What role did Jews play in the American civil rights movement Essay

What role did Jews play in the American civil rights movement - Essay Example But in the 1960s, with the world watching on the evening news, many Jews traveled from northern cities to southern sites of marches, sit-ins, and rallies to support equal rights for African-Americans and to oppose those who would oppress them. Clearly there were motivating factors that made it beneficial for African Americans to have Jewish people helping them to attain equal rights. Any group who chose to support the civil rights movement would not only lend encouragement and backing, but also credibility and strength in numbers. Stephen J. Whitfield confirms that African Americans and Jews â€Å"have been so entangled that some twentieth-century Jews in the United States would imagine themselves black, and would blur the lines of race and ethnicity that bigotry had hoped to keep distinct† (Whitfield, 2008 , p. 353). However, it was not just an affinity or moral outrage that prompted Jewish people to become involved in the civil rights movement. Any victory for African Americans was a victory for Jews too. As a people, Jews have met with oppression throughout their history. Many felt as if they dwelt in a place somewhere between the dominant ethnicity of white Anglo-Saxon protestant and the most oppressed race in the United States, African American—sort of a gray area between black and white. By helping to obtain civil rights for African Americans, Jews knew that their cause would be swept along in the tide of change. They too would benefit from changes in federal legislation that would rein in some of the blatant injustice. Martin Luther King understood this. During the bus boycott in Montgomery, AL he said, â€Å"Our victory will not be a victory for Montgomery’s Negroes alone. It will be a victory for justice, a victory for fair play, and a victory for democracy.’ After the boycott proved successful, King refused to ‘take this as a victory over the white

Cognitive science and schema theory Research Proposal

Cognitive science and schema theory - Research Proposal Example With these concepts, I have analyzed the reason of failure of Guild wars game launched in Korea. Guild wars game which was successful in US failed to localize in Korea because of failure to design their product for users in a different culture. We are all aware that knowing something about a subject makes it easier to learn more about that subject: our prior knowledge serves as a framework which makes the new information more meaningful and easier to absorb (Huckin 1983). In other words, every interactants social world is usually constituted within a framework of familiar and pre-acquainted knowledge about various situations. This familiar and pre-acquainted knowledge is called schemas (or schemata). The concept of schemas is not new, but existed even in the 19th century: German philosopher Immanuel Kant developed the idea that each persons experiences are gathered together in memory, forming higher order concepts (Wolff 1963). In the last 25 years, the concept of schemas has been used and defined by quite a number of scholars. Cohen et al. (1993) for example, explain schemas as "packets of information stored in memory representing general knowledge about objects, situations, events, or actions" (p. 28). Schemas are classi fied into several types. Among them, cultural schema theory is "the familiar and pre-acquainted knowledge one uses when entering a familiar situation in his/her own culture. Cultural schemas for social interaction are cognitive structures that contain knowledge for face-to-face interactions in a persons cultural environment." (Nishida 1999) A concept of cultural schema theory is one of the most important achievements in cognitive science which deals with human thought process. In this concept, the difficulty of sharing a common understanding between designers and users, and the importance of eliminating the gulf between them are pointed out. It is the brain that keeps and stores any

Ethics, values, and social responsibility Essay Example for Free

Ethics, values, and social responsibility Essay In the finance field there are a number of ethical issues although many issues in this field are governed by law. Ethical issues in finance include individual conduct, financial institution operations and financial markets operations. In this field people are trained to perform different duties and thus finance ethics is diversified. However, the top five issues in this field include honesty and fairness, fraud, conflicts of interest, discrimination and information technology. Honesty and fairness in this field has raised much dispute. Because of the intense competition in the world, many people view the conditions in a business to be similar to those in a game of sport or war and thus anything is considered to be fair. On the other hand there are those who argue that not everything is considered to be honest and fair. This has therefore led to ethical issues in this field regarding what is honest and fair and what is not. Conflicts of interest is mainly observed in situations where an individual is placed in a position of making a decision on whether to pursue personal interests or the interests of other individuals or business. Similar, it can involve an organization making a choice on whether to pursue own interests or the interest of the society. The issue concerning fraud primarily entails the disclosure of valuable information which is vitally important for security. It also involves misrepresentation of material evidence intentionally. There are several types of fraud and this may include; accounting, marketing and consumer fraud. Discrimination is an ethical issue which can involve an individual or a business. Some individuals or businesses abuse others by enticing them and exploiting them. In addition to that it may include issues regarding race, gender among others. To add to that there are some cases which involve price discrimination. In information technology, the issue entails the privacy and confidentiality of information on matters concerning the employees and consumers. Privacy and confidentiality is essential in this field however there may be some cases where it is not ensured. This has therefore led to ethical issues concerning what is privacy. In addition to that there are ethical issues which involve protection of intellectual property. Ranking The top five issues can be arranged in descending order as honest and fairness, conflict of interest, fraud, discrimination and information technology (College of Micronesia, n. d. ). Honesty and fairness are major issues since they affect all levels of an organization, and are much experienced by society. Furthermore, controlling this issue other issues will be taken care of. For instance, an organization which is honest and fair, issues concerning fraud, discrimination, conflict of interest and information technology are minimal. Analysis Honesty and fairness In the financial market fairness is taken to mean a level playing field for everyone. However, in most cases the playing field is unleveled and this can be attributed to issues concerning inequalities in the bargaining power, possession of information, resources available, among others. Inequalities in the bargaining power and resources are considered to be ethical only when used coercively and violate rights and obligations (Frederick, 2002). This implies that individuals or organization are only allowed to use their advantages in ways that are considered fair to others. Additionally, individuals can use their resources to acquire information which they are entitled to exploit to their advantage. This has made access to information an issue of investment thereby leading to inaccessibility to critical information by some individuals. To acquire information individual must invest adequate resources. Ethical issues arise over accessibility of information, how the information should be distributed to ensure equality. Fraud In sales concerning financial products like insurance policies, loans, mutual funds among others, application of ethical standards is a requirement. Hence businesses are given the mandate to ensure adequate material information is available. There are regulatory agencies which monitor prospectus for mutual funds, however, personal sales and advertisements can contain false or misleading information (Frederick, 2002). Additionally, this is an issue which has been observed in the stock market and in many businesses. Some individuals conceal valuable information to lure more customers to their businesses. For instance, in the stock market assets of a particular organization may be inflated or some of its liabilities may be concealed. This issue has led to large losses in many investment companies and to individuals (Frederick, 2002). Since assessing the risk and suitability for an investment has been made difficult with inadequate material information. Conflict of interest This is issue which is primarily observed in agents, fiduciaries and financial managers, in which the personal interest interferes with the interests of the organization or society. Agents and fiduciaries are given the mandate to act on behalf of others in exercising judgment, however, in cases where they stand to gain personally their judgments may be compromised. Additionally, financial managers are given the mandate to manage assets prudently and thus avoid using them for personal gains however, in some cases conflict of interest might occur. For instance, management buyouts whereby a group of managers take a public organization to be private are an ethical issue. This issue occurs mainly since the actions to be performed by an individual are not fully specified before the transaction and thus an individual is given a wide range of options. In addition to that they are not closely monitored and evaluated. This has led to huge losses being incurred by individuals and companies. For instance, some banks have collapse and this was attributed to rogue traders (Frederick, 2002). Discrimination This issue observed mainly in financial products and it involves abusive practices of selling such as flipping and twisting. In flipping one loan is replaced by another for generation of additional fees. While in twisting, insurance agents persuade their clients to replace the existing policy in order to get commission (Frederick, 2002). Some financial institution abuse poor individuals by offering them loans of high interest and by adding little values to lure them. Furthermore, in some institutions there are cases of discrimination in employment on matters concerning race and gender. Information technology Maintaining privacy and confidentiality of information in many business has been difficult because of the cost of technology. As technology advances it becomes more expensive to ensure privacy of employees and clients information. Furthermore, with the increase in number of people of accessing the internet maintaining privacy and confidentiality has become difficult. This has therefore led to loss of confident by the public since they cannot trust some organizations to protect their personal information. Solutions and recommendations The issue of conflict of interests can be addressed by closely monitoring individuals and by changing the structure of the relationship. For instance, the commissions can be focused mainly on performance of the clients portfolios and not on the volumes of sales. Additionally, professionalism, trust and codes of ethics should be strongly emphasized in relationships in order to guarantee the confidence from the society. Fraud and discrimination issues can be solved in courts. There are laws which were put in place in place to protect people against abuse or discrimination. For instance, the Employment Act protects employees against discrimination and harassment. Furthermore, the pre-dispute arbitration agreement should be amended or individuals should avoid it. This agreement may have several advantages but denies adequate protection to investors. Maintaining privacy and confidentiality of clients and employees information require much funding. It is essential for organizations to invest more funds in acquiring knowledge and skills concerning privacy and confidentiality in the information technology. By ensuring privacy and confidentiality, public confidence will be build. Social responsibility is essential for ensuring ethical standards are maintained in the society. When making decisions, people should consider their effects to the society and to themselves. This will ensure that ethical issues are maintained. Additionally, since businesses cannot be trusted to maintain ethical standards, some laws have been passed to ensure social responsibility. For instance there are laws concerning consumer safety and environment protection. This is a step forward in ensuring ethical standards. Furthermore, there are some financial institutions which have developed and implemented strict policies that ensure ethical standards are adhered. For instance there are policies concerning privacy and confidentiality of employees’ and customers’ information. In conclusion, maintenance of ethical standards should not be the responsibility of an individual or an organization but should involve the whole society. By maintaining ethical standards the society and organizations will be protected from any harm and at the same time eliminate conflict. Even though ethical standards vary from one society to another, they should be understood and maintained adequately. Reference list College of Micronesia, (n. d. ). Code of Ethics. Retrieved June 18, 2009 from http://www. comfsm. fm/~dleeling/alo/personnel/code_of_ethics. html Frederick R. (2002). A companion to business ethics. Edition: 1. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 154-59.

