The Transportation And Logistics Industry - 1409 Words

The transportation and logistics industry is one of the key components of modern life. It provides the framework through which every raw material and finished consumer good is moved through the supply chain into the hands of consumers. This industry is generally taken for granted by consumers. When consumers do think about the industry it is thought of in terms of unchanging and stagnate transportation modes. This vision of the industry is not an accurate reflection of the reality of modern transportation industry. During the last several decades the technological innovations that have changed the face of modern life, have also had far reaching effects on the transportation industry. The pressures driving innovation in the industry†¦show more content†¦Innovations that improve the functioning of transportation modes are occurring across all modes of the transportation industry. Truck transportation has been the backbone of freight movements in the United States and ac ross the globe for decades. While utilizing trucks is an economical way to move freight for short hauls of less than a 1,000 miles, there are high environmental and infrastructure costs for utilizing this mode of transportation. According to Lowe, road transportation’s use of energy resources rose 103 per cent in the period since 1970 (2005). Additionally, Lowe points out that road transportation’s emission of green house gasses, â€Å"increased by 76% between 1971 and 1989† (Lowe, 2005, p. 112). Furthermore, road transportation is the largest polluter in the industry. It utilizes â€Å"over 80% of the total energy used in the transport sector and contributes over 75% of its total CO2 output (Lowe, 2005, p. 113). Finally, freight transportation by heavy vehicles causes pavement damage at significantly higher rates than passenger traffic (SSTI, 2011). Road transportation providers have adopted several innovations that have lowered the environmental impact of this transportation mode. The adoption of clean diesel technology by the industry has resulted in significant reductions in fuel use and emissions by trucks. This innovation in diesel engineShow MoreRelatedLogistics Industry : Information, Transportation, Inventory, Warehousing, Storage, And Storage Goods1952 Words   |  8 PagesLOGISTICS INDUSTRY Logistics is the process where the movement of goods from point of origin to point of consumption is planned, monitored, controlled and delivered in a proper condition. It is the process of ensuring the proper and safe delivery of quality goods at the right place, right time, right quantity and to the right person. Logistics is concerned with getting the products and services where they are needed and when they are desired. It is difficult to accomplish any marketing or manufacturingRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Ryder Systems Inc. Essay950 Words   |  4 Pagesmarket of commercial transportation, logistics, and supply chain management. Ryder currently operates in two segments: fleet management solutions (FMS) and supply chain solutions (SCS). FMS generates the majority of Ryder’s revenue. This product includes leases, rentals, contract and contract-related maintenance, and fuel services. SCS provides consulting services globally (Nieman, 2013). Over the past 80 years, Ryder has transformed from a model A Ford truck into and industry leading Fortune 500Read MoreThe United States: The Impact of Its Economy on Transportation and Logistics Management811 Words   |  3 PagesIts Economy on Transportation and Logistics Management Transportation and logistics coordinate the movement of goods and people. The transportation and logistics industry is the catalyst that propels the American economy. However, it works both ways. Economic pressures on the national, regional, and local levels affect decisions and policies made by logistics managers. This paper will explore the intricate relationship between the United States economy and Transportation and Logistics management. ConsumerRead MoreWhat Makes A Business Transaction?906 Words   |  4 Pagestransporting. As the firm grows locally, nationally, or internationally, transportation and distribution assistance is required to meet consumer demands. Here is where the demand for transportation and logistics begins with a business that may involve importing and exporting supplies required for production, and ends with a consumer receiving products purchased. (Dowlatshahi, 2010), describes inbound and outbound transportation performance as simply achieving scheduled delivery times which displaysRead MoreUsing RFID Technology in the Transportation Sector1562 Words   |  6 Pagesand tracking the process (Advantages of RFID in Transportation and Logistics, 2011). In the current times, radio frequency identification technology has upgraded from anonymity into applications that are rather used normally and as a consequence has helped in the acceleration of manufactured materials handling (Want, 2006). There are several uses of RFID in various sectors. However, this paper will only deal with its uses in the transportation sector and how effectively this modern technologyRead MoreEssay about C.H Robinson Worldwide Logistics Research 1427 Words   |  6 Pages1. INDUSTRY C.H. Robinson Worldwide is a third party logistics â€Å"provider of multimodal transportation services and logistics solutions.† (Chrobinson.com) C.H. Robinson Worldwide belongs to the industrial sector, airfreight and logistics sub-industry. Jim Corridore in the Standards and Poors Sub-Industry review states that there is â€Å"a positive fundamental outlook for the air freight and logistics industry for the next 12 months.† (Standardabpoors.com) Katie Lally suggests that 2014 â€Å"should still beRead MoreAchieving Transportation Excellence1371 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Achieving Transportation Excellence How is process improvement important to achieving transportation excellence? How might process improvement be extended to other areas of logistics planning? The transportation sector is continually evolving. Whether moving people or products by land, sea, or air, all transportation strategies need to balance proficient network design and operations with rising intricacy, government supervision, environmental accountability, security risks and demands for flexibilityRead MoreThe Third Party Logistics Industry904 Words   |  4 Pages Third Party Logistics Industry Third party logistics industry (3PL) also referred to as logistic outsourcing has become a thriving sector within the supply chain and logistics sector. As the world of logistics and supply chain management has grown so has the need for third party logistics providers to deliver comprehensive services to companies that are constantly looking for ways to stay competitive and innovative in order to improve processes, increase profits, and lower costRead MoreA Brief Note On Maritime Logistics Of Petroleum Products1460 Words   |  6 Pagesprocess of maritime logistics of petroleum products, as they derive from world trade flows. Currently the main factors that affect the supply chain industry and sea transportation of these products are the major external effects of the economic factors of each country involved in the process, climate technology and geopolitics. However, businesses, government and society are also big influencers of the petroleum product chain. First we briefly introduce the crude oil industry from which petroleumRead MoreA Brief Note On Systems And Logistics Support Management1070 Words   |  5 Pages Third-Party Logistics Gregory Long Florida Institute of Technology MG 5061: Systems and Logistics Support Management Dr. Janice Spangenberg February 28, 2016 Abstract Today’s world business environment has become so competitive that companies in order to be successful in the market must deal with different resources for satisfying their customer need. In the past decade or so the competitive global market has made a big influence in

