Why I Enjoy School

Although many people, including myself, say that they hate school, it is one of the most meaningful places in my life. When I say school, I’m referring to Interlake High School (IHS). Yes of course school may be boring or hard but it has made me the person I am today. School is meaningful to me because of the friends and memories I have made, because it has made me the person I am today, and it is leading me to my future and who I will become. My absolute favorite part about school is the people. Through the 3 years that I have been at Interlake, I have made many friends. Some friends have come and gone, but nonetheless my friends are what make me look forward to coming to school every day. Before I came to Interlake, I was a student in the Snoqualmie Valley School District. I had gone to school with the same kids from kindergarten all the way up until 8th grade. Originally, Mt Si HS was supposed to be the high school that I was going to attend, but once I graduated from 8th grade my parents decided to transfer me to Interlake. I’m glad they did this because the friends I have made at Interlake are 100 times better than any of the friends I ever had growing up in the Snoqualmie Valley School District. I cherish all the friends that I have made at Interlake because without them, I could be a completely different person right now. All together, friends are the number one reason why school is so meaningful to me. Another reason why school is meaningful to me is because it has made me the person I am today. In addition to my friends influencing my path is who I am today, I have also changed due to other acquaintances I have made, and some of the teachers at Interlake. One thing I love about some of the teachers at Interlake is how chill they are. Usually some teachers would try to be an authoritative force that controls the classroom, but certain teachers at Interlake make me feel comfortable in the environment that I’m in and in return I am able to talk with them without being scared of what they may say. When talking to my teachers, some have told me when I’m getting out of line or if I’m changing in a negative way and it really helps me stay on track and not lose focus. What also helps me stay on track are some of the other people at Interlake. Certain individuals at Interlake are menaces to society, and are likely not going to have a very successful future. These individuals influence me on who I want to become because they provide a template on what I shouldn’t do. Even though many others including myself may dislike these individuals as people, I appreciate them for what they have taught me what not to do. Without Interlake HS and the people in it, I may be a completely different person. Lastly, Interlake high school is meaningful to me because it (in addition to college) is what is going to lead me into the rest of my life. In a nutshell, Interlake has given me an education. It didn’t just give me an average education, but a top tier education due to the fact that Interlake is one of the top schools in the state. Again, I was supposed to attend Mt Si high school, but instead I came to Interlake because the academics are at a much higher level than at Mt Si. This education I have acquired is what is going to lead me into the college I am going to. If I had gone to Mt Si, my grades could have been different which would have affected the college that I may get accepted to this upcoming winter and spring. Who is to say what would have happened, but I know in my heart that coming to Interlake has set me up for a better future than what I would have become if I had gone to Mt Si. Lastly, Interlake is meaningful to me because public school in America is free. I appreciate this because not all countries have such accessibility that America does in our schooling system. In conclusion, Interlake is meaningful to me because of the friends I have made, the things that have influenced me to become the person I am today, and because of how its going to influence my future. Without Interlake I could have had completely different friends, been a completely different person, and could have had a completely different future.

Social Norms Essay

Social norms are rules of certain kind of behavior that society uses to evaluate the population and provides normalcy. When it comes to responding to the breaking of social norms people have different ways to cope or react to it. Some reactions can be pleasant, some could be horrible or even judgmental. Some people believe breaking a social norm could be needed to help govern or control the society. On the other hand others believe breaking social norms are un-normal and that no one should break those rules. There are so many social norms that sometimes it feels impossible not to break any. Many social norms like walking on the wrong side of the sidewalk, talking to yourself in public, or even not wearing the same clothes everyone else thinks is cool could be a tremendous norm broken in today’s young society. An everyday norm would be wearing a clean shirt, but when you break that norm by not wearing a clean shirt, it was a drastic shock to the people that are stuck in the soc ieties mold. What if wearing a stained shirt was the normal thing to do for a certain person or group of persons? Are the people stuck in societies mold wrong for thinking their norm is correct? There really is no wrong or right answer to those questions because my normal way of looking at things may not be the same as the next persons. When doing my experiment of â€Å"breaking the social norm† by wearing a stained t-shirt I wasn’t really sure what to expect from most people, especially from the strangers. Most reactions I planned on receiving were all negative, let’s face the facts if you’re not up to par with society then you’re bound to get looked down on or belittled. The negative results outweigh the positive any day but there were positive and helpful reactions. I was really baffled from some of the positive reactions because I wasn’t expecting them. Some people reacted in a very stereotypical way that most in society would have react ed. My first reaction took place in the local Wal-Mart. As I walked into the store on February 26, 2014 around Five-thirty, I walked passed many gazing eyes that seemed to have confused looks on their faces. Well the stain made me feel like a target with an X in the middle. The feeling of being stared at I was certainly ready for. Just like in chapter one the sociological imagination connects to the personal troubles of public issues, which in this case my shirt was the public issues and norm I broke. People’s first reaction was to talk about me as I passed them. For example, one man about six feet tall, white, and stalky asked his wife â€Å"if I was blind and didn’t see the big stain on my shirt†. His reaction was a norm in itself. Peoples normal reaction when they see something that’s not normal is to gossip or talk about one another. My second reaction or run in happened in Wal-Mart also the same day. I walked into the milk department a young African American lady about five feet tall, long hair, and employee at Wal-Mart. She stared for a second and started to giggle as she giggled I tried to keep a straight face but at the same time I laughed a little bit myself. In her words she then asked me† if I knew that I had a hideous looking stain on my shirt†? I then replied with a shocking what are you talking about and kept walking. As I left the store there were still those gazing eyes as if I was a killer or some sort of illegal object. My first reactions to the people’s opinions in Wal-Mart were mutual. I went in already knowing people were going to talk about me behind my back so I didn’t really take the talking about me to heart. The situation with the young lady by the milk was a much unexpected reaction if you asked me. I’ve never had anyone I didn’t know really laugh at me in my face because of my physical traits or clothing. I feel that the man with his wife should have let me know something if he really wanted to help me out about getting the stained shirt cleaned up. Someone who wants to help to fix a problem will be very truthful with you but that’s only if they truly want to help. Another reaction happened in my neighborhood on February 28, 2014 around six o’clock. My neighbor and older man about sixty years old thought had been kicked out my home and was physically hurt. He didn’t say anything to me as I walked passed his house a few times until the last time I walked by he asked â€Å"if I needed him to call 911†. Now I was truly shocked at these accusations from the man because I never thought anyone really mistake the stain as blood. My reaction to the man’s comments were very brief because I didn’t want to give away that it wasn’t real. I just let him know that I was fine and didn’t need anything. I walked to a local 7-11 also to see people’s reaction that was familiar with my face. Some people even offered me money during this part of this test. As I sat on the ledge next to the store many people walked by with very disordered faces as if they saw a ghost. A young girl maybe 14 years of age walked up to me and offered me money and a sandwich which really made have a confused look on my face. I knew I wasn’t poor or homeless but the stain and the disorder of my outfit made the young girl feel bad for me as if I was homeless. I was shocked but then again I wasn’t because most people do stereotype against others sitting outside of a store with nasty looking clothes. So I didn’t really take the charity to heart but I didn’t accept the money either. While experimenting on breaking social norms I had reacted different on every occasion and I received some sort of different reactions from all of these strangers. I didn’t agree on all of the reactions but I had to suck it up knowing those were normal everyday reactions from people. The live reactions all connected in some way to the previous chapters and notes that were reviewed in class. The reaction from the young girl giving me money connects to people being stereotypical. Sociological Perspective connects to all of the people who reacted to my stain because sociological Perspective is the social contexts in which we all live in. Sociologist C Wright Mills stated that â€Å"sociological perspective allows us to gasp the connection between history and biography†. (Wright 1959: 4, 5-7). Which means that each society is located in a broad stream of events. Which means that each society has its own characteristics. Wearing clean clothes and walking on the right side of the sidewalk would be our characteristic here in America. This connects back to how me wearing a stained shirt is not history that us human beings are used to. You can compare many broken social norms and different reactions all day but can we honestly say that every reaction will be the same? No I don’t think everyone will be the same but most will be the same because that’s just how our society works. Breaking social norms can be done and usually is done every day by people but we just have to keep pushing to be better and understand. Social norms are created to mold society and how people live in the society. Remember social norms don’t make or create people it just creates a better or worst environment around you and your peers. .