Passivhaus Standard Replacing The Code For Sustainable Homes Construction Essay

Passivhaus Standard Replacing The Code For Sustainable Homes Construction Essay Should the PassivHaus standard replace the Code for Sustainable Homes as the UKs national standard for the design and construction of all sustainable dwellings? Overall Summary The term PassivHaus refers to a specific ultra low-energy construction standard developed in Germany, and now used throughout Europe, for buildings which have excellent comfort conditions in both the winter and summer. The Code for Sustainable Homes is the national standard for the design and construction of social housing in England, which measures the sustainability of a home against design categories, rating the whole house as a complete package. The project I am proposing involves comparing the two standards to determine which performs better in a range of different circumstances, and why? I also propose to establish whether the whole of the UK housing sector would benefit from adopting the PassivHaus standard in place of its current Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Introduction / Background In practice I am currently involved primarily in the design of social housing development projects which require full compliance with Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Through my experience working on these projects I have noticed an increase in the adoption of concepts used as part of the PassivHaus standard to assist in achieving full compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes. These adopted concepts have included increasing the levels of insulation used in the external envelope of new dwellings, improving the air tightness of the construction details used, and increasingly specifying mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) units for new dwellings. The PassivHaus standard was first developed in the early 1990s in Germany, by Professor Wolfgang Feist of the PassivHaus Institut in Darmstadt, where the first dwellings to be completed to the PassivHaus standard were also constructed in 1991. The core focus of the PassivHaus design is to significantly reduce the requirement for space heating and cooling, without compromising thermal comfort or relying on the falling cost of renewable energy technologies. This focus is also what enables new PassivHaus dwellings the ability to typically achieve an energy saving of 90%, compared to existing housing. The PassivHaus design principles are not exclusively applicable to the residential sector, they can also be applied to commercial, industrial and public buildings, which can also achieve the classification of PassivHaus status upon completion. The performance of the first dwellings to be completed to the PassivHaus standard were subsequently monitored, which eventually led to other PassivHa us projects being monitored around Europe as part of the European CEPHEUS project. The CEPHUS project involves the construction and scientific evaluation of 250 housing units built to the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, in five European countries, with in-process scientific back-up, and with the evaluation of building operation through systematic measurement programmes. To date there are approximately 17,000 buildings, worldwide, that have been constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus principles, several of which projects are now nearing completion and certification in the UK. The PassivHaus standard is publicised as representing one approach that the building industry can adopt in its aspiration towards zero-carbon buildings, and it is proposed that although a PassivHaus building is not in itself carbon neutral, the reduced energy requirements should allow potentially smaller and cheaper quantities of renewable technologies to be specified to achieve zero-carbon stand ards. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard was introduced in England in April 2007, replacing the EcoHomes scheme developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and acting as a voluntary national standard to improve the overall sustainability of new dwellings. The EcoHomes scheme was a version of the BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), developed for homes, intended to provide an authoritative rating for new, converted, or renovated homes and was developed to be applicable to houses, flats and apartments. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard measures the sustainability of new dwellings against 9 design categories: Energy and CO2 emissions, water, materials, surface water run-off, waste, pollution, health and wellbeing, management, and ecology, in order to provide a sustainability rating for the whole dwelling as a complete package. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard uses a rating system of 1 to 6 stars to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a dwelling, based on the extent to which it has achieved the required standards. From its inception in April 2007, compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes standard was voluntary. But from the 1st May 2008 the UK Government enforced the requirement of a minimum of Code Level 3 for all new social housing developments. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard was prepared by the Government in close working consultation with Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), and through consultation with a Senior Steering Group consisting of Government, Industry and NGO representatives. The standard was also developed so that it could be integrated with current UK Building Regulations and other relevant design guides, such as Robust Details and Lifetime Homes. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard is publicised as aiming to protect the environment by providing guidance on the construction of high performance homes with sus tainability in mind. Since April 2010, planning authorities across the UK have increasingly demanded the achievement of Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable homes on new developments. This has been done so in anticipation of the Governments intention to update the UK Building Regulations in 2013 so that they fall in line with the energy requirements of Code Level 4. The Government are also committed to achieving zero-carbon homes by 2016. There remains speculation from professionals in the construction industry that the Governments 2016 target for zero carbon homes is unrealistic, and many developers still believe that building to Code Level 6 is too expensive and unviable. The recent 2010 revisions to the Code for Sustainable Homes standard have been done so in parallel with the 2010 revisions made to the UK Building Regulations. These revisions are already showing a step towards the concepts employed by the PassivHaus standard, with a redefined section relating to Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards (FEES), which will reward reductions in predicted energy demand for space heating and cooling in terms of kWh/m2/year. Currently the PassivHaus standard enforces tough energy efficiency standards and a maximum calculated energy demand, which it also measures in kWh/m2/year. At present, dwellings which are constructed in the UK to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard will expect to achieve a Code for Sustainable Homes rating of Code Level 3 or 4. This level is achieved through highly insulating the external fabric, passive use of solar energy, air tightness, heat recovery, use of energy efficient appliances, and ensuring a low energy demand for space heating and cooling. But doesnt factor in water efficiency, surface water management, site waste management, household waste management, and use of materials, which are all addressed within the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Formal Proposal In this study I am proposing to provide answers to a range of sub-questions, which are intended to provide a wider context to the subject topic and enable an informed conclusion to be made with regard to the overarching question Should the PassivHaus standard replace the Code for Sustainable Homes as the UKs national standard for the design and construction of all sustainable dwellings? These sub-questions are detailed within this section, along with the means in which I intend to answer them, the tasks associated with providing an answer to them and what I anticipate the outcome of each question will illustrate. I propose to provide an answer to the question: what are the full ranges of criteria addressed by the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards? I intend to answer this question by analysing and comparing the full range of criteria addressed by each standard, and in doing so provide a full explanation of the list of requirements for each of the two standards. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that the differences between the requirements of each standard are clearly identifiable. I also anticipate that the outcome will show that the PassivHaus standard involves the use of more passive concepts for achieving sustainability, which are mainly applicable during the design stages of a project. Whereas the Code for Sustainable Homes standard involves more active concepts for achieving sustainability, which are mainly applicable during the occupancy stage of a project and heavily reliant on the actions of the end user. I propose to provide an answer to the question: are the design principles employed by the PassivHaus standard suited to the construction of dwellings in the UK, and suited to the UKs climate? I intend to answer this question by exploring the suitability of designing and constructing dwellings in accordance with the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, which are also suitable for production in the UK. I intend to implement this through the analysis of existing dwellings that have been constructed in the UK in accordance with the PassivHaus standards principles and have achieved PassivHaus status, and through the analysis of personally prepared questionnaires completed by professionals in the construction industry. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that it is possible for dwellings to be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the PassivHaus standard within the UK, and that those professionals who are familiar with the PassivHaus standard will be receptive to the integration of its principles within the UKs construction industry. But that they will however, be required to vary slightly in their design from PassivHaus dwellings constructed throughout the rest of Europe, and therefore adjustments to the original PassivHaus model may be required for it to be practically applicable to dwellings within the UK. I propose to provide an answer to the question: what implications will the predicted affects of global warming have on PassivHaus dwellings and those designed to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and are these standards capable of easily adapting to take account of future climate change? I intend to answer this question by analysing the predicted affects that global warming will have on dwellings within the UK, according to publications by leading specialists in the field, and by analysing the adaptability of dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard will be more easily adaptable to the predicted climate change, whereas dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will potentially demand additi onal cooling during the summer months to account for the rise in temperature. I propose to provide an answer to the question: what affect do the occupants have on dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and the Code for Sustainable Homes standards? I intend to answer this question by exploring the effect occupants have on the sustainability of dwellings designed and built to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards. I intend to implement this by analysing the reliance each principle of the two standards has on the end user and by analysing case studies. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that the sustainable principles that the Code for Sustainable Homes standard employs are more reliant on the occupants of a dwelling, as they tend to be more active principles. Whereas the sustainable principles that the PassivHaus standard employs tend to be more passive principles designed in to the fabric of the dwelling, and therefore are less reliant on the occupants of a dwelling. I propose to provide an answer to the question: which option is more economical in terms of cost, a dwelling designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, or a dwelling designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard? I intend to answer this question by performing a cost analysis taking into account the design, construction and occupancy of a dwelling. This cost analysis will then be applied to a standard house type model, designed to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and achieve compliance with the UK building regulations, and designed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that designing a house to achieve Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be more expensive overall than designing a house to the requirements of the PassiveHaus standard, which also achieves the equivalent of Code Level 4. I also propose to provide an answer to the question: can a dwelling designed in accordance with the PassivHaus standards principles, be developed to the equivalent of Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and meet the Governments 2016 target for the construction of zero-carbon homes? I intend to answer this question by performing simulations on standard house type models in order to produce a range of dwelling designs which achieve Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The methods used to model these zero-carbon dwellings will simulate the upgrade of a range of house types designed to achieve Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and designed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, into zero-carbon homes which achieve Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that dwellings which have been upgraded from the PassivHaus standard so that they meet the requirements of Co de Level 6 will be less expensive, less complicated and quicker to upgrade, compared to the upgrade of Code Level 4 dwellings into zero-carbon homes. I predict that the outcome of this study as a whole will prove that the ideal solution will be for the UK to adopt a new sustainability standard which includes all of the design principles of the PassivHaus standard and also incorporates the more active concepts used as part of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. I also predict that this study will highlight that the immediate adoption of the PassivHaus standards design principles, in the construction of new dwellings in the UK, could enable the simple future upgrade of existing dwellings into zero-carbon homes, which would also be adaptable to future climate change. Literature Review The topic that this research will focus on specifically is whether the German PassivHaus standard would be more suitable than the UKs current sustainability standard, the Code for Sustainable Homes, in terms of achieving the UK governments 2016 target of zero-carbon homes. The parameters of this topic will take into account the predicted affects of future climate change, according to publications by leading specialists in the field, and aims to analyse the effects that the occupants have on dwellings designed to meet the requirements of the two standards, the cost implications of designing homes in accordance with each standard, and the potential for existing dwellings designed and constructed to both PassivHaus and the Code for Sustainable Homes standards to be upgraded to zero-carbon homes in the future. The selection of literature that I have chosen to review mainly consists of journal articles as I have been unable to find any published books that directly address this topic area . The journal articles chosen for this review have been selected according to the authors affiliations with the subject matter, and according to their date of publication, with the most current literature prioritised over older articles, to eliminate reference to outdated views and information. From the literature I have reviewed it is evident that the principal questions being asked in relation to the topic, by professionals in the construction industry and sustainability specialists, include: whether it is possible to design and construct dwellings in accordance with PassivHaus standards principles, in the UK, using traditional methods of construction; what the potential cost savings of a dwelling designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus standard are, over a dwelling designed and constructed to meet the requirements of Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes; and whether it is possible to achieve Code Level 6 of the Code For Sustainable Homes by adopting the principle of the PassivHaus standard. The current discoveries relating to this topic suggest that the two standards are not directly comparable, because the PassivHaus standard is measured in terms of the total energy use for space heating only, whereas the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and the governing UK building regulations, set standards according to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for space heating, heating of water and lighting. Literature published by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) suggests that new-build dwellings designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus standard can be expected to typically achieve the equivalent energy requirements of Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, but states that it is not possible to go beyond Code Level 4 without specifying renewable energy technologies, and also states that the fabric requirements of Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes is currently based on the PassivHaus standard. Discoveries presented by the literature I have reviewed also suggest that PassivHaus dwellings are capable of using up to 90% less energy to heat them than the average UK house, and can cost about a tenth of the price to run. The general consensus from the literature I have reviewed seems to be that environmentalists and sustainability experts are eager for UK architects and other professionals in the construction industry to adopt the principles of the PassiveHaus standard in the UK as a means of reaching the Governments 2016 target for zero-carbon homes. The literature relating to this topic also speculates that there hasnt been a wider uptake of the PassivHaus standard within the UK due to a range of misconceptions related to the quality of internal comfort levels achieved by PassivHaus dwellings, and it is suggested that for dwellings to be effectively designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus standard, in the UK, professionals within the construction industry would need to be educated accordingly. However the PassivHaus standard is criticised in the literature as requiring the use of synthetic materials and products in their construction, which involve the depletion of non-renewable resource in their production and transportation, and which may be difficult to recycle at the end of their lifespan. Also it has been highlighted that the PassivHaus standard. In the literature reviewed it is also expressed by professionals in the construction industry that the PassivHaus standard is only suitable for producing highly energy-efficient building fabric, whereas the Code for Sustainable Homes standard has been meticulously developed to incorporate existing building regulations and collaborate with new design legislation. It is also commented that the Code for Sustainable Homes standard is continuously evolving at regular intervals, working towards the 2016 target of zero-carbon homes, at which point it is believed that the industry will emerge with similar levels of energy efficiency for new homes as the PassiveHaus standard, but with a more holistic context of sustainability, which will incorporate water efficiency, waste management and consideration of the environmen tal impact of building materials. However, it is highlighted in the literature that there is a very little monitoring of low-energy buildings that have been designed and constructed in accordance with the Code for Sustainable Homes standard, in the UK, but those that are monitored are often found to be lacking. The methods of investigation used in the literature relating to this topic are predominantly case studies, performed on occupied dwellings which have been designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards. The disadvantage of using this type of methodology however, is that it can result in subjective data. The reviewed literature relating to this subject area encourages the adoption of the PassivHaus standard within the UK construction industry as a means in which to achieve zero-carbon homes in the future, and emphasises the suitability of energy efficient dwellings to be designed and constructed in accordance with its principles within the UK. But however, highlights the concerns surrounding the sustainability of PassivHaus materials, and the rigidness of the standard as just a guide for producing highly energy-efficient building fabric. The Code for Sustainable Homes is complimented, in the reviewed literature, for the way in which it incorporates existing and new legislation, and is continuously evolving into a better performing, more holistic sustainability standard. Very little direct comparison is made between the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards in the available literature, and very few informed conclusions are drawn. Also due to the selected literature consi sting mainly of journal articles, much of the information available is presented from the authors perspective and consequently is mainly subjective and lacking in sufficient statistical data, which is vitally needed to support the authors arguments. The study I am proposing will attempt to collate factual secondary data taken from a range of sources, addressing a wider scope of parameters than has previously been attempted, and supplement this research by running simulations on model house types, which will produce a range of primary data that can also be analysed and compared. Thus enabling a more holistic conclusion to be formed in relation to whether it is feasible, and indeed practical, for the German PassivHaus standard to be adopted in place of the current UK governments Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Methodology and Research Methods I am proposing to conduct a deductive study which involves the collection of primary research data and the analysis of secondary research data. The inclusion of primary research will be in the form of simulation and modelling, and questionnaires. This will be used to supplement the collected secondary research, due to gaps in the current literature relating to directly comparable cost analysis and efficiency ratings. It will also be used to explore the practicality of upgrading dwellings designed in accordance with the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards, into zero carbon homes, and to obtain current opinions regarding the integration of the PassivHaus standards design principles into UK building projects, from professionals working in the construction industry. The primary research data will be used independently in a comparative analysis, from which conclusions can be drawn. The secondary research will be used in the form of correlational research, and will involve the analytical comparison of secondary data and case studies, from which conclusions can be drawn. The research itself will be predominantly quantitative, but will however contain some qualitative elements. The secondary correlational research will be used to form comparisons between the content of the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards, and to form case study analysis of existing dwellings in the UK designed and constructed in accordance with the two standards. The research data obtained from these methods will be subsequently analysed and enable the deduction of an informed conclusion. The primary simulation and modelling research will be used to form a cost analysis for a range of modelled dwellings designed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and Code for sustainable Homes standards, and to simulate the upgrade of dwellings designed in accordance with the two standards, into zero carbon homes in accordance with Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The primary research based questionnaire will be used to obtain the views of a limited number and range of professionals working in the UK construction industry, relating to the suitability of employing the principles of the PassivHaus standard into the construction of dwellings in the UK. The research data obtained from these methods will be subsequently analysed, independently, and definitive conclusions will be formed. The results obtained and conclusions formed from each methodology will finally be comparatively analysed as a whole, and form the basis for an overall conclusion which aims to answer the question Should the PassivHaus standard replace the Code for Sustainable Homes as the UKs national standard for the design and construction of all sustainable dwellings?