Socrates vs Thrasymachus Free Essays

Any argument relies upon some fundamental agreement about the issue being discussed. However great the divide in opinion may be, there must exist at least some similarity in the participants’ manner of viewing the issue if a solution is ever to be reached. Book One of Plato’s Republic features a disagreement between Socrates and Thrasymachus about the nature of justice. We will write a custom essay sample on Socrates vs Thrasymachus or any similar topic only for you Order Now The disaccord between their views of the subject is extremely pronounced, but there are certain underlying agreements which guide the course of the debate. One way to evaluate the validity of the arguments involved is to examine whether the assumptions at the root of the argument are in accord with this common ground. By my reading of the dialogue, Socrates’ reply to the first part of Thrasymachus’ definition of justice rests safely upon this common ground, whereas his answer to Thrasymachus’ second definition moves away from this mutually acceptable base, and is injured as a result. In exploring this topic, I intend to examine briefly Thrasymachus’ two-part definition of justice. For each of these parts I will evaluate one Socratic response and discuss it from the perspective of the â€Å"craftsman analogy† – an analogy which is initially used by common consent, but which Socrates adapts until its original usage almost disappears. Thrasymachus’ first definition of justice is easy to state, but it is not so immediately clear how it is to be interpreted. Justice, he claims, is the advantage of the stronger. On its own, such a sentence could imply that what is beneficial to the stronger is just for and therefore, beneficial to the weaker, and Socrates accordingly asks whether this understanding is accurate. Thrasymachus promptly responds in the negative. The interpretation he proceeds to expound upon can be summed up by adapting slightly his original definition: justice is that which obtains the advantage of the stronger. To support this definition, he points to the example of ruling a city. Any ruling class will fashion the laws of the commonwealth with a view to its own benefit, he asserts. Since it is just to obey the law, those who behave justly will be acting for the advantage of the rulers (whom Thrasymachus interchangeably terms â€Å"the stronger†). Socrates makes his first objection at this moment, but I will treat this here only incidentally: merely insofar as it allows us to see why Thrasymachus introduces the craftsman analogy. Socrates objects that rulers are, as humans, bound to make mistakes – to confuse their disadvantage with their advantage on occasion. In this case just obedience to laws would work to the ruler’s disadvantage. Thrasymachus responds promptly, saying that a man who makes a mistake in ruling is not at that moment a ruler in the strict sense, and introduces the craftsman analogy to support this idea. Insofar as a man is a craftsman, he will not make any mistakes; mistakes are rooted in ignorance, and so can only occur when a man’s knowledge of his craft is incomplete. The quandary which Socrates introduces is thus avoided by Thrasymachus’ qualification that errors are never made by rulers as rulers. Though the analogy works at first to Thrasymachus’ advantage, Socrates promptly turns it against him in a new objection. All arts, he asserts, are exercised with a view to the benefit of the subject rather than to the benefit of the artisan. The doctor employs his medical art for the betterment of the patient, the pilot navigates for the safety of the ship and the sailors, and so forth. Like Thrasymachus, he identifies ruling as an art, and claims that ruling also is exercised with a view to the subjects’ benefit. Throughout the argument, Thrasymachus passively assents to Socrates’ individual points. But as we shall see later, he rejects the conclusion drawn from these. From an objective viewpoint, one immediately questionable aspect of this argument is Socrates’ idea that ruling is an art in the same sense that medicine and navigation are arts. Despite its potential weakness however, Socrates’ use of the analogy is the one part of the argument which Thrasymachus cannot question without bringing Socrates’ first objection once again into dispute. Thus this definition of ruling forms some part of the common ground I have previously mentioned. Although an objection such as this may affect the objective validity of the argument, it is important to keep in mind the fact that Socrates is not attempting to create an incontestable definition of justice at this point. He is merely answering an invalid argument by demonstrating its weaknesses in terms which correspond to Thrasymachus’ perspective. Agitated by Socrates’ line of reasoning, Thrasymachus proceeds to blurt out a revised version of his original statement. Thrasymachus claims that injustice is freer and stronger than justice and that it results in a happier life. As in the former definition, he does not consider so much what justice is as what it does; he rates the subject in regards to its advantageousness or lack thereof. Essentially, this definition is an extreme extension of the previous one. Also, the example he uses for support – that of a tyrant made powerful and thus happy through injustice – hearkens back to his initial definition as ruling being the advantage of the stronger. It is clear that Thrasymachus has not been convinced by Socrates’ last argument, despite his apparent agreement with Socrates’ points. He is arguing in different terms, but in actual substance this new development is little more than a bare contradiction of Socrates’ previous argument. He still supposes that the unjust will have the advantage, and does no more than give new evidence to support this view. He essentially declares: â€Å"You say that the proper ruler will consider the benefit of his subjects and thus act justly. I say that injustice leads to a happy life and that craftsmen do aim at their own advantage. † Whereas the weaknesses in Socrates’ previously discussed arguments are more or less excusable, there are several factors in his next argument which make it very controversial. In opening this argument, Socrates asks whether a just man will want to overreach and surpass other just men. The two debaters agree that a just man will deem it proper to surpass the unjust man, but that he will not want to surpass his fellow just man. The unjust man, on the other hand, will want to surpass and get the better of everyone. Now Socrates proceeds to use the craftsman analogy to illustrate his case. With this case Socrates attempts to prove that those who try to overreach their â€Å"like† are bad craftsmen. Returning to the specific example of the doctor, he observes that a medical man will not endeavor to outdo another physician, but will want to outdo the non-physician. One flaw seems to appear at this point in the argument. Socrates, it would seem, has left no place in this for simple ambition here. If the first half of this analogy is true, there is no room for an artist to advance and improve his craft in a just manner, because unless he is unjust, he will not have any ambition to surpass his fellow artists. However this can be answered by a glance back at Thrasymachus’ concept of the artisan â€Å"in the strict sense. † No one is an artisan insofar as he is in error, so the true artist will be unable to surpass another true artist: ideally, the artist, insofar as he is an artist, will already exercise his art faultlessly. Socrates completes this argument by saying that the one who tries to overreach the artist can not have true knowledge of the craft. In other words, true artists will be able to identify one another and to recognize the impossibility of surpassing each other. Since the one who wants to surpass everyone in a specific art must not be an artisan, he is ignorant of this art. Thus, Socrates claims, the unjust man is really ignorant and therefore weak and bad. There is a marked distinction between this use of the craftsman analogy and former uses. Previously the analogy was used in reference to the â€Å"craft† of ruling. This was legitimate in the context primarily because Thrasymachus agreed to this use. Now however, the subject of the analogy is not ruling, but justice. Thrasymachus never explicitly agrees to this switch, and thus when it is made, the analogy no longer rests safely upon the common ground. It is no longer an example accepted by both parties and so its sole justification would have to rest on an objective view of the argument. So we have another important question to examine. That is, can justice be rightly considered a craft? Even if it can in a vague sense, would it be properly analogous to other crafts like medicine or navigation? There are reasons to support a negative answer to this query. For one thing, it could be argued that justice is more a manner of acting, rather than a craft in its own right. Whereas it is nonsensical to say that one can, for example, read a book medicinally, or in a navigating manner (except perhaps as a figure of speech), one can exercise a craft or perform any action either justly or unjustly. Justice is more easily considered a measure of how well an action is performed than the action itself. The most important thing to note here is that Socrates has moved away from the common ground which has previously supported the argument. Before, the question of whether Socrates’ examples are objectively valid was not so crucial from one viewpoint. As long as Socrates was trying to demonstrate the illogicalities within Thrasymachus’ position, there was much to gain from arguments based on Thrasymachus’ premises, whether the premises were true or not. For this last argument, however, Socrates does not base his argument on these guides, but preserves the form of the craftsman analogy while changing it substantially. Thus this particular argument suffers and is at least of questionable efficacy. How to cite Socrates vs Thrasymachus, Essay examples

