Monday, September 30, 2019

One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Response to Literature Essay

Society is a judgmental and rejecting place. It only allows uniform individuals to be in this society which discards anyone’s individuality and pride. In the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, Nurse Ratched alienates the patients’ individualities which only allows them to never progress in their mental health. The society rejects the people who are not normal. In this case, the people are the ones with mental disorders. Kesey’s anti-establishment point of view against society portrays that the government misuses power to manipulate society which leads to the suppression of individuality through the literary devices analogy, metaphor, and symbolism. Ken Kesey conveys his theme by vividly explaining the â€Å"pecking party†. As one of the treatments, Nurse Ratched holds group therapy for the patients. During the group therapy session, McMurphy notices that the Nurse ignites all the conflict at first so he explains, â€Å"The flock gets sight of a spot of blood on some chicken and they all go to peckin’ at it† (Kesey 57). McMurphy is trying to explain the abusiveness of Nurse Ratched’s power. This analogy supports Kesey’s message of how society rejects and leads to the suppression of individuals. Kesey uses the chickens to represent the patients and the â€Å"first peck† would represent Nurse Ratched because she manipulates an individual which causes uneasiness to the patient which will never be the cure for one who is mental to get better. After McMurphy goes on about the pecking party, he says one more thing to Harding about the pecking party, â€Å"You want to know who pecks that first peck? † (58). McMurphy’s rhetorical question signifies his opinion even more. This allows not only Harding, but the rest of the patients to see how Nurse Ratched is just another person and how they should not let her take complete control over them. Kesey furthers his analogy after the pecking party image because it reveals and justifies who really does â€Å"peck that first peck†. This relates to the theme because Nurse Ratched represents the government while the patients represent society; concluding that the government continuously pecks at the individuals who feel that they are not a part of society. Overall, the pecking party is an analogy of how society suppresses one’s individuality because to be an individual one must â€Å"get better† like the patients attempt to do; but all they are doing are taking steps back due to Nurse Ratched. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kesey demonstrates his use of metaphors through machinery comparisons to portray the theme of suppression of an individual. When Bromden characterizes Nurse Ratched he says, â€Å"So she really lets herself go and her painted smile twists, stretches to an open snarl, and she blows up bigger and bigger, big as a tractor, so big I can smell the machinery inside the way you smell a motor pulling too big a load. † (5). Bromden sees Nurse Ratched as machinery and not as a human being. This supports the fact that the ward is like a factory, just waiting to make patients into â€Å"products†. Kesey uses metaphor to compare Nurse Ratched to machinery because this describes her persona perfectly. Like a machine, Nurse Ratched is very smooth and calm about things at first but like every machine there are flaws. When Nurse Ratched meets her flaws, that is when things begin to go haywire like a machine. It can either breakdown or malfunction but it is always repairable. When Bromden has the dream about Blastic, he thinks â€Å"†¦I was looking to see – just a shower of rust and ashes, and now and again a piece of wire or glass† (88). The significance of Bromden’s dream is that it represents how the ward is inhumane because â€Å"a shower of rust and ashes† fell out of Blastic’s body instead of human organs. Kesey exemplifies metaphor through Bromden’s dream by explaining how society’s standards of being â€Å"accepted† can transform one to be inhumane and to lose their individuality. Overall, these comparisons relate to the theme having the machines represent a form of government, standing in the way, or suppressing, the individual, or society. This can support the main theme that society abuses their power to manipulate and suppress the individuality of others. Fog is used by Kesey to demonstrate them and to symbolize the aloneness and individuality of a patient. Bromden describes the effects of fog when he thinks, â€Å"I don’t have to end up at that door if I stay still when the fog comes over me and just keep quiet† (132). This explains how much control Nurse Ratched had over the patients. It demonstrates how something like fog takes away their individuality be they â€Å"just keep quiet†. The fog symbolizes a safe zone and aloneness for the patients because Nurse Ratched had so much authority over the patients that it was like a crib holding them while she was out. Kesey’s theme is supported in this because society takes away individuality as well as fog does. One characteristic they both share is the way they manipulate and abuse their power. Bromden also thinks about fog when he said, â€Å"You had a choice: you could either strain and look at things that appeared in front of you in the fog, painful as it might be, or you could relax and lose yourself† (131). Bromden describes how the patients were almost forced to be in the fog because â€Å"you could relax and lose yourself† and that the time that is all the patients really want. The fog also symbolizes a scapegoat for the patients so they don’t have to face all the challenges ahead because â€Å"you had a choice†. A simple break from everything, especially Nurse Ratched. This furthers Kesey’s message of how the fog is another form of control from Nurse Ratched, in which she abuses her power by manipulating her patients so they cannot get better. Ken Kesey uses analogy, metaphor, and symbolism to demonstrate how society uses their power to manipulate others which leads to a suppressed individual. He uses examples from the ward to compare the real outside world with a mental asylum. This world and society focus too much on how to fit in and it has become more of a moral thing to fit in than to be one’s self. Kesey blames it on the establishment that people are suppressed of their individuality, but is that really true? It has become a custom rather than a rule and that needs to change; and it starts from being a leader and an individual rather than a follower. The real story of individuals is not within the establishment, but it is within a person. To express that is to depending on the person and that is the problem in our society, no one likes to be that person to step up and be the first to go. But if someone were to do it, our society would change instantly.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Control cycles-a general model Essay