Preserve The Forests :: essays research papers

Preserve the Forests   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In agreement with Kim Stafford, who opposes the clear-cutting of old growth forests, I feel that it is necessary to preserve the profitable lumber in its natural state for future generations. Currently, the tons of lumber produced from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States are taken for granted, and most people do not realize that the forests will be destroyed within ten years at this rate of exploiting our natural resources. We must make loggers a profession of the past and divert those current ones into another sector in our society. The spotted owl is more than a *Darwinistic* survival of the fittest issue; it represents the direction of our only planet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In order to preserve the beauty of this planet, we must cease the clear- cutting of forests. All old growth forests have been around for multiple centuries and are cut down daily in a matter of hours in order to produce more buildings and houses in this already over-crowded world. If the rate at which we cut down trees is continued without any regulation, the forests will all be gone in ten years, so we should do mankind a favor and try to preserve what is left. If the old growth forests are gone, then they can never return because it takes over five generations to produce one and at the rate that the human population is increasing, there is not enough land to have a secure place for a new forest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If we realize that it is best for the human race to stop destroying the natural resources, then we must destroy, too, the existence of loggers all together. To do so, there must not be any new loggers, so all training potential loggers must be stopped. The current loggers must be diverted to another occupation. Perhaps if the public supported the notion of stopping clear-cutting, the government would be able to provide services to educate the loggers in a different field. Also, with public support, many companies will probably offer several programs for former loggers. No matter what we choose today, the loggers have seen their last Haley*s comet; they will all be gone with forests in ten years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we stop the development and decrease the number of loggers, we will help save the spotted owl, a species that has greater importance than a mere animal towards the our species. It is a symbol of the general health of Mother Earth, a figure without which no living object can survive. If the cutting of