Organization Behavior Employee Engagement

Question: Discuss about the Organization Behaviorfor Employee Engagement. Answer: Introduction For a successful organization, employee performance and employee engagement play a crucial role in the success of business. The aim of this essay is to provide an understanding of organization commitment, employee engagement, and employee performance. Along with this, the essay describes the positive effect of the employee engagement, organization commitment and employee performance on the success of the organization. The essay focuses on measuring the employee engagement relation with the organization performance and organization commitment. Additionally, the essay uses various employee engagement tools to improve the employee performance towards the organization success. Compare Organizational Commitment, Employee Engagement, and Employee Performance According to the Alfes et al (2013), organization commitment is the bond related to the experience of the employee with their organization. Employees who are committed to their organization generally feel a connection with the organization and feel to understand the aims and objectives of the organization. Organization commitment is also related to the employee commitment that means the dedication of the employee towards to achieve the particular task efficiently and effectively. The organization commitment refers to the individual emotional attachment towards the organization. It will predict the variable works like- organizational citizenship behavior, turnover, and job performance. Along with this, it will play a very important role that determining whether a member will stay in the organization in long run and leave the organization. On the other hand, Rich et al (2010) states that employee engagement is the approach of the workplace that is resulted to the right condition for all members in the organization and commits to their values and goals. The employee engagement process motivates the employees to contribute towards the success of the organization. At the same time, employee engagement is the level of involvement of the employees to carry out the operations of the business. Employee engagement shows the relationship between the employee as well as its organization. An engaged employee is aware of the business context and works with the help of colleagues that will improve the performance of the employee to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. At the same time, Markos and Sridevi (2012) describes that the employee performance is the process that establishes share workforce to understand the level of organization that an organization wants to achieve. In addition to this, employee performance refers to the job-related activities that are expected to execute by the employee. It is simply evaluated once in a year and the effective performance management is a positive collaboration, and the continuous improvement between the employees and their supervisors. Moreover, the employee performance refers to the situation in which a person executes the duties of their jobs and responsibilities in an effective way. Manage the performance of employee deals with the strategy practices and policy that will establish the expectation level of its employee performance. The performance management system plays a strategic role that helps to attract and retain the key employees in the organization. In the present context, all business entity, and operation pay attention to fulfill the need and wants of the employee. Moreover, Alfes et al (2013) states that organization commitment cannot increases with the help of training and development opportunities because there is a mismatch between the employee perception for their job and the development provided by the organization. At the same time, the performance of the employee can be improved due to the development of the supportive culture that will help to reduce the turnover intention. Christian et al (2011) support the views of Alfes et al (2013) that organization commitment refers to the degree by which employee identifies themselves within the organization. There are various types of organization commitment (a) Continuance commitment: the employee of the organization will have to bear a particular amount if the employee leaves the organization. (b)Affective commitment: the employee will stay in the organization in long run du e to the emotional attachment with the organization. (c) Normative commitment: the employee should take the normative commitment as a responsibility that will remain within the organization. In contrast to this, organization commitment is negatively correlated with the turnover intention of the employee within the organization. In support to this, Gruman and Saks (2011) states that organization commitment has positive effects on the job performance of the employee. Moreover, the organization uses various employee engagement tools to improve the level of performance and stay competitive. The employee engagement is not only for the positive behavior and feelings of the worker at the workplace during the work but also it also denotes the high involvement towards work, organization citizenship behavior and organization commitment of the employees. In addition to this, a personal and contextual factor of the employee affects the career satisfaction level and turnover intention within the organization. The personal factor of the employee includes goal-oriented performance and contextual factor involves the development feedback and learning culture for the organization. The performance of the organization will increase when the level of organizational commitment and employee engagement is increased and both the fa ctor has a positive effect on the organization. As per the view of Bakker and Bal (2010) that the employee performance and organization commitment are interconnected with each other. Along with this, the opportunities of organization commitment are higher when the continuous learning opportunities were provided to the employee. The level of organization commitment is increased with the help of better work life at the workplace for the employee. As the employee engagement is necessary for achieve the success in the work outcomes. The employee engagement improves the job satisfaction, higher performance and lower turnover rates, proactive behavior, motivation, learning, higher attendance and many more. In addition to this, there are various drivers for the employee engagement in the organization such as- trust, respect among the employee, client, partners and suppliers, communication level, the flow of information, the structure of the organization, leadership, balanced work life, reward system in the organization and many more. In favor to this, Brunetto et al (2011) states that employee engagement, employee performance, and organizational commitment can boost the level of motivation within the employees. Moreover, the successful organization depends on the high-performance level of the employee that will help to meet the aims and objectives of the organization. On the other hand, Welch (2011) states that engagement is for both the manager as well as employee, who is responsible for achieving the goals and objectives of the organization. There is two main factor that will play main role in the employee engagement i.e. employee satisfaction and employee commitment. The openness behavior of the employee is an important element which is helpful to motivate the employee to improve their knowledge and skills. Along with this, the attitude of the employee is a positive factor for their engagement towards the organization. Along with this, the higher satisfied employee performs better and contributes more to the s uccess of the organization. A committed employee also wants a good level of communication among the employee and supervisor. On the other hand, measure employee satisfaction and changes will not lead to increase the level of performance. Conclusion From the above discussion, the essay can be concluded that organizational commitment was significantly correlated with employee engagement and employee performance. In addition to this, the essay described the employee worked with the high level of motivation that increased the success of the organization. Along with this, employee engagement is a positive tool that has been held by the employee at the workplace towards the working culture. In the present context, the employee should look forward to fulfill the expectation and desire of the organization that will help to increase the overall performance of the business. Reference Alfes, K., Shantz, A. D., Truss, C., and Soane, E. C. (2013). The link between perceived human resource management practices, engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model. The international journal of human resource management, 24(2), 330-351. Alfes, K., Truss, C., Soane, E. C., Rees, C., and Gatenby, M. (2013). The relationship between line manager behavior, perceived HRM practices, and individual performance: Examining the mediating role of engagement. Human resource management, 52(6), 839-859. Bakker, A. B., and Bal, M. P. (2010). Weekly work engagement and performance: A study among starting teachers. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83(1), 189-206. Brunetto, Y., Teo, S. T., Shacklock, K., and Farr?Wharton, R. (2012). Emotional intelligence, job satisfaction, well?being and engagement: explaining organisational commitment and turnover intentions in policing. Human Resource Management Journal, 22(4), 428-441. Business and Management, 5(12), 89-96. Christian, M. S., Garza, A. S., and Slaughter, J. E. (2011). Work engagement: A quantitative review and test of its relations with task and contextual performance. Personnel Psychology, 64(1), 89-136. Gruman, J. A., and Saks, A. M. (2011). Performance management and employee engagement. Human Resource Management Review, 21(2), 123-136. Markos, S., and Sridevi, M. S. (2010). Employee engagement: The key to improving performance. International. Journal of Rich, B. L., Lepine, J. A., and Crawford, E. R. (2010). Job engagement: Antecedents and effects on job performance. Academy of management journal, 53(3), 617-635. Welch, M. (2011). The evolution of the employee engagement concept: communication implications. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 16(4), 328-346.

Research Proposal on Waste Management Essay Example

Research Proposal on Waste Management Essay Waste management is the system of processes and their control which are aimed at the collection, transportation, recycling and utilization of wastes. The term ‘wastes’ means the products of the human activity which are no longer used or must not be used because of their harmful qualities. It is obvious that wastes influence the normal life of people, their health badly; moreover, wastes care harmful for the natural environment, animals, plants and fish. Very often wastes are associated with pollution and it is right, because the industrial and domestic wastes pollute water, air and soil. Due to the system of waste management it has become possible to recycle wastes and produce useful materials from them. The most common way to utilize wastes is to bury them or simply transport them far behind the human settlements. The open air dumps are extremely widespread in the developing countries which have not learnt to recycle and utilize wastes reasonably. Dumps are very harmful for the environment and for the human health, because of the smell and toxicity of various types of wastes which mix together. If there is no possibility to recycle wastes, there are many methods to utilize them: it is possible to bury them (in abandoned mines, landfills, etc.) and burn them down and receive heat, energy and ash. It is very important to develop the system of waste management, because this process saves recourses, energy, space (vast territories are used as dumps instead of using them for the agricultural purposes) and human health preventing pollution and contamination of water, air and soil. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Waste Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Waste Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Waste Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Waste management is one of the most urgent problems nowadays, because very day people produce so much wastes, they do not have space to bury or keep them. Young people who are interested in the topic and want to suggest some wise ideas concerning waste management are able to prepare a research proposal expressing their thoughts and concepts to the professor. The paper is supposed to be brief, interesting, logical and very informative to present the scope of research and research approach, methodology, literature review successfully. One should convince the professor that the topic is worth investigating and the results of the research will be very useful for the humanity. Many students fail the assignment of research paper writing, because they do not know how to organize the writing process well. In order to learn to compose a correct structure of the paper and format the text well, one will need a good free example research proposal on waste management written by an expert online. A free sample research proposal on solid waste management is quite a useful piece of writing assistance for every student who is not sure in his ability to prepare a good paper himself. At EssayLib.com writing service you can order a custom research proposal on Water Supply topics. Your research paper proposal will be written from scratch. We hire top-rated PhD and Master’s writers only to provide students with professional research proposal help at affordable rates. Each customer will get a non-plagiarized paper with timely delivery. Just visit our website and fill in the order form with all proposal details: Enjoy our professional research proposal writing service!

9 ways on how to turn your hobby into a successful business

9 ways on how to turn your hobby into a successful business Hobbies are something we enjoy doing when we have free time. Whether it’s painting, playing sports, or even gardening, hobbies help us relax while doing something we love. What if there was a way to get paid to do your hobby? Well, there is! Here are 9 ways you can turn your hobby into a profitable business. It’s time to get paid for something you truly love to do.  Source [ Omni Papers ]

Analysis of Dubai’s Economy

Analysis of Dubais Economy Dubai’s Financial Crisis: Dubai is usually characterized by sky piercing towers, rotating buildings, spectacular architectural designs, flow of petro-dollars which refers to the income coming from exporting oil and its products to other countries, broad and clean road networks, etc. It represents a face of modernization and advancement and has earned a place amongst one of the most technically advanced countries in the world. This rapid development of the country was a result of the focus of the government on tourism thus promoting the real estate sector with the help of revenues coming from export of oil and natural gas. With the largest real estate company of Dubai Emaar properties becoming bankrupt in the United States and vaDubai proposal to delay the repayment of all its debt’s for a period of 6 months on November 26, 2009 the financial crisis in Dubai was exposed in front of the world which had bad effects on countries around the world. The debts were as large as $59 billion causing a stop to the investment cycle of Dubai for 6 months. The Dubai’s real estate industry was based on huge loans which they expected to pay through the revenues they earn from them but with recession hitting the industry badly their plans failed. Thus the Dubai’s financial crisis to a large extent can be said to be a consequence of real estate bubble burst in Dubai. Dubai’s Economy: Before getting to the financial crisis it is important to know the structure of the Dubai’s economy which is one of the most unique and unusual in the world. It is divided into free zones setup by the government of Dubai. The zones are industry specific with Jebel Ali free zone being the fastest growing in the world. The Jebel Ali free zone offers a set of products and services such as: ready to use offices, Business centers, factories, Warehouses, infrastructure ready plots etc. Jebel Ali free zone commonly referred to as Jafza is a part of Dubai based; a s tate owned Economic Zones World. It is one of the world’s biggest developers of Economic Zones, Logistics and Research and development driven Industrial Parks. The main free zones of Dubai are Jebel Ali free zone, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Maritime City which are based on the industries they are related with. People have false misconception about Dubai’s economy they believe that it’s mainly driven by oil and gas although the oil sector comprises of less than 6% economy of Dubai that was primarily dependent on oil as a main source of revenue in the past. Dubai being a part of the United Arab Emirates is expected to be great producer of oil, petroleum and natural gas although it is a good producer but compared to other countries of the United Arab Emirates it produces relatively lesser quantities of oil. Dubai produces 240,000 barrels of oil per day and its revenues from natural gas constitute only 2% of the total revenue that United Arab E mirates gets from natural gas. Although it is true that Dubai’s economy was initially build on the revenues generated by its reserves of oil and natural gas but with time it’s oil reserves have reduced significantly as a result of a large increase in the demand for oil and oil products around the world and over the years and Dubai exporting a great amount of oil to other countries it is expected that Dubai’s reserves of oil will get exhausted in the next 20 years and so it has concentrated on the tourism industry to generate good revenues at that time. (Dubai hit hard)