A Comparison of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Abortion

A Comparison of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Abortion Abstract The topic of abortion has been a controversial subject for many years. The people for or against it have split into two groups, pro- life and pro-choice. The main topic of discussion about this is when does life begin and when is it appropriate for abortion to be done, if it is appropriate or okay at any time at all. There has been many facts and reasons for why or why not abortion should be done. These will be found in the following paper. Keywords: pro life, pro choice, abortion. Pro Life vs Pro Choice: When does life begin? The debate over whether or not abortion should be a legal option continues to divide many Americans, even after the US Supreme Court’s ruling declaring that abortion is a fundamental right† for women nationwide. People that agree with this, referred to as pro-choice, believe that abortion is a right that should not be limited by the government or any religious authority. They also say that pregnant women with unwanted pregnancies will succumb to unsafe illegal abortions if there is no legal option available to them (Should Abortion, 2013). People against this identifying themselves as pro-life, saying that ‘personhood’ begins at conception, thus meaning abortion is the immoral killing of an innocent human being. It is also said by â€Å"pro-lifers† that abortion inflicts suffering on the unborn child, and also that it isn’t fair to allow abortion when couples who cannot biologically conceive are waiting to adopt (Head, 2013). It has been said in many articles that abortion is wrong, and all of them give ideally the same reasons as said before. One article in particular however shows the change of a person from pro-choice, to pro-life. It tells the story of a pro-choice medical student that after his experience of witnessing an abortion quickly changed his opinion on the matter. Terzo’s witness of the abortion was following (2013): When I entered the operating room, it felt like any other I had ever been in. On the table in front of me, I saw a woman, legs up as if delivering a child although she was asleep. Next to her was a tray of instruments for the abortion and a vacuum machine for suctioning the fetal tissues from the uterus. The doctors put on their gowns and masks and the procedure began. The cervix was held open with a crude metal instrument and a large transparent tube was stuck inside of the woman. Within a matter of seconds, the machine’s motor was engaged and blood, tissue, and tiny organs were pulled out of their environment into a filter. A minute later, the vacuum choked to a halt. The tube was removed, and stuck to the end was a small body and a head attached haphazardly to it, what was formed of the neck snapped. The ribs had formed with a thin skin covering them, the eyes had formed, and the inner organs had begun to function. The tiny heart of the fetus, obviously a little boy, had ju st stopped — forever. The vacuum filter was opened, and the tiny arms and legs that had been torn off of the fetus were accounted for. The fingers and toes had the beginnings of their nails on them. The doctors, proud of their work, reassembled the body to show me. Tears welled up in my eyes as they removed the baby boy from the table and shoved his body into a container for disposal. He goes on saying that most people who are pro-choice as he was before, are only pro choice because they do not know what is happening in that operating room, and if they did they would most certainly become pro-life, if not in it’s entirety, then simply in the abortion aspect of it. There is another article that give insight into the argument of â€Å"when does life really begin?† It was said that even pro choice philosophers agree that life begins at fertilization. According to Wilcox (2013), â€Å"They grow through cellular reproduction and division, they metabolize food for energy, and they respond to stimuli. In fact, the only thing the unborn need to survive are adequate nutrition, a proper environment, and an absence of fatal threats. That’s all any of us need. There is no point in human development at which the developing entity goes from non-life to living†. The artcle continues to state that since life does begin at fertilization that abortion is the immoral killing of human beings and should not be legal. My reaction to this simply, why does it affect them? Whether it is their moral belief, philosophical belief, or scientific belief, the actions of others outside their immediate group or family will most likely not affect them. To me it almost as if they are trying to push their moral belief on someone and persuade everyone to believe what they believe, this cannot always happen. Who gives someone the right to tell someone whether or not they can legally decide to bring a life into the world, the government? Why is the government revisiting an issue that was seemingly resolved before in another case? Is this an attempt to even further control the population? I am asking these questions because it is literally impossible to have everyone be happy, even in a compromise, both parties is not totally getting what they wanted. So, in my opinion, I think that the lawfulness of abortion should be left alone. It has been working fine, and although everyone is not happy, it is too controversial of a subject that should not be touched again.

Argumentive Research Paper on why and how cellphones negatively affect Annotated Bibliography

Argumentive Research Paper on why and how cellphones negatively affect teenagers - Annotated Bibliography Example The teenagers use cell phones in school, at home, during dates, at meetings, and other social gatherings. The writer affirms that the visually impaired teenager should reduce the use of cell phones to allowable levels. If possible, the visually impaired teenagers should use the cell phones during emergencies. Another article shows that detrimental effects of teenagers using cell phones (Strayer 128). A research conducted on teenagers driving cars proved the use of cell phones is dangerous. With the teenagers focused on driving their cars through the busy streets, the teenager is caught between answering the cell phone while driving and trying to prevent a car accident. With the teenagers’ attention divided, the there is a higher probability that the teenager will meet an accident. The teenager who is busy answering the cell phone may not spot a pedestrian hurriedly crossing the road. When this happens, there is a bigger probability that the teenager may not be able to see the running pedestrian on time. The research shows that cell phone talking while driving will increase the probability of accidents. The article is current as most teenagers today use cell phones. Likewise, the author is an authority on teenager research. The article is very relevant to today’s teenagers. With the advent of information technology, teenagers are often distracted from focusing on the day’s priorities because they have to answer their cell phones. The writer believes that the author is correct. With cell phone conversation, the teenagers’ attention to the current activities is reduced to dangerous and unhealthy levels. Another article states that teenagers must use cell phones in order to achieve their goals or targets on time. The teenagers use the cell phones to contact their classmates. The cell phones are used to gather the latest information on certain classroom assignments. The teenagers use the cell phones to answer

Power Tactics and Sources of Power Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Power Tactics and Sources of Power - Assignment Example Charles was trained to take over from the father since childhood, and he portrayed traits of a great Chief Executive. The training through life involved strict and sometimes harsh treatment from his father that hardened him. Their mother, Mary somewhat protected Bill and David, who were twins. David was athletic and competitive and grew up to be the perfect business partner for Charles. Bill, on the other hand, was the jealous type, always picking fights with David since childhood and often losing. He grew up to be a threat to Charles’s peace, taking Koch industries through strenuous legal proceedings. The brothers owned percentages of Koch industries, each with his shares (Schulman, 2014). Both Charles and Bill Koch had power in Koch Industries. Charles’ sources of power included reward power whereby he was handed the mantle of CEO by his father having been trained since childhood. The father had earlier lost hope in his eldest son Frederick, who was mostly involved in art and theater. Charles also had legitimate power in Koch Industries being the legal CEO. Therefore, he was in charge of many key decisions made within the company and also directed management of funds regardless of how happy or angry others would be with the cash distribution. Charles was well educated in terms of business and market and therefore had expert power which saw him, together with the help of other business partners, grow Koch Industries. Bill’s sources of power included the coercive power that he gained by threatening Charles to make Koch Industries public if he did not meet his demands. These threats were tabled to Charles in writing and got him shaken for some time. Bill always wanted liquidity of assets so that he could benefit from the riches he only had in paper. He even tried to convince Frederick, who had lesser shares in the company to join his course. Bill also had legitimate power in that he owned slightly over twenty

Becoming agile through mindfulness 2 Assignment

Becoming agile through mindfulness 2 - Assignment Example There are two types of mindfulness; organizational and individual. This classification is done to provide a clear distinction between the abilities of an organization or an individual. Individual mindfulness entails an individual’s ability to regularly come up with new categories in the interpretation and perception of the universe. Organizational mindfulness, on the other hand, refers to the cognitive aspects used to solve problems on an organizational level (Butler and Gray, 2006). Organizational mindfulness entails the continuous refinement and scrutiny of existing expectations depending on the ever changing environment. Such refinement and scrutiny ensures that uncertainties are handled accordingly (Weick and Sutcliffe, 2001). The following are the components that make up organizational mindfulness. Reluctance to Simplify Interactions – this refers to the ability of an organization to recognize complex processes and situations and find ways to view the problem from different angles (Nagle, McAvoy & Sammon, 2011). An organization that employs this component is able to identify different ways of handling complex issues, and situations that occur during the software development process. This is because all the views and opinions of the participants of the software development team are highly valued (Nagle, McAvoy & Sammon, 2011). For an organization to employ this component during the development, one of the following factors has to be included in the development process; 1. The participants should be free enough to express their ideas and opinions in regard to the development process. One of the participants of the Cork workshop talks of the aspect of incorporating the customer in the development process. When explaining to her colleagues about how the customer makes changes to the development process, one of the other participants questions whether there was a way to avoid all the changes imposed by the customer. He asked, â€Å"So there was n ot stopping that?†(21:07). This participant was concerned with the organizations over flexibility towards the customer. However, he was interested to learn whether the other participant felt the same. Being mindful of his colleague, he did not impose his opinion on her; instead he gave her a chance to express herself. After being given the chance to speak, the female gives her view. She says; â€Å"No, actually it’s a very positive thing, that’s to be welcomed because actually it’s put our project in front of the chief executive its put their client’s role within the organization in a higher level of importance and is actually informing the organization better about what they do, so those changes are actually quite nice† (21:08). 2. Analysis of customer requirements or any requirements should be prolonged. This goes a long way to ensure that all participants or stakeholders of a development process are fully aware of the current state of affa irs. Discussions that are held during the course of the development process should be conducted in such a manner that all those who do not fully grasp the situation are able to do so by the end of the discussion. This involves clarifying issues to persons who may not understand any technical jargon used. During the workshop held in Cork many