evolution v. creation Essay -- essays research papers fc

Evolution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Should the stork theory appear in books on reproduction? How about astrological lore in expositions on astronomy? It would be unreasonable to even consider those ridiculous concepts. This is why the idea of creation should not be considered as the answer to how life began. Rather, the theory of evolution accounts for the creation of life. Charles Darwin is credited with creating the theory of evolution. Evolution assumes that all natural forms arose from their ancestors and adapted over time to their environments, thus leading to variation. In evolution, there are many rules the environment places upon the survival of a species. â€Å"There are many misconceptions that creationists have about evolution. A large part of the reason why creationist arguments against evolution can sound so persuasive is because they don't address evolution, but rather argue against a set of misunderstandings that people are right to consider ludicrous† (Isaak). Evolution refers to change, or transformation over time. â€Å"There are numerous ways in which evolution occurs, the most noted are Natural Selection and Adaptation† (â€Å"Evolution v. Creationism†). As Savage said, â€Å"We do not need a listing of evidences to demonstrate the fact of evolution any more than we need to demonstrate the existence of mountain ranges† (v).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A very popular, although erroneous, argument given by creationists is that evolution has never been observed. Evolution at its simplest involves relatively minor changes in the gene pool of a particular population from one generation to the next (Savage 32). One example of evolution being observed is insects developing a resistance to pesticides over the period of a few years. Even most creationists recognize that evolution at this level is a fact. â€Å"What hasn't been observed is one animal abruptly changing into a radically different one, such as a frog changing into a cow. This is not a problem for evolution because evolution doesn't propose occurrences even remotely like that. In fact, if we ever observed a frog turn into a cow, it would be very strong evidence against evolution† (Isaak). According to Isaak, what they don't appreciate is that this rate of evolution is all that is required to produce the diversity of all living things from a common anc estor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another inaccu... ... a wide range of observations throughout the fields of genetics, anatomy, ecology, animal behavior, paleontology, and others. According to Dennett, if you wish to challenge the theory of evolution, you must address that evidence. You must show that the evidence is either wrong or irrelevant or that it fits another theory better (275). â€Å"If I had to give an award for the single greatest idea that anyone ever had, I’d give it to Darwin† (Dennett 278). Works Cited   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dennett, Daniel C. Darwin’s Dangerous Idea. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Evolution v. Creationism.† 21 April 2002. http://physics.syr.edu/courses/modules/ ORIGINS/origins.html. 4 Jan. 2004.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Isaak, Mark. â€Å"Five Major Misconceptions About Evolution.† 1 October 2003. Online. Available http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-misconceptions.html. 4 Jan. 2004.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prinze, Karl. â€Å"Evolution v. Creation: Misconceptions Dangerous.† 12 June 1999. Online. Available. http://www.ius.edu/journalism/2000/darwin.html. 4 Jan 2004. Savage, Jay M. Evolution. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc, 1963.

Alfieri Tells the Audience ‘Justice Is Very Important Here’. How Does Arthur Miller Show the Importance of Justice in the Play? Essay

After Eddie hits Rodolfo the audience gets the feeling that he feels this is justice for Rodolfo leading Catherine away from the life Eddie wanted her to have. This is emphasised by Eddie’s use of the word ‘Danish’ to describe Rodolfo. By using this as a nickname Miller is trying to access the point that Eddie is trying to isolate Rodolfo from the Italian community and also their family. The true sense of justice in this scene however, comes from Marco who ‘raises the chair over his head’. This is a clear sense of warning implied by Marco, which is clearly registered by Eddie, ‘Eddies grin vanished. ’ This, to Marco, is a feeling of justice coming to Eddie for trying to make either him of his brother feel like they don’t belong. While also foreshadowing what will happen at the end of Act 2. Miller highlights justice as one of the most important things in Eddie’s life. However, he leads the audience to enquire whether Eddie’s desires are truly ‘just’. What Eddie wants is his honour and his name but also Catherine. ‘Marcos got my name. He also wants his respect back from Marco, which he has completely lost by the actions his inappropriate feelings for Catherine have caused him to take. In the structure of a Greek tragedy that Miller is trying to create Eddie plays the protagonist. It is his conflict between his good quality’s and the gradually rise of his bad ones that force the drama forwards with both Eddie an d Marcos need for justice. The importance of justice shown in the play comes to a drama filled end with Marco finally getting the justice he believes he deserves. The end of this play was foreshadowed when Marco stated, ‘all the law is not in a book. ’ By saying this Miller has implied to the audience that Marco believes it is his duty to bring Eddie’s life to an end, ‘in my country he would be dead by now. ’ He also brings in the claim felt by Marco of natural justice and how by disregarding the respect Marco feels for Rodolfo, ‘my brother, my blood,’ Eddie has lead himself in to the situation where he is nothing more than an ‘animal’ who deserves to die. In conclusion, throughout the play Miller implies the theme of justice as the most prominent and important theme of the play. It is one of the only things Marco and Eddie have in common, in the way that they both search for it and in the end it finished with Eddie dead and Marco being sent back to Italy. In the final scene Miller shows the audience that though you may gain the justice you sought out for like Marco, ‘Eddie falls to his knees before Marco,’ it may be the thing that leads to a characters downfall, in which it did with both Eddie and Marco at the end of this play.

Medicine and Law Essay

On February 11, 2003, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the State of Arkansas could force death row prisoner Charles Laverne Singleton to take antipsychotic drugs to make him sane enough to execute. Singleton was to be executed for felony capital murder but became insane while in prison. â€Å"Medicine is supposed to heal people, not prepare them for execution; a law that asks doctors to make people well so that the government can kill them is an absurd law,† said David Kaczynski, the executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty. There are many arguments in this passage. The first argument is this passage is â€Å"medicine is supposed to heal people, not prepare them for execution†. The premise is â€Å"medicine is supposed to heal people, not prepare them for execution† and the conclusion is â€Å"medicine shouldn’t kill people†. The second argument in this passage is â€Å"a law that asks doctors to make people well so that the government can kill them in an absurd law†. The premise is â€Å"a law that asks doctors to make people well to kill them† and the conclusion is â€Å"the law is absurd†. This passage depicts many issues occurring in America today. Although, the prisoner Charles Laverne Singleton was convicted to the death penalty, using doctors and medicine to execute him is wrong. Medicine was created to heal people from disease and prevent illness. Doctors became physicians to support people, save lives, and educate individuals to increase their quality of life. When doctors graduated from medical school they took an oath to help save lives. Participating in an execution goes against the laws medical ethics and everything a physician stands for. Arguments for this passageway may include the amount of money it takes to keep the prisoner in jail, lethal injection is a less violent way of execution, and a doctor is the most qualified person to give a lethal injection. A lthough, keeping convicts in jail costs a lot of tax payers’ dollars, there are other ways to execute the individuals on death row. The lethal injection might be less violent however; it doesn’t make it the ideal method to kill. Doctors are the most qualified to give a lethal injection yet there are not the most qualified to murder. The decision also puts prison doctors in a position that challenges ethics. Doctors have to ask themselves: Is it better to provide care for death row inmates patients, because everyone deserves competent care and protection from unnecessary suffering? Does it degrade the healing  profession to use one’s medical skills to prepare a person for execution? The government wants to kill the individuals on death row but they don’t want to do it themselves. Asking a doctor to dirty their hands results in the government keeping their hands clean. More research has to be done to find new methods to execute these death row convicts. M edicine and doctors should not be the means to kill anyone. The Code of Ethics states that a physician should never be â€Å"compelled to participate in the process of establishing a prisoner’s competence or be involved with treatment of an incompetent, condemned prisoner if such activity is contrary to the physician’s personal beliefs† [9]. On February 11, 2003, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the State of Arkansas could force death row prisoner Charles Laverne Singleton to take antipsychotic drugs to make him sane enough to execute. Singleton was to be executed for felony capital murder but became insane while in prison. â€Å"Medicine is supposed to heal people, not prepare them for execution; a law that asks doctors to make people well so that the government can kill them is an absurd law,† said David Kaczynski, the executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty. There are many arguments in this passage. The first argument is this passage is â€Å"medicine is supposed to heal people, not prepare them for execution†. The premise is â€Å"medicine is supposed to heal people, not prepare them for execution† and the conclusion is â€Å"medicine shouldn’t kill people†. The second argument in this passage is â€Å"a law that asks doctors to make people well so that the government can kill them in an absurd law†. The premise is â€Å"a law that asks doctors to make people well to kill them† and the conclusion is â€Å"the law is absurd†. This passage depicts many issues occurring in America today. Although, the prisoner Charles Laverne Singleton was convicted to the death penalty, using doctors and medicine to execute him is wrong. Medicine was created to heal people from disease and prevent illness. Doctors became physicians to support people, save lives, and educate individuals to increase their quality of life. When doctors graduated from medical school they took an oath to help save lives. Participating in an execution goes against the laws medical ethics and everything a physician stands for. Arguments for this passageway may include  the amount of money it takes to keep the prisoner in jail, lethal injection is a less violent way of execution, and a doctor is the most qualified person to give a lethal injection . Although, keeping convicts in jail costs a lot of tax payers’ dollars, there are other ways to execute the individuals on death row. The lethal injection might be less violent however; it doesn’t make it the ideal method to kill. Doctors are the most qualified to give a lethal injection yet there are not the most qualified to murder. The decision also puts prison doctors in a position that challenges ethics. Doctors have to ask themselves: Is it better to provide care for death row inmates patients, because everyone deserves competent care and protection from unnecessary suffering? Does it degrade the healing profession to use one’s medical skills to prepare a person for execution? The government wants to kill the individuals on death row but they don’t want to do it themselves. Asking a doctor to dirty their hands results in the government keeping their hands clean. More research has to be done to find new methods to execute these death row convicts. M edicine and doctors should not be the means to kill anyone. The Code of Ethics states that a physician should never be â€Å"compelled to participate in the process of establishing a prisoner’s competence or be involved with treatment of an incompetent, condemned prisoner if such activity is contrary to the physician’s personal beliefs† [9].

