Literacy is excellent Essay

â€Å"Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names† (Shah 1). Malcolm X describes his experience and struggle not being able to read or write until he got into prison. All he could ever do in prison was sit there, so he figured he would make light of his incarceration. So what he did was study a dictionary and read books to gain a better understanding and learn much more than he had before. Then with doing that, it made him feel free and empowered with his newly found intelligence now knowing what other people had discussed and had read. Malcolm X came up in a segregated time in the United States where black men and women weren’t allowed to be well educated or earn much of a living. Only having an 8th grade education can keep you trapped in your own mind. Therefore, the significance of literacy is immeasurable due to the fact that it is limitless on what you can do with it. Reading and writing has impacted our lives forever and in so many different ways. Write a letter, text a number, or do homework in a textbook. All these situations and more are due to the fact that people over time and now can read and write. The way we first started communication was through drawings known as hieroglyphics; that then transformed over time into different letters and we could finally write down information. That advancement led us to be able to keep records, talk to people without being face to face, and just write down information. â€Å"In my slow, painstaking, ragged handwriting, I copied into my tablet everything printed on the first page, down to the punctuation marks† (Malcolm X 641). Literacy was hard for him to pick up because it was new to him, and also he didn’t have the resources or materials we do now to help him. Communication since then has exploded to the point of other people learning how to read and write other languages and schools being opened to teach a number of new people how to read and write. Communication therefore led us to advancements in communication. We can now talk to someone halfway around the world without spending a fortune for travel fares. The human race in total can read and write so well that we have taught machines like computers, cars, and phones to now read; something we didn’t have just around 20 years ago. Without communication there could be no advancements and without advancements there could be no communication. Therefore, learning to read and write is key in everything we do and come up with. My cousin also had a problem with reading and writing all through school, and even after he graduated. Unlike Malcolm X, when he was younger he kept trying to give up on doing it because it was frustrating and confusing to him. He hated having to learn something he never understood properly and regrets trying to give up for all those years because it’s still a problem now. Having that happen to him has deterred me from me giving up on something I don’t understand so it doesn’t get worse for me or stay a problem forever. Cognate to Malcolm X, I tried over and over to be at least semi-literate in everything I could. For example, when I was in middle school I would always watch the Lincoln high school NJROTC spin rifles and I knew I would do that one day. So in ninth grade I practiced hard and finally learned how to do just about everything they can do and was able to be in the parade. Also cognate to Malcolm X, I believe learning to be literate in anything takes hard work, concentration, and dedication to the fact that you have to pay attention and learn what to do. Works cited page Shah, Anup. â€Å"Poverty Facts and Stats. † Global Issues. 07 Jan. 2013. Web. 22 Sep. 2013. . X, Malcolm. â€Å"Literacy behind Bars. † The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Reading. Ed. Richard Bullock and Maureen Daly Goggin. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013. 460-63. Print.

Logical Processor and Reactive Stimulator Essay

When I took the test I came out with Logical Processor and Reactive Simulator. Both of my styles were even so not one outweighed the other. I had to laugh when I actually completed the test. It all comes in hand with my current additional duties at work. I am a union steward and when it comes to this job I initially use Reactive Simulator. When I first get a grievance, my initial reaction is to get to the meeting immediately so that I can hurry up and fry the other individual because I need immediate results. Well it doesn’t work like that. I have 15 days from the time that I receive my case to get all of my facts together; do research within the contract laws to see which ones were violated. It really helps when I have a griever that has a good case they could win. As a steward I have to fight for the griever whether or not they are correct. Sometimes being a Reactive simulator causes me to get into confrontations. I immediately react to different situations, always on the defense. With this style it causes me to not hear other individual’s side of the story, because in my eyes if you are wrong than that’s how I am going keep the situation until I am proven otherwise. My communication is a little misunderstood by my co-workers. I am not a really compassionate person so I don’t take personal issues into consideration. I can sometimes come off harsh, but I really think that I am misunderstood by others. My Logical Processor can also balance me out. When I have a task or a major project, I will do my research on it. I am not going to say that I am a know-it-all, but if I have to prove something to my supervisor, I will go to the regulations and prove her wrong, not intentionally. If it takes me all day to find the answer to an issue, than I will use the whole day, as long as I am correct. I am a individual that hates change and if I can keep something the same by proving that they are doing something illegal, then so be it. Both the Logical Processor and the Reactive Simulator makes my Strategic pattern a performer. One of those attributes is that I want results to be quickly achieved. The results have to have a good outcome with it. I like to get the job done, I do not like to take the shortcut, nor do I like the think out of the box approach!