Haitian culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Haitian culture - Research Paper Example For instance they think that an angry spirit, most probably enlisted by a foe, causes physical deformity. Haitians freely touch friends and family (Colin, 2006). Healthcare providers can freely touch them, in fact, they might touch healthcare providers to let them know that they are being spoken to (Colin, 2006). They have a closely knit family and extended family system. Normally three generations lived together under one roof in small homes. They have a male dominant social system where the men make family decisions. Behind the scenes than men are highly influential (Colin, 2006). But in case of a healthcare situation the spokesperson can be the father, mother or any other person of that family. Haitian culture is based on male chauvinism (Colin, 2006), where men considered themselves free of household responsibilities and childcare. They are expected to be the sole providers and the authority figure that disciplines the children. The women in a family are the real backbone as they manage all operation. Fathers are usually the distant figures that rule with authority. However, there is a changing trend among Haitians living in the United States. Many intergenerational conflicts are occurring with parents and their children hold opposing views. Sex, peer affiliations and roles within a family are among the top issues for such conflict. The females of a family provided caring role. Healthcare providers need to understand this information because certain traditional norms are important to understand to be prepared when taking care of Haitian families. Among family and friends, Haitians keep very close personal space (Colin, 2006). With strangers however, they keep a distance while talking or during any other form of communication. Healthcare providers can stand close to the patients. Haitians are very hospitable people. They would offer the most comfortable space to the guests. The Haitian culture represents the tribal mindset.

Lesson plan and rationale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lesson plan and rationale - Essay Example A successful program is made up of well-planned courses, and well-planned course are a result of well-structured, planned and successful execution of the required weekly lessons. An educator should take each lesson seriously and see it as an opportunity to use creativity in engaging with the learners. This is the stage where the course content, which reflects the curriculum objective, is emphasized, and it is the stage where the learner can participate in the program execution actively. According to Habanek (2005), the "syllabus should explain how the course has been designed by the professor to facilitate learning and what the professor will do to help all students achieve" their goals. Therefore, a course lesson should always be the first priority towards achieving curriculum goals and objectives. Below is a brief description of how ‘Toxicology† lesson for The Advanced Pharmacology Course is executed to ensure that it meets the course and overall curriculum objectives. Lesson objectives The ‘Toxicology’ lesson will be offered in week six of the course. The lesson is strategically placed near the end of the Advanced Pharmacology course because it contains very important information that the learners are required to expansively. Putting it near the end enables learners to gain a deeper understanding of the course in the first weeks and become familiar with the course rationale. By the time, the learners are in week six concepts such as toxicity and chemical makeup of the drugs will be easily comprehended. This will ease the educator’s efforts towards ensuring the learners achieve the lesson objectives, which include: To attain a comprehensive understanding of toxicity of various drugs and their chemical make-up that may lead to toxicity The learner identifies how combination of drugs that have different chemical elements can react with patients when they are wrongfully prescribed Congruence of objectives to the course’s ob jectives and specific behaviors or outcomes expected from learners because of participating in this lesson. A good course and syllabus should be responsive and flexible to accommodate students concerns and address external events (Slattery & Carlson, 2005). At the end of this lesson, there are outcomes that the learner is supposed to display to show their understanding of lesson objectives. The outcomes display a clear and deep understanding of the lesson learning resources and material. Some of these outcomes include being able to determine the amount of prescription medication will be toxic to the patient. The learner should also be able to identify and link patient reaction to specified medication causing the reaction. It is also important that the learner be able to explain comprehensively drug action at a molecular, as well as cellular level. These outcomes are in direct relation to the course objectives, which state that learners should be able to Attain a comprehensive explan ation of major drug groups and be able to apply it in medical practice Be aware of the common contradictions and side effects that drug prototype, including knowledge in drug interactions, actions, and toxicity. Description of instructional approach to use For this lesson, the students will be required to make discoveries and individually understand the lesson objectives. The best learning theory to apply for this class will be constructivism. Constructivism is best suited because it incorporates principles such as discovery learning, active leaning, and knowledge building which are all part of student exploration within a specified structure by the educator (Devries and Zan, 2003). A constructivism approach enables students to be involved in making discoveries at a personal level, therefore, making it easy for them to understand the key concepts. This makes the lesson to be learner centered. My main work as an educator will be to facilitate the learning process by ensuring

