tangible or verbal rewards attached (Gagne and Deci, 2005, p. 331). Schwab (1985) equates this with Herzberg’s motivation (intrinsic) and hygiene (extrinsic) factors but contemporary authors claim that it is closer to Vroom’s Expectancy Theory (Ambrose and Kulik, 1999, p. 257). All these theories may be said to be based on Skinner’s reinforcement theory, which states that behavior can be shaped, changed or maintained through the use of positive and negative reinforcement, implying that a person can behave in a certain way through the use of motivational levers. Motivation can be used to improve employee performance and productivity. As Bruce and Pepitone (1999, pp. 38-42) point out, employees can be motivated to do their work better, that is, improve their work performance, and to work more efficiently and more effectively, that is, improve their productivity. One way is to share information (like profit and loss or quality of service) on how your department is doing in comparison with others in or outside the company. Asking employees to help you solve a problem appeals to their need for self-actualization (Maslow) and helps them set high personal standards of growth and potential. You may motivate them with bonuses (Vroom’s rewards or Adams’s outputs) they will get if performance improves.   Use the tools depending on what you think your employees need. This first step can make your employees want to improve their performance and be more productive. Getting employees warmed up is good, but it is not enough. After getting them initially motivated, the manager has to help each one establish and achieve higher goals. Motivation can be a useful tool in goal-setting by pointing out targets that will bring employees out of their comfort zones to attain personal growth. Hiam (1999, pp. 213-216), warning us against confusing goal-setting sessions with employee manipulation, states that the motivational key is to make employee realize that aiming for a higher goal is good for different reasons, presenting both tangible (pay raise and bonus) and intangible (self-esteem and personal growth) rewards. Some employees are motivated by financial rewards, but many are equally motivated by seeing that their work is meaningful (Hiam, 1999, p. 222). In discussing the rewards of work, Bruce and Pepitone (1999, p.53) state that if employees are properly motivated and helped by their managers to aim for higher goals and succeed in achieving it, employees will feel that the work they do is fun and enjoyable, making it part of the reward itself that they are willing to share with the organization.   In effect, work becomes its own reward. Heller (1998, p.43) adds that motivation is a useful tool not only when setting higher work performance goals but in assessing the success or failure of employee efforts. Employee evaluation and assessment can be a forum for further motivation in two areas: to encourage the employee to build on strengths and accomplishments, leading the way for higher levels of future performance, or for helping the employee overcome personal weaknesses that hamper job performance. Through the use of positive reinforcement (praise and encouragement for success and achievement) and negative reinforcement (suggestions for improvement or behavioral change), managers can sustain organizational morale and help employees overcome falling enthusiasm or a lack of personal ambition. Hiam (1999, p. 122) notes that positive feedback (â€Å"You can do it because you’re good enough †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) is more motivating than negative feedback (â€Å"Why can’t you do something that others can?†) and encourages managers to use positive reinforcement to build up employee motivation and morale, although negative reinforcement (not the same as negative feedback) may be helpful for disciplining or correcting employees. Boosting self-confidence is one of the best ways to maintain high levels of motivation in employees (Bruce & Pepitone, 1999, p. 114). The reason is that people grow in confidence when they see that someone, especially one in a position of authority, believes in them. This creates expectations that, as we learn from Vroom and Porter, motivate people. Therefore, a manager who believes in his employees can sustain high levels of motivation. Doing the opposite (showing lack of confidence and trust) can be fatal for the organization and the career of a manager whose task is to motivate and, therefore, trust and believe in his employees. It is a scientifically-proven fact that men and women are different (Ridley, 1999). They differ also in their motivation styles. Several studies (Su and Bradberry, 2004; Marano, 2003; Sachs, 1995) show how women and men differ (for example, women are more intuitive and perceptive, while men are more systematic and rules-based) in their communication and social skills, vital for the process of motivation. While men find it easier to motivate using the basic needs and tangible rewards, and women may be better at using higher level needs and intangible factors, all good managers, regardless of gender, should combine the ability to motivate using all the tools available (Gerstner, 2002; Sachs, 1995). References Ambrose, M. L. & Kulik, C. T. (1999). Old friends, new faces: motivation research in the 1990s.   Journal of Management. 25, 231-292. Bruce, A. and Pepitone, J. (1999).   Motivating Employees.   New York: McGraw-Hill. Chapman, A.   (2004a).   Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.   Retrieved November 11, 2005, from http://www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm Chapman, A. (2004b).   Adams’ Equity Theory. Retrieved November 11, 2005, from   http://www.businessballs.com/adamsequitytheory.htm Chapman, A.   (2004c).   Frederick Herzberg’s Motivational Theory. Retrieved November 11, 2005, from http://www.businessballs.com/herzberg.htm Edersheim, E. H.   (2004).   McKinsey’s Marvin Bower.   Vision, Leadership, and the Creation of Management Consulting.   (pp. 41-65).   New Jersey: John Wiley. Gagne, M. and Deci, E.L. (2005).   Self-determination theory and work motivation.   Journal of Organizational Behavior.   26, 331-362. Retrieved November Gerstner, L. V. Jr. (2002).   Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?   (p. 203). New York: HarperCollins. Heerwagen, J., Kelly, K., and Kampshroer, K. (2005).   The Changing Nature of Organizations, Work, and Workplace. National Institute of Building Sciences.   Retrieved November 12, 2005, from http://www.wbdg.org/design/chngorgwork.php Heller, R. (1998).   Essential Managers: Motivating People. (1st American ed.)   D. Tombesi-Walton (Ed.). New York: DK. Hiam, A. (1999).   Streetwise Motivating and Rewarding Employees.   Holbrook, MA: Adams. Marano, H. E. (July-August 2003). The New Sex Scorecard. Psychology Today.   Retrieved November 15, 2005, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-2832.html Micklethwait, J. and Wooldridge, A.   (2000).   A Future Perfect.   The Challenge and Hidden Promise of Globalization. (pp. 122-139). New York: Crown. Ridley, M. (1999).   Genome, The autobiography of a species in 23 chapters. (pp. 216-218). New York: HarperCollins. Sachs, M. (1995). Men and women communication styles. Retrieved November 14, 2005, from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5280.html Schwab, D. P. (1985).   Motivation in Organizations.   In L. R. Bittel and J. E. Ramsey (Eds.), Handbook for Professional Managers. (p. 585).   New York: McGraw-Hill. Stiglitz, J. E.   (2002).   Globalization and its Discontents.   (pp. 21-22). London: Penguin. Su, L. D. and Bradberry, T. (2004).   EQ and Gender: Women Feel Smarter.   Retrieved November 15, 2005, from   https://www.talentsmart.com/media/uploads/EQ_and_Gender.pdf Wikipedia (2005).   Retrieved November 12, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/   

Race and Your Community

I live in Charlotte North Carolina; I just purchased a home in a community called Ballantyne. This community is on what we consider the south side of Charlotte. In February of this year, members of my community were told that there was going to be a public housing development built on a seven acre lot that has been vacant for many years. An emergency community meeting was called; several of my neighbors packed the room, all wanting information about what and where Charlotte’s next public housing development could be built. Many were concerned, especially those living close to the lot that is said to be the land used for the housing development. If Charlotte’s Housing Authority and a local developer are successful in getting their way the development will provide housing for 100 people who fall below Charlotte’s average income. This idea caused more chaos in an evening meeting that I’ve experienced in a life time. Based on the information that I gathered before my departure, the primary concern was because the development would be built within feet of the Ballantyne Country Club. Is it me or is the influence of race stronger for the population that’s greater because of numbers on this side of town? After this meeting I began to notice the difference in me and them. Even had a mother approach me in the grocery store in attempt to apologize for some of my neighbor’s behavior. I simply expressed my appreciation for her concern and carried on with what I was doing before her approach. When asked the question do the members of my community look like me, I immediately want to respond by saying why yes they do; we all have one head, two arms, two hands, two legs and two feet. However, I am beginning to look a little closer at myself and the difference between me and my neighbors. When I am looked at by many, it can be a little confusing; I have the hair of an American Indian, the eyes, which have sometimes been referred to as those of an Asian, the lips, ears and nose of a Caucasian, and the breast, hips, thighs and legs of an African American. My skin, well it’s a mixture of all the fore mentioned, my grandmother use to say my complexion was olive, now that’s one of few things that I begged to differ with her on, because I’m everything but, a shade of green. So now you’re probably wondering, â€Å"What am I? † I will tell you what I am not, and that is confused. On many occasions, I have always been one who selected other when it came to completing this section of an application; not because I was or am trying to be difficult, it’s just that there are no slots for an Asian, African, Caucasian, Indian girl to pick from, so I write it all out. Now, do my neighbors look like me? The answer is No, there are only a very few who look like me, and more than likely, those that do, we are related in some form or fashion. However, my community is one that is diverse; we have individuals from all walks of life, and from all over the world. There is a great mixture of race and cultures in my neighborhood. Some time ago the neighborhood that I live in was made up predominantly of white Americans. As time has progressed and America has made drastic changes in cultural acceptance our community has become one that is diverse. The leaders in my community treat people like me, and others with a great deal of respect. I have never experienced a problem personally or know of any other neighbors who have mentioned any problems with community leaders. The indifferences that I witnessed were those of others in the area when the mentioning of a low-income housing development was discussed amongst many, to the point where a meeting was called and the topic was discussed openly with all the residents of this area. Although many had previously been accused of making negative comments about the development, when the formal meeting was called, those with the problems were respectful of the officiators of the meeting, as they are residents in our community too. With this being said, the community leaders do not treat any of the people of my community different, they show us all the same amount of respect. They make me feel welcomed whenever I participate in any events, and on many occasions, they’ve made me feel needed when it comes to our children at the community center. When I mentioned to my neighbor, the assignment that I had to write about, she and I came inside and answered many of these questions together. Ann, is white and has been a member of this neighborhood since its creation, in fact, the neighborhood was named after her grandfather and his brothers. She has mentioned to me that she remembers when the neighborhood was all white, no others races or cultures for miles. She states that she enjoys the neighborhood now because she is able to experience more with the variety of people here. She has even mentioned that she feels safer here now than ever before, not that the area has ever had a major problem with crime, or any other problems, but she states that she knows that if anything goes on or wrong that we are less likely to feel like it was a crime against our neighborhood because of color, creed or culture. When I asked Ann how did she feel about our community leaders, she sniggled, and said; â€Å"Guess one of them does make me feel some kind of way, I’ve been married to him for 22 years! † My dear friend Ann has helped me with the answer to the question, â€Å"How do leaders of your community treat people who are like you? † In giving my answer I have to say with the upmost respect. They make me more than proud to be a part of this beautiful community. Other members of my community have never shown me any reason that I should be concerned with them or how well they treat others that may live outside of our community. However, as mentioned several times throughout this paper, the meeting about the housing development for low income families caused concern. They argued that they didn’t want this development in our area as it would decrease property value, because multi-family dwellings are in designated areas and not near the country club or golf course. They also mentioned that this would cause overcrowding in the public schools; which is certainly not an issue, as many of the children in this area attend private schools. They mentioned that there were not enough sidewalks and public transportation is limited. When I mentioned that this project would indeed cause a change in our community, but it would be good to have people of all income levels in the area, all other sides of town have these housing projects, so it’s only fair that the south side of Charlotte begin to pull a little weight. This was not liked nor accepted by a few, there were even some hecklers that mentioned that I allow them to live in my backyard. For the first time, in my history of living in this area, I experienced what some may consider racism or stereotyping. Although, it was not directed towards me, I still felt the pain that so many others in these type situations may have felt or are feeling. The question, do your text or work manuals contain information by or about people like me? Caused me to really stop and think. I have never really paid attention to who wrote the manuals for my development. Honestly, the way it is written I can not decipher the person or people’s race that put the manual, pamphlets, or leaflets together. However, there were many important factors that went into deciding where I wanted to live; for example the schools, the development is close to where I work, it is close to downtown, it is appealing to the suburban lifestyle, the recreation opportunities for me as well as my children, and our development is close to the airport. In my opinion, anyone that moved here for these reasons is just like me. Fortunately, there are no concepts of the manuals or texts that relate specifically to race. The local media in Charlotte NC represents all people. I am not an individual who watches the news frequently as I prefer not to because it seems that there is always some sort of chaos, turmoil, or other stories that don’t always have an ending that leaves one in a peaceful state of mind. On the occasions, that I have taken the time to read or watch the local news channel I am proud to say that both are operated in a manner that appears diverse. While writing this paper I specifically stopped and watched the local news channel and it seems as though the anchor men and women are individuals that portray themselves in a manner that make it impossible to tell their cultural backgrounds. I assume it is this way so that they don’t appear bias or as individuals leaning in one way or another to a specific ethnicity or race. One of the main similarities between me and the community leaders is the fact that they are also neighbors. These individuals’ names are known in all households in this area. They have taken the time to make themselves seen and to let all the residents in this community know that they are readily available to assist with any matter, be it big or small. One of the main things that made me pick this particular development is when I wanted to see the inside of a model home that was not available, the community leader that I spoke of previously, was called and came to take me on a tour of her own home, which was the exact model that I wanted to see. After the walk-thru she took the time to sit down and encourage me as to why living in this neighborhood would be an excellent choice for me and my children. Although, I’d lost my husband tragically in an automobile accident, I knew that I’d be making the right choice picking this particular area. The only difference between me and the rest of the community leaders is the fact that we are individual people, we all have our own likes as well as our own dislikes. There is only one thing that makes me different from my community’s leaders, and the majority of my neighbors is that I am a widow. Yet, I have this in common with a few of the elderly residents in my area. When speaking of minority groups in my area, the first thought that comes to mind is the number of women who live here, then other races, and ethnicities. I have to admit I am not concerned about there being a lack of representation for any minority in this area. As stated in the opening paragraph the only inequity that concerned me was when developers wanted to build public housing in this area the out lash of some of the individuals that live in this area. However, the issue has since been resolved, the conclusion: â€Å"People who are in favor of the Ballantyne Crossing complex say there's a need for affordable housing for people who work in Ballantyne, who want to live there as well. † (Warren Cooksey representative of the Balllantyne area on the Charlotte City Council-WCNC News 36). References http://www.richferretti.com/ballantyne-nc.asp