The Contribution of Processual and Emergent Perspectives to Strategic Change

Change is ubiquitous. Organisational change has become synonymous with managerial effectiveness since the 1980s (Burnes, 1996; Wilson, 1992). However, north American influence over the quest for commitment, efficiency and improved performance, appears to have fallen back upon largely Tayloristic notions of management, with the result that organisational change is widely perceived to be controllable by modern management, with organisations themselves instrumental in their in their hands (Collins, 1997). However, this ‘scientific' approach appears to have diffused with scant regard to contextual variables that may serve to modify and constrain contemporary managerial rhetoric for change (Hatch, 1997). One perspective that attempts to refocus the debate on wider issues has come to be known as the processual or emergent approach to organisational change (Collins, 1997), and it is this perspective that this paper seeks to evaluate You can read also Waves First, the inevitability of change is briefly considered as the time frame selected for organisational analysis tends to dictate the substance of investigation. This leads into a critique of planned change under the umbrella of strategic choice, with its core assumptions based upon managerial hegemony. This approach is then contrasted with the processual and emergent perspectives that seek to widen management appreciation to include factors beyond the organisation and its immediate environments. The implications of the apparent divergence between theory and practice are briefly outlined before concluding that the subjectivist paradigm of the processual/emergent approach is best seen as a modification to theories of strategic choice, which may add to effective managerial practice in the future. This argument is qualified by the need to support such a modification by a fundamental change in modern managerial education. The Inevitability of Change ‘Change' exudes temporality. While it may be a truism that in any field of activity, all periods may be characterised by change and continuity, the time frame selected will tend to highlight change or continuity (Blyton and Turnbull, 1998). For example, a focus upon organisational change during the last two-decades may reveal a period of rapid change. However, a perspective encompassing the last two hundred years may indicate a basic continuity in the capitalist social mode of production (ibid). Consequently, differentiating between whether organisational change should be analysed from the perspective of a strict chronology of ‘clock' or linear time, with its associated notions of relentless progress, planning and implementation, or whether changed is viewed from the perspective of a processual analysis over tracts of time, has given rise to a vigorous debate on how change should be understood as it applies to complex business organisations (Wilson, 1992). Two paradigms dominate the analysis of organisational change. On the one hand, a positivist view holds that change is objectively measurable, and thus controllable, embracing notions of rationality, temporal linearity and sequence – change is an outcome of deliberate action by change agents (Hatch, 1997; Kepner and Tregoe, 1986). On the other hand, a subjectivist view holds that change is dependent upon the temporal context of the wider social system in which it occurs and is thus a social construction – while organisations define and attempt to manage their change processes, outcomes are not necessarily the result of the top-down cascade advocated by the planned approach (Pettigrew, 1985). Consequently, as a point of departure, planned organisational change shall be discussed before moving on to examine the emergent approach as a challenge to the rational model. The Planned Perspective Contemporary US and UK managerial ideology may be identified as an outcome of, and a contributor to, neo-liberalist voluntarism (Dunlop, 1993). This ideology is mobilised through the agency of management to protect capital's interests above all others. Consequently, management and managers come to be considered a social elite through their exercise of ‘god-like' control over a logical and rational process of adaptation, change and ever-improving performance. The organisation is thus instrumental in the hands of management (Collins, 1997; Daft, 1998; Hatch, 1997; Kepner and Tregow, 1986). Generally referred to as ‘strategic choice', the planned approach, according to Wilson (1992:22) is constructed upon the following theories of organisation: 1 Organisational Development (OD) and Behavioural Modification (BM); 2 Planned incrementalism; 3 The ‘enterprise culture', best practice and ‘gurus' as change agents. These perspectives have all in common the role of human agency, whereby, ‘†¦human decisions make an important difference†¦ a voluntarism in which human courage and determination count' (Gouldner 1980, cited in Wilson, 1992:25). OD and BM (closed system) approaches emanate from the field of psychology, positing that organisational change is implemented by management through changing the behaviour of individuals. OD aims to foster consensus and participation on the basis that management attributes resistance to change to poor interpersonal relations (Wilson, 1992). BM is a systematic approach to the conditioning of managerially defined ‘appropriate' behaviour, based upon Skinnerian psychological theories of learning (reward and punishment) and motivation (ibid). Both approaches are based on the assumptions that managers are capable of identifying internal barriers to change, determining appropriate behaviours, and designing and implementing programmes to achieve desired outcomes. Consequently, there is a plethora of ‘frameworks', ‘recipes' and ‘how to' packages aimed at managerial audiences (Collins, 1997) A central feature of many of these packages is Lewin's (1951) ‘force field' framework, which proposes that change is characterised as a state of imbalance between pressures for change and pressures against change. It is suggested that managers are capable of adjusting the equilibrium state of zero-change, by selectively removing or modifying specific forces in the required direction (Senior, 1997). Implicit is the normative nature of planned change: managers should know the various forces as they apply to their own particular situation, and should understand and possess the means to exert influence over them. It follows that, ceteris parebus, without deliberate managerial action, change, at worst is unlikely to occur and, at best, is unlikely to realise desired outcomes without the intervention of chance (Collins, 1997). Planned incrementalism argues that change is constant and evolutionary and should be planned in small steps based on an orderly adjustment to information flowing in from the operating environment (Quinn 1980, cited in Senior, 1997). This approach is related to contingency theory. The argument runs that the most effective way to organise is contingent upon conditions of complexity and change in the environment. Thus, the organisation should achieve congruence with its market environment and managers should support their strategies with appropriate structures and processes to enhance the likelihood of success (ibid). Turning to the final ‘ingredients', Wilson (1992:37) argues that ‘enterprise culture', ‘best practice' and ‘management gurus' are different faces of the same ideology. Enterprise culture denotes best practice and grows from a particular interpretation of management theory. This interpretation shapes the role of external consultants and thus determines who are the gurus; the ideology becomes self-supporting. Thus the ideology of strategic choice is mobilised in support of managerial ideology: to be successful in a free market system (entrepreneurial), firms should be modelled by managers upon best practice (currently, from the US and Japan), should adopt flexible specialisation and decentralised structures, and should seek to create organisational cultures congruent with managers' own. The ‘successful' manager comes to be defined as a ‘change master' (Kanter, 1993; see Peters and Waterman, 1982). The Emergent, Processual Perspective A common critique of the planned perspective is that the ability of management to rationally plan and implement organisational change ignores the influence of wider, more deterministic forces outside the realms of strategic choice (Wilson, 1992). Largely in opposition to this perspective and generally referred to as ‘systemic conflict', the emergent approach, according to Wilson (ibid:22) is constructed upon the following theories of organisation: 1 Contextualism; 2 Population ecology; 3 Life cycles; 4 Power and politics; 5 Social action. While also tending to acknowledge the role of human agency in effecting change, these approaches serve to widen the debate to include the impact of human interaction at micro and macro levels, thus constraining strategic choice (ibid). Contextualism is based upon an open systems (OS) model which views any organisation as being an interdependent component of a much larger whole (Pettigrew, 1985). Serving as a direct intellectual challenge to closed system perspectives, fundamental is the notion that no organisation exists in a vacuum. Emery and Trist (1960, cited in Wilson, 1992) argue that OS reveals the following characteristics: Equifinality – no one best way of achieving the same outcomes; Negative entropy – importing operating environment resources to curtail or reverse natural decay; Steady state – relationship stability between inputs, throughputs, outputs; Cycles and patterns – cash flows, stock-turns and so on. Thus, OS enables the variances between organisations' performances to be explained by external influences, facilitating comparative analysis, the establishment of sectoral norms and the identification of ‘supra-normal' practices (Wilson, 1992). Population ecology (and perhaps institutional theories) is based upon the Darwinian notion of ‘survival of the fittest' (Hatch, 1997). Thus strategic change is aimed at maximising ‘fitness' within the general population of organisations, through the identification of ‘market' niches and strategies of specialisation, differentiation or generalism (Porter, 1980, 1985). Competitive advantage is thus created and sustained through the construction of distinctive and inimitable structures, processes and cultures, eg: erecting high barriers to entry through technological investment, or eliminating threats of product substitution through high R & D investment and thus (desired) innovation (ibid). The life cycle perspective explicitly recognises the temporal nature of organisational change. Though linear in nature (all life cycle theories assume birth, growth, maturity, decline and death as givens), this approach provides insights into the potential internal and external conditions (and constraints) that an organisation is likely to encounter during distinct life cycle phases (Greiner, 1972 cited in Senior, 1997). However, this approach suffers from a similar critique to those levied at models of planned change. ‘Cycles' are not in fact cycles (suggesting reincarnation). Development is linear and progressive and an organisation's location on the ‘cycle' is highly subjective. Perhaps the major contribution of the emergent approach to organisational change, is the highlighting of the role of power and politics in moderating managerial efforts to effect fundamental and sustainable change (Handy, 1986). Essentially, three political models of power reveal that outcomes are incapable of being considered independently of processes and personal stakes. First, overt power is the visible manifestation of localised influence over preferred processes and outcomes (eg: ‘it's the way we've always done things around here'). Second, covert power is less visible and related to the extent of information sharing and participation in change processes afforded by organisational sub-groups (eg: senior management) to others – the phrase ‘inner circle' is a common indicator of covert power relations in operation. Finally, third, contextual power suggests that outcomes are mediated by societal forces and the economic structure of society itself (eg: elites, notions of social justice, and so on) (Burrell and Morgan, 1979). Postmodern analysis reveals the influence of discourse, symbol and myth as interchangeable between organisations and societies in the endorsement of preferred solutions. Thus, contextual power may be utilised to shape the wider justification and acceptability for organisational change( eg: ‘restructuring' for labour stripping; ‘reingeering' for work intensification; ‘partnership' for collective labour coercion; ‘TQM' for zero-tolerance and panoptican managerial control). Moreover, the contextual power perspective also reveals the hegemony of accounting ideology in neo-liberal systems (itself positivist, reductionist and inextricably linked to Taylorism). Thus serving to expose the influence of elite groups, notably silent under the strategic choice framework (Wilson, 1992). Finally, social action theories depict organisational culture (OC) as the structure of social action (ibid). The strategic framework choice would hold that OC is a possession of the organisation and is thus capable of manipulation . In contrast, the systemic conflict framework depicts OC is something an organisation is (a contrasting ontological position) and is therefore largely beyond managerial influence (Legge, 1995). Nevertheless, ‘strong' (integrated) notions of OC are eulogised by the so-called gurus (see Kanter, 1993; Peters and Waterman, 1982), despite receiving severe criticism for their weak methodological foundations (See Guest, 1992). The emergent approach appears to be at odds with the strong culture = high performance proposition at the heart of most change programmes; its causality is unclear. Implications As the above discussion illustrates, the management of change appears to hold sway over the analysis of change (Wilson, 1992). This implies that understanding has been exchanged for expediency. Put differently, managing change is both a learnable and teachable skill. In view of the short-termism inherent in the US and UK economies, with their shareholder emphasis on maximum financial returns and minimal financial risk (itself a contradiction with the notion of ‘entrepreneur'), it is hardly surprising that ‘recipes for success' are so eagerly sought after by under pressure managers and eagerly supplied by management gurus with pound-signs in their eyes. Practice appears to be on a divergent path from theory (Collins, 1997). Collins (ibid) attributes this apparent divergence to managerial education, which itself (as must any educative process) be viewed as a perpetuation of ideology. With respect to organisational change, management education serves to promote the aggrandisement of managers as †Canute-like rulers of the waves'. Epitomised by the MBA (Master of Bugger All?) with its roots in north America, such programmes are themselves reductionist and short-term in nature. Thus, students are precluded by time constraints from exposure to the theoretical foundations of change and, consequently, may be discouraged from challenging received wisdom. This is not to assert that ‘hands on' skills are unimportant, rather to expose that they lose potency in the absence of the appreciation of the wider context which MBA ‘babble', among a wider range of programmes, serves to suffuse. Conclusion – a rejection of Positivism? The investigation of organisational change has not escape the inexorable north American ‘shift' towards hypothetico-deductive perspectives of economics and psychology, with their positivist paradigms focused upon atomisation akin to the natural sciences (Cappelli, 1995). From a temporal perspective, while organisational change is viewed as inevitable in much the same way as in nature, the time frame selected for analysis tends to dictate the scope and degree of change to be investigated. Short-termism, it appears, is a form of temporal reductionism in the search for objective truth, that is a key factor behind the notion that managers can be trained to manage change through sets of skills that imply mastery over the ‘natural' world and therefore, time itself. In this view, planned models of change, rooted in classical theories of management, may be accused of being an ideological construct of assumed legitimacy and authenticity. On the other hand, a subjectivist systemic tension approach, rejects reductionist ‘tool kits' and lays claim to the inclusion of contextual variables at work throughout an organisation, its operating environment and beyond. In this view, while change is clearly not beyond managerial influence, its management is reliant upon wider understanding of the interplay of these variables, of which power relations may be prominent, in order to be able to predict the likely outcomes of managerial actions. However, for something to exist it must be capable of theoretical explanation. That practitioners have opted for voluntarist models of strategic change is not surprising given the elitist ideology of modern management: to control is to manage; short-termism equates to reduced risk and increased control; the institutions of Western corporate governance and finance thus have their goals met by such an approach. Yet, this is to obfuscate the quintessential qualities of the processual, emergent contribution to organisational change. While not refuting planned change, it perhaps serves to modify it – for any change to be understood, explained and sustained, the duality of voluntarism and determinism must be acknowledged and incorporated into the managerial knowledge base. The emergent approach exposes the potential folly of the extremes of positivism as applied to organisations as social entities, thus throwing open the debate to multi-disciplinary perspectives and enriching the field or organisational change. To be of value, such enrichment must be reflected in managerial education itself.