Poetry Analysis: Persimmons Essay

â€Å"See through.† Surely, most people have experienced this feeling before, the feelings of being seen, but not truly â€Å"seen.† As if every part of their being, their roots, their culture, and history meant nothing and holds no value to anyone but themselves, just as the speaker is raised in a bi-lingual, bi-culture atmosphere although most of us may be forgotten throughout our lifetime from daily encounters or short terms relationships; semester long classmates and professors, the poem â€Å"Persimmons† by Li-Young Lee reveals to us with his brilliant use of imagery, symbolism, and other literary devices, emotions so rooted, that they almost escape words. In the poem, the reality revealed is that we will someday fade away from people and this world. But that the true beauty lies during the events in our lives and until the finale, we are the ones to hold the sweet, ripe â€Å"Persimmon,† a sacred and distinct â€Å"sun inside [each of us]†¦ golden [and] warm.† Li-Young Lee implements imagery and symbolism to underline the metamorphosis of the early life of the struggles of social placement of a young American Chinese boy to the deep passions of a young man. â€Å"Persimmons† teach us that even if we may go blind, just like the speakers father in the poem, it comes to show that our experiences of life, that despite not everyone will appreciate, or understand fully, that it is something that will forever remain etched in our souls. At first the poem starts out a bit scattered. There were several pieces that did not seem to follow the time and meaning, but while seemingly scattered, his memories do in fact connect in several ways. As one specific device, most of his recollections involve the symbol of the Chinese fruit, persimmons. The poem begins with an unpleasant memory from the speaker’s sixth grade classroom where he recalls being slapped on the head and ordered to â€Å"stand in the corner for not knowing the difference/between [the words] persimmon and precision†(3-5). Right at that moment the speaker’s attitude is that of confusion. In the first stanza, we learn that Mrs. Walker was the speaker’s teacher in sixth grade: In sixth grade Mrs. Walker Slapped the back of my head and made me stand in the corner for not knowing the difference between persimmon and precision. How to choose   persimmons. This is precision. (1-6) To Mrs. Walker, the point is simple; the young boy, whose native language is Chinese, simply cannot attain and grasp the elements of English. Clearly he confuses the words that are seen from Mrs. Walker’s point of view to have nothing in common, but maybe only holds similar sounds and that is all. But in the boy’s mind, the two words are connected in a way that Mrs. Walker will never grasp without delving deep. A particular literary device that Lee uses is the choice of enjambment at the word â€Å"choose,† (6) which breaks the first stanza and draws attention to the act of selection, and the process of making choices. Although in the first stanza it is seen that the speaker, as a child and as a student is stripped from the power to choose in the process and codes of the incident of his classroom assimilation, he regains power by justifying his linguistic conflations of the words â€Å"persimmon and precision,† (5) by connecting the words through their sim ilar sounds and by symbolic association: â€Å"How to choose/ persimmons. This is precision† (6– 7) and â€Å"fight and fright, wren and yarn† (31). While justifying the melting pot of his words, he also re-claims control by demonstrating his command of the English language. In the second stanza, however, Lee elaborates on the correct way of carefully selecting and eating a persimmon, and along with that it is affirmed that the speaker does in fact know the difference between the two words. The speaker reveals his understanding of â€Å"precision† in the diction being used by Lee to describe how to pick out and eat a persimmon; the words â€Å"soft,† â€Å"sweet,† â€Å"sniff,† and â€Å"brown-spotted, are given to the fruit characterizing it and transcending the physical sense of the Chinese fruit and transforming it into an important element, and symbol. Whereas the character of Mrs. Walker  would fall in the category of the â€Å"teachers† that one may meet throughout life. It can be anyone: from a school teacher, a semester –long college peer, a random onlooker, or society itself. However, these â€Å"teachers† not judge one’s personality, but are also ignorant. In defined terms; a person may be treated as a sheep, when in fact, they are the ones fenced in, not able to reach, see or feel further; they do not bother to survey into the deep and enigmatic waters of people, Self, and emotions, in this case, the boy’s mind. The teacher is not aware that his mind is full of different worlds; the world or emotions, and his rich culture. The only thing they perceive is that the boy may have a problem; that the boy has trouble with words, which in a way he does, but for him, the words that tend to â€Å"stick out of the page† for him are because of the assimilations that they induce: Ripe ones are soft and brown-spotted. Sniff the bottoms. The sweet one Will be fragrant. How to eat: Put the knife away, lay down the newspaper. Peel the skin tenderly, not to tear the meat. Chew the skin, suck it,  and swallow. Now, eat   the meat of the fruit,  so sweet,  all of it, to the heart. Can Mrs. Walker and anyone belonging to this pragmatic world even care to imagine the world within him? To the speaker a persimmon is precision, because one needs the ability of perceiving a precise persimmon and the persimmon itself is precision by its existence; a soft fruit, the shape, the smell of a ripe one is an art; not everyone has the talent to spot one and the proper knowledge of how to eat one, just like Mrs. Walker incorrectly prepares the persimmons for the class, as she uses a knife to â€Å"cut it up† (41) as if she were â€Å"cutting up† this demonstrates her violation of the Chinese culture of the speaker. The poem takes on a dramatic turn at the third stanza, where the speaker fast  forwards through time. Here the speaker describes the moment of a passionate experience with his lover. Here by Lee’s use of symbolism and contrasting word choice is significant because of specific time and place it is being used. In this moment, the speaker has forgotten his Chinese, this could represent the past problems of assimilation to have faded in the aspect of the triumph over the English language. Although he has perhaps gained societal acceptance as an Asian American, he has also gravely lost, where his loss out wins his gain; the loss of his native language, the loss of his culture. As a second interpretation would be that when the speaker forgets about the â€Å"Dew† and the fact that they are â€Å"Naked,† but recalls the â€Å"Crickets: chiu chiu† and that â€Å"Ni, wo: [means] you and me† represents his total captivation in the moment, the moment when tw o lovers unite, creating a union, one perhaps forgets that fact of nakedness, because perhaps in that beautiful moment, one does not feel naked, because their significant other is there, and they are all they need to feel covered, a moment were all barriers are broken, both feel free comfortable in the bareness, where he even forgets the background sound playing. By the use of symbolism, it is known that â€Å"Persimmon† is the main symbol, and so acts as a metaphor of the love scene, focusing on the passionate experience that marks the speaker for life. In the ninth stanza, a new scene is present and there is another shift in time, this time the speaker is a mature adult, visiting his parents, but also revisiting old memories, that arouse ancient feelings. In this particular stanza, Lee’s use of vivid imagery is openly present, where he describes the speakers elderly father who has gone blind: I rummage, looking for something I lost†¦. I find a box†¦. three paintings by my father: Hibiscus leaf and a white flower. Two cats preening. Two persimmons, so full they want to drop from the cloth. †¦.Which is this? †¦.Oh, the feel of the wolf tail on the silk, the strength, the tense precision in the wrist†¦. Eyes closed. These I painted blind. Some things never leave a person: Scent of the hair of one you love, The texture of persimmons, in your palm, the ripe weight. (62-88). Lee’s use of concrete details allows has a great impact and effect on this particular poem, because it draws the reader in, allowing them to engage and become more attune to the feelings the poet is trying to transmit: the sight of the Hibiscus, the movements of the â€Å"cat’s preening† (75). Although the speaker’s father has lost his eyesight, he can still â€Å"see† the world. When a person goes blind, they are shut out from the world, but the thing that stays with the person transcends the sense of vision; the smell, the texture, the weight of the persimmon that the father speaks of that will â€Å"never leave a person,† (85) that the feel of a ripe persimmon in the palm will remain a part of you , just like the speakers culture, his memories and experiences. This could also represent an important shift in the poems tone, in that the speakers finally accepts his culture or art of reminiscing of familiar emotions, both like being â€Å"back home.† His experiences, although not entirely positive, have helped him grow into the man he is now. Li-Young Lee, by using sensory imagery and â€Å"precise† diction along with the informal stanza structure, reveals to the reader that, despite the speakers his bi-cultural past, he has now realized, through his experiences, that some of the most important things will not always be â€Å"visible† and he is at peace with his culture. The obscurity of words that Lee demonstrates in this poem correlates with the obscure and that of which is not accepted in our materialistic, and practical world. But the bitter-sweet irony of it all is that at times, as soon as something like a marvelous feeling or thought is put into words, its mystical beauty may diminish. This poem is not only a self contained piece of poetry. It is art, a ticket to see, witness, and feel between our and the poet’s inner world. Li-Young Lee, knowing that words cannot directly express these feelings; he us es his poetry as a tool to evoke such feelings in us utilizing the informal poetic form and the advantage of symbolism and imagery, has allowed us to picture detailed, vivid scenes to show us how superficial and apathetic the world around us can be to the secretly immense, and passionate world in each of us. Citation Dmitry, Divov. â€Å"Analysis of Persimmons by Li-Young Lee.† Web. 25 Feb 2012. .