Finance and Accounting Dissertation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance and Accounting Dissertation - Essay Example Activity Based Costing (ABC) is a managerial accounting system which determines the cost of activities without distortion and provides management with relevant and timely information. It does not represent just a new set of overhead allocation rules or techniques to value inventory. ABC represents a way to look at operating costs and provides methods to dissect the underlying activities, which cause costs to exist† (Dunn 1891). The problem here, which is to be solved, is â€Å"Does the activity based costing play a vital part in financial performance†. For this purpose we have to know about the relevance of activity based costing. Here an example is given to know the difference about the activity based costing and conventional costing. E.g. Assume that Product A and Product B are manufactured by the same company. Product A is a low volume item and new one, it requires particular activities such as additional testing, special engineering, and some machine setups because i t is ordered in less quantities. Product B is a big volume product produced constantly and needs little concentration and does not require the particular actions. â€Å"If this business makes use of conventional costing, they assign or assign every expense to goods on the basis of the amount of machine hours. This will effect in small expenses rate due to Product A, since it do not contain numerous machine hours. Though, it performs order loads of testing, engineering and setup actions. The Product B will be owed a huge quantity of expenses owing to every device hours, except it insist small expenses action and no special attention† (Emerging Issues in Cost and Management Accounting n.d). The result will create a serious miscalculation of both products’ real price of manufacturing expenses. This costing will raise above this situation by transferring expenses on above the one action that is., the machine hours will not only be the activity, all other activities are tak en into consideration while costing the product. Background of the Study: Activity based costing will recognize the cost of additional testing, machine setups, special engineering and other activities that cause the costs. These activities consumed the resources of the company. So in activity based costing, they will calculate the cost of resources used in these activities and the product cost will be fixed accordingly. The cost of activity is assigned only to the product which demands the activities, which means the cost of special engineering, additional testing will not assign to the product B. Aims and Objectives: Here, the objective of the study is to understand â€Å"does the activity base costing play a vital part in financial performance†. Obviously, there are reasons to say that activity based costing plays a vital part in financial performance of organizations. But before stating it, we need to critically analyze the financial performances reports and compare the fi nancial performance of activity based costing and conventional costing methods. From the above examples itself, we can understand how the activity based costing is an advantage for the organization. The real cause of costs is recognized and it is added to the product cost. This method eliminates the chances of miscalculations and hence gives additional profit to the organization. But activity based costing also have some problems like; some costs are complex to allocate during this

The Relationship between the BBC and Public Broadcasting Corporation Essay

The Relationship between the BBC and Public Broadcasting Corporation and the Commercial Sectors - Essay Example First, before going into BBC’s relationship as a public broadcasting corporation with the commercial sectors, it is helpful to identify first what is meant by public service broadcasting. The Communications Act 2003 (CA 2003) sets a duty on the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to obtain accessibility of a broad range of both â€Å"television and radio services† all over the United Kingdom that is of high quality and considered to draw diverse â€Å"tastes and interests† (Communications Act 2003 s. 264); and to keep an adequate number of providers for various â€Å"television and radio services† (Ridgway 48). While the Communications Act has not defined what comprises â€Å"public service programming†, the Office of Communications (â€Å"Ofcom†) characterized this kind of programming by setting forth â€Å"its  purposes  and  characteristics.†Ã‚   Ridgway in his article â€Å"All change for public service broadcasting in the UK?à ¢â‚¬  enumerates the following purposes and characteristics of public service broadcasting: Purposes: †¢Ã‚  Informing our understanding of the world  --to inform ourselves and others, and to increase our understanding of the world through news, information and analysis of current events and ideas.Stimulating knowledge and learning --to stimulate our interest in and knowledge of arts, science, history and other topics, through content that is accessible and can encourage informal learning. †¢Ã‚  Reflecting UK cultural identity  --to reflect and strengthen our cultural identity through original programming in the United Kingdom, at both national and regional levels, on occasion bringing audiences together for shared experiences. †¢Ã‚  Representing diversity and alternative viewpoints  --to make us aware of different cultures and alternative viewpoints through programmes that reflect the lives of other people and other communities, both within the United Kingdom a nd elsewhere. Characteristics: †¢Ã‚  High quality  --well funded and well produced. †¢Ã‚  Original  --new UK content rather than repeats or acquisitions. †¢Ã‚  Innovative  --breaking new ideas or reinventing exciting approaches, rather than copying old ones. †¢Ã‚  Challenging  --making viewers think. †¢Ã‚  Engaging  --remaining accessible and attractive to viewers. †¢Ã‚  Widely available  --if content is publicly funded, a large majority of citizens need the chance to watch it. (48) McGonagle on the other hand, defines public service broadcasting (PSB) as those broadcasted TV programs which are for the benefit of the public instead of solely for commercial ends (235). These programs consist of â€Å"local news coverage, arts programs, religious broadcasts, and augmented broadcasts featuring (for example) subtitling, visual signing and audio description† (McGonagle 235). It may also include â€Å"original drama, documentaries and chil dren's programming† (Ridgway 49). A particular quota on â€Å"public service broadcasts† is also required in their â€Å"license to broadcast,† in accordance with Ofcom’s regulations (Ridgway 49). The objectives on the other hand for the so-called â€Å"plural public service broadcast provision† are the following: â€Å"Sources of high quality impartial news at local, regional as well as national level, including the nations as well as the United Kingdom as a whole;† high level â€Å"original British content†; a broad range of both â€Å"voices and talent from across the whole United Kingdom,† to guarantee â€Å"continuation and development of creative talent clusters in the regions and nations,† currently assured â€Å"through regional production quotas on some public service broadcasters†; â€Å"guaranteed levels of investment in independent production† in order to ensure the supply of â€Å"the best crea tive ideas and the healthy development of this

How does the US Constitution relate to the US Army Officer Corps Essay

How does the US Constitution relate to the US Army Officer Corps - Essay Example The US Constitution is the supreme law of the country, providing framework for organizing its government.Other than defining the organization of these arms, the constitution clearly outlines the powers exercisable by each branch of government. The Constitution also reserves some rights for each individual state and therefore establishes the US federal system of government.It defines three the three major government arms namely the executive under the leadership of the President, the judiciary headed by the Supreme Court and the legislature consisting of a bicameral Congress. The US Constitution was enacted in 1787 through a convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but later underwent ratifications in every state, and further underwent amendment twenty times.The US Army is a military, whose primary misson is providing the required forces and capabilities to boost national security and defense strategies. The Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces and among the seve n uniformed operations. The modern Army traces its roots back to the Continental Army formed in 1775 to help in meeting the demands of the American Revolutionary War, before the United States was established. Most US Army units can be divided into various components including the following units: the Corps, Division, and Brigade, regiment, Battalion, Company, Platoon, Squad, Section, squad and team. The Corps is a large administrative and administrative grouping of troops within the armed forces having a common function like Artillery or Signals. The relationship Various views with regard to the source of war power were expressed in the early years of the US constitution making and continue to seek supremacy even now. A theory was to the effect that war power comprises the particular powers granted by Article 1, Section 8. Later in 1795, the theory's argument was advanced further that the National government's war power is attributed to sovereignty and hence independent of the confirmatory grants of the written constitution. Later, Chief Justice Marshall took a different view that the authority to wage war is implied from that to declare it (Kohn et al, 1988). According to the US Constitution, the President is the Commander-in-chief of the military although Congress is the one empowered to declare war by Article One, Section Eight, and not the President. However, Congress has always authorized Presidents to deploy troops in the event that a war has not been declared explicitly. Since the Second World War, major military actions have mainly been US military operations or UN police actions that are considered justifiable legally due to decisions like Authorisation for Use of Force, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and numerous other UN Resolutions. This was also the case for the Korean War that was only considered a war by an Act of Congress. The The US Constitution does not apply to the military personnel exactly the same way it does to civilians. Even though the military is not excluded from the rights contained in the Bill of rights of the constitution, Article One, Section Eight grants Congress authority to make government rules as well as regulate the land and naval forces. Practically, most of the constitutional rights of the civilians are also accorded to the military, even though some differences are introduced to suit the situation in the military. With regard to right of warning and right of counsel the military has broader protection than those in the constitution. Military appellate courts are used for interpreting military law and ensure it is consistent with the constitution as much as possible (Kohn et al, 1988). The Second Amendment of the US Constitution created a well regulated militia in order to boost security of the Free State as well as the right for people to bear and keep arms. This amendment was enacted in an environment pervaded by emerging republican ideology as well as with the help of various suggestions from

Market Challengers, Market Followers and Market Nichers Essay

Market Challengers, Market Followers and Market Nichers - Essay Example In Information Technology markets, however the companies do not hesitate in openly comparing their features with those of the competition by publishing named comparison tables between specific models - like Apple Macintosh compared with Microsoft Windows, Red Hat Linux compared with Microsoft Windows, IBM storage model compared with HP storage model, etc. These comparisons are printed in brochures that are sent to the decision making personnel of organizations through channel partners. The author has come across decision making documents written by IT managers in comparing between such companies by carefully studying what each vendor in competition presents in comparison with others. The brochures indicate kind of cut throat competition among vendors whereby the negative parts of the competition are highlighted promptly by each vendor - the fight is to influence the decision maker as much as possible in their favour. Example of Market Follower Market followers do not attempt to achieve drastic changes in consumer attitudes towards new innovations because they are scared of the back firing of such strategies. However, Banbury and Mitchell (1995) argue that "firms that define themselves as pioneers tend to garner greater market share than those that define themselves as followers". In Croatia a number of local food outlets try to design their fast food products in line with popular chains like McDonald and Pizza Hut but none of them attract consumers to the extent companies like McDonald and Pizza Hut are able to, in spite of keeping lower prices or offering discount schemes. The author himself feels reluctance in going to such joints given their strategy of just following the established brands and only visits them just for occasional change of taste. As per Banbury and Mitchell (1995), even slight innovations in established products can improve the market share of companies if they are able to tangibly demonstrate them to the consumers. Example of Market Nicher The concept of niche market positioning to establish: (a) Organization's own niche markets (b) Consumers possessing distinctive choices (c) Socio-demographic positions associated with consumers and their corresponding choices (d) Niche products matching consumer choices [Hannan and Carroll et al. 2003] In Croatia, Oracle is perceived to be targeting niche markets. In the author's auditing assignments, it was discovered that Oracle's products are priced much higher than the competitive products by Microsoft and IBM by virtue of certain features that are unmatched by the competition and the choice of some IT managers running mission critical applications who never look forward to any other database products (they call it RDBMS) than Oracle. Also, Oracle is found to be non-flexible in their pricing strategies and kind of unwilling to compete in the market segments where Microsoft & IBM are popular. The author could