Managing and Leading People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Managing and Leading People - Essay Example The findings from the primary study have been compared with the existing theories of human resource management. The study shows that Fiat follows effective HR strategies that should be emulated by every organization in the globalised world. Fiat, a renowned brand, is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy and also holds considerable market share in the overseas market. Fiat is the abbreviation of ‘Fabrica Italiana Automobili Torino’. The firm manufactures cars that cater to almost all the segments of the market. The company was established in the early years of the industrial revolution, precisely in 1899. Its first production commenced in the year 1900, with employee strength of over one hundred fifty workers. The famous logo of the company was adopted in the year 1904. The logo gained gradual acceptance and is still recognised as a global brand. The company has grown by leaps and bounds and has a significant market share in the automobile segment (Fiat-a, 2010). In addition to cars, Fiat also manufactures tanks, railroad vehicles etc. In addition to Italy, the firm has its production units based in Brazil, Poland and Argentina. The company is also known for its innovations in the field of automobil es. An example in this regard is the â€Å"Centro Ricerche Fiat† (Fiat-b, 2010). This is a unit that has been developed by Fiat and is based in the Italian town of Orbassano. This division deals with research and development in the field of automobile engines and vehicle systems. Innovation is the buzzword in this unit. Some of its notable contributions in the field of research and development are â€Å"Legambiente 2000† (Common Rail Diesel engine Technology). The unit also received the Ferrari technology award for development of the hybrid methane engine. Some other notable achievements of this unit are the creation of multi jet engine and also the design of models like Idea, Punto, Panda and Stilo (Fiat-b,

What is philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What is philosophy - Essay Example This philosophy becomes the guidance that helps an individual in practicing as well as performing research relevant to his/her field of work. Philosophy has become an important course in various educational institutes that offer degrees and certifications for studies that focus on human behavior. Studying philosophy helps an individual in answering various queries that they have since birth. These questions are abstract in nature and mostly include questions regarding how human beings should spend their lives and what is the reason due to which they exist and who governs their behavior and various similar questions. Philosophy can be regarded as a motivator and promoter of research. Thinking in a philosophical manner can result in various questions that individuals have regarding occurrence of incidences. Human beings tend to develop various philosophies for these incidences and due to this they are promoted to perform research to identify concrete understandings of their beliefs and

International Intercultural Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Intercultural Management - Essay Example The world intercultural dinner is an annual framework that is meant to diversify the different aspects and cultures of different countries in the entire world, for instance, the traditions, life-styles and circumstances, social distinctions, political loyalties and the understanding of languages. The main goal of this essay is to vividly describe the international, intercultural management of some of the chosen countries within the world. The key chosen countries for this essay will be China and France. The objectivity of the intercultural dinner is to bring leaders together and instill peace in a multicultural setting to bring about a sense of belonging and oneness. This is a good platform for leaders to share their visions and to learn from others who have different perspectives, thereby facilitating the understanding of the different cultures from different countries within the world. In addition, it promotes social cohesion through the embracement of the intercultural dialogue and the understanding of the social diversity (Jacob 2003, p. 30). Therefore, the main objective of the annual intercultural dinner was to bring about a peaceful cohesion through a respectful exchange of views and ideas from different individuals from different cultures, leading to a deeper understanding of the different perspectives embraced by different communities from the entire world. Therefore, intercultural management is defined as the most effective functionality of a diverse group of people becau se of either ethnicity of or nationality. Experts on the intercultural management recommend the use of communication systems and methods, use of organizational cultures that enhances learning as well as the use of human resource management system in order to broaden the diversified field of culture (Jacob 2003, p. 35). France and China have since 1964 developed such a strong political relation, dating back from the period when France developed an official diplomatic

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HNC Electrical Engineering - Essay Example Fortescue, who introduced the method around 1918.....(1) However, it remained difficult to understand the three-phase system working under this concept, as any change in the voltage or current in any single phase could result in the corresponding changes in other two phases as well. Therefore, only two-phase alternating current was used in the power systems and it had 90-degree difference between the phases.(2n) Hence the two-phase power-generating concept was developed. However, we have evidence of using two-phase generators by connecting two single-phase ones, as early as 1890s........(2) In simpler terms, three-phase power system is the one that uses three different wires. One wire can be a neutral cable, which facilitates the system to use higher voltages while transmitting low voltages in domestic appliances. However, those machines that use high voltage allocations, the neutral cable requirement is not there as negligible loads are connected between the phases. In three phase power systems the power load is well distributed, as all the three wires have same magnitude of current with balance power load. Most of the countries have their own color-coding of the wires to distinguish the same in case of repairs. The three-phase power system is the widely used power in all industries, as it has balanced power load with uniform phase angle difference. However, the requirement of the household appliances and applications can be met with the single or two-phase systems as well. All electric motors are the fine example of three-phase power usage, as a three phase induction motor runs efficiently and has high starting torque with trouble-free design. The application of such motors can be found in fans, blowers, compressors etc. While these are medium and large size motors, application of very small three phase motors can be found in computer fans etc. The main advantage

FINITE MATHEMATICS - Number Theory Research Paper

FINITE MATHEMATICS - Number Theory - Research Paper Example In the next step we will truncate numbers to different digits. Our number is 5.3476. Let us examine what is rounding off a decimal place. Our number is 5.3476. We use the same concept as above; the digits after decimal points are called â€Å"tenths†, â€Å"hundredths†, â€Å"thousandths†, and â€Å"ten-thousandths†. There are two rules in rounding up of decimal places. Scenario 2: In this scenario we will add and then round up to the whole number. Let us think, I am in a supermarket. I want to buy three products and make sure I have enough money to pay before I go to the cash register. I already know that when I round up decimal number to the whole number, I increase the result if the number after decimal point is 5 or more. I will use this technique. Step 3: I will add numbers of columns from left to the right. I already know that; 247 is 200 + 40 + 7. So, 135 is 100 + 30 + 5 and 682 is 600 + 80 + 2. I have to use this concept when I add from left to right. Scenario 3: In this scenario, I am in a flea market. I found something that costs $ 8.60 each. I want to buy 7 of them. I have $ 60 in my packet. My goal is to find total price. I will truncate the decimal to the whole number and negotiate the price with the seller. This is a scenario of truncation after multiplication. Thus, if â€Å"p† is a known prime number, there is always a new prime number â€Å"n† which is a larger than the known prime number â€Å"p†. Thus for any prime number there is a larger prime number, so there are infinity number of primes. The figure above represents a 12-hour clock. Clockwise movement increases number from 1 to 12. The number 12 can also be expressed as number 0. Using this clock we can do addition, subtraction, multiplication of integers. An integer is a whole number. There is no decimal. An integer can be a positive number or a negative number. Thus, we can use a 12-hour clock for arithmetic calculation with

Claude Debussy and the Javanese Gamelan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Claude Debussy and the Javanese Gamelan - Essay Example Its instruments are tuned to play together, and as such different gamelan instruments are not interchangeable. It derives its name from the word gamels, which means to hammer or strike. The suffix,†an† makes the word a collective noun. This paper aims to study Debussy and gamelan, and how Debussy incorporated gamelan figurations into his own music. The paper seeks to discuss the capabilities of the piano, as well as its limitations, and touch on orchestral music. It also seeks to explain why Debussy was so fascinated by the Javanese gamelan as to stop developing his impressionistic music in a western manner. Debussy’s family was destitute, being sustained by his paternal aunt. This led to his much reputed awkward social skills and egotism. He received lessons in piano from Madame de Fleurville, who was a pupil of Chopin. In 1889 at the Paris Universal exposition, Claude Debussy who at the time was a young composer getting his spurs and getting his first works publi shed had a real revelation (Lockspeiser 67). At this exposition, groups from around the globe displayed their countries’ best art, culture music and the way of life. The Eiffel tower was the expositions centrepiece. The musicians visiting the exposition were especially fascinated by the exhibit from the Malay Archipelago of java. This exhibit was a village model demonstrating communal life aspects that included religion, agriculture, and entertainment. The gamelan was a part of their presentation, forming a vital part of their village social and religious life. Then gamelan was a collection of metallic instruments with bell like sounds and had been passed down over thousand years via oral tradition (Lockspeiser 67). This Javanese music sensationalized European musicians (Lockspeiser 69). Debussy as well was taken in by this music. Most of his fruitful hours were spent in the Kampong of the Javanese troupe. He listened to the complexities of the gamelan’s percussive rhy thm, especially its inexhaustible flashing ethereal timbre combinations. Debussy admired various aspects of the gamelan music and adapted them for his own compositions (Lockspeiser 69). Prelude, which is from pour le piano, is an early response to the techniques of the gamelan. Its extended measured trills, pedal points, and tonal relationships that were unusual were incorporated into this piece. The prevalent texture, with its moderately moving tenor, slow moving bass, and fast moving treble suggests gamelan sound. â€Å"Pagodas† from Estampes is a representation directly from a performance of gamelan (Roberts 12). Cycles, bell and gong sounds, pentatonic melodies, which remind one of slendro tunings, together with a layered counterpoint composed of lower voices progressively getting slower can also be gleaned in abundance. Debussy indicates to accelerate gradually and then the tempo is retarded over a period. Then just as is prevalent in the gamelan, the music ends in one f inal stroke of the gong (Roberts 13). â€Å"Bells through the Leaves† also utilizes techniques of the gamelan (Harpole 8). Sounds of bells, pedal sustained, and a thorough utilization of whole tone scale is the surest sign that the piece is from gamelan sound universe. Its utilization of a melody of the balungan type within a texture with four voices is also the most striking use by Debussy in his music of gamelan techniques. â€Å"