Culture Lens

Culture lens Ford went through a hard time, not just because of the outside gloomy economics, but also the pressure of a dysfunctional, often defeatist culture. In Ford’s long business history, culture is not constant; it evolves, the business culture had been changed generation by generation in the economic progress and globalization. Both of essence and dross has been passed down in a grown bureaucracy, where people lost their innovation and structure is messy. The new chief executive of Ford Motor Co. , Alan R. Mulally was taking a culture revolution in this giant machine in order to pull it out of the deep mud.Organization values †¢Pioneered modern management techniques Period 1: Ford is the birthplace of the assembly line and home of the celebrated Whiz Kids, which highly increase the efficiency in the production and copied by the other companies. Period 2: After 1960s, Ford fell into a reverse way and has degenerated into a symbol of inefficiency. Right now, it has four parallel operating units and the company has more than 30 engineering platforms worldwide, each with its own costly bureaucracy, factories, and product development staff.Period 3: Mulally took a big step and would like to reduce the level of complexity. He wants to get that number down to five or six platforms, similar to Honda. More importantly, Ford tries to eliminate all of its unnecessary duplication. †¢Cooperation and efficiency Period 1: After assembly line been introduced to the world, Ford impressed all of their competitors by their highly cooperated work and their efficiency, employees worked together and impede the flaws passing to the next connection. Until the mid-'60s, Ford was considered a management shrine.Period 2: The bureaucracy at Ford grew, and managers took refuge in the structure when things got tough rather than innovate or try new ideas that seemed risky. Personal ties became important in Ford, ambitious managers focused increasingly on kissing the right rings instead of racking up results, which discouraged collaboration. Period 3: With Mulally’s idea, moving job tenures to a long tenure, collaboration would become more important in the future production and management. He has made it a top priority to encourage his team to admit mistakes, to share more information, and to cooperate across divisions †¢Customer focusPeriod 1: Ford focused on customer needs, developed scientific consumer research techniques, which was one of the first auto companies to create products that were based on hard data rather than the personal tastes of executives. Period 2: Employees consider more about their logics than customers’ needs. The tendency of employees is to rationalize mistakes instead of fixing them. Period 3: Mulally wants managers to think more about customers than their own careers. Shared assumptions †¢Rationalize problem instead of fixing problemsIn the example, it is easy to tell that employees’ log ic with problems, rationalizing mistakes instead of fixing them and focusing on customers’ needs. †¢Royal hierarchy Within almost half century’s development, Ford has been fallen into a costly bureaucracy structure. People in the organization have their own status, and it is not allowed to share information freely, manager focus on their rings more than their jobs. †¢Mediocrity is acceptable Weary corporate lifers have become all too comfortable with the idea of losing money.They do not think about to fix problems or try new ideas that seemed risk but took refuge in the structure when things got tough. †¢Resist with outsiders Ford is a place that's notorious for destroying auto industry outsiders–and Mulally is admittedly no car guy. Despite Bill Ford's strong backing, employees are looks arrogant and resist the revolution from outside. Symbols †¢blue oval logo Ford’s logo is highly impressive by their customers, even in the economic c risis, Ford still can pledge their icon to finance enough money from banks and bondholders to turnaround. Assembly line This new product line created quite a stir when it had been introduced to product line; it changed the way manufacturing factory to run their business. What’s more, it is still significantly influence the world and operated in almost all of the manufacturing business. †¢Henry Ford Henry Ford obviously is an outstanding personage in business area, he invented auto business and changed the way people assemble their products. Even right now, when people talk about Ford, we still cannot ignore his impact in the auto area. †¢Bureaucratic organizationThere are no other companies like Ford, has a high level of complexity within their organization structure. There are four parallel operating units and more than 30 engineering platforms worldwide. On the other side, duplication was common in the company; no two vehicles in Ford's lineup share the same mirro rs, headlamps, or even such mundane pieces as the springs and hinges for the hood. Changes in culture system can be slow and painful for an organization, especially in the high developed bureaucracy. However, the importance to take the revolution is obviously, with regard to globalization and fierce competition.

Basic Facts about U.S. Territories

Basic Facts about U.S. Territories The United States is the worlds third largest country based on population and land area. It is divided into 50 states but also claims 14 territories around the world. The definition of a territory as it applies to those claimed by the United States are lands that are administered by the United States but are not officially claimed by any of the 50 states or any other world nation. Typically, most of these territories depend on the United States for defense, economic and social support. The following is an alphabetical list of the territories of the United States. For reference, their land area and population (where applicable) have also been included. American Samoa Total Area: 77 square miles (199 sq km) Population: 55,519 (2010 estimate) American Samoa is made up of five islands and two  coral atolls, and is  part of the Samoan Islands chain in the south Pacific Ocean. The  1899 Tripartite Convention divided the Samoan Islands into two parts, between the US. and Germany, after more than a century of battles among the French, English, German and Americans to claim the islands, during with the Samoans fought fiercely. The U.S. occupied its part of Samoa in 1900 and on  July 17, 1911, the US Naval Station Tutuila  was officially renamed American Samoa. Baker Island Total Area: 0.63 square miles (1.64 sq km) Population: Uninhabited Baker Island an atoll just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean about 1,920 miles southwest of Honolulu. It became an American territory in 1857. Americans tried to inhabit the island in the 1930s, but when Japan became active in the Pacific during World War II, they were evacuated. The island is named for Michael Baker, who visited the island several times before claiming it in 1855. It was classified as part of Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Guam Total Area: 212 square miles (549 sq km) Population: 175,877 (2008 estimate) Located in the western Pacific Ocean  in the Mariana Islands, Guam became a U.S. possession in 1898, following the Spanish-American War. Its believed that the indigenous people of Guam, the Chamorros, settled on the island roughly 4,000 years ago. The first European to discover Guam was Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The Japanese occupied Guam in 1941, three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  American forces liberated the island on July 21, 1944, which is still commemorated as Liberation Day. Howland Island Total Area: 0.69 square miles (1.8 sq km) Population: Uninhabited Located near Baker Island in the central Pacific, Howland Island comprises the  Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The U.S. took possession in 1856. Howland Island was the destination aviator Amelia Earhart was headed for when her plane disappeared in 1937.   Jarvis Island Total Area: 1.74 square miles (4.5 sq km) Population: Uninhabited This uninhabited atoll is in the south Pacific Ocean halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands. It was annexed by the U.S. in 1858, and is administered by  the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system.   Kingman Reef Total Area: 0.01 square miles (0.03 sq km) Population: Uninhabited Although it was discovered a few hundred years earlier, Kingman Reef was incorporated by the U.S. in 1922. Its incapable of sustaining plant life, and is considered a maritime hazard, but its location in the Pacific Ocean had strategic value during World War II. Its administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the  Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Midway Islands Total Area: 2.4 square miles (6.2 sq km) Population: There are no permanent inhabitants on the islands but caretakers periodically live on the islands. Midway is nearly at the halfway point between North America and Asia, hence its name. Its the only island in the Hawaiian archipelago which is not part of Hawaii. Its administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. formally took possession of Midway in 1856.   The Battle of Midway was one of the most important between the Japanese and the U.S. in World War II. In May 1942, the Japanese planned an invasion of Midway Island which would provide a base for attacking Hawaii. But the Americans intercepted and decrypted the Japanese radio transmissions.  On June 4, 1942, U.S. aircraft flying from USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown attacked and sunk four Japanese carriers, forcing the Japanese to withdraw. The Battle of Midway marked the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. Navassa Island Total Area: 2 square miles (5.2 sq km) Population: Uninhabited   Located in the Caribbean 35 miles west of Haiti, Navassa Island is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. claimed possession of Navassa in 1850, although Haiti has disputed this claim. A group of Christopher Columbus crewmen happened on the island in 1504 on their way from Jamaica to Hispanola, but discovered Navassa had no fresh water sources. Northern Mariana Islands Total Area: 184 square miles (477 sq km) Population: 52,344  (2015 estimate) Officially known as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, this string of 14 islands is in the Micronesia collection of islands in the Pacific Ocean, between Palau, the Philippines and Japan.   The Northern Mariana Islands have a tropical climate, with December through May as the dry season, and July to October the monsoon season. The largest island in the territory, Saipan, is in the Guinness Book of Records for having the worlds most equable temperature, at 80 degrees year round. The Japanese had possession of the Northern Marianas until the U.S. invasion in 1944.   Palmyra Atoll Total Area: 1.56 square miles (4 sq km) Population: Uninhabited Palmyra is an incorporated territory of the U.S., subject to all provisions of the Constitution, but its also an unorganized territory, so theres no Act of Congress on how Palmyra should be governed. Located halfway between Guam and Hawaii, Palmyra has no permanent residents, and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Puerto Rico Total Area: 3,151 square miles (8,959 sq km) Population: 3, 474,000  (2015 estimate) Puerto Rico is the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, about 1,000  miles southeast of Florida and just east of the Dominican Republic and west of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, a territory of the U.S. but not a state. Puerto Rico seceded from Spain in  1898, and Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since a law was passed in 1917. Even though they are citizens, Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax and they can not vote for president. U.S. Virgin Islands Total Area: 136 square miles (349 sq km) Population: 106,405  (2010 estimate) The islands that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands archipelago in the Caribbean  are St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, as well as other minor islands. The USVI became a U.S. territory in 1917, after the U.S. signed a treaty with Denmark. The territorys capital is Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas. The USVI elect a delegate to Congress, and while the delegate can vote in committee, he or she cant participate in floor votes. It has its own state legislator and elects a territorial governor every four years. Wake Islands Total Area: 2.51 square miles (6.5 sq km) Population: 94  (2015 estimate) Wake Island is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean 1,500 miles east of Guam, and 2,300 miles west of Hawaii. Its an unorganized, unincorporated territory is also claimed by the Marshall Islands. It was claimed by the U.S. in 1899, and is administered by the U.S. Air Force.