The Effects of Violence on Youth Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Violence on Youth Essay In recent years, the advancement in entertainment technology in the field of and the increasing liberalization of America and its media have led to the creation and marketing of violent forms of entertainment. This includes such technologies movies, TV shows, video games, and news outlets. Today’s youth have easy accessibility to many of these violent forms of entertainment and are increasingly exposed to them at younger ages. The exposure to gore and violence has caused many people to believe that America’s youth are becoming increasing desensitized to violence. This exposure to violence through various media outlets may cause an exponential increase in violent actions of America’s youth and certain harmful effects to those exposed. The experience of violent events harms youth. The increasing publicity by media sources of violent crimes such as shootings may cause children to question their safety at public locations and events. Shootings near the Empire State building that left nine wounded and one dead and the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, that left 20 students and six staff members dead affect not only the victims, their families, and their communities but the whole populous of the United States. Such blatantly open and violent acts are now often recorded and show to the public via News channels and other media outlets. They have caused many people, especially youth, to suffer unseen scares such as emotional and cognitive distress. Furthermore, violent events in a majority of Americans cities specifically in areas of lowe r income families and individuals have rendered 90% of the youth in those regions exposed to violence (Braunstein, M.D. Glenn D). Studies have shown that one fifth of these children suffer from depression. One third of these children even suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) a disorder most common seen in war veterans. Additionally, studies have proven prolonged exposure to the stress of violence have caused the elevated excretion of certain hormones in children. This causes impaired cognition of the brain, specifically in the areas of learning, memory, and the regulation of emotion. Experts have proven the youth who are increasingly exposed to violence consistently score lower on vocabulary and reading exams. Further, symptoms of those exposed to violence include: emotional numbing and detachment, increased arousal, trouble sleeping and nightmares. Youth  suffering from increased exposure to violence or PTSD are more prone to exhibit aggressive and self destructive b ehaviors such as flashbacks, feelings of guilt, self-harm and even suicide (PTSD: National Center for PTSD). The younger the child is when he/she experiences a violent action or event the more prone he/she is to developing more extreme symptoms. It is imperative that the youth of America be protected from these increasingly more violent and widely dispersed acts of violence. Exposure to violence in media has increased drastically in the last 30 years. Much of this expose comes from the movie many of which children are allowed to view. Modern movies have become increasing more violent than their predecessors yet the ratings have remained the same. The Motion Picture Association of America describes a PG-13 movie as a film with content that â€Å"may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category.† While this definition has remained the same, the material now allowed into movies is consistently more violent and graphic than its predecessors. Since 1950 violent content in pg-13 movies has more than doubled (Study: Violence Levels in Movies Have Skyrocketed over Last 30 Years). In fact, many of today’s pg-13 films would have been rated R in years past. In comparison, other questionable topics found in movies such as drug use and sexuality have not increased in amount since past years and movies with increased amounts of these topics are still rated R. This implies that in recent years the media and the people viewing set media are becoming increasingly desensitized to violence. Researchers have proposed that similar to drug addicts, the American public have grown accustom to ever increasing amounts of violence in movies and need more and more violence to be entertained. One such movie series that accurately portrays this increasingly violent trend is the â€Å"Rambo† series (Study: Violence Levels in Movies Have Skyrocketed over Last 30 Years). Every movie released becomes increasingly violent. People who wat ch violent videos become increasingly more prone to violent actions. We as a society and a people, especially the younger generation who have been exposed since birth, are becoming more violent and prone to violent behavior. This in effect has made the people of America less humane. Video games have become an increasingly more popular form of entertainment, and many of these games have become increasingly violent as well. In depth  research has proven that violent videogames can and do cause more violent actions in its users, even more so in youth. Young people do not have as high cognitive function as adults nor do they have the ability to control their emotions as well. Furthermore, it has been proven that developing violent video gaming habits develop more violent every day habits (Carey, Benedict). However it is not proven if violent video games increase the likelihood that a person will commit a violent crime, such as murder, rape, or assault. One study showed that those who played violent video games took longer to help an injured victim, rated a given fight as less serious, and were less likely to respond to a fight compared to those who played non-violent video games. The same pattern applied to those who watched violent movies. A psychologist at Iowa State University led a research team that studied 47 undergraduates who played â€Å"Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance† for 15 minutes. It also tested whether the students would behave more aggressively, by having them dole out hot sauce to a fellow student who, they were told, did not like spicy food but had to swallow the sauce. Compared with a group who had played a nonviolent video game, those who had been engaged in â€Å"Mortal Kombat† were more aggressive across the board. They gave their fellow students larger portions of the hot sauce. Similar studies also concluded similar results for a short time after playing video games one is more likely to act in a violent nature. Video games a re not solely responsible for extremely violent actions such as shootings. However, in tandem with other aggressive stimulants such as bulling and depression it may set of violent actions of an individual. Some experts suggest that video game have a relatively low impact on daily function. Though many studies have been done, no conclusive evidence has been presented that violent video games have long term effects on its users. Though violent video games might play a small roll in behavior, most scientists suggest that the culture of one’s society plays a much higher part in development of aggressive behaviors. In most studies of this subject, one or more areas was flawed resulting no decisive evidence has been presented concluding that these studies of the effects of video games on violence are a positive indicator of the increased violent actions (Etchells, Pete). Though there may be a correlation between violent  videogames and violent actions, correlation does not prove causation. Furthermore, studies have shown that while we are the nation with the highest murder rate per capita, we are not the nation with the highest violent video game consumption (Kain, Erik). The fact m ay be that because the USA has such a high murder rate and use of video games that the correlation between the two might be entirely coincidental. Some studies show that video games may benefit ones cognitive process. A study on two groups of college student’s, one group who didn’t play video games and one group the who played simple video games for 30min a day. An MRI of the brain after the experiment showed that the group who played video games had significantly more grey matter in their right hippocampus, right prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum; these areas of the brain are responsible for spatial navigation, memory formation, strategic planning and fine motor skills in the hands. This study also suggested that video games can be used to treat some mental disorders including Alzheimer’s and Schizophrenia (Guarini, Drew). Another study concluded that those who played strategic video games achieved better scores on physiological tests and completed cognitive tasks with better speed and accuracy. Furthermore, playing video games for a mere two hours a week may slow the mental decay process and therefore decrease the effects of aging. An Italian research team presented evidence that playing faster paced videogames may help children with dyslexia read better. Moreover, video games have been proven to alleviate mental stress and act as a pain reliever. Additionally, videogames are known to improve eyesight if played for an hour a week. Video games have benefits and are worth playing for that reason however, this does not justify the increasingly violent actions that these games portray to children. The level of violence the children of America are allowed to view is disturbing. Violence has in no way proven to benefit the development of youth. The cognitive and psychological heath of youth in America is declining with every violent act experienced and perceived. Our families, our communities, and our nation need to take responsibility to e nsure the safe development of youth in our nation. The children of America represent the future of America. If the people in America do not support the safe development of youth, then they do not support the continued development of America. To insure the future safety of America we as Americans need to ensure the  safety of our youth. The nations must more closely monitor and restrict the amount of violence our nation’s youth may view. Increasing violence viewed though various media outlets have been proven to cause increased aggression in today’s youth. Violence has been proven to severely hurt youth not only psychologically but cognitively as well. Though some studies may show no direct evidence between the use of violent videogame and violent actions as a nation the United States should error on the side of safety. It is imperative that the United States monitor more closely the youth use of such violent video games as to prevent the negative effects that go with it. Furthermore communities need to make safer to protect today’s youth from events that will most definitely scar them and damage their development. Violence has negative effects on youth and should therefore be more closely monitored and restricted. Bibliography Braunstein, M.D. Glenn D. Violent Events Have Long-Term Effects on Children. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. . This article explains the effects of violent events on today’s youth. As the article is written by a doctor it is a credible source and a valuable addition to my paper. Media Violence. Media Violence. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. . This article written by pediatricians discusses the harmful effects of media violence on today’s youth. Since it is written by pediatricians I have labeled it a credible source. Study: Violence Levels In Movies Have Skyrocketed Over Last 30 Years.OpposingViews.com. Jonathan Wolfe, 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. . This article discuses the increased violence in movies over the past 30 years it is a good indicator of the increasing liberalization of violence in America. Guarini, Drew. 9 Ways Video Games Can Actually Be Good For You. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Nov. 201 3. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. . This source help me develop reason that video games all research came from sited sources so it is credible. Carey, Benedict. Shooting in the Dark. The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. . This source helped me develop more in depth research into the effects of violent video games on youth. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. PTSD. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. . This source assisted me in my evaluation of the effects of violence. PTSD is one of many effects violence has on its victims Etchells, Pete. What Is the Link between Violent Video Games and Aggression?Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2013/sep/19/neuroscience-psychology This source helped me discern the faults of studies and the opposition to my assertion. Kain, Erik. Do Games Cause Real-World Violence? Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. . This source helped me discern the faults of studies and the opposition to my assertion.

Last of the Mohicans Essay -- Last Mohicans War Book Review Essays

Last of the Mohicans Last of the Mohicans is set in 1757 in the third year of a war in North America over land and territory. Mostly, the war is between the English and the French, but each side has taken up Indian allies to assist them. The main story in the Last of the Mohicans is the love of an adopted Mohican, Hawk-eye, and Cora, the daughter of an English general. There are also other stories embedded in the movie, which are harder to recognize. For instance, a second love story between Hawk-eye's brother and Cora's sister. The life of Magua is another story that the movie seems to slightly touch, but doesn't elaborate on. As for the historical part of the movie, I think it is accurate in the sense of the fighting style of the English. The "proper" way of war might be fine in Europe, but against the Indians, standing in a line with bright red coats is not the way to win. "...the soldiers' uniforms splendid - though (and that's a historic fact) idiotically ornate and impractical for warfare. It wasn't until about 1916 that the British and the French saw the light and stopped wearing all that Day-Glo, easy target colors" (Prof. Jahiel). For example, at the beginning of the movie, Magua killed one soldier marching in the line, and the guy next to him didn't even do anything until the commander said to attack. They would also fire at the same time, leaving the whole squad vulnerable to attack while they reloaded. By fighting in this manner, it allowed the Indians to fight much more strategically. They would fire muskets three at a time, so they could stop an oncoming rush while the others reloaded. The Ind ians also took advantage of the English firing scheme. After the whole squad of English soldiers fired their muskets, the Indians would rush in with axes and knives, then fall back. This strategy would allow just a few Indians to take out a relatively large number of English. "The British, we learn by the proof in the pudding, are inept warriors, and lousy tacticians...Plus, they're seemingly accurately described, both from the point of view of the historian and political correctness" (Prof. Jahiel). I also think the film did a good job with the weapons used throughout the movie. The spears, bows, axes, and muskets look authentic enough for me. The one weapon that I couldn't recognize was the axe-type club that was used by Hawk-eye's father. ... ...e. I think another sub plot that comes out of the film is the idea of change. Or at least reality sets in on some of the characters. For instance, General Munroe decides not to fight for his fort and just leave. This was something that was not previously done, or even accepted in the English Military. Also I found Cora's ex-boyfriend, the noble, to be an extremely brave and honorable man. At first I thought he was, quite frankly, an arrogant jackass until the end when he sacrificed himself for Cora and Hawk-eye. One thing to keep in mind when watching the film is that it shows the war from a different angle than what the public might be used to. It focuses more on an Indian point of view and a more individualistic view. By Indian point of view I mean most representations of wars in America make us look to be the good guys, in this film there is a somewhat neutral eye from which the war is viewed. What I mean by individualistic is that each person, Hawk-eye, Cora, General Munroe, and Magua are involved in the same war, but see things totally different. One person viewing the film will most likely see something different or special about the film than another person would.