Historical Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Historical Communications - Essay Example The rebus principle is one of the several principal types of pictographs that laid the foundation for the development of modern syllabaries. The rebus principle turns the sound into a symbol which then becomes part of more complex linguistic structures (Ong 86). At the level of rebus writing, â€Å"the symbol represents primarily a sound, and a rebus is a kind of phonogram† (Ong 86). As a result, the rebus principle shaped the basis for the creation of modern alphabetic systems by enabling individuals and societies to use pictures/symbols that signified particular sounds. A combination of those sounds would be used by those societies to describe complex notions. For example, the English word Milwaukee can be written down as a combination of the mill, walk, and key symbols (mill-walk-key) (Ong 86). This is one of the easiest examples of how the rebus principle works. Apparently, the rebus principle drove the subsequent systematization of sounds and their common representation i n written languages. With the help of the rebus principle a symbol denoting a particular concept could also be used in homonyms (WALS). The rebus principle facilitated the development and use of symbols denoting abstract notions, and gradually transformed into systemic and recognizable phonetic signs (WALS). The rebus principle was extremely common in the earliest Chinese writing, and today the Chinese and Japanese languages continue to rely on hybrid phonetic and syllabic structures. Simply stated, the symbols and pictograms used to denote complex notions gradually became a common pattern of representing those notions in writing. With time, the symbols and pictograms turned into phonetic signs to be used systematically in a particular writing language. The importance of the rebus principle for intercultural communications and understanding should not be disregarded. Better understanding across languages and language systems is one of the major benefits of the rebus system. For exam ple, persons speaking different dialects and being unable to understand each other can use the rebus principle to denote complex meanings through sounds (Ong 87). The rebus principle is of particular importance for the Asian languages, especially Chinese, since the Chinese characters are represented by exquisitely stylized pictures (Ong 87). Better understanding among different language groups can also drive the development of new symbolic systems: by using the rebus principle to understand each other; different language carriers can borrow the most convenient symbols and characters from a different language or dialect. Calling the alphabet â€Å"alphabet†: far-reaching linguistic implications The word â€Å"alphabet† signifies the starting point in the development of the basic and advanced language skills. Actually, every language is believed to start with an alphabet. In reality, however, the presence of an alphabet is the sign of language development and advancement . It is the result of numerous transformations and an important feature of contemporary language systems. Even the term â€Å"alphabet† has far-reaching implications for understanding its essence. By calling the alphabet â€Å"alphabet† (or alpha-beta), it is automatically implied that the alphabet reduces sounds to spatial equivalents and more analytic, manageable units (Ong 90). As a result, instead of having a

The Pythagorean Triple Essay Example for Free

The Pythagorean Triple Essay Pythagoras a Greek philosopher and mathematician is very famous for its Pythagorean Theorem. This theorem states that if a, b and c are sides of a right triangle then a2 + b2 = c2 (Morris, 1997). The study of the Pythagorean triples started long before Pythagoras knew how to solve it. There were evidences that Babylonians have lists of the triples written in a tablet. This would only mean that Babylonians may have known a method on how to produce such triples (Silverman, 16 – 26). Pythagorean triple is a set of number consisting of three natural numbers that can suit the Pythagorean equation a2 + b2 = c2. Some of the known triples are 3, 4, 5 and 5, 12, 13 (Bogomolny, 1996). How can we derive such triples? If we multiple the Pythagorean formula by 2 then we generate another formula 2a2 + 2b2 = 2c2. This only means that if we multiply 2 to the Pythagorean triple 3, 4, 5 and 5, 12, 13 then we can get another set of Pythagorean triple. The answer to that is triple 6, 8, 10 and 10, 24, 26. To check whether the said triple are Pythagorean triple, we can substitute it to the original formula a2 + b2 = c2. Check: is 6, 8, 10 Pythagorean triple? 62 + 82 = 102 36 + 64 = 100 100 = 100 Thus 6, 8 and 10 satisfy the Pythagorean equation. Δ 6, 8, 10 is a Pythagorean triple. Check: is 10, 24, 26 satisfy the Pythagorean equation? 102 + 242 = 262 100 + 576 = 676 676 = 676 Thus 10, 24, 26 satisfy the Pythagorean equation. Δ 10, 24, 26 is a Pythagorean triple. If we multiply the Pythagorean equation by 3 and using the first 2 Pythagorean triple mentioned above, we can yield another set of Pythagorean triple. Thus we can formulate a general formula that can produce different sets of Pythagorean triple. We can generate an infinite number of Pythagorean triple by using the Pythagorean triple 3, 4, 5. If we multiple d, where k is an integer, to that triple we will yield different sets of Pythagorean triple all the time. d*(3, 4, 5) where d is an integer. Check: if k is equal to 4 we get a triple 12, 16, and 20. Is this a Pythagorean triple? By substitution, 122 + 162 = 202 144 + 256 = 400 400 = 400 Thus 12, 16, 20 satisfy the Pythagorean equation. Δ 12, 16, 20 is a Pythagorean triple. Check: if k is equal to 5 we get a triple 15, 20, 25. Is this a Pythagorean triple? By substitution, 152 + 202 = 252 225 + 400 = 625 625 = 625 Thus 15, 20, 25 satisfy the Pythagorean equation. Δ 15, 20, 25 is a Pythagorean triple. But the formula given above is just a formula for getting the multiples of the Pythagorean triple. But is there a general formula in getting these triples? There are formulas that can solve each and every Pythagorean triple that one can ever imagine. One formula that can give us the triples is a = st, b = (s2 + t2)/2 and c = (s2 – t2)/2 (. A simple derivation of these formula will come from the main formula a2 + b2 = c2 (Silverman, 16 – 26). This is a shorten way to derive the formula from theorem 2.1(Pythagorean triples). a2 + b2 = c2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   with a is odd, b is even and a, b and c have no common factors. a2 = c2 – b2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   by additive property a2 = (c – b)(c + b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   by factoring (difference of two squares) by checking 32 = (5 – 4)(5 + 4) = 1*9 52 = (13 – 12)(13 + 12) = 1*25 72 = (25 – 24)(25 + 24) = 1*49

Factory job Essay Example for Free

Factory job Essay I am seriously going to explode one day. That Mr Birling is being totally out of order, he pays us girls nothing more than 20 shillings a day and that cant keep me alive for much longer. I have spoken to the girls and they agree with me that we should go on strike. That will make him think about the wages he gives the girls and me. I would rather quit but that would show the wrong side of me I am not a quitter, I am a fighter. I should of taken the job in the bakery but no I had to choose the factory job which could have been good and well paid but no they lied to me about the wages. Anyway I saw my Nan today, she is really ill I need the extra money for her medicine but if you ask me I think she will be going soon. I wish I could see my mum but she is in Yorkshire. I could not stay there because there was no work. There was work but I would never stoop that low. My sister got into that kind of work and she got pregnant out of that sort of business. This all the countrys fault I had to move here because of the lack of jobs in Yorkshire its ridiculous. The strike will still go on. Talk soon, thank you for listening. I am sacked now, looks like I need to starve my self once again all because I wanted more money to actually stay alive, hence I am starving myself now. Most of the girls got their jobs back and I loose mine that fair. Mr Birling has to learn that it is not business all the time, he has to think about other peoples lives that are not rich. I told him that and he obviously did not understand about higher and lower class, all he concentrates on is higher class and spends money like a fire in a wood. I better look for a job soon other wise I will die like my Nan did poor and helpless. I am living in my Nan house but I will probably not stay here that long because she has probably given the house to sally her friend on the street. Thank you for listening bye. I am so happy, I went to a interview last week with Milwards and I have a job now and its good pay and I can help sewing the dresses which is my life long dream. I have not got the house any more, Sally and Frederick her boyfriend live there now and I live in a run down hovel and nothing in it. I have no money and I have changed my name to Sarah so I can get a job because I got sacked and you what Mr Birling is like, he knows everyone. I am gradually getting richer but not much, I have got 40 shillings and I need to save that so I cant eat again. Hopefully this job will be successful and its nearly Christmas bonus but I wont get my hopes up. I have realised that my behaviour at Mr Birlings factory was bad but I was desperate and I need the money. I need to be really polite in this shop because lots of posh and higher class shop here and like I said I dont want to work on the street. Thank you for listening. I got sacked once again. I have not been a pain but I did make a funny look when Miss Birling was showing her dress to mum. Even her mum didnt like the dress, you could tell by her face. I laughed as well but that was because I tripped other the stall. I think she complained about me and said to Samantha the boss to sack me. The Higher class always gets their way and bosses always want money. Thank you for listening. It has come to the worse now. I am getting money but I hate sleeping with scummy old men who smell of beer and sometimes dont even pay you for your time. I really did not want to become a slut and sleep around but I am and I had to change my name again. My name is Daisy Renton now. I have lost two stone. I am probably going to die one day and probably poor, helpless and with no family by my side. I might go back to Yorkshire but I have myself into a business. I am going out with Gerald. He was a customer but he likes talking to me and he bought me food recently and I that was touching. I met him in the palace bar. I was there for business and business is good there because all the rich people are there and have no lady of there own because they are so ugly. Gerald is so sweet. Talk soon. I am really depressed and my live is over now because Gerald has left me he gave me some money but I love Gerald I need him he kept me away from trouble. A man recently beat me up and Gerald looked after me. He is a star and he always will be. The money has been going down the drain I need more money, I might need to do extra nights and double shifts a night. Old men are the worst they are so old and horrible. I need a good job because I have not got a enough money for the place I am renting. I will talk to you soon bye.