A general model of organizational control includes four components that can operate in a continuous cycle and can be represented as a wheel. These elements are: 1. Setting a goal. Project goal setting goes beyond overall scope development to include setting the project baseline plan. The project baseline is predicated on an accurate. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) process. Remember that WBS establishes all the deliverables and work packages associated with the project, assigns the personnel responsible for them, and creates a visual chart of the project from highest level down through the basic task and subtask levels. The project baseline is created as each task is laid out on a network diagram and resources and time durations are assigned to it. 2. Measuring progress. Effective control systems require accurate project measurement mechanisms. Project managers must have a system in place that will allow them to measure the ongoing status of various project activities in real time. We need a measurement system that can provide information as quickly as possible. What to measure also needs to be clearly defined. Any number of devices allow us to measure one aspect of the project or another; however, the larger question is whether or not we are getting the type of information we can really use. 3. Comparing actual with planned performance. When we have some sense of the original baseline (plan) and a method for accurately measuring progress, the next step is to compare the two pieces of information. A gap analysis can be used as a basis for testing the project’s status. Gap analysis refers to any measurement process that first determines the goals and then the degree to which the actual performance lives up to those goals. The smaller the gaps between planned and actual performance, the better the outcome. In cases whe re we see obvious differences between what was planned an what was realized, we have a clear-cut warning signal. 4. Taking action. Once we detect significant deviations from the project plan, it becomes necessary to engage in some form of corrective action to minimize or remove the deviation. The process of taking corrective action is generally straightforward. Corrective action can either be relatively minor or may involve significant remedial steps. At its most extreme, corrective action may even involve scuttling a nonperforming project. After corrective action, the monitoring and control cycle begins again. The control cycle is continuous. As we create a plan, we begin measurement efforts to chart progress and compare stages against the baseline plan. Any indications of significant deviations from the plan should immediately trigger an appropriate response, leading to a reconfiguration of the plan, reassessment of progress, and so on. Project monitoring is continuous, full-time cycle of target setting, measuring, correcting, improving, and remeasuring. MONITORING PROJECT PERFORMANCE As we discovered in the chapters on project budgeting and resource management, once we have established a project baseline budget, one of the most important methods for indicating the ongoing status of the project is to evaluate it against the original budget projections. For project monitoring and control, both individual task budgets and the cumulative project budget are relevant. The cumulative budget can be broken down by time over the project’s projected duration. The Project S-Curve: A Basic Tool As a basis for evaluating project control techniques, let us consider a simple example. Assume a project (Project Sierra) with four work packages (Design, Engineering, Installation, and Testing), a budget to complete of $80,000, and an anticipated duration of 45 weeks. To determine project performance and status, a straightforward time/cost analysis is often our first choice. Here the project’s status is evaluated as a function of the accumulated costs and labor hours or quantities plotted against time for both budgeted and actual amounts. We can see that time (shown on the x, or horizontal, axis) is compared with money expended (shown on the y, or vertical, axis). The classic project S-curve represents the typical form of such a relationship. Budget expenditures are initially low and ramp up rapidly during the major project execution stage, before starting to level off again as the project gets nearer to its completion. Cumulative budget projections for Project Sierra have been plotted against the project’s schedule. The S-curve figure represents the project budget baseline against which budget expenditures are evaluated. Monitoring the status of a project using S-curves becomes a simple tracking problem. At the conclusion of each given time period (week, month, or quarter), we simply total the cumulative project budget expenditures to date and compare them with the anticipated spending patterns. Any significant deviations between actual and planned budget spent reveal a potential problem area. Simplicity is the key benefit of S-curve analysis. Because the projected project baseline is established in advance, the only additional data shown are the actual project budget expenditures. The S-curve also provides real-time tracking information in that budget expenditures can be constantly updated and the new values plotted on the graph. Project information can be visualized immediately and updated continuously, so S-curves offer an easy-to-read evaluation of the project’s status in a timely manner. (The information is not necessarily easily interpreted, however, as we shall see later.) Our Project Sierra example can also be used to illustrate how S-curve analysis is employed. Suppose that by week 21 in the project, the original budget projected expenditures of $50,000. However, our actual project expenditures totaled only $40,000. In effect, there is a $10,000 budget shortfall, or negative variance between the cumulative budgeted cost of the project and its cumulative actual cost. In the table it shows the track of budgeted expenditures with actual project costs, including identifying the negative variance shown at week 21. In this illustration, we see the value of S-curve analysis as a good visual method for linking project costs (both budgeted and actual) over the project’s schedule. S-CURVE DRAWBACKS When project teams consider using S-curves, they need to take the curve’s significant drawbacks into consideration as well as their strengths. S-curves can identify positive and negative variance (budget expenditures above or below projections), but they do not allow us to make reasonable interpretations as to the cause of variance. Consider the S-curve shown. The actual budget expenditures have been plotted to suggest that the project team has not spent the total planned budget money to date (there is negative   variance). However, the question is how to interpret this finding. The link between accumulated project costs and time is not always easily resolved. Is the project team behind schedule (given that they have not spent sufficient budget to date) or might there be alternative reasons for the negative variance? Assume that your organization tracks project costs employing an S-curve approach and uses that information to assess the status of an ongoing project. Also assume that the project is to be completed in 12 months and has a budget of $150,000. At the six-month checkup, you discover that the project S-curve shows significant shortfall; you have spent far less on the project to date than was originally budgeted. Is this good or bad news? On the surface, we might suppose that this is a sign of poor performance; we are lagging far behind in bringing the project along and the smaller the amount we have spent to date is evidence that our project is behind schedule. On the other hand, there are any number of reasons why this circumstance actually might be positive. For example, suppose that in running the project, you found a cost-effective method for doing some component of the work or came across a new technology that significantly cut down on expenses. In that case, the time/cost metric may not only be misused, but might lead to dramatically inaccurate conclusions. Likewise, positive variance is not always a sign of project progress. In fact, a team may have a serious problem with overexpenditures that could be interpreted as strong progress on the project when in reality it signals nothing more than their inefficient use of project capital resources. The bottom line is this: Simply evaluating a project’s status according to its performance on time versus budget expenditures may easily lead us into making inaccurate assumptions about project performance. Milestone Analysis Another method for monitoring project progress is milestone analysis. A milestone is an event or stage of the project that represents a significant accomplishment on the road to the project’s completion. Completion of a deliverable (a combination of multiple project tasks), an important activity on the project’s critical path, or even a calendar date can all be milestones. In effect, milestones are road markers that we observe on our travels along the project’s life cycle. There are several benefits to using milestones as a form of project control. 1. Milestones signal the completion of important project steps. A project’s milestones are an important indicator of the current status of the project under development. They give the project team a common language to use in discussing the ongoing status of the project. 2. Milestones can motivate the project team. In large projects lasting several years, motivation can flag as team members begin to have difficul ty seeing how the project is proceeding overall, what their specific contribution has been and continues to be, and how much longer the project is likely to take. Focusing attention on milestones helps team members become more aware of the project’s successes as well as its status, and they can begin to develop greater task identity regarding their work on the project. 3. Milestones offer points at which to reevaluate client needs and any potential change requests. A common problem with many types of projects is the nature of repetitive and constant change requests from clients. Using project review milestones as formal â€Å"stop points,† both the project team and the clients are clear on when they will take midcourse reviews of the project and how change requests will be handled. When clients are aware of these formal project review points, they are better able to present reasonable and well-considered feedback (and specification change requests) to the team. 4. Milestones help coordinate schedules with vendors and suppliers. Creating delivery dates that do not delay project activities is a common challenge in scheduling delivery of key project components. From a resource perspective, the project team needs to receive supplies before they are needed but not so far in advance that space limitations, holding and inventory costs, and in some cases spoilage are problems. Hence, to balance delays of late shipments against the costs associated with holding early deliveries, a well-considered system of milestones creates a scheduling and coordinating mechanism that identifies the key dates when supplies will be needed. 5. Milestones identify key project review gates. For many complex projects, a series of midterm project reviews are mandatory. For example, many proj ects that are developed for the U.S. government require periodic evaluation as a precondition to the project firm receiving some percentage of the contract award. Milestones allow for appropriate points for these review. Sometimes the logic behind when to hold such reviews is based on nothing more than the passage of time (â€Å"It is time for July 1 review†). For other projects, the review gates are determined based on completion of a series of key project steps (such as the evaluation of software results from the beta sites). 