Psychoanalytic Theory Essay

Sigmund Freud has been one of the most prominent personalities in the field of psychology. He has contributed numerous theories in this particular field that are being studied and used even up to the present time. The most notable among his works are the personality theory, psychosexual stages of development, and defense mechanism. According to Sigmund Freud, personality is made up of three elements that he elaborated in his theory of personality. These elements are the id, the ego, and the superego, which collaborates together in order to form complex behaviors of human beings (Van Wagner, 2005). The id is an element of an individual’s personality that exists since birth. This component of personality is characterized by primitive behaviors that operate unconsciously through the person’s involuntary instincts. Id operates under the pleasure principle, which functions for the immediate satisfaction of needs and desires. The id is the cause of psychic energy and thus, it is considered as the main aspect of human personality (Van Wagner, 2005). The ego is the element of personality that focuses on reality. Ego is developed from the id, which makes sure that the primitive behaviors coming from the id can be shown in social acceptable behaviors that coincide with the real world. This operates under the reality principle because it sees to it that the instincts coming from the id is regulated so that it would be appropriate in the real world (Van Wagner, 2005). The superego is the last element of the personality theory to develop. This is the aspect of the personality theory that holds the moral values and standards of an individual. Superego represents the morals a person acquires from his/her parents and the society. This is also known as a person’s sense of right and wrong (Van Wagner, 2005). Freud believes that to be able to comprehend the adult behavior of a person, it is necessary to analyze his/her experience as a child. Due to this the psychosexual stages of development was created (Queen, 2001). The psychosexual stages are composed of the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages. The oral stage takes place from birth to 18 months. It is linked with linked with the desire to â€Å"incorporate† objects in the mouth. This is followed by the anal stage that happen from 18 months to three years. The anal stage is when the child takes pleasure in defecation wherein his/her anus is considered as an erotogenic zone (â€Å"Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development†, 2004). Next, is the phallic stage where the individual moves satisfaction from the anus to the genitals at the age of three to seven. It is referred to as the phallic stage because as Freud argues it is the male organ which is important in this stage. Furthermore, the individual takes on the latent period where sexual concerns are still considered but this is in accordance with the society he/she moves in which occurs from seven to twelve years of age. Lastly, the genital period, which occurs from twelve years to adulthood and is the time when attraction towards the opposite sex is developed. As stages are completed the person could balance different aspects of life (Quigley, 1998). There are eight defense mechanisms that are proposed by Freud. These are sublimation, repression, denial, projection, reaction formation, isolation, regression, and defense against effect (Hentschel et al. , 2004). The discussions made above concerns the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud. More specifically the parts of personality, the psychosexual stages of development, and defense mechanisms were presented.

A New Look At Personal Identity Essay

A new look at personal identity Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his article, â€Å"A New Look at Personal Identity,† Michael Allen Fox, argues his opinion on the feisty historic debate about physical and psychological continuity views on personal identity (Fox, 2007). Hebrings in his view of the â€Å"self-developed by existential philosophy† as what makes a person. He does not invalidate the original views but says that the issue of what makes a person remains a task for philosophers to investigate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fox wants to handle the often tricky dilemma of personal identity that has been tackled by philosophers since time immemorial. He identifies some questions to solve; â€Å"Who am I?† and â€Å"Might I be a very different person in the future?† He begins by stating that according to most responses, the conclusion boils down to either the soul or the body. He says that one cannot find ‘you’ or ‘I’in the soul, but it is easy to associate it with something tangible like the body. He goes on to state the grounds for the belief of the first group; that we are souls and that we do not change. He counters it by introducing the belief that for something to exist it is imperative for to be able to locate in space and time. He then introduces the philosophers’ dominant stance on the subject that the soul is non-existent (Hamilton, 1995).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Seeking to find out whether the philosophers are right, Fox looks at history and resolves that people either believe in physical or psychological continuity as what makes a person. He says that according to the former, someone never changes as they have had the same body since their birth. To support the argument, he recounts an ancient enigma called ‘The Ship of Theseus.’ He states that Theseus was the king and that gradually his whole ship’sparts got replacement so that no part of it remained as the first. He further says that this is the philosophers’ basis of their argument; that incremental replacement occurs on the gut, the epidermis, red blood cells, bone and muscles. He also introduces organ transplant to strengthen on their claim. He goes on to say that the cerebral and visual cortex never regenerate and concludes that the most important parts of us do not change in relation to the subject at hand. He al so introduces the concept of the DNA as another hurdle to the physical approach. He explains that as unique as the DNA is, it does not form part of all our body; only ten percent of the body DNA resides in our cells. He questions why philosophers have not ventured to use DNA as one of thebase of individual continuity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The decision point comes when Fox discredits the latter approach as ancient and introduces the view of the â€Å"self-developed by existential philosophy† as an alternative. He argues that â€Å"a self or person is what it does,† an activity, what he or she does daily, by their means of choices and actions. He calls it the ‘continuity of responsible action’(Fox, 2007). He concludes by saying the matter is one that remains one for philosophy to investigate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The article tries to elucidate on the subject of what makes a person. However, Fox was unable to give a rigid conclusion and left the matter open to discussion. Although he elucidated on physical continuity, I think that he should not have discredited psychological continuity; additional explanation should have been made to let the reader decide for themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Is the author’s view the best alternative among the three?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Should philosophers continue their research on physical continuity? References Hamilton, A. (1995). A new look at personal identity. The Philosophical Quarterly, 332-349. Fox, M. A. (2007). A new look at personal identity. Philosophy Now, 62, 10-11. Source document

Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research

Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research Introduction Validity, reliability and generalization are important concepts in business and management research. In different contexts, research is a clearly defined process where different elements and are studied, analysed and presented to show new approaches that increase knowledge regarding a particular phenomenon. Validity, reliability and generalization are crucial concepts in management research because they determine the manner in which management theory is applied.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Modern management theories have demystified many assumptions that are related to business practices which are observed in various environments (Riege 2003, p. 75). Therefore, it is important for researchers to understand the link between theory and practice and how these two concepts impact on management discourses. Thi s paper will analyse the importance of validity, reliability and generalization in business research. The Role of Validity, Reliability and Generalization Validity can be described as an element of research which ensures that a study is conducted in a professional, accurate and systematic manner. This increases the credibility of a research study in the eyes of different people who are directly affected by its findings. In modern management research, validity ensures that a researcher vets the quality of his work before he shares his findings with other people (Riege 2003, p. 77). This approach enables a researcher to use accurate empirical tests to find out more about the sources of his information and how they impact on the quality of information he obtains. This ensures all conclusions reached by his study are backed up by relevant data and statistics. It is important for the data gathered and conclusions reached to correlate to bring about the desired conclusions in a particular study to make its findings more relevant to its users. Therefore, research studies should be conducted in a manner that allows findings to be interpreted in different management and business contexts. Different forms of research design use tests and other procedures to determine the level of validity in a researcher’s work. There has been a divergence of views about how various aspects of cause and effect relationships influence the application of the gathered data and statistics in research. For instance, in some aspects of case study research, researchers may be forced to review their personal feelings towards different subjects they are studying to ensure they maintain an objective approach in their work (Riege 2003, p. 81). A researcher needs to rely on other external tools to remove any bias that may negatively impact on the validity of conclusions and findings adopted by his study. In academic and real world perspectives, there is a difference in the manner in which kn owledge gathered is understood and applied.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even though there are strong synergies between academic research and real world management approaches, a researcher needs to find out specific objectives he intends to achieve. However, a researcher needs to understand differences between academic environments and real world business environments and how they impact on his work. Reliability is an important concept in management research. It allows a researcher to attain goals that have been set in the beginning to ensure he understands how his study is likely to impact on different groups of people. Therefore, concepts of openness, debate and objectivity help to measure the reliability of a particular research study and its findings. In management and business research, researchers must be ready to defend the methodologies they u se to come up with different conclusions and findings (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 3). They need to use evidence based, real life situations to ensure that the knowledge they gather can be used to make a positive impact in different fields. It must be noted that modern business research is applied in an environment characterised by constantly changing management practices which threaten the relevance of previous bodies of knowledge gathered through research. Therefore, all processes a researcher uses to come up with new bodies of knowledge should measure up to high intellectual standards. Researchers need to use analysis processes which are correctly linked to the central idea of their studies. They need to use techniques which accurately capture the viewpoints of different sources of information they use in their studies. More importantly, both academic and real world applications of knowledge obtained should be able to verify the accuracy and suitability of various research proce sses used. For instance, tests are used in research to find out if specific processes used by a researcher are logical and accurate. It is also important for a research study to show how results obtained can be transferred to other settings to reveal how they correlate with other forms of knowledge (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 6). A researcher needs to understand that every study undertaken seeks to find out new knowledge and how it can be applied in different academic and business contexts. Therefore, a study conducted should be analysed and critiqued by different scholars to find out the credibility of arguments it advances. The concept of generalisation has a significant role in business and management research. In some instances, researchers may need to use existing bodies of knowledge to come up with hypothesis regarding different phenomena they are studying. This allows them to understand the main arguments that justify their studies and specific qualities of phenomena they a re studying.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many researchers move from the known to the unknown concepts in their quest to uncover new information regarding a particular phenomenon (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 9). This allows them to use a study process that connects data collection, methodologies and theoretical applications of the knowledge they obtain. Therefore, generalizations equip researchers with important skills which they use to find out more about different paradigms of existing research knowledge. In effect, they are able to understand specific problems they seek to solve through their studies. Consequently, they are able to identify gaps between theory and practice and how they impact on the way business research knowledge is applied. Generalizations guide researchers to make both correct and incorrect inf erences regarding cause and effect relationships that affect various phenomena they intend to study. As a result, this allows researchers to use different approaches to predict and measure different variables. It is important for researchers to have safeguards to ensure that methodologies and research designs they use conform to high intellectual standards. In addition, researchers need to gradually shift from a perception influenced by multiple perspectives to one influenced by methodologically proven concepts to strengthen their arguments (Cornelissen Thorpe 2004, p. 13). They need to interpret different theories within existing business and management frameworks to find out their true impacts. They also need to use both analytical and empirical studies to come up with comprehensive knowledge in their studies. Therefore, this makes their studies more comprehensive because they are able to highlight issues that have not been well addressed by other existing bodies of knowledge. Ap plication of Validity, Reliability and Generalization in Designing a Questionnaire The role of validity, reliability and generalizations in questionnaire design needs to highlight important factors that underpin Human Resource Management research in an academic setting. The research design needs to focus on the contemporary application of existing HRM research theories in both academic and professional contexts. This approach will make it possible for a researcher to determine the relevance of current HRM bodies of knowledge in equipping students with vital skills they need to succeed (Tsang Williams 2012, p. 5). Therefore, this approach allows a researcher to avoid personal biases that may influence the nature of findings obtained from his study. It is important for a researcher to formulate important objectives he seeks to achieve to ensure he comes up with a strong hypothesis. Since HRM consists of many concepts, questionnaires should be brief and clear to ensure they elicit val id responses from participants.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Objectivity in research questionnaires allows respondents to contribute their answers accurately. As a result, a researcher is able to use more appropriate methodologies which measure different variables that impact on a study. In effect, a researcher will be in a position to understand limitations that make respondents not to share accurate information regarding a particular phenomenon. Therefore, these principles are beneficial during sampling because a researcher takes time to vet all participants to determine their suitability. This will enable him to compile a list of participants who are aware about their specific responsibilities in making the study a success. In effect, a researcher is able to use suitable methodological tools and sampling techniques which have worked well in previous research studies to conduct his own study (Tsang Williams 2012, p. 7). Additionally, a researcher may opt to develop his own research methodology which is suitable for his study. All these fac tors determine the nature of results obtained out of a particular research process. An effective research process needs to focus on situational factors that impact on the information gathered from respondents. Previous HRM models have focused on understanding events that occur in various organisational settings and how various factors they outline can be measured or controlled. More importantly, validity, reliability and generalisation allow deductive reasoning by a researcher to ensure all steps of his study state specific implications that are likely to be realised. Consequently, this allows a researcher to design a questionnaire that serves multiple purposes as a data gathering tool. As a result, the questionnaire is able to capture behavioural as well as personality issues that are likely to influence respondents’ bias and attitudes (Tsang Williams 2012, p. 11). Furthermore, this helps him to understand beforehand the quality of responses that he expects to obtain throug h his study. Thus, a researcher is able to understand the limitations of processes he is using and how they can be addressed to improve the quality of his findings. The three concepts allow researchers to share relevant knowledge with their participants on how different management perspectives shape their thinking. The patterns of questioning used may either describe or gradually predict the manner in which different participants involved in the study are likely to respond. Therefore, using literature already gathered, a researcher is able to make inferences on the type of results he is likely to obtain to understand if they confirm or contradict his earlier assumptions. This makes it possible for a researcher to investigate different aspects of reality thoroughly, to come up with new theoretical findings that add value to the study (Vincent, Bharadwaj Challagalla 2005, p. 11). Since most of the participants in such a study are likely to be students, a researcher gets an opportunit y to investigate their understanding about real world application of HRM principles. Through their participation, the researcher may get to learn how to interpret the data gathered constructively. These processes are also important in the formulation of a hypothesis. The hypothesis serves as a comprehensive assumption that allows a researcher to think analytically about what he intends to achieve from the research process he embarks on. As a result, a researcher takes time to look at different theoretical interpretations of the topic he seeks to study and their relevance. More importantly, validity, reliability and generalisation allow a researcher to move from broad theoretical concepts to narrow theoretical concepts as he investigates different factors that impact on his study. In effect, this allows him to make a positive impression on HRM post graduate students because of the high levels of professionalism he exhibits in his work (Vincent, Bharadwaj Challagalla 2005, p. 16). Th erefore, he will be able to come up with appropriate findings and conclusions that stimulate intellectual discourse in different settings they are applied. When using generalizations to design questionnaires and other methodological tools, researchers need to take note of standards used to measure the quality of management research. In their research designs, they should maintain links between empirical models and other processes used gather and document the information they gather. The empirical formats used and the results obtained out of these processes should match characteristics of phenomena being studied (Vincent, Bharadwaj Challagalla 2005, p. 18). Moreover, it is important for a researcher to find out specific theoretical concepts that are important to his study and how they affect the credibility of results obtained. For instances, a researcher may need to understand how various branches of HRM studied by students influence their academic and career choices. As a result, this makes him take note of research gaps that are likely to occur in his questionnaires to understand how they are likely to affect his study. Recommendations for a Questionnaire Before the questionnaire is done, it is important for effective sampling techniques to be used to determine the nature of the respondents. The researcher needs to find out the number of people he intends to gather responses from and how they represent the whole population the survey will be based on. Since the questionnaire will mainly target HRM post graduate students, the first criterion for a respondent that seeks to be included in the sample is that he or she must belong to this population (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 358). Subsequently, he must look at other factors that are likely to define the exact sample for his study such as; age, lifestyle, cultural background, previous professional training and career ambitions. Therefore, he needs to use randomisation techniques to ensure he chooses resp ondents with diverse behaviour, lifestyles and career aspirations, to make his study more credible. The final number of respondents chosen should represent all the other students in the institution. The stratification technique will make it possible for the researcher to find out if the sample he has chosen is a true representation of all postgraduate HRM students in the institution. The researcher needs to decide on the segments of all student population that are crucial to the survey and their respective statistical relevance to the study. In addition, the researcher will have to use different criteria to stratify all segments of the student population by focusing on their interests, learning patterns, intellectual accomplishments and their attitudes towards the course. The researcher can use computer applications to select student respondents who represent different categories (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 360). Subsequently, a researcher needs to include representative perc entages of all sub-groups that are to be used in the sample before proceeding with the study. This approach will help a researcher to come up with a more accurate sample that comprises of students drawn from all statistically relevant sub-groups. Before designing the questionnaire, the researcher needs to understand the manner in which survey estimates are going to be tabulated. Both sampling and non-sampling errors are likely to affect the design of the questionnaire survey used by the researcher. The design of the sample needs to look at differences in estimates which are likely to affect the quality of the sample used. In addition, the researcher needs to note other non- sampling errors in questionnaire design which may affect the quality of responses he obtains. For instance, errors that occur due to bias may distort the views of the surveyed population thereby casting aspersions on the objectivity of the findings. He also needs to find out if his sampling techniques stratify th e targeted population effectively (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 362). As a result, the researcher needs to be aware about this issue because it may make it difficult for him to compile accurate data from all segments of the post graduate HRM student population in the institution. Before using the questionnaire survey, the researcher needs to look at other problems which are likely to occur as he carries out his work. He needs to use effective data gathering, editing and evaluation processes to ensure the quality of his work remains high. In addition, the questionnaire design should check on responses that are either unclear or misleading. This problem can be eliminated through using appropriate and easy to understand language in the questionnaire (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 365). Therefore, it is important for the researcher to engage with HRM students he has chosen to participate in the study to find out their language skills and levels of exposure. This will help him t o compile suitable questions for them to respond to. As a result, sampled respondents will be in a better position to answer different questions they are asked properly. This will ensure research findings and conclusions reached are valid and reliable. The time in which the survey is going to be conducted has a direct consequence on the results attained from the study. It is important for the researcher to come up an effective work schedule that outlines when specific tasks are going to be performed during the study. The most appropriate survey will be a cross sectional survey which will relate why the students chose to study HRM and how this influences their future career ambitions (Mohrman, Gibson Mohrman 2001, p. 367). As a result, the research study will be able to address different factors being studied within a short period of time. More importantly, the researcher should also consider other factors such as failure by respondents to give out any information and how this impac ts on the quality of his study. As a result, he will be in a position to evaluate the goals of his research to find out if they conform to his initial expectations. References Cornelissen, JP Thorpe, R 2004, ‘The validity and usefulness of management theories: a review’, Leeds University Business School Working Paper Series, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-23. Mohrman, SA, Gibson, CB, Mohrman, AM 2001, ‘Doing research that is useful to practice: a model and empirical exploration’, Academy of Management Journal, vol. 44, pp. 357-376. Riege, AM 2003, ‘Validity and reliability tests in case study: a literature review with hand on applications for each research phase’, Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 75-86. Tsang, EW Williams, JN 2012, ‘Generalization and induction: misconceptions, clarifications, and a classification of induction’, MIS Quarterly, vol. 36 no. 10, pp. 1- 30. Vincent, LH, Bharadwaj, SG Challagalla, GN 2005, Antecedents, consequences, and the mediating role of organizational innovation: empirical generalizations, Singapore Management University, Singapore.