Physical Activity and Academic Achievement

Physical Activity and Academic Achievement Physical Activity and Academic Achievement in College Students Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether those that schedule regular exercise into their lifestyles achieve greater academic success overall. To do so, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test were compared before the participants worked out to the scores after the students worked out regularly for three weeks. Participants were 50 Psychology students randomly selected at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The hypothesis was that participants will answer fewer questions on the GRE if they do not work out. Students will answer more questions correctly after they work. The predicted results were that students will answer correctly 20 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 18 out of 28 questions on the math section before they work out regularly. After the three week work out, the students answered 24 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 26 out of 28 questions on the math section. There was no main effect on type of questions. There was a main effect on the exercise that after the students worked out they scored higher. There was an interaction that after the students worked out they answered more questions correctly on both sections, verbal and math. The predicted results caused a possible correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement. However, the results should be interrupted carefully, as more studies still need to be done in order to completely support that physical fitness causes academic achievement to improve. It is possible that physical and mental process correspond with each other and influence each other. Introduction The positive health benefits of regular exercise are widely known. Even though due to much research where it is evident that there are positive benefits of physical activity, physical education in schools is being viewed as only an extracurricular activity rather than a necessity (Grissom, 2005). When school budgets are being cut short, physical education is being cut first; this in the long run negatively affects the students. Previous researchers and advocates argue that daily physical education in schools improves students concentration and cognitive functioning (Sibley, 2003). Physical education is an essential factor in students academic achievements. To date, in the United States, Canada and Australia, there were five controlled experimental studies done that evaluated the effects on academic performance of providing students with additional time for physical education. All the studies have shown that even if there is no drastic improvement, it definitely does not need to be sacrificed (Shephard, Volle, Lavallee, LaBarre, Jequier, 1999). In 2007, 287 fourth and fifth graders from British Columbia were studied to determine if providing daily physical activity affected their academic performance (Ahamed, 2007). They participated in daily ten minute classroom activity in addition to their regular 80 minute PE class. Even though the physical activity time been increased by about fifty minutes per week, the students who received extra physical activity had similar stantarized test scores for mathematics, reading and language arts as students in the control group. The researchers concluded a positive correlation between physical activi ty and academic performance (Ahamed, 2007). Overall, it is extremely difficult to calculate a statistically significant difference between experiment and control groups because it is difficult to raise academic achievement (Shephard 1996). Also whatever research that has been done in order to find the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement primarily focused on middle school to high school students. The purpose of this study is to determine whether college students that work out regularly perform better than those that do not work out at all. College students have a lot going on during their academic career. This study is being done in order to determine whether those that schedule regular exercise into their busy lifestyles achieve greater academic success overall. The practical implication of the proposed study is that those who work out regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle perform better on tests rather than those students who do not work out. The experiment is trying to demonstrate that it is needed for students to not forget to lead a healthy lifestyle and to take time out of the busy schedules to exercise and that will lead to higher test scores. The hypothesis was that participants will answer fewer questions on the GRE if they do not work out. Students will answer more questions correctly after they work. Also, there will an interaction between working out and number of questions answered. Refer to Table 1 and Graph 1 for predicted results. The predicted results were that students will answer correctly 20 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 18 out of 28 questions on the math section before they work out regularly. After the three week work out, the students answered 24 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 26 out of 28 questions on the math section. There was no main effect on type of questions. There was a main effect on the exercise that after the students worked out they scored higher. Method Participants 50 undergraduate college students at University of Illinois at Chicago were between the ages of 18-25 were tested. Both male and females sexes were approximately equally represented. The participants were assigned to participate as part of the Psychology class, which counted towards the class credit. The participants were all healthy which allowed them to participate in the physical portion of the experiment. Design The experiment was a within subjects design. The participants were asked to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before they exercised for three weeks regularly and after they exercised regularly for three weeks. The exercise consisted of cardio work out. The first independent variable was running on the treadmill for 30 minutes and using the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes and no cardio exercise at all. The second IV was the type of question. The participants were asked to complete the verbal and math sections. The dependent variable was the level of performance on the GRE. The amount of questions answered correctly will determine the level of performance. Materials The materials used were the UIC Wellness Center and the two versions of GRE sample questions from the verbal and math section. Both GRE tests were of the same difficulty. One version was used before the work out, and another version after the 3 week workout. There were 30 questions on the verbal section and 28 questions on the math section. Procedure First the participants were given the GRE both sections, verbal and math. They had 30 minutes to complete the 30 questions on the verbal section. They had 45 minutes to complete the 28 questions on the math section. After the exam, the participants were all signed up at the UIC Wellness Center for regular exercise. They worked out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1-2 hours. They walked/ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes, rested for 5 and then used the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes. This repeated for three weeks. After the regular work out, the participants were given a different version of the same difficulty GRE tests. Again they had 30 minutes to complete the 30 questions on the verbal section. They had 45 minutes to complete the 28 questions on the math section. In the end, both exams were scored and compared to each other. References Ahamed Y, MacDonald H, Reed K, Naylor PJ, Liu-Ambrose T, McKay H. (2007). School-based physical activity does not compromise childrens academic performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Volume #39, 371-376. Grissom, JB. (2005). Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement. Journal of Exercise Physiology, Volume #8, 11-25. Shephard RJ, Volle M, Lavallee H, LaBarre R, Jequier JC, Rajic M. (1999). Required physical activity and academic grades: A controlled longitudinal study. Children and Sport. Sibley BA, Etnier JL. (2003). The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children. Pediatric Exercise Science. Tables, Figures IV A: Physical activity A1: No Exercise A2: Exercise 20 24 18 26 B1: Verbal IV B: Type of Questions B2: Math Table 1

Editha :: essays research papers

Editha   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning Editha is war hungry. She wants her country to go to war, and she wants George to go and fight. Even though the author doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t give the age of Editha, I believe she acts very childish, and immature. I understand loving your country and wanting to fight for it, but one must also realize the danger that comes along with it. She is obsessed with her country and fighting for it. She puts an ultimatum on George. He is unsure of the war, and unsure of fighting in it, but she constantly pushes him to go. She even evolves God in it. Saying à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“God meant it to be warà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (273). She is speaking of it, as if it was a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Holy Warà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. This is not the case, and George does not buy into it, but she keeps pushing him. The ultimatum comes when he says à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll come back to supper, if youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll let me. Perhaps I shall bring you a convertà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (272). She repl ies with à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Well, you may come back, on that conditionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (272). She is putting à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“if, and only ifà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? requirements on his return to her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once he leaves, she gets more demanding, and writes him a letter explaining that if he doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t make the right (or her) decision, then the engagement will be off. Her love of country is more important than the love of her man; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“There is no honor above America with me. In this great hour there is no other honorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (273). Editha is very set in this train of thought, she can see no other way, and no other options but to fight. If George does not fight, then she cannot marry him. She is forcing her morals, and ideals down his throat, and he does not have a chance to stand up for his own. Editha claims, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“She could not accept for her country or herself a forced sacrificeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (273). Yet this is exactly what she is doing. These few rational insights lead me to believe that Editha suffers from some sort of mental instability. She claims not to want a forced sacrifice, yet this is what she does, and when a ratio nal insight crosses her mind, she recognizes it, yet she dismisses it as fast as it came to her. I feel that she guiltà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s George into going to war, and is very proud to have done so, when she learns of his decision.

Themes of Shelleys Frankenstein Essays -- Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley discusses the themes of birth and creation, appearance and the necessity of companionship, love and acceptance in her novel Frankenstein. The themes that are explored in Frankenstein are relevant to today’s modern world. Shelley challenges readers by endorsing and confronting attitudes and values in her text through the events, circumstances and outcomes that take place in the novel, thus causing the reader to reflect upon their own lives and in turn the society around them. Shelley raises in her text an issue that is on the forefront of discussion in the modern world, that of man taking the place of God and the role of woman in the creation of life. The modern world is currently grappling over the concerns of cloning, genetics and stem cell research, questioning the ethics and morality of man playing God. Shelley’s novel challenges readers to consider the consequences of this through the horrific outcomes resulting from such actions. Victors consuming passion and motivation to create life is â€Å"A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs.† Pg47 Here Shelley challenges those seeking to pursue such actions to consider their motivations as the later discussion shows the terrible result of such pursuits. Shelley’s suggestion that Victor has attempted to usurp the role of w oman as the bearer of life are also suggested as Victor likens his descriptions of creating the creature as to that of a woman’s pregnancy. â€Å"After so much time spent in painful labor† â€Å"winter, spring and summer passed away during my labors† This allusion to the seasons representing the duration of a woman’s pregnancy. One is lead to consider the contrast between Frankenstein’s description of his own childhood â€Å"My mother’s tender caresses and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections† , that of God and his creation Adam â€Å"He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature.† Pg. 135 and in contrast that of Frankenstein’s creature â€Å"I beheld the wretch- the miserable monster whom I had created.† Through presenting Frankenstein’s creation and the tragic outcome and comparing it with that perfect and beautiful creation of Adam and Frankenstein, Shelley challenges modern so... ...athies necessary for my being.† pg 153 However, it can be seen that the creature is never successful in his attempts to have companions, love and be loved. Time and time again he is rather, rejected and alienated by man. The similarities are clear as due to Andy Williams and the creatures lack of companionship, guidance and love they are driven to convening such disastrous deeds. The values of society today of friendship, love and the negative attitude towards rejection and loneliness are evident, as one is lead to sympathise with the creature and Andy. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is not ‘irrelevant and outdated’ rather it is evident that the issues of birth and creation, appearance and acceptance and the necessity of love, companionship and guidance are all relevant to today’s world. Through the creatures horrific and fatal outcome, Mary Shelley’s novel provides a challenge and perhaps even insight into the consequences and outcomes that could result if modern man attempts to play God and fails to provide love, guidance and companionship to those around them. Reference Shelley Mary, Frankenstein , Barnes and Noble books, Sandstone publishing, 2008 Time, March 19, 2007