Art is an expression Essay Example for Free

Art is an expression Essay Art to me is an expression. Society has a way of creating social norms, and through this influence people to become inspired to be different, to express themselves in many ways and to share with others this passion, in the form of art. Cultures have utilized art in the form of drawings, patterns, and techniques; for example the type of clothes they wear, and type of houses they live in. Art is everywhere. Albert Einstein once said, you could look at life as if nothings a miracle or as if everything is. I think that you can look at art in the same way. I remember watching a film in class on a man and a woman who were in charge of the community project that consisted of hanging sheets for miles. I have no idea why they would do that over a different art project, but I got their message. It was all about working together, doing something that was unique and of their own works, regardless of everyone else’s opinion. They had to fight the system for a while before they were able to begin. That’s passion. After the readings I can’t help but to agree that art offers us a way to go beyond physical existence. What the author is saying to me is that art in every form changes our values our ideas in an effect change our lives. We are not robots, we don’t have to stay within regulations; we have the ability to be creative. Being creative is the most powerful tool we have some may argue. To touch back on why people make art, I can remember watching movies as a kid and there was this one kid out of the prep school that did wear the dress uniform to standard like all the other students. He was seeking to be different. Changing your uniform up a little to be different is art. Indians may paint their faces and their horses differently so that they stand out of all the others so that they can be found and identify. Same cases Indians made art was to distinguish themselves from other tribes as to not kill  their own people during a raid or battle. I used to become stressed with school and/or with relationship issues so I started drawing. I never liked being told what to draw and how to do it. I mostly like to begin with lines and later find out it looks like something that was unplanned. The reasons why I draw was take my focus off of life. Sometimes drawing something that makes you happy can help you to recall memories from good experiences and can turn your day around. Art is my tool and is my passion.