John Lewis Advertising Values Essays

John Lewis Advertising Values Essays John Lewis Advertising Values Essay John Lewis Advertising Values Essay How does the advertisement communicate brand values for John Lewis? The advert effectively communicates brand values to the audience, to showcase the brand identity of John Lewis. For example the producers of the advert spent ?6 million to emphasis the quality John Lewis. Moreover, spending EH million on the advert implies how John Lewis are dedicated to showing the audience why they are a good place to not Just shop, but to commit. For example their high budget for a one minute advert when compared to a whole feature length film such as Easy A which spent $8 million on an hour and half length film, reinforces how John Lewis want to convey the quality of their products. Furthermore, the brand value of quality is showed within the advert, as the location of the ad is sophisticated. This Is because an expensive lifestyle Is promoted a large house in the country, a church wedding, the suggestion of one the actors having gone to university, all connote how the audience will use John Lewis because their products are of excellence and link in tit the expensive lifestyle portrayed. Furthermore, loyalty is another brand value communicated to the audience. For example the typography within the advert, A lifelong commitment to you, implies how the brand wants to support its customers throughout the highs and lows of life, and can also support from childhood to grandparents. Also, you Is the mode of address used, directed at the audience to emphasis how John Lewis Is customer friendly and caring because they only each you each and every customer in mind. The brand value of loyalty ties in with unity. This is because within the advert there is always a family orientated environment, in which the family sit and Interact together e. G. A mother cooking with her daughter. This further Initiates that that John Lewis want to bond people and bring them together, suggesting that the aim to promote togetherness and happiness, which audience there expect from the brand. Moreover the reception to the advert shows how John Lewis are modest. For example how they were overwhelmed by the volume of responses suggests they are a humble brand. Ho aim for positivist, further explaining how John Lewis wants the audience to feel connected to their brand. Additionally, John Lewis also promotes a sense of traditional values. For example, the use of the sasss classic Billy Joel song conveys that John Lewis like to revivalists the past and tie this is with modern elements, so that that showcase a sense of the traditional family to the audience. Similarly, this links to how the brand is promoting modern advances too. For example the song Is available on Tunes which is a mainstream music software, that Is hugely popular and available widespread. This represents how John Lewis aim to be a national brand who can communicate with 1 OFF audience the song associated with it. This is emphasizing how the brand goes one step further to being loyal and dependable. Furthermore, this also ties in how the advert is aired on prime time T. V during Coronation Street. This highlights are John Lewis are a quality product as they can afford to advertise during the most expensive,

Shes the Man Comparison to Twelfth Night Essay Example

Shes the Man Comparison to Twelfth Night Essay Example Shes the Man Comparison to Twelfth Night Paper Shes the Man Comparison to Twelfth Night Paper Essay Topic: Twelfth Night She’s the Man, a modern film that is based on the plot of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The films connections to the play are emphasized through a number of visual and dialogue references. The film is about a young girl named Viola who is a strong and tomboyish. Sebastian is Viola’s twin brother who is going to be starting school at Illyria. Viola is a soccer player and is driven to pretend to be her brother at Illyria once her schools soccer team is cut. Secretly leaving to go to London to play with his band Sebastian makes it easier for Viola to pull of the scheme. With help from her friend Antonio, she in transformed into a replica of her brother. At Illyria, Violas roommate is Duke Orsino (Channing Tatum), who is a popular guy on campus â€Å"Sebastian’s lab partner, Olivia (Laura Ramsey), develops a crush on him, which frustrates Duke, who likes Olivia. In exchange for Sebastians help in getting Olivias attention, Duke agrees to put in extra soccer practice time with him. â€Å"Sebastian† is reminded, by a message from his mother, about the Junior League carnival that he and Viola promised to attend Duke’s mother is also a part of the Junior League, so he will be there too. Sebastian† is forced to switch between himself and Viola the whole time, while trying to avoid her mother and Monique (Sebastian’s Girlfriend) so that she is not discovered as impersonating her brother. Viola and Duke kiss at the â€Å"Kissing Booth† and makes Duke realize he might be crushing not only on Olivia, but on Viola as w ell. Olivia goes on a date with Duke to make Sebastian jealous, remaining far more interested in him than in Duke. Encouraged by Viola, she decides to go directly to Sebastian and tell him how she feels to keep Olivia away from Duke because; Viola herself is actually starting to develop feelings for him. The plot becomes complicated when the real Sebastian returns from London a day early. When he arrives at Illyria, Olivia runs up and kisses him. Duke, seeing this, believes his roommate has betrayed him and after arguing with Sebastian kicks him out. Viola stays in Eunices room and oversleeps, causing the real Sebastian to wind up on the field playing in what should be his sisters spot in the game against Cornwall. Principal Gold (David Cross), who has been told of Violas impersonating Sebastian by Malcolm, stops the game and informs the crowd that Sebastian is a girl. The real Sebastian being present instead, he proves himself to be male by pulling down his shorts and exposing himself. Viola explains the situation to Sebastian and they switch places. After, tension is rising on the soccer field between Duke and â€Å"Sebastian† began starting a fight and then â€Å"Sebastian† reveals herself as Viola. She tells everyone her story and tells Duke that she loves him. Everyone at Illyria celebrates their victory over Cornwall, except for Duke who is hurt at Violas dishonesty. She invites Duke to her debutante ball. They meet in a garden and head to the Debutante ball, where they are introduced, come on stage, and kiss. At the end of the film, Viola and Duke are shown playing on the soccer team of Illyria a year later. The characters of She’s the Man are directly utilized in the same manner as in Twelfth Night.

Lesson Plan Writing Tips for Teachers

Lesson Plan Writing Tips for Teachers Lesson plans help classroom teachers to organize their objectives and methodologies in an easy to read format. Difficulty: AverageTime Required: 30-60 minutes Heres How to Write a Lesson Plan Find a lesson plan format that you like. Try the Blank 8-Step Lesson Plan Template below, for starters. You may also want to look at lesson plan formats for language arts, reading lessons, and mini-lessons.Save a blank copy on your computer as a template. You may want to highlight the text, copy, and paste it onto a blank word processing app page instead of saving a blank copy.Fill in the blanks of your lesson plan template. If you are using the 8-Step Template, use these step-by-step instructions as a guide for your writing.Label your learning objective as cognitive, affective, psychomotor, or any combination of these.Designate an approximate length of time for each step of the lesson.List the materials and equipment needed for the lesson. Make notes about those that need to be reserved, purchased, or created.Attach a copy of any handouts or worksheets. Then you will have everything together for the lesson. Tips for Writing Lesson Plans A variety of lesson plan templates can be found in your education classes, from colleagues, or on the Internet. This is a case where it isnt cheating to use somebody elses work. Youll be doing plenty to make it your own.Remember that lesson plans come in a variety of formats; just find one that works for you and use it consistently. You may find through the course of a year that you have one or more that fits your style and the needs of your classroom.You should aim for your lesson plan to be less than one page long. What You Need: Lesson Plan TemplateWell-Defined Learning Objectives: this is a key element, everything else flows from the objectives. Your objectives need to be stated in terms of the student. They have to be something that can be observed and measured. You have to list specific criteria for what is an acceptable outcome. They cant be too long or overly complicated. Keep it simple.Materials and Equipment: You will need to ensure that these are going to be available for your class when the lesson is being taught. If you are too ambitious and require items that your school doesnt have, you will need to rethink your lesson plan. Blank8-Step Lesson Plan Template This template has eight basic parts that you should address. These are Objectives and Goals, Anticipatory Set, Direct Instruction, Guided Practice, Closure, Independent Practice, Required Materials and Equipment, and Assessment and Follow-Up.   Lesson Plan Your NameDateGrade Level:Subject: Objectives and Goals:   Ã‚  Ã‚   Anticipatory Set (approximate time):   Ã‚  Ã‚   Direct Instruction (approximate time):   Ã‚  Ã‚   Guided Practice (approximate time):   Ã‚  Ã‚   Closure (approximate time):   Ã‚  Ã‚   Independent Practice: (approximate time)   Ã‚  Ã‚   Required Materials and Equipment: (set-up time)   Ã‚  Ã‚   Assessment and Follow-Up: (approximate time)