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Strategic Management at Sainsburys Introduction The word â€Å"strategy† is often over-used in a fuzzy manner. Therefore this simple and straight-forward definition of strategy given by William E Rothschild, the business leader and an ex-General Electric veteran is one of the best available. He defines strategy as â€Å"What do you want to achieve or avoid? The answers to this question are objectives. How will you go about achieving your desired results? The answer to this you can call strategy.† The highlight of this definition is that it clearly distinguishes strategy from â€Å"objectives.† This assignment examines strategic management at Sainsburys, during various booms and busts from the days of its launch till date. The analysis is done within the various conceptual frameworks of strategic management in general and Michael Porters five forces model, in particular. Strategic Management An articulate, well-laid out and well-executed strategy is the cornerstone of long term prosperity of any business. Strategy operates at various levels, starting with Business or Corporate strategy. Since the ultimate goal of a business is to gain leadership position in one or the other form, business strategy shapes marketing strategy, competitive strategy and growth strategy. Corporate Strategy This is an organisation wide strategy that directs and controls the composition of all business activity. It starts with a clear and quantified mission statement. This area is a preserve of top management. Decisions are taken on: How resources will be allocated across the organisation Portfolio of activities for the firm Clear definition of the objectives One of the key ingredients of good strategic management is organisational leadership and its ability to clarify strategic intent. Driven by vision, it is â€Å"an articulation of a simple criterion or characterisation of what a company must become to establish and sustain global leadership.† (Source: Pearce et al pp 340). Competitive Strategy In an ideal situation of a monopoly, competitive strategy has no significance. But in reality this is never the case. In near perfect competition, leadership position comes to a business only by gaining sustainable advantage over its competititors. At times this also determines the growth paths that a business should take. For instance, evaluating a move away from core competence into a completely unrelated business, or initiating take-over of another business that can offer synergies. The five forces model Michael E Porter proposed the five forces model in 1980 in his book â€Å"Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors.† In this widely respected and accepted framework he suggests that there are five generic forces that act upon a business irrespective of what industry it operates in. These forces are: Competitive rivalry within the industry between existing businesses: The significance of this force in a sector such as the UK grocery retail sector, with large number of players, is the erosion of loyalty because of perceived commoditisation. Threat of new entrants: If the barriers to entry are low because of low capital investment or lack of regulation, it can create further pressure with price cutting. Bargaining power of suppliers: Leads to lack of control over the supply chain Bargaining power of customers: Erodes loyalty and causes switching Availability of substitutes: Once again erodes customer loyalty and causes switching. This is a real pressure on UKs retail sector. To counter these forces and gain competitive advantage a firm can adopt either or a combination of two business strategies: Comparative advantage / cost leadership: This emerges from economies of scale. It is a firms ability to source and produce at cost which is lower than its competitors and therefore earn higher margins. It does not necessarily mean offering lower price in the marketplace. Differential advantage / differentiation: Is a firms ability to create a unique perception about itself vis-à  -vis its competitors in the marketplace. It allows a business to cultivate loyal segments of customers. Sainsburys Background Founded and launched in 1869, J Sainsburys PLC has as rich a history as modern London. John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury launched their first store named Sainsburys at Drury Lane and quickly expanded to a chain of four shops by 1882. â€Å"Throughout companys history, the Sainsbury brand has been synonymous with good-quality, well-presented products, with 50 and 60 per cent of the range being sold under the various versions of Sainsburys brand.† (Source: Varley). An average Sainsburys supermarket today stocks approximately 30,000 products 50% of which are its own label. The company not only wants to deliver high quality products but also wants to be seen as doing this by its customer. (Source: Thompson et al pp 192). The mission of revival: In the last decade, the company has lost its leadership position to Tesco and ASDA.. Currently it has between 16-17% market share, and is placed at third position. In 2004, there was a change at the top level. In 2005, its new chief executive clarified the companys strategic intent by launching an organisation wide revival programme â€Å"Making Sainsburys Great Again† and announced a mission of increasing sales by  £2.5bn by the end of 2007-08. As a result of this turnaround program, at the end of this financial year, Sainsburys â€Å"has reported sales growth ahead of expectations.† (Source: BBC New Website) Competitive strategy: If history of successful businesses is analysed, it will clearly emerge that winners are in the top slots because of the risks they have take. Businesses hungry for long-term success identify gaps and problem areas and attempt to provide solutions to their customers. Leaders at the helm do this with a combination of instinct backed by objective analysis of emerging trends. This is precisely what Sainsburys did in an extremely tough economic and social environment during and after the World War II when external forces were threatening its existence. In a pioneering move in the UK market, the grocery chain re-engineered its store operations by adopting the American format of food-retailing. Its first â€Å"selfservice† store launched in 1950 immediately after the World War II, when food and other resources required for subsistence were scarce, became a success because it solved a major problem faced by customers it busted shopping queues. (Source: Sainsbur ys website). Such moves are evident through out its existence and its march towards becoming one of the best known retailers in the history of British business. Sainsburys today: A move towards consolidation and growth The company plans to focus on three of its core areas: Sainsburys Supermarkets, Sainsburys Online and Sainburys Bank Steps taken since 2004 in the retailing business: Price reduction across a number of products. Improving availability. Introduction of over 3000 new items. Introduction of nutritional labelling branded â€Å"Wheel of health† on over 1500 products. Introduction of â€Å"Try cards† under the slogan ‘Try Something New Today built on healthy eating plank. The initiative aims to add value to the food shopping habits and changing food consumption habits. Its success measured by â€Å"over 7 million ‘Try cards picked up in stores.† Engaging its 3500 smaller scale suppliers by launching a campaign â€Å"Supply Something.† The initiative is aimed at making local supply chain robust. Increasing non-food product categories especially to generate a minimum of  £700m sales. Initiating community participation programs such as â€Å"Active Kids campaign† involving donations of equipment to schools. Attempting to become a responsible corporate citizen by setting targets of reducing carbon emissions and introducing re-cycling. The company has a sourcing office in Hong Kong â€Å"Sainsburys serves 16 million customers each week in 455 supermarkets and 301 convenience stores across the country. The company employs 148,000 colleagues commited to delivering ‘Great Food at Fair Prices.† maintains the companys official website. All the above activities are aimed towards gaining either diffrential or cost leadership or a combination of both. The future There is an increase in sales in the grocery business over the last financial year amounting to Pounds 324 million a growth of 458.6% over 2006. However financial services that accounts for just 1.7% of the total sales has seen a fall of 11.8% over 2006. The organisation states one of it values as â€Å"Getting better Every Day.† In the current tight economic scenario, Shareholders are expecting most of the retailers to use their real estate assets for generating additional liquidity. But in a move completely reverse of the expectation, Sainsburys has tied-up with their lessor British Land. â€Å"Sainsburys also announced it was teaming up with British Land to create a  £1.2bn joint venture to run 39 superstores across the UK. The supermarket says it will invest  £273m into the venture, in which it will have a 50% stake. The stores are currently owned by British Land and leased to Sainsbury for 20 years.† (Source: BBC News Website). Land is the fundamental element in a large scale retail business and store location, store design and merchandise are all important critical success factors. It can be safely concluded that this recent collaborative move by Sainsburys is a deliberate long term. By investing in developing its stores, it can further hope to get a differential advantage over its competitors.