Studying The History Of Workflow Management Systems Information Technology Essay

Studying The History Of Workflow Management Systems Information Technology Essay 1. Introduction In this seminar, I would like to introduce the history and definition of workflow management system. In that, we can classified the workflow into several. Then, standard and types of workflows. Beside that, I also introduce the advantages of using workflow management system. Other than that, I also introduced one of the collaborative system which to assist in workflow management system, that is document management system. I will briefly discuss the history, definition and advantages of systems and usage of the system to help in workflows systems and related to document management. In groupware. I will introduced the history and definition of it. Furthermore, I will discuss about the area and levels of groupware with its advantages. I will linked and identified how do they work together to deliver a well manage workflow from different level of lecturer and staff in developed the new course and its details. 2. Workflow management system 2.1 Introduction In 1980 ago, most of the companies and customers were seen an crisis and obstacle. It was because of the structure of organization were very inflexible and slow to response the new requirement from the markets and customers. As the market become international, the competition between organizational increased rapidly. To overcome and increased the power of competition, organization need to changes their organization structure to faced the new requirement from market. Because of these challenges, computer sciences industry have to created and develop a new information communication technology to suited the new requirement of markets. So the workflow technologies was developed in early 1990 was an leading to the new trend of computer industry. Workflow management systems is comes from the word workflow, which means that is sequence of jobs/ operation to distribute to a person or a groups of people on a simple or complex works. It may also delegate a small portion of big task to distribute , work split to others people for controlling purposes. The most common described the flow refer to the document that is being transferred from one to another. For more detailed, workflow is an activity that can described the information flow, process of work and organizational structure such as functions and hierarchies into a work process. (Wikipedia, 2010) 2.2 History In 1990s, workflow management system was created based on workflow process and business rules. The main purpose of the creation is to resolved the paper-based task with electronic process. At the end of 1990s, the workflow management system was created with additional function like modelling tools, business rules process and others. But in year 2005, Microsoft was created windows workflow foundation to replaced the original workflow with others functionality like BPM (Business Process Management). (Wikipedia,2010) 2.3 Definition In workflow management system, they are different module to run the business process. For example, document images processing, office system and transaction processing was build during these trend. From the beginning, the system is more concerned about storing, retrieving and tracking the data and information. Later, the system will more emphasized on office system which e-mails will become the core module to communicated for workflow system to exchange files and documents among them. In workflow management, there can divided into four generation (see figure 1). In first generation of workflow management system, the system is more focusing on e-mails exchange and document management. Then in next generation, the workflow process are tailorable through coding. Third generation, the systems have the standard architecture then can fully supported with third party tools. In fourth generation, the systems can fully supported with e-mail exchange, workflow process management etc. WORKFLOW1.JPG (61753 Byte) Workflow management systems is a computer system that manage multiple tasks in an organisation to produce output to others. It allow us to define workflows for work of processes or types of jobs. Example, in a manufacturing company, the product of design document may from designer then pass to technical people to production engineer. In every stage of workflow, every individual is responsible for their specific task and jobs. When the task is completed, the workflow management system will make sure that people that in charge of the task are notified and the information they need to process in their own stages. Its also help to eliminate redundant jobs and others uncompleted task are followed up. This called dependencies, means the system required the dependencies of every completion tasks. Others function of workflow management systems is using to replacing paper document transfer (paperless). (Kà ¤mpf and Großmann. 2006). 2.3.1 Classification of workflow management system There are 3 classification types of workflow management system, that is production workflow, ad hoc workflow and administrative systems. Production workflow Production workflow are the predefined job, tasks to be process or need additional steps. For as example, in the claims of car accidents, they will involve several basic steps (identifying the parties involved, log the police report and confirm with the agent of policy coverage) and additional steps (handling bodily injury, compensate of property, repairing of the car). Production workflow dedicate the process and maintain the productivity. Ad workflows Ad hoc workflows are through discussions and created new thing for each workflow. Ad workflows always use e-mail to carry out the work. In example of groupware, everyone need to collaborate to create or work on new design on a new product. Administrative workflow Administrative workflow are combination of ad hoc and production workflows. Means that the flow is pre-defined (e.g. approval of expense report) and they will use e-mail to communicate with others. This work is normally used by administration for example of travel claims. (Kà ¤mpf and Großmann. 2006). 2.3.2 Standardization The following diagram will specified the standard for Workflow Management Coalition(WIMC) which included characteristics, functions and interfaces. WORKFLOW2.JPG (48021 Byte) by Shegalov, Gillmann, and Weikum (2001) Refer to figure 2, the standardization of workflow are exists in three level. The first levels is how the workflow fit all the process together. Second level is abstract specification means that what the data of function needed. Third level is the details of how the function implemented using the tools. Refer to figure 2, there are five Application programming interface (API) surround with workflow engine. The API is functional as interact and communicate between clients and workflow engine. Process definition: This is the process which will involved the workflow and allocated the resources example: system and people to execute the jobs. Client interface: This interface which the workflows will involved by software. Involved applications: This interface involved the workflow software like example: document management system, email system and document imaging system. External workflow services: This interface is deal with external workflow of the company or others companies. Administration and monitoring : This interface is functional as admin and monitor of all the workflow being executed. These five interface become the minimum standards for workflow system. It is very important to having system architecture to cope with existing environment and implemented it with others business related companies. (Kà ¤mpf and Großmann. 2006). 2.3.3 Types of workflows There are two types of workflows. Sequential workflow Sequential workflow style is execute set of process and activities sequentially or one followed by another. There are no return to previous flow if required. For example figure 3. http://i.msdn.microsoft.com/Ee231606.SP_Sequential(en-us,VS.100).png Figure 3 State machine workflow State machine workflow is combine of state, actions and others. These workflow usually complex and may return to previous flow if required. For example figure 4. State Machine Workflow Figure 4 (Msdn, 2010). 2.4 Advantages of Workflow Management System 2.4.1 Improve productivity There are many advantages of using the workflow management system. One of the advantages is it can help the organization to improve their productivity. Before it, the workers will spend a lot of times on doing the manual tasks for example to approve the clients changes on their details on paper works. This will waste lot of man power, times, resources and money on this dummy works. Furthermore, it will slow down the organization performance and risk the development of it. With the system, every things can doing on split of eyes. When there are changes of the details, staffs can send e-mails to their supervisor to approve the changes rather than paper work. 2.4.2 Visibility It also important to let manager having visibility on the business workflow. For manager, it is responsible for them to understand the whole workflow of department. If there are any happen with business critical processes, he will identified it and take appropriate steps to overcome it. For example, in the shipment department, there are lot of wrong shipment to destination. Manager may easily identified which flow are causes the mistakes. 2.4.3 Faster change to business reaction Besides that, it allows the organization to having faster business reaction to change. In the organization, top management may change organization business flows or business process reengineering to react to market changes. For manager, they may quickly change it through process modification on workflow system. Example, if customers pay the bills for abnormal transaction by using credit card, operator of credit card company may call the card owner to verified the transaction to avoid fraud. 2.4.4 Accountability For manger, it can improve accountability skills. Manager have overview and understanding of process, it can help him to allocate resources and man power to which processes are more necessary. This may reduce wasteful of resources on focus to other major process. Example, manager may identify administration department need lesser staffs compare to accounting department. So, he can switch some staffs to accounting department to improved productivity rather waste resources or terminate the staffs. 3. Electronic document management system 3.1 History From year 1980s, there are lot of IT people began to develop a system to manage the paper-based document and images of a company to reduce the yearly huge expenses on paper. Later, they created the first system called electronic document management (EDM) system to managed those document that created by computers. It also known as document imaging systems, because the main function were capture, storage, and retrieve the file. It also help the organization to capture faxes and save document as images. (Wikipedia. 2010). 3.2 Definition Electronic document management system is a kind of computer software to organized and manage electronic document. For example, word processing documents, image, spreadsheets and others. The document which users can change and store the document in electronic form or images for the purpose of retrieving, sharing, distributing, version control, workflow management. Document management system will require scanner to convert the document to digital form for storing. (Wikipedia. 2010). 3.3 Function of electronic document management system In electronic document management system, there are few major function to manage the document: Data recording and storage both in document and out document are required to tagged with date and time of last accessed. Capturing documents when scanner scan the images of hard copy document into electronic formats, it will stored it in database for easy storage and flexible retrieving the document. Document retrieval the system make the document retrieve more easily by clicking some button rather than search it in cabinet. Create indexes system can help to organize document by create indexes to uniquely identified each group of document and save time for searching. Version control system able to keep track multiple version of same document to manage and store multiple version of data to system. (Marc, B. 2010). (Bestpricecomputers. 2010). 3.3 Advantages of Electronic Document Management System 3.3.1 Reduced storage spaces The storage document in an organization always is an big issues for them. If the organization which exist more than 10 years, it will be a huge amount of documentary in organization. By scanning those documents and store in DMS system can reduce a large amount of paper storage. Beside of that, it also help the organization to reduce cost of storage to store documents. 3.3.2 Prevent lost files In an organization, it is very common that a document can lost it easily without having a well organized storage. Lost of documents is an loss for an organization and need time to replace it. Furthermore, hardcopy of records which retrieved from storage, may lead to loss because others may getting the same file. With DMS, the image of the document will store in the server and can view by others without losing and damaged. 3.3.3 Improved security DMS can provide a better security, flexible to access on document level based on the level of groups and people. Documents that store in DMS are required authentication and access code to view and modify the documents, it also eliminate the unauthorized people to access confidential documents. Example, in an organization, staffs are need password and username to access groups of document instead of easily get the document stores in cabinet without any authorization checking. Furthermore, DMS can provide audit function of who, when and which documents being access by staffs. 3.3.4 Controlled and improved distribution Documents imaging are easily distribute to colleagues and staffs by e-mail and web instead of photocopy to share. This provide cost saving by reducing organizations paper document for example printing and postage which with hard copy documents. 3.3.5 Flexible retrieval Keeping the softcopy version of documents in DMS system is better against hardcopy document. It is because that, it more fast to retrieve the records compare to searching in cabinet to get the records. Staffs can spend lesser time to get the records in their own table without leaving. 3.3.6 Version control Documents are stored in network can be changed by users without changing history. Document management system require documents to be checked out first for change and check in to save changes into database. It can view the entire history of documents of who and when to modified the documents. 3.3.7 Reduced costs When implemented the system, we can reduced a lot of unnecessary paper works cost on it especially for TAR college with huge amount of students intake and lot of lecturers. (Content Manager. 2008). 3.3 Critical evaluation In TAR college, it is emergent need for the document management system (DMS). The reason is to reduced the documents spaces. For TAR college which are big education institute with approximated 6000 people intake every year, there must be a huge amount of studentss details and documents of it. The space need to stored, managed and categories these students will be a headache problems for staffs. Beside that, lecturer may have document sharing as discussion on new course development. Loss of documents will be an norms for bad practices on document management. In TAR college, with large amount of document and lecturer works. It will easily loss their document if impropriate managed and storing due to . Those information are valuable to them and time consuming to replace it. Example, record of students or evaluation on course developed. Beside that, with DMS, the documents and information are securely been stored in it. Someone is needed password to access certain documents. This to prevent unauthorized staff and lecturer to access some highly confidential and students details or financial documents to protect privacy and prevent disclosure those information to third party. Example, normal staffs may not easily get the financial report from finance department. The results from discussion of course developed is essential to keep its version control. This is to make sure the workflow of it is well managed under DMS. Without it, it is easily mess up with older version results and produced inaccurate discussion and results based on old version discussion. Other than that, with DMS, staff and lecturer may easily to retrieve the information by clicking some button rather than physically go to other department to retrieve it from cabinet. Example, lecturer reference some course details from course development department. In Extending Document Management Systems with User-Specific ActiveProperties journal. The author stated out 4 problems of traditional document management system. That is file documents, manage document, locate documents and share documents. -For file documents: it reflects that particular documents are relevant to multiple activities and department. Example, travel plans are relate to budget decision and scheduling with the department of accounting and HR. -For manage file: the administrative function of documents according to demands of user needs. -For locate documents: documents may filed to one criterion but retrieved according to another, because cannot define the cross-cutting set of categorization to group of documents. -For share documents: organization may not know that particular document is relevant to people or need of their groups of people. Groupware History Groupware was introduced by a people Richman and Slovak in 1980. They say that Like an electronic sinew that binds teams together, the new  groupware  aims to place the computer squarely in the middle of communications among managers, technicians, and anyone else who interacts in groups, revolutionizing the way they work.(8) In 1990s, the company who used the groupware are Boeing and IBM. They use it as meeting tools to control the projects. Then lotus notes act as major software of groupware. It allow group of people to work together in internet in early stage. Slowly, groupware was fully integrate in web site and come out Web 2.0 for the purpose of host a corporate network. The functionalities include document sharing, instant messaging, web conferencing with others. (Wikipedia. 2009) Definition Groupware also called as collaborative software. The purpose of groupware is to change the documents and other materials to be shared effectively in team collaboration. Before that, we have to understand the human interaction is a must to create software to meet their needs. There are three ways of human interact: conversations, transactions and collaborations. Conversational interactions: It is the information sharing between two or more people, the purpose is to build the relationship among them. Communication technology are instant messaging, E-mail and others. Transactional interaction: It is to exchange transaction entities, means to alter relationship between participants. One participant exchange money for services and products to become a customer. It effectively in transaction systems for manage records for persistent change. Collaborative interaction: participants relationship is to alter a collaborative entity. Example, to achieve a common goal. So, true collaboration technology is to bring many people to achieve a common output. To get the many effort into a managed environment is collaboration technology. We can divided groupware into 4 area: Knowledge management tools Knowledge creation tools Information sharing tools Collaborative project management tools (Wikipedia. 2009) Collaborative project management Collaborative project management tools (CPMT) is described all detailed of collaboration and management of project and its related knowledge areas. Beside that, it also known as business related goals which used for project management. Example of collaborative project management tools: Collaborative project management tools Instant messaging Telephony Videoconferencing Web conferencing E-mail Web publishing Revision control Document versioning Document sharing Levels of groupware Groupware can be divided in 3 categories based on level of collaboration: communication tools, conferencing tools and collaborative tools. Communication: It is unstructured way to exchange information. For example, instant message discussion and phone chatting. Conferencing: Interactive work toward a goal. For example brainstorming from group of people and also voting. Collaborative: complex interdependent work toward a goal. Everyone was contribute their effort and work differently on achieving a goal. Example, everyone in an organization from different department are work hard in their own position to contribute their effort in organization to generate more profits. (Wikipedia. 2009) Communication tools Communication tools is use to communicate with people and sharing information by messages or documents. Example: E-mail Revision control Web publishing (Wikipedia. 2009) Conferencing tools Conferencing tools is use to sharing information in more interesting and responsive way. Example: Forums an internet discussion spaces to manage messages from other people. Online chat a real-time message convertion and discussion. Example MSN. Videoconferencing networked PCs conference with video and audio. Instant messaging. (Wikipedia. 2009) Collaborative tools Collaborative tools is use to manage group activities. Example Workflow systems management of tasks and documents in business process. Project management system it is a system to schedule and tasks allocated to people the steps in projects to be completed. Knowledge management system it is a system for an organization to create, store and distribute good practices and experience. (Wikipedia. 2009) Advantages of groupware Increase efficiency Groupware is to provide a centralized access point to access information. Group members have to access their related information for their tasks in their group. It can remove redundant work, required less time to search data, and spend more time in tasks. (Web conferencing zone. 2005). Define and enforce process With groupware, we can know how the information is flows. All the documentation are kept on the person who make changes. This will help group members to ensure them to perform their jobs and satisfied with their contribution to the projects. (Web conferencing zone. 2005). Provide structure Thought groupware, it can show the group members of how the tasks been allocated, what the goals of projects, expectation from them. Group members are know that their task and roles of projects. Other than that is to provide project management with scheduling and tracking facilities. (Web conferencing zone. 2005). Critical evaluation Conclusion In conclusion, workflow management system can help us to manage the task flow to be more easily and transparent. It can identified the business process, the task allocated to particular members and goal of the projects. Beside of that, it need electronic document management system to control the task and documentation of members to work more effectively and efficiency. Lastly, groupware will help group members to communicate more easily and effectively on discussion and reporting the methods to carry their tasks. In conclusion, I will combined these technology to create a system to let lecturer can have a better environment on discuss and developed a new course structure.