Reading Comprehension for Presidential Elections

Reading Comprehension for Presidential Elections This reading comprehension focuses on Presidential elections. Its followed by key vocabulary relating to the US elections system. Presidential Elections Americans elect a new president on the first Tuesday in November. Its an important event that happens once every four years. Currently, the president is always elected from one of the two main parties in the United States: the Republicans and the Democrats. There are other presidential candidates. However, it is unlikely that any of these third party candidates will win. It certainly hasnt happened in the last one hundred years. In order to become the presidential nominee of a party, the candidate must win the primary election. Primary elections are held throughout each state in the United States in the first half of an election year. Then, the delegates attend their party convention in order to nominate their chosen candidate. Usually, as in this election, its clear who will be the nominee. However, in the past parties have been divided and choosing a nominee has been a difficult process. Once the nominees have been selected, they campaign throughout the country. A number of debates are usually held in order to better understand the candidates points of view. These points of view often reflect their partys platform. A party platform is best described as the general beliefs and policies a party holds. Candidates travel the country by plane, bus, train or by car giving speeches. These speeches are often called stump speeches. In the 19th century, candidates would stand on tree stumps to deliver their speeches. These stump speeches repeat the candidates basic views and aspirations for the country. They are repeated many hundreds of times by each candidate. Many people believe that campaigns in the United States have become too negative. Each night you can see many attack ads on the television. These short ads contain sound bites which often distort the truth  or something the other candidate has said or done. Another recent problem has been voter turnout. There is often less than 60% turnout for national elections. Some people dont register to vote, and some registered voters dont show up at the voting booths. This angers many citizens who feel that voting is the most important responsibility of any citizen. Others point out that not voting is expressing an opinion that the system is broken. The United States maintains an extremely old, and some say inefficient, voting system. This system is called the Electoral College. Each state is assigned electoral votes based on the number of senators and representatives that state has in Congress. Each state has two Senators. The number of representatives is determined by the states population but is never less than one. The electoral votes are decided by the popular vote in each state. One candidate wins all of the electoral votes in a state. In other words, Oregon has 8 electoral votes. If 1 million people vote for the Republican candidate and one million and ten people vote for the Democratic candidate all 8 electoral votes go to the Democratic candidate. Many people feel that this system should be abandoned. Key Vocabulary to electpolitical partyRepublicanDemocratthird partycandidatepresidential nomineeprimary electiondelegateto attendparty conventionto nominatedebateparty platformstump speechattack adssound biteto distort the truthvoter turnoutregistered votervoting boothElectoral CollegeCongresssenatorrepresentativeelectoral votepopular vote

11 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Quotes

11 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' Quotes Robert Louis Stevenson made literary history with his novel Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This story of the dual personality being personified during a medical experiment has been told and re-told in adaptations since it was first published in 1886. The novel became so popular that the phrase Jekyll and Hyde has come to mean someone whose behavior changes based on the situation theyre in.   The Nature of Evil I incline to Cains heresy, he used to say quaintly. I let my brother go to the devil in his own way. Mr. Gabriel Utterson, Chapter 1 The last I think; for, O poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satans signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend. Mr. Gabriel Utterson, Chapter 2 My fears incline to the same point. Evil, I fear, founded - evil was sure to come - of that connection. Ay truly, I believe you; I defer (for what purpose, God alone can tell) is still lurking in his victims room. Well, let our name be vengeance. Mr. Gabriel Utterson, Chapter 8 Quotes About Fear It was for one minute that I saw him, but the hair stood upon my head like quills. Sir, if that was my master, why had he a mask upon his face? Mr. Poole, Chapter 8 O God! I screamed, and O God! again and again; for there before my eyes - pale and shaken, and half fainting, and groping before him with his hands, like a man restored from death - there stood Henry Jekyll! Dr. Lanyon, Chapter 9 On Jekyll and Hyde Behavior You start a question, and its like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill, and away the stone goes, starting others, and presently some bland old bird (the last you would have thought of) is knocked on the head in his own back garden and the family have to change their name. No, sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask. Mr. Enfield, Chapter 1 I am painfully situated, Utterson; my position is a very strange - a very strange one. It is one of those affairs that cannot be mended by talking. Dr. Jekyll, Chapter 3 With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two. Dr. Jekyll, Chapter 10 Someday, Utterson, after I am dead, you may perhaps come to learn the right and wrong of this. I cannot tell you. Dr. Lanyon, Chapter 6 On Endings I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again. I bind my honor to you that I am done with him in this world. It is all at an end. And indeed he does not want my help; you do not know him as I do; he is safe, he is quite safe; mark my words, he will never more be heard of. Dr. Jekyll, Chapter 5 Here then, as I lay down the pen and proceed to seal up my confession, I bring the life of that unhappy Henry Jekyll to an end. Dr. Jekyll, Chapter 10

Summery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Summery - Essay Example Modern findings however argue that organisations are forced to adopt the culture of the wider society so as to be perceived as being legitimate (Dingwall & Strangleman, 2005). The early 1980s saw the idea of organizational culture popularized among managers. It was argued that successful companies created and possessed the right culture and managers were charged with initiating this. Dingwall and Strangleman (2005) further outline the role of culture in describing the cognition of members of an organisation to each other and the outsiders and explaining performance. Thus, the public sector was perceived to be inefficient due to the culture of indiscipline. These inefficiencies caused neo-liberal governments to front for privatisation and cultural change so as to equal them to their private counterparts. The interest in culture management in the private sector was largely driven by international competition. In the public sector, neo-liberal governments arriving in the UK and US and colonisation of international organisations pushed for adoption of culture management. Therefore, the modern cultural adaptation by the public sector fosters entrepreneurial go vernments which promote competition among service providers. They link culture to structure. Dingwall, R. & Strangleman, T. (2005). Organizational cultures in the public services. In E. Ferlie, L. E. Lynn & C. Pollitt (Eds.). The Oxford handbook of public management (pp. 468 - 490). Oxford, OX: Oxford University

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection - Essay Example The responses of management of the organization were significant in its scope for understanding knowledge management and how organizational leadership can become the anchor for a motivated workforce. Reflecting on the work of various workers within the bank where I had gone as a customer hugely helped me to identify organizational issues that are detrimental to efficient delivery of organizational goals and objectives. The scenario was analysed and three interpretations with two evaluations for each interpretations came up which were further reflected on for improving the performance of the organization. 2.1 Reflection on first interpretation In the first interpretation, manager was lauded for positive and strong decision when she transferred the erring executive to another branch. It was deduced that due to available information, the managerial leadership was able to make quick decision which also served as example for others to be efficient. On deeper reflection, I believe that the managerial decision was too hasty that not only creates insecurity amongst the workers but also adversely reflects on the style of leadership of the manager. As a leader, manager has the responsibility of creating a cohesive and high performance team that thrives on constant learning and new challenges. She lacked effective leadership qualities like effective communication, lack of vision, empathy and most important, an inability to exploit information judiciously (Forster, 2005). She had used just latest information to transfer and not tried to analyse past information and feedback that could have been exploited for improving George’s performance. George was a new recruit who should have been adequately trained for the role. Two months is relatively short time for new workers to become part of organizational culture and understand the importance and duties of his position. Moreover, effective communication is intrinsic part of good leadership traits that I believe, the mana ger was lacking. Had there been constant communication and feedback of workers’ performance, George’s inability to grasp the working mechanism would have been identified and addressed early. He was struggling with his work and his transfer on his first mistake sends a wrong message through the workforce. He was not given a chance to improve and improvise. Learning environment and effective communication empowers workers for higher productivity which was not given to George. 2.2 Reflection on second interpretation The interpretation is correct because leaders have responsibility towards their followers and must lead by example. This is one of the most critical characteristics of exemplary leaders which fosters trust and strong relationship that motivates for higher efficient delivery of goals and objectives. High performance work practices are beneficial for workforce and the management because they are mutually complementary (Armstrong & Baron, 2005). When management i nculcates strong team performance through in-house training, effective communication and incentives, it helps create a strong team of workers that thrive on hard work for improved performance. Moreover, effective communication promotes mutual respect and understanding for building workplace relationships that rely on sharing of knowledge. Manager had failed on both these accounts. Kolb (1984) asserts that team performs better when each member learns from each other’