A Moral Basis for the Helping Professions Essay -- Employment Careers

Our consideration of moral issues in the helping professions should go beyond decision-making in particular cases. We need a more basic set of moral attitudes that can provide the context for making these decisions, and which describe the sort of person the helping professional needs to be. The helping professional needs to be able to perform a large number of supererogatory actions. We can compare helping professionals to both saints and good parents. The work of Sarah Ruddick on the virtues that inform maternal practice can be of great help to us here. She characterizes the kind of emotional and moral attitudes that exemplify good mothers as preservative love. The attitudes that make up preservative love-humility, attentive love, holding and humor-share some common ground with the qualities of saints. The helping professional is in an unusual position in the sense that who he/she is has a strong influence on the efficacy of treatment. Morality in the helping professions needs to ta ke this into account. To be a good helping professional involves a commitment to develop into the right sort of person. The issue of morality in the helping professions is much discussed at present. Most recently, it has come up in connection with issues involving the abuse of trust in relationships of unequal psychological and emotional power. It is a good thing to raise these issues. From the clergy accused of abusing young people to therapists taking advantage of their positions to sexually or emotionally abuse their clients, actions which were formerly concealed through the vulnerability of the client and the authority of the professional need no longer be kept secret. However, this, along with issues such as involuntary incarceration and the u... ...ehavior are not immediately accessible to the will. To become a person capable of preservative love requires a strong desire to do so and a willingness to do what is necessary to develop into the sort of person who can manifest preservative love. We cannot become unselfish, humble and attentive in the same way that we can decide to follow a moral rule. We require both education in virtue and transforming self-knowledge. Notes (1) Sarah Ruddick, "Maternal Thinking" in Mothering: Essays in Feminist Theory, ed. Joyce Trebilcot ( Rowan and Allanheld, Totowa, New Jersey, 1983) p. 240. (2) Ruddick, op.cit., p.213 (3) Ruddick, op.cit., p. 217 (4) Ruddick, op.cit., p. 223 (5) See Bonnelle Strickling, "Self-Abnegation" in Feminist Perspectives: Philosopohical Essays on Method and Morals, ed. L. Code, S. Mullet and C. Overall (University of Toronto, 1983).

The article ‘Rebirth of a Profession’ discusses the new Codes of Practice for social care workers and their employers

The article ‘Rebirth of a Profession' discusses the new Codes of Practice for social care workers and their employers, together with the accompanying register, which were published in September 2002 by the General Social Care Council (GSCC). It puts forward the view that this is the culmination of a twenty-year-old dream and the fulfilment of social worker's hopes. Within this assignment the author's reasons for this view and the quality of the argument will be analysed and evaluated using the processes of critical thinking. In order to do this thoroughly Damer's (1995, cited by Gibbs & Gambrill, 1999, p206) four criteria of a good argument will be heeded. If any of these are violated, he states, then the argument is flawed. The criteria require that the reasons must be relevant, acceptable and constitute sufficient grounds for the truth of the conclusion. Finally the reasons should provide effective rebuttal to all reasonable challenges to the argument. Before this can be achieved, consideration of what critical thinking is and its' relevance to social work needs to be undertaken. Critical thinking involves the critical appraisal of beliefs, arguments and claims in order to arrive at well-reasoned judgements. † (Gibbs and Gambrill, 1996, p. 3). Whilst this definition is not absolute it provides a sound basis from which to commence and points to it's application to social care. Social care staff frequently need to evaluate information to solve problems effectively and come to well-developed decisions. Swartz & Parks (1994, p. 338) argue that assessing the reasonableness of ideas is crucial and failing to do so runs the risk of acting on ideas that are incorrect and may lead to harm. The article tries to convince the reader that the codes are a ‘dream come true' because they will give social care staff increased status, raise standards of care and increase shared responsibility between workers and employers. The actual codes are not given, perhaps based on the assumption that readers of Community Care, a specialist magazine for social care staff, are already familiar with them. The reasons, given above, fulfil the relevance criteria in that if accepted they contribute to the truth of the conclusion. Whether they are acceptable will be examined later. The fifth paragraph offers an analogy with the Nurse's Code, though the work of nurses is not strictly analogous to that of social care staff. Relevant similarities exist – they both deal with vulnerable people, are working to achieve the best possible outcome for the service user and in both cases a mistake could result in serious consequences. The differences, however, question the value of the analogy as evidence (Brink-Budgen, 2000, p. 53). Nursing is a more structured profession and focuses on the ‘medical model' whereas social work deals with a number of different perspectives and models and thus is harder to define. Furthermore, as is stated in the article, the new social work code applies to a range of social care jobs. Therefore it is dubious as to whether the nurses code is relevant or comparable. Fallacies and assumptions, apparent in the reasoning, detract from the acceptability of the argument. Emotional language is used to divert the reader's attention from the real issues. This is illustrated in the first two sentences of the article; the first sentence evokes feelings of pathos followed by the second, which raises the reader to a sense of elation and optimism on behalf of social care staff. In order for the claim that the code will increase successful recruitment to be true, it is necessary to assume that difficulties in recruiting social care staff are due to a previous lack of standards. However there is no consideration given to alternatives such as salary, nor is there evidence to support this assumption. Brookfield (1987, p. ) states that identifying and challenging assumptions is central to critical thinking and develops our contextual awareness. Omissions in the article contribute to a permeating sense of vagueness and lack of clarity. Little evidence/research is presented for the claims made that could be considered to be of reliable quality or easily testable. Instead words such as ‘many', ‘often' and ‘most' are used to precede a claim duping the reader into accepting the claim as truth. For example how many social workers see the nurses code as ‘an enviable badge of professionalism'? On what has the author based the claim that most social workers have this view? Likewise, nowhere in the article is evidence or service user perspectives indicated to support the claim that the code represents ‘a major gain' for them. Considering that the service user is central to social care and the current trend is towards increased service user consultation this is a glaring omission (Lloyd, 2002, p. 164). Compounding the tone of vagueness are unexplained terms and concepts, used within the article, which without resort to further information, leads to a difficulty in deciding whether the premises are sound (Browne & Keeley, 2001, pp. 41-58). For example – How will the special health hearings work? What sorts of health issues are included? Because this is not determined, it seems alarmist and raises questions of possible discrimination in the workplace. This is particularly damaging in that anti-discriminatory practice is a core value of social work, which should constantly underpin practice. The issue of accountability is also ambiguous and concerning – what is meant by the term ‘individually accountable'? Davies (ed. , 2000) states that â€Å"Accountability†¦ at first†¦ a simple concept, is in reality complex when applied to the practice of social work. There are a least four answers to the question: ‘to whom is the social worker accountable for her or his actions? ‘†. Accountability also holds connotations of blame (Banks, 2002, p. 30) which further demonstrates the importance of clear and unequivocal language (Adams et al. , eds. 2002). Having examined Damer's (1995) first three criteria the ‘rebuttal criterion' will now be attended to. In order for this to be fulfilled the author should acknowledge any counter arguments and respond to them in a reasonable and straightforward way. Let us come back to the analogy with the nurse's code. On the surface it appears to be a reasonable counter-argument, pointing out that the nurse's code has not fulfilled expectations although it is ‘a useful guide'. In my opinion, however, it is a thinly veiled attempt to discredit the nurse's code as inferior to the new social work code – partly on the basis that the nurse's code does not include employers (paragraph ten) although the previous paragraph seems to contradict this point. In paragraph eleven the author raises questions which allude to possible negative effects of the code but these are skimmed over and the information that follows seems purposefully vague. This assignment set out to examine the article using critical thinking skills and this has been achieved through the use of questioning and paying attention to problems in the reasoning, arguments and claims made. Unfortunately it has not been possible to raise everything discussed in the article. However, it has considered the strength of the article based on Damer's (1995) four criteria and been found lacking. Therefore, without clarifications and resort to further information, I can only conclude that the argument is flawed and, at this point, reject it as incomplete.