A Personal Ethics Reflection

A Personal Ethics Reflection It appears that my ethical framework may be somewhat eclectic. Nonetheless, having happened to read the articles on Deontology and Utilitarianism (Kay, 1997; Deontological Ethics, 2008), I have come to the conclusion that my ethical framework largely revolves around the duty aspect of Deontology. Up to this point, I was unable to put a name to my ethical beliefs/value system. I knew for sure though that my values were strongly based on my experiences as a Christian. I strongly believe that rules are meant to be kept-not broken as is the commonly heard expression. For me, life consists of a set of rules and duties-typical of a Deontologist. . I believe strongly that ones duty is strongly stipulated by Christ; for example, the Great Commission, and the living a righteous life that is pleasing to God. Here is an example: recently I was to complete some readings for one of my courses but I was unable to do all the readings as I had previously made plans to attend a function at church. Wh en I attended the class, I considered the possibility of being questioned directly about one of the articles that I had not read. Knowing that lying was not an option, I would have (as is my moral duty) had to tell my lecturer that I had been unable to complete that particular reading. Had my moral principles revolved largely around Utilitarianism and Consequentialism, I would have told a lie because it would have prevented me from being suspended from the seminar which would have affected my attendance percentage Thus at the end of the day, my ethical principles are incorporated with the whole idea of the Trinity residing in me. Now one may argue that it would be different if I had a family member who was a homosexual or committed homosexual acts. I concur, it would be different. In fact, I would be more emotionally and spiritually invested which would be the precursor to more intense prayer and fasting for that loved one. My Bible points me to the availing power of the effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous (James 5 verse 16). Therefore, based on the fact that I would hate to see my loved one sent to hell, I would be on my knees praying for that persons deliverance. As I noted before, there is a mixture of duties and consequence. I have my Christian duties that if not fulfilled have great consequences for my soul. Additionally, I have as a new man in Christ an understanding of Gods specific commands, so it does not matter who the person is; that is, there is no agent-relativity. Within my ethical framework, I think my primary ethical principle revolves around the concept of Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Within this principle, some of the rules that I subscribe to relate to a passage of Biblical scripture that require Christians to avoid judging and condemning others whilst ensuring that they are merciful and forgiving (St. Luke 6 verse 36-37, King James Version). The idea of avoiding judgement and condemnation does not imply that one is to accept or encourage an act that is not of God. The Bible gives specific guidelines as to what activities are condoned and prohibited. Thus, it is my duty to uphold the Christian laws and bring the Word to a non-Christian (St. Matthew 28 verse 18-20). Therefore, the principle regarding judgement and condemnation does not conflict with the stance I took with homosexuality (Romans 1 verse 24-32; 2 Corinthians 6 verse 8; 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 6). I will give a further example of the principle regarding judgement and condemnation. I have recently found myself in a quandary whilst interacting with persons who are not Christians. The most recent example was whilst interacting with a lecturer in class about Professor Stephen Hawkings most recent theory on the creation of the universe. My lecturer became instantaneously excited once Professor Hawkings name was mentioned. In fact, he proceeded to declare how awesome Professor Hawking was in his ability to explain the creation of the universe without acknowledging the presence of a supernatural force. Of course I thought this was absolute blasphemy and pitied my lecturer for what appeared to be atheism and his sure eternal damnation. It was not until after the class that I was sent back to my principle and rules about judging others. I was reminded that it is not my duty to decide on my lecturers fate though I am required to be a witness. In my estimation, ethics is a convoluted concept that requires much emotional, spiritual and cognitive investment. I also believe that the formation of my ethical principles has gone through and will go through several revolutions. The revolutions I forsee involve a strengthening of my present beliefs. Of course, it is expected that future exposure will likely hone the way in which I presently express my beliefs and so I will possibly become more tactful whilst voicing my principles. My ethical principles have been formed due to life experiences. When I was much younger, my principles were probably more a function of fearing the belt (consequences) versus what was my inherent DUTY. With age, emotional, cognitive and spiritual maturity, I have progressed from a more concretized way of accepting principles. The Bible speaks to allowing God to reveal Himself to us (1 Corinthians 2 verse 9-14; Life Application Study Bible, 1991) and in questioning certain things ranging from the presence and development of God to the importance of Gods grace; the Lord has proven Himself to me as a being who is worthy of my praise. Thus, I believe the fundamental framework, principles and rules that I subscribe to will remain with me until death. I also recognize that my beliefs and values transcend all areas of my life. Thus, whereas some persons subscribe to the law of the land as the highest form of power; the laws of my creator supersede all others. Therefore, within my professional and personal life, the Trinity reigns supreme and will continue to influence the way in which I define my ethics. Second Timothy 4 verse 16-17 notes ALL scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (Life Application Study Bible, 1991).

Things Fall Apart :: essays research papers

Things Fall Apart Essay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe definitely has a fitting title. It explains how two cultures with different ideas and beliefs can clash and be intolerant towards one another. Most of the theme is developed through the plot of the story and through a man and his struggle against fear and anger (the main character, Okonkwo). Throughout the book he tries to resolve the problems that develop all around him and within himself. As the story progresses, conflict overwhelms him and leads to his downfall and the downfall of the Ibo culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One part of the book that shows how the title is developed is when Okonkwo's character is introduced and explained to the reader. The author tells how he is shameful of his father and that he is belligerent and cold-hearted. Pointing out these flaws in Okonkwo's character seems to foreshadow his downfall. Since Okonkwo probably represents the 'intolerant culture';, that culture's downfall is also foreshadowed. Later more obvious instances occur. Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna, who is like a son to him. His decision of killing the boy is definitely unreasonable, and he only acts on what he was told was right. Just like the rest of the clan he follows these customs that seem immoral and unjust to other cultures. In another part of the story, Okonkwo is banished from his fatherland. This incident is the first where he is punished greatly for his actions. It marks a turning point in Okonkwo's downfall, and therefore the downfall of the traditional culture that he stands for. His hopes and aspirations are almost forgotten while he is away from Umuofia, and he desperately tries to regain his status when he returns. During this period of time, Okonkwo also discovers that his son has converted to his enemy's ways and beliefs. He abandons his son, and doesn't want to be his father any longer. This shows that his relationships with family and other people are beginning to 'fall apart';. The most obvious development of the theme and title takes place at the end of the book, when the final clash of cultures occurs.

Toyotas Secret :: essays research papers

If you enter the lobby of Toyota’s headquarters in Japan, you will see two small portraits and one big one hanging there. The two small ones show the founder and the current chairman of the company. The large portrait shows an American. It is Dr. Edward Deming. Who is Edward Deming you might ask? And indeed who is he? But it’s a long story and one cannot explain who Edward Demings is without involving characters like the Japanese, the Americans and the Toyota Company. So here goes†¦ Long Ago and Far Away†¦ World War II had barely ended, the Japanese were left with a devastated country, ruins that were previously houses and a battered economy. But there was something left that helped them overcome all this destruction. They did not sit and lament their fates but began thinking†¦where do we go from here and to get there what do we need to do? Factories began production again firstly to supply all the basic necessities and after around 15 years when everyone had the basic goods they needed, they turned their energies towards overcoming the surplus of imports. Japan needed to offer something more in their goods if they had to succeed on foreign shores.... The Japanese car manufacturers namely Toyota wanted to start operations in America. That was all very well. But how could they make the Americans buy their cars rather than local ones. Enter Dr. Edward Demings and hey presto! They had the secret recipe!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The man who according to his biographer Rafeel Agumayo(1) is the American who taught Japan what quality management is. Dr. Edwards Deming was a physicist specialized in the field of statistics and worked in United States Bureau of Census. His greatest contribution on the evaluation of statistical methods for ensuring the quality of census assessment established him as a leader in the field of Total Quality Management. In fact he is considered as the "Guru" of Total Quality Management. Deming also enunciated 14 principles for quality management which include innovation, the philosophy of quality to be inculcated in all individuals, appropriate and complete supervision, absence of fear and openness, ensuring quality from design through to maintenance, work standards in production, training of every worker in statistical methods, retraining people to new skills and so on. The world saw Toyota take over America by storm, they offered better, faster, more comfortable and more efficient cars and Americans came to buy cars from them in droves.