6. Milestones signal other team members when their participation is expected to begin. Many times projects require contributions from personnel who are not part of the project team. For example, a quality assurance individual may be needed to conduct systems tests or quality inspection and evaluations of work done to date. The quality supervisor needs to know when to assign a person to our project, or we may find when we reach that milestone that no on e’s available to help us. Because the QA person is not part of the project team, we need to coordinate his or her involvement in order to minimize disruption to the project schedule. 7. Milestones can delineate the various deliverables developed in the work breakdown structure and therefore enable the project team to develop a better overall view of the project. You then are able to refocus efforts and function-specific resources toward the deliverables that show signs of trouble, rather than simply allocating resources in a general manner. For example, indications that the initial project software programming milestone has been missed allows the project manager to specifically request additional programmers downstream, in order to make up time later in the project’s development. Problems with Milestones Milestones, in one form or another, are probably the simplest and most widely used of all project control devices. Their benefits lie in their clarity; it is usually easy for all project team members to relate to the idea of milestones as a project performance metric. The problem with them is that they are a reactive control system. You must first engage in project activities and then evaluate them relative to your goal. If you significantly underperform your work to that point, you are faced with having to correct what has already transpired. Imagine, for example, that a project team misses a milestone by a large margin. Not having received any progress reports up until the point that the bad news becomes public, the project manager is probably not in a position to craft an immediate remedy for the shortfall. Now, the problems compound. Due to delays in receiving the bad news, remedial steps are themselves delayed, pushing the project farther behind. EARNED VALUE MANAGEMENT An increasingly popular method used in project monitoring and control consists of a mechanism that has become known as Earned Value Management (EVM). The origins of EVM date to the late 1960s when U.S. government contracting agencies began to question the ability of contractors to accurately track their costs across the like of various projects. As a result, after 1967, the Department of Defense imposed 35 Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria that suggested, in effect, that any future projects procured by the U.S. government in which the risk of cost growth was to be retained by the government must satisfy these 35 criteria. In the more than 30 years since its origin, EVM has been practiced in multiple settings, by agencies from governments as diverse as Australia, Canada, and Sweden, as well as a host of project-based firms in numerous industries. Unlike previous project tracking approaches, EVM recognize that it is necessary to jointly consider the impact of time, cost, and project performance on any analysis of current project status. Put another way: Any monitoring system that only compares actual against budgeted cost numbers ignores the fact that the client is spending that money to accomplish something-create a project. Therefore, EVM reintroduces and stresses the importance of analyzing the time element in project status updates. Time is important because it becomes the basis for determining how much work should be accomplished at certain milestone points. EVM also allows the project team to make future projections of project status based on its current state. At any point in the project’s development we are able to calculate both schedule and budget efficiency factors (the efficiency with which budget is being used relative to the value that is being created) and use those values to make future projections about the estimated cost and schedule to project completion. We can illustrate the advance in the project control process that Earned Value represents by comparing it to the other project tracking mechanisms. If we consider the key metrics of project performance as those success criteria discussed in Chapter 1 (scheduling, budget, and performance), most project evaluation approaches tend to isolate some subset of the overall success measure. For example, project S-curve analysis directly links budget expenditures with the project schedule. Again, the obvious disadvantage to this approach is that it ignores the project performance linkage. Project control charts such as tracking Gantt charts link project performance with schedule but may give budget expenditures short shrift. The essence of a tracking approach to project status us to emphasize project performance over time. While the argument could be made that budget is implicitly assumed to be spent in some preconceived fashion, this metric does not directly apply a link between the use of time and performance factors with project cost. Earned value, on the other hand, directly links all three primary project success metrics (cost, schedule, and performance). This methodology is extremely valuable because it allows for regular updating of a time-phased budget to determine schedule and cost variances, as identified by the regular measurement of project performance. Terminology for Earned Value Following are some key concepts that allow us to calculate Earned Value and use its figures to make future project performance projections. PVPlanned value. A cost estimate of the budgeted resources scheduled across the project’s life cycle (cumulative baseline). EVEarned value. This is the real budgeted cost, or â€Å"value,† of the work that has actually been performed to date. ACActual cost of work performed. The cumulative total costs incurred in accomplishing the various project work packages. SPISchedule Performance Index. The earned value to date divided by the planned value of work scheduled to be performed (EV/PV). This value allows us to calculate the projected schedule of the project to completion. CPICost Performance Index. The earned value divided by the actual, cumulative cost of the work performed to date (EV/AC). This value allows us to calculate the projected budget to completion. BACBudgeted cost at completion. This represents the total budget for a project. Creating Project Baselines The first step in