A Study of the Service Cycle of Medical Tourism in India

One of the major practices in healthcare is the process of ‘patient outsourcing’, in the form of medical tourism or ‘Medical travel’.   This form of business protocol is becoming hugely popular in the developed countries of the world, as it has tremendous benefits.Medical tourism is a deliberate effort to combine health issues along with travel for tourism and leisure (Health Base, 2006, Recover Discover, 2007). Several organizations may be involved in the process of medical tourism including:-The governments – They are responsible for framing a policy that would ensure regulated flow of tourists from one part of the globe to another to enable effective healthcare provision.   Besides, it would also ensure that the tourists can obtain valid travel documents easily.Hospital Associations – Associations founded between the hospitals of the tourist and the destination country are required to communicate with each other so as to help in the flow of medical tourists.This is to ensure that all ethical and legal issues are addressed, and an effective marketing communication system can exist.   It would be ideal for the patient to first speak to his/her usual healthcare provider before seeking medical facilities in another nation.   Hospitals in the west can also consider recognizing and providing accreditation for hospitals in developing nations, so that the quality standards pre vailing is well-understood.Travel authorities – They are the authorities who are providing valid travel documents and permission required to enable medical treatment in another nation.   The authorities should understand the need and urgency for medical treatment and hence would have to permit such travel.Travel agencies – They would have to communicate with other parties in the destination to ensure that the health and travel needs of the tourist is meet, keeping in mind quality, cost-effectiveness and hassle-free processes.   The travel agency would have to provide the travelers with customized packages that are cost-effective and seem attractive.   They would also have to market the health packages in the West, to demonstrate clear advantages to the ones existing at home.Ministry of Commerce and trade (Hutchinson, 2005, Heatlhbase, 2006 & American University, 2003).Through the process of globalization, many countries are beginning to closely review their econo mic strengths and risks.   If something is costly in one nation, immediately the resources present in other nations would be approached and utilized.   In medical tourism, the individual would be using cost-effective options in order to fulfill their healthcare needs in areas where the limitations may be less.   These limitations can be several and can be utilized to the advantage of the individual.   Some of the limitations which can be met through medical tourism include:-Going from one nation where certain types of treatment are not available, to another where treatment is available.Going from one country to another, where the quality of treatment is better, improved technology and where expertise in health is available, and innovative options are present   Going from one country to another where treatment is provided in a more cost-effective manner Going from one nation to another where medical treatment including surgery is provided in a more timely manner (to reduce the waiting periods for elective surgeries)Including the family members and seeking treatment away from home where the usual stressful factors would not be felt (Hutchinson, 2005, Heatlhbase, 2006 & American University, 2003)Medical tourisms can take place from one nation to another and from one region of a nation to another region within the same nation. The trend today is that many people from the western or developing nations (which have a very restrictive health setup) are moving to the east, where the practices and policies do favor provision of several benefits in healthcare. There are many unique features of the prospects of medical tourism:-The nations which serve as a market for medical tourisms are providing several attractive policies and practicesThey are using vary attractive marketing strategies to encourage business – An example of this would be to combine medical health visits with holidays to exotic tourist destinations.   Many people from the developed nat ions are finding such packages very attractive and are considering them as they are not only cheaper but also meet their customized needs, conveniently.The developing nations such as Thailand, India, Latin America and China, are offering more holistic kind of treatment and are providing several complementary and alternative treatments that deviate away from allopathic medicine.   Many of these treatments have proven to be effective.   Besides, the treatment facilities are provided in more natural kinds of environment, thus encouraging better healing and recovery (Hutchinson, 2005, Heatlhbase, 2006 & American University, 2003).Medical tourism can be held for various reasons including health and wellness tourism, reproductive purposes, alternative treatment strategies, preventive medical care, spa tourism, surgical tourism, dental tourism, diet and nutrition tourism, transplant tourism, cosmetic tourism, spiritual tourism or even for end-of-life purposes.   Often the individual requiring health treatment would also like to include their family members in the process.

Racial Divides in The Last of the Mohicans Essay

Throughout James Fennimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans a common theme of interracial friendship and love and the difficulty it takes to overcome such an obstacle, is shown strongly in the work. In the novel Cooper shows how the America people of European decent treat those that are native, by showing how negatively they treat the Native Americans. Chingachgook and Hawkeye have a friendship that is genuine and deep, bypassing the normal relationship between that of a white man and a Mohican Indian. Interracial love and romantic relationships are condemned in The Last of the Mohicans, for example when, Cora, the older daughter of Munro, is approached by Magua and he explains his desire for their marriage it is preceded that their relationship is uncomfortable as well as awkward whereas Uncas and Cora’s mutual relationship ends in a terrible tragedy. Cooper makes it apparent that race was important in each individual’s acceptance and respect in the early American community, but the bond and friendship between Hawkeye and Chingachgook is stronger than the American community’s influence; there is also a common theme of interracial romantic relationships being impossible because of how Cora’s relationships with Uncas and Magua both come to an end. Numerous critics agree that Cooper’s novel makes the relationship between the Native Americans and the white Americans noticeably different from their affiliation with their own race. â€Å"The Last of the Mohicans shifts its action back in time to the mythopoetical realm when the future of American hung in the balance between the primitive and the civilized, between the French and the British, between the white and red men.† (Burt 1). Burt suggests that with the treatment between the characters it shows America at a different stage, one that is still being built on and not quite finished in construction. Burt also suggests that That the last of the Mohicans is honest in Cooper’s portrayal of the interaction that is between the two main races of the novel, all the way to the depths of the â€Å"psychology of Native Americans and their place in American culture and conscience.† (Burt 1). The racial conflicts in the novel are shown when â€Å"multiple cultures interact without physical conflict, settle their differences through dialogue.† (Rinne 15). The conversation that is presented throughout the novel seems to help settle some of the disputes, between many individuals like Alice and Magua, a relationship that exemplifies how white and red men confront one another. This concept of interracial interaction between the people of the novel, despite the bond between Hawkeye and Chingachgook, is shown clearly that it is not a pleasant connection. â€Å"As they traversed that short distance, not a voice was heard amongst them; but a slight exclamation proceeded from the younger of the females as the Indian runner glided by her unexpectedly and led the way along the military road in her front.† (Cooper 17). Alice shows her fear towards that of the Native blood, unlike her sister Cora, Alice struggles with others more. She is afraid and a symbol of the people that are not always shown in Cooper’s novel. As she continues to look at him, â€Å"an indescribable look of pity, admiration, and horror as her dark eye followed the easy motions of the savage.†(Cooper 17). She represents the way many of the other women of the time felt; uneasy and unsure of these people of any different race. Alice’s background is why she is chosen to represent the white population, since she is of pure blood. Throughout this novel the other American’s are shown as treating the Natives with little respect because of racism, believing that with their possessions such as their clothes, weapons, and education they are to be held to a higher standard and supreme to the Natives that surround them. In The Last of the Mohicans Cooper begins a trend with the creation of Hawkeye and Chingachgook’s relationship a â€Å"prototype for Ishmael and Queequeg, Huck and Jim, The Lone Ranger and Tonto–† (Burt 1). Hawkeye and Chingachgook have â€Å"a stark, stripped human relationship of two men, deeper then the deeps of sex.† (Burt 1). Cooper shows just how deep of a friendship these two men can have looking past all of the racial boundaries that are in position from the surrounding society. Despite the way interracial relations between the civilized and the savage were looked down upon Hawkeye and Chingachgook’s relationship continues without any such interference. Cooper makes the relationship important especially in the times of need, during the battle scenes and while they complete acts that make it clear that Hawkeye and his group are the protagonists of the story. This is a strong and deep connection between the two men making a statement for the time period, in which the story is set in. The constant reoccurrence of Hawkeye and Chingachgook’s relationship as friends in the Cooper’s novel shows the power of this symbol. The two men constantly look out for one another’s well being, Chingachgook gives Hawkeye information and reassures him his â€Å"ear shall drink no lie.† (Cooper 32) simply because they are friends. As the book continues the two men and the bond that is between them is proven to be deeper then the expectation of the average American community of the time. Through their dangerous journey they stumble upon much conflict, yet instead of burdening their friendship, it only builds their relationship as friends. Without one another they would have not made their journey through the forest protecting the young women as they did. Despite the thoughts of the Americans their relationship made things better rather than if they had not sought help from their friendship. Parts of Cooper’s novel â€Å"The last of the Mohicans derives its power from exploring threats to racial purity. Uncas and Cora deviants from the white norm threaten to cross radical lines and must be killed.† (Burt 3). Whereas â€Å"Heyward and Alice are free to marry and reproduce,† (Scalia 2) because unlike Cora and Uncas are following the â€Å"white norm.† Cooper sends the message that interracial romance and love is predestined for failure. Cora and Magua’s relationship is awkward despite Cora’s initial attraction towards the Indian. Cora and Uncas relationship ends in the terrible tragedy of death, because of her refusal to marry Magua. Cooper also suggests â€Å"it is Cora’s dark blood that accounts for her boldness†¦ accounting for the mutual yet sublimated attraction of both Cora and Uncas.† (Blakemore 43). Blakemore explains that their relationship contained mutual feelings towards each other even though their r elationship is considered unacceptable. From the beginning of the novel the factor of interracial coupling is there because of Cora’s mother being of a different race. Although the element is there Cooper also implies that these relationships are hopeless, for example when Magua and Cora’s relationship is uncomfortable and unnatural. â€Å"‘Listen’ said the Indian, laying his hand firmly upon her arm as if willing to draw her utmost attention to his words; a movement that Cora as firmly but quietly repulsed by extracting the limb from his grasp.† (Cooper 121). Cora does not let Magua touch her despite his efforts to keep her under his control. Where like Magua and Cora’s relationship is a failure so is Uncas and Cora’s because it ends in tragedy of each characters death. â€Å"Magua recoiled a step; and one of his assistants, profiting by the chance, sheathed his own knife in the bosom of Cora.† (Cooper 413). Cora is killed before her and Uncas are allowed to love one another fully. Although this relationship is considered improper their desire for one another is still persistently shown throughout the novel. In conclusion, James Fennimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans is a powerful novel filled with many different issues involving interracial tribulations. Using some of the main characters Cooper is able to show how white Americans would treat the Native Americans negatively. Cooper also keeps in mind the different type of relationship that is built between Chingachgook and Hawkeye, which happens to be deep and strong. Also, the romantic aspect of relationships that is represented in The Last of the Mohicans is clearly shown to be an impossible happening for the characters. The Last of the Mohicans shows the importance of race in the early American community and how treatment towards those who are different is shown, yet despite the fact that interracial friendship is frowned upon Hawkeye and Chingachgook keep a firm grip upon their friendship; a final theme is the troubles that form between when two of different races are to fall in love. Cooper does a beautiful job showing each of his interracial interaction points clearly in his novel. Work Cited Blakemore, Steven. â€Å"†Without a Cross†: The Cultural Significance of the Sublime and Beautiful in Coopers The Last of the Mohicans.† Jstor.org. University of California Press. Web. 20 Jan. 2012. Burt, Daniel S. â€Å"The Last of the Mohicans.† The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Novels of All Time, Revised Edition. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. 20 Jan. 2012. Cooper, James Fennimore. The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757. New York: New American Library, 1962. Print Rinne, Craig. â€Å"White Romance and American Indian Action in Hollywood’s The Last of the Mohicans.† Jstor.org. University of Nebraska Press. Web. 20 Jan. 2012 Scalia, Bill. â€Å"The Last of the Mohicans.† In Werlock, Abby H.P., ed. The Facts on File Companion to the American Novel. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2006. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. 20 Jan. 2012