Colonial Representations of India in Prose Fiction :: Essays Papers

Colonial Representations of India in Prose Fiction As in representations of the other British colonies, India was used by colonial novelists as a tool of displacement of the individual and re-affirmation of the metropolitan whole. There are three methods by which this effect is achieved. The first method displays an unqualified reliance on a culture too remote to be approached except physically: a hero or protagonist in a pre-mutiny novel is at liberty to escape to India at a moment of crisis, rearrange his life to his advantage and return to a happy ending and the establishment of a newly defined metropolitan life. Dobbin of Thackeray's Vanity Fair (1848) and Peter Jenkins of Gaskell's Cranford (1853) exemplify this well. Even the child Bitherstone of Dickens' Dombey and Son (1848) regards India as his salvation. The second method demonstrates the duality of the post-mutiny era. We are told by Patrick Brantlinger that the earliest work of fiction to deal with the mutiny is "The Perils of Certain English Prisoners", a collaboration by Dickens and Wilkie Collins in the Christmas 1857 edition of Household Words . Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone (1868) revolves around the theft and reclamation of the Koh-i-Noor and creates an ambiguous point of antagonism between Brahmin and Englishman. The Brahmins cannot be said to be wholly right or wrong in their dealings with the stone and it is the British Ablewhite who is portrayed in the most one-dimensional manner and who is cast almost as penumbra to the issues redefining the character of the former. However, only eleven years after the Mutiny, Collins's Indians remain at all times a threatening presence subject only to the most tenuous negotiation:- the reader must not forget that they belong to the realm of the non-rational. Collins' Brahmins, unaware that they are observed, participate in magical rites and his Hindus, en masse, typify Romantic notions of Man's ideal union with Nature. As re-affirmation, they reconfirm the relationship between the central characters. The third method again demonstrates the duality of the post-mutiny era but with more emphasis on reconciliation. Later novels such as Rudyard Kipling's Kim (1901) or E. M. Forster's Passage to India (1924) attempt to remove either the Indian character from the confines of previous stereotype or the Anglo-Indian character from the confines of automatic moral superiority. Colonial Representations of India in Prose Fiction :: Essays Papers Colonial Representations of India in Prose Fiction As in representations of the other British colonies, India was used by colonial novelists as a tool of displacement of the individual and re-affirmation of the metropolitan whole. There are three methods by which this effect is achieved. The first method displays an unqualified reliance on a culture too remote to be approached except physically: a hero or protagonist in a pre-mutiny novel is at liberty to escape to India at a moment of crisis, rearrange his life to his advantage and return to a happy ending and the establishment of a newly defined metropolitan life. Dobbin of Thackeray's Vanity Fair (1848) and Peter Jenkins of Gaskell's Cranford (1853) exemplify this well. Even the child Bitherstone of Dickens' Dombey and Son (1848) regards India as his salvation. The second method demonstrates the duality of the post-mutiny era. We are told by Patrick Brantlinger that the earliest work of fiction to deal with the mutiny is "The Perils of Certain English Prisoners", a collaboration by Dickens and Wilkie Collins in the Christmas 1857 edition of Household Words . Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone (1868) revolves around the theft and reclamation of the Koh-i-Noor and creates an ambiguous point of antagonism between Brahmin and Englishman. The Brahmins cannot be said to be wholly right or wrong in their dealings with the stone and it is the British Ablewhite who is portrayed in the most one-dimensional manner and who is cast almost as penumbra to the issues redefining the character of the former. However, only eleven years after the Mutiny, Collins's Indians remain at all times a threatening presence subject only to the most tenuous negotiation:- the reader must not forget that they belong to the realm of the non-rational. Collins' Brahmins, unaware that they are observed, participate in magical rites and his Hindus, en masse, typify Romantic notions of Man's ideal union with Nature. As re-affirmation, they reconfirm the relationship between the central characters. The third method again demonstrates the duality of the post-mutiny era but with more emphasis on reconciliation. Later novels such as Rudyard Kipling's Kim (1901) or E. M. Forster's Passage to India (1924) attempt to remove either the Indian character from the confines of previous stereotype or the Anglo-Indian character from the confines of automatic moral superiority.

Kant & Deontology Essay

When people think of Ethical Theory then the word morals, respect, and honesty seem to come to mind. Kant devised an ethical theory that is broken down into major elements to explain what he believes is ethical for society to believe. This is where the act of good will comes to existence and the nature of a person’s demeanor comes into how he or she decides what is the right or wrong thing to do. When the laws are put into place to help people know what society has decided what is ethical. Next, would be the decision making process of doing what is right or wrong. Looking at personal gain is not morally correct and having no respect for what is right is hard for a person to decide. He or she must have the decision making process developed or taught to ensure successful outcomes in ethical dilemmas. The major elements of Kant’s ethical theory is a person should not use another as a means to satisfy a personal desire and that morality is based on universal rules much like what is referred as the Golden Rule. The principles of Kantianism have hypothetical and categorical imperatives. We have a duty to ourselves and to others and while we have the ability to rationalize, our actions are not always rational. When using another as a means it should be without coercion or lying and the end should be such that they would be willing to being used. Actions requiring the use of deception are wrong and unjust. One does not make false promises. â€Å"For Kantians, respect for another person is fundamental. The fact that we are rational is of infinite value: we can plan, choose, and anticipate our future. † (Stairs, 1997.Pg 4). In Kantianism, justice ranks higher than happiness and if the act is not unjust then it is not immoral or wrong. Kant thought of â€Å"good will† as a deed done for wise regulation motives from a purpose of responsibility. This instructs and benefits as a categorical imperative for all ethical judgments rather than speculative or relying facts (Deontology & Kant, 2005). Kant’s theory is basically an example of deontological, which judges morality by reviewing the nature of actions and the will of agents rather than goals obtained. The system of deontology is supported by rules and principles, which verify decisions. Kant proposed the categorical imperative, the views that every person should act on only those methods that he or she, as a wise person would direct as popular laws to be pertained to the whole of mankind (Ethical Theories & Approaches, 2001). Imperative includes treating others how he or she as a person wants to be treated basically respecting others. Categorical imperatives are essentials: * Actions pass or fail * No â€Å"grey areas† * But the cracks appear in unlikely places (Deontology and Kant, 2005). In the decision making process within the Kantian approach, ethical decisions are based on his or her sense of duty. The word duty is derived from the Greek word Deon (deontological). Duty refers to the acts of a person based on the principles of morality. In this decision making approach a person must make decisions based on what is right rather than the good consequences that will follow. A person must make the morally right decision regardless of the good or bad outcome. Categorical imperative is what determines whether an act is morally right or wrong. The requirements of categorical imperatives are that moral principles are applied by respecting humanity. All humanity is to be respected and no one is allowed to be exploited. In this deontological point of view a person should act rational person and make self-imposed decisions. In conclusion, Kant wants people to understand how to understand the ethical theory that society should follow. If a person is looking for something in return for doing a good deed it is not considered a good deed. If he or she does unto others how they want to be treated then that is the moral duty to do right by everyone. Good will is an important ethical element in Kant’s theory because if a person is not willing to do for others and not expecting anything in return then the nature of things will be chaotic and order will be lost. This is where the decision making process comes into play meaning if society chooses to help others without thinking of what is in it for them than good will has happened. Nature is where everything comes in balance and works in harmony with one another. People are part of nature and following the elements of ethical theory is essential to everyday living in order to live in a peaceful world. Reference Stairs, A. (1997). Kant’s Ethical Theory. Retrieved from https://www. stairs. umd. edu/140/kant. html Ethical Theories and Approaches. (2001). Ethical Theories and Approaches. Retrieved from: http://techsci. msun. edu Deontology and Kant. (2005). Business and Ethical Thinking: An Ethic of Duty. Retrieved from: www. bola. biz.