Videodrome Movie Analysis

Videodrome Videodrome, directed by David Cronenberg, is a movie setting in Toronto during the early 1980s depicting a television station attempting to broadcast a show of violence and torture named Videodrome. Max Renn, owner of a small-sized television station, learned about a Videodrome, which was broadcasted in Malaysia, just when he wanted a change to the program the station was showing. Max immediately gained interest to the new show and order to start pirating it as he believes that the show would gain popularity quickly.The late 1970s and early 1980s was the time when television gain popularity. It became a social norm to have a television in every room in the house. Television developed into a big part in everyday living, people could not fall asleep without the company of the television. The anxiety slowly rises as with the amount of television people were watching. This anxiety continued to grow as media technology advances. The society then begins to affiliate with videota pe, videocassette, VCR, and etc. It almost got to the point when people would never seem to leave the house again.This movie well reflects the social anxiety of the time. After Max watches the footage of actual torture and murder, he began to see illusions of televisions coming to life. As part of the Videodrome project, he also sees himself as a videocassette recorder with hole in his body as a slot to insert video tape. His brain was controlled. The movie came to a conclusion and emphasis on the anxiety with the murder of Max by a television. With the assist of Videodrome, O’Blivion’s prophesy of television coming to life and takeover would come true.Videodrome is a lethal weapon designed by the government that would broadcast signals to give brain tumor in the viewer. The main purpose is to correct the fixation on softcore pornography and violence in the society, by eliminating those who are drawn in the world of videography. The intention was to let Max see Videodr ome and broadcast to the public. However, the Videodrome project made no exception to Max as he, too, was brainwashed. Max would then go on to kill his colleagues. The death of Max could David Cronenberg reflected the social anxiety in form of a movie.The director is implying the disturbing effect of social disorder brought by the television and other media technology. The director exaggerated the negative contribution brought by the television and media technology for how it has impacted the social norms. It can be said that the director believed intense television viewer should be doomed for their ignorance of the society. The role of the government and its Videodrome project can be interpreted as a representation of what Cronenberg is doing by filming the movie in real life to make a statement of the false effect brought by the increasing popularity of television culture.

Analysis Price Of The Unipacket Petrol

The present project is the analysis of the data we collected. The data was collected from four locations – Inner city, Outskirts of city, Suburbs and remote regions. The data regarding the oil prices were collected from equal number of locations. The brands of oils were Shell and Caltex. Data was collected from 224 stations, equally divided amongst the two stations. The response variable of the study is the price of the unipacket petrol. The independent variables are the station from which the petrol is being purchased and the location of the petrol station. The research question for the project is: Does location of the station affect the price of petrol? To answer the above research question three hypothesis were developed. Null Hypothesis: The station brand has no effect on the price of petrol Alternate hypothesis: The station brand has an effect on the price of petrol. Null Hypothesis: The Location of the station has no effect on the price of petrol Alternate Hypothesis: The Location of the station has an effect on the price of petrol Null Hypothesis: There is no effect of the station brand and the location of the petrol station on the price of petrol Alternate Hypothesis: The station brand and the location of the petrol station is linked by the price of petrol. To answer the above question we used the two factorial ANOVA. Table 1: Frequency of Station brand and Location of the petrol station Table 2: Descriptive statistics of the price of petrol based on the Station brand and Location of the station a. R Squared = .416 (Adjusted R Squared = .397) Table 3: Between subject effects of the price of petrol based on the Station brand and Location of the station From table 3 we find that there are statistically significant interaction between the station brand of petrol and the location of the petrol station, F(3,216)= 40.393, p = 0.000. We also find that there are statistically significant differences between the station brand and the price of petrol F(1,216)=6.272, p = 0.013. In addition, we also find that there are statistically significant differences between the location of the petrol station and the price of the petrol F(3,216) = 8.843, p = 0.000. From figure 1 and table 2 we find that the price of station brand â€Å"S† petrol is the lowest at the outskirts of the city, and the highest at the remote region. The price of station brand â€Å"NS† is the highest at the outskirts of the city and the lowest at the inner city location. From the above analysis we find that the price of unipacket petrol varies with the location and the brand of petrol station. With a decade's experience in providing essay help,

Bowen Family Systems, Structual, and Strategic Models Theory Overview Research Paper

Bowen Family Systems, Structual, and Strategic Models Theory Overview - Research Paper Example According to these three theories, when one part of the system is influenced, then, the entire system is influenced, and thus the psychological dysfunction of an individual is contributed to, not by the individual factors, but by the holistic relationship and interaction of the family system (Kniskern, 165). In this respect, the three theoretical models of family systems share basic assumptions, while at the same time varying to some substantial degree regarding how the theories perceive the family system and the manner in which the society should intervene in matters of the system. Therefore, this analysis seeks to discuss the three theoretical models of the Family Systems Theory, with a view to defining the theories, explaining their development, discussing their assumptions, presenting the applications of the theories and finally assessing their criticisms. This is a theoretical model of the Family Systems Theory, which emphasizes on the differentiation of the context of the family emotional systems (Stanton, 253). Therefore, its therapeutic application requires that individuals must first differentiate/separate from their families of origin, before they embark on dealing with the present issues of their relationships or their nuclear families (Stanton, 258). Thus, the model theory is mostly applied to understand the family process, so the individual can be able to understand the present situation, based on their past roles, relationships and interactions with their families. The model was established in 1931 by Murray Bowen. The fundamental objective of the theory is to help reduce chronic anxiety within individuals, through accounting for every aspect of human behaviors (Stanton, 254). The major assumption of this theory is that; behavioral change cannot be effective, where the individual does not have adequate and deeper insight in relation to the causes of a behavior. Therefore, the model seeks to create insight into the family processes that

Xerox Corporation - Cause of Failure Competition Essay

Xerox Corporation - Cause of Failure Competition - Essay Example These factors increased competition enhancing the need of new technological innovations and new ways to compete. "In the 1980s, Xerox Corporation's revenue share of the copier business declined from 90 percent to 43 percent as a result of increased competition from Ricoh, Sharp, and Canon in Japan and Kodak and IBM in the United States" (Contemporary Trends in Human Resources Management, n.s.). The industry of competition can be characterized as follows: "Xerox compete in the market for service of Xerox high volume copiers" (Xerox Corporation. Creative Copier services. 2004). In general, competition theory has been developed, described and analyzed by such gurus as M. Porter, C.K. Prahalad and G. Hamel, R.M. Hodgetts, H. Mitzberg, R. D'Aveni. They describe that to be effective, competition should not always be a formal process. Studies of the planning practices of actual organizations suggest that the real value of competition may be more in the future orientation of the planning process itself than in any resulting written strategic plan. The failure Xerox Corporation proves the fact that competition is not always "a safe" way to obtain a strong market position. Michael Porter contends that a corporation is most concerned with the intensity of competition within its industry. "The collective strength of these forces," he contends, "determines the ultimate profit potential in the industry, where profit potential is measured in terms of long-run return on invested capital." (Porter, 1980). The stronger each of these forces is, the more companies are limited in their ability to raise prices and earn greater profits. According to the case study "started from year 2000, Xerox's share price had fallen below $4, from a high of $64 a year earlier. Moreover, the copying and printing giants around the world were taking chunks of its market share" (Case Study: Xerox Corporation, n.d.). This failure was caused by the fact that intense competition and management strategy aimed to overcome "temporal" decline resulted in failure. A strong market position obtained by Xerox Corporation resulted in "less concern for US competitiveness" (Kato, n.d.). Globalization and international integration presents Xerox Corporation with enticing opportunities and challenges to reconfigure itself. New horizons allowed Xerox Corporation to maximize its global sales, in the belief that those that offer a global service and have a worldwide success through regional policy will be in the strongest competitive position (Xerox Corporation, 2005). Nevertheless, Xerox Corporation paid less attention to such important issues as technological changes and innovations. In his book "Competitive Advantage" Porter identifies five forces that drive competition within an industry: 1. The threat of entry by new competitors. 2. The intensity of rivalry among existing competitors. 3. Pressure from substitute products. 4. The bargaining power of buyers. 5. The bargaining power of suppliers (Porter, 1985). It is important, that a strong force can be regarded as a threat because it is likely to reduce profits. In contrast, a weak force can be viewed as an opportunity because it may allow the company to earn greater profits. In the short run, these forces act as constraints on a company's activities. In the long run, however, it may be possible for a company, through its choice of strategy, to change the strength of one or more of the forces to the company's advantage. The company states that: "We developed a comprehensive process