Explain the Potential Effects of Five Different Influences on an Individual

Explain the effects of five different life stages on the development of an individual. In today’s society it is almost impossible to grow up without being affected by the things around us. During an individual’s development there are five main key factors that affect them. These include: * Genetic factors * Socio- economic factors * Biological factors * Lifestyle factors * Environmental factors To begin with, there are 23 chromosomes in each cell found in the nucleus.It is these cells that determine the hereditary of a child as well as the sex during conception. Genetic diseases make up a large proportion of the total disease burden, for example 50% of deafness is due to genetics as well as 40-50% of miscarriages. Another disease that is generally caused by genetics is cystic fibrosis which is caused by a defective gene. As many as four people in the UK have this gene; however the gene is recessive meaning children will only get the gene if both parents are carriers. Cy stic fibrosis results in a sticky mucus forming in the lungs, pancreas and intestines, and in the past it meant a low life expectancy but today a lot can be done to solve this. In relation to Jason asthma also seen as a genetic disease and Jason’s development of asthma could be a result of his Mother smoking of drinking during pregnancy. However the causes of asthma may not just be due to genetic inheritance but also due to environmental factors which I will further later in the essay. Closely related to this and sometimes somewhat confused are biological factors.Biological factors also start from conception and one of these is Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) which is the biggest cause of mental handicap in the western world as well as the only one that is 100% preventable. The first stages in prenatal are the most important and again this relates to Jason as one of the effects of FAS is falling behind with leaning development and Jason found school hard to cope with but in the end caught up, however this could be as a result of many reason and it does not mean his mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy. A woman’s diet also affects the foetus as well as during breast eeding, research shows that if a mother had a high sugar diet her child is more likely to develop high cholesterol and a higher risk of heart disease in later life. Malnutrition or a lack of health food could also lead to poor health for the child in later life Jason’s mother also could have smoke during pregnancy leading to his asthma. Socioeconomic factors also heavy a heavy impact on development for example if a family is poor there is a higher risk a child will suffer from malnutrition as well as the fact in later life they will want to do better.Within the factor is values and attitudes, a prime example of this would be education, if parents have went to college they will more than likely want their children to as well, however it could also be argued that if parent haven ’t went to college they will want their children to achieve more in life than they did. In relation to Jason although he may want to go to college he may not be able to as he does not come from a well off family and may not be able to afford to do so. Continuing on from this is Lifestyle factors, which is a highly varied subject.For example a person who has been brought up in a poor household will be completely different that one brought up in a well off household. Nutrition and dietary is a big part of this however it is only if you are reasonably well off that you can afford to buy the healthier choices. As well as this alcohol intake and the misuse of substances can affect you and this happens to be on of the most controversial issues in society. It can have social, physical and mental effects on an individual from the expense, to long term health risks or the fact it could lead to depression.In relation to Jason’s lifestyle the fact he may not be able to afford col lege and the fact he lives in a high density housing estate may mean he is not that well off money wise meaning he may not get the healthiest foods and could also have been bullied not only as a result of his asthma but also as he cannot afford the things some of the other children could. Lastly is environmental factors, this has a huge impact on our development and research shows that 1 out of 5 children are malnourished. However this is a varied range of situations.Exposure to pollution as well as poor housing can lead to health problems for example carbon monoxide takes away oxygen from the red blood cells as they have a higher affinity for it which can then lead to heart disease and nitrogen and sulphur dioxide can lead to lung disease as these gases irritate the lungs. This is not the only environmental effect however, Jason got bullied a lot at school which means he could suffer from depression and will have low self-esteem in later life. As well as this fact when he was 8 his parents divorced which leaves a great mental effect on individuals and at his age it was a lot to go through.Separation can lead to anger issues for the child as well as abandonment issues and this could even go on to affect Jason in later life it could even lead to AD (anxiety disorder) which could be as the child’s routine is disrupted. Jason’s parents’ divorce may be the reason he fell behind at school and when he reached adolescence he adapted which may be why his school work improved. Environmental factors can affect development both physically and mentally. In conclusion all five factors can affect an individual’s development as shown through the example of Jason, and all five have different effects yet still equally importantBibliography * http://www. livestrong. com/article/217996-factors-affecting-early-child-development/ *http://www. psychologytoday. com/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201112/the-impact-divorce-young-children-and-adolesc ents *http://www. ucl. ac. uk/support-pages/information/alcohol-and-drug-abuse *http://www. lbl. gov/Education/ELSI/Frames/pollution-health-effects-f. html *http://uk-air. defra. gov. uk/air-pollution/effects *http://www. succeedsocially. com/lifestyle *Class notes *Moodle

Shaping, Chaining, and Reinforcement Schedules in Prison Essay

Shaping, Chaining, and Reinforcement Schedules in Prison: A Review Shaping, chaining and reinforcement schedules are learning theories utilized in operant conditioning to change individual behaviors. Shaping involves teaching new behaviors in steps. An individual shapes their behaviors when they are rewarded for closely or perfectly mastering a step in the behaviors modification. Chaining is the links that are made from one step to another in the behavior modification. Reinforcement schedules are the rewards and punishments given when an individual masters or refuses to master a step in the shaping of a behavior. Operant conditioning incorporates the use of shaping, chaining and reinforcing behaviors in order to create a desirable outcome in the behaviors of an individual. Shaping, chaining and reinforcement schedules are utilized in schools, homes, and prisons across the world. In the prison environment they are used to change inmate’s behaviors, and help inmates get ready to reenter society as productive members. Prisons utilize the various steps of operant conditioning to aide in changing all sorts of behaviors including anger management. Shaping and Chaining Shaping and chaining behavior is a key part of the learning theory known as operant conditioning. Operant conditioning Shaping takes place when an individual is rewarded for a acceptable response to a stimulus. In an anger management program an individual would be rewarded for the reaction to anger and the ability to manage anger. An individual would be rewarded for managing anger when presented with stimuli that triggers anger and punished when failing to manage anger when presented with stimuli that trigger anger. At first then inmate might be reward for not becoming physically aggressive when presented with the stimuli that triggers anger. Over time the inmate would not be rewarded unless management is displayed without verbal or physical aggression. The reward for the anger management displayed by inmates would decrease as the management techniques improve. Chaining would occur when the inmate is able to move from one step to another in their ability to manage their anger. Reinforcement Schedules Reinforcement schedules are the rewards and punishments utilized in conjunction with shaping and chaining in operant conditioning of behaviors.  Rewards are utilized to encourage the right responses to stimuli while punishments are utilized to consequence or discourage any responses that are not close to the desired response to a stimulus. As an individual chains the responses and shapes anger management behaviors they are rewarded and learn to utilize anger management in place of old behaviors. The use of rewards is phased out when an individual utilizes the anger management responses instead of the originally responses to stimuli that create anger. Rewards and sanctions are key to shaping any behavior (Carey & Carter, 2009). Literature Review Research shows that the utilization of positive reinforcement in inmates produces positive results in shaping behaviors (Thomas, 2001). According to Fishbein, Sheppard, Hyde, Hubal, Newlin, Serin, Chrousos, & Alesci; â€Å"Executive cognitive functioning and emotional regulation may play a key role in treatment responsively† (2009 p.419). Burdon, St. De Lore & Prendergast report that behaviorally based protocol that involves the systematic application of positive reinforcement following demonstration of a desired behavior in drug treatment programs have proven to promote the shaping of inmate behaviors (2012). â€Å"Although historically sanctions have been used as the primary method to respond to or control offenders’ behavior, research indicates that positive reinforcement should be applied more frequently than negative reinforcement when trying to change behavior† (Carey & Carter, 2009 p.9) Most experts in psychology and criminal justice agree anger is problem atic when it is too frequent, too intense, too prolonged, or managed ineffectively (Smith, Smith & Beckner, 1994). Smith, Smith & Beckner discuss a research study in which anger management workshops were utilized in a women’s correctional facility (1994). In this study women were taught anger management skills over the duration of three sessions (1994). The inmates were taught anger management skills and reported feeling better about themselves and their ability to cope with stimuli that triggers anger (1994). Reinforcement schedules are shown to be more effective in women inmates (1994). Shaping of inmate behaviors in drug treatment programs with the use of reinforcement schedules have been researched and findings have been promising (Burdon, St. De Lore & Prendergast, 2012). The shaping of anger management behaviors in inmates is possible with positive  reinforcement schedules. Inmates do well when positive reinforcements for behaviors are given (Seirn & Hanby, 2009). As Burdon, St. De Lore & Prendergast explains, inmates are constantly being given punishments and acknowledged for the negative behaviors displayed (2009). When punishments are strip away replace with positive reinforcement there is a significant change in the behavi ors exhibited by inmates (Smith & Schweitzer, 2012). Individuals receiving positive attention of behaviors exhibit more positive behaviors to get the attention desired. The same can be said in the prison setting. Individuals need to be taught new ways to deal with anger, and the prison environment offers a unique environment to reshape the very behaviors and beliefs that contributed to an individual being placed in there. Inmates imprisoned for acts of violence due to the lack of anger management skills will only reenter the prison system for the same acts if not taught a different way to cope with stimuli that triggers anger. Implementing anger management skills to inmates with anger management issues would reduce the likelihood of reentry. Shaping and chaining the way in which inmates respond to anger can result in lifelong effective implementation of anger management skills by inmates. Shaping would occur by first helping inmate identify stimuli that triggers anger. Once inmates know what triggers anger, next the teaching of anger management skills can take place. When inmates utilize the anger management skills in place of the natural reaction for situations that trigger anger, rewards would be given. By implementing reinforcements for the utilization of anger management skills inmates learn the acceptable responses to stimuli of anger. The goal would be to effectively shape the anger management skills utilized by inmates without the need for reinforcement. For example, instead of becoming violent, an inmate would walk away. Conclusion The utilization if positive reinforcement schedules have been proven to be effective in prisons across the United States. Anger management programs have not always proven to be successful within prisons. Shaping and chaining of anger can be done within the prison system through the implementation of anger management workshops and reinforcements schedules. Several studies have shown the successes of positive reinforcement with inmates. Combining anger management shaping with reinforcement schedules could prove to  increase the likelihood of success in anger management programs offered to inmates. References Butdon, W., St. De Lore, J., Prendergast, M. (2012). Developing and implementing a positive behavioral reinforcement intervention in prison-based drug treatment: Project BRITE. Journal of Phychoactive Drugs, 7, 40-50 Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3429341/ Casey, M., & Carter, M. Center for Effective Public Policy. (2009) Shaping offender behavior. Retrieved from http://www.cepp.com/documents/Shaping%20Offender%20Behavior.pdf Fishbein, D., Sheppard, M., Hyde, C., Hubal, R., Newlin, D., Serin, R., Chrousos, G., & Alesci, S. (2009). Deficits in behavioral inhibition predict treatment engagement in prison inmates. Law and Human Behavior, 33(5), 419-35. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10979-008-9163-7 Serin, R., Hanby, L. Correctional Service Canada. (2009). Offender incentive and behavioural management. Retrieved from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0214-01-eng.shtml strategies. Smith, P. & Schweitzer, M. (2012). The therapeutic prison. Journal of Con temporary Criminal Justice, 28(1), 7-22. doi: 10.1177/1043986211432201 Thomas, S. P. (2001). Teaching healthy anger management. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 37(2), 41-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/200754284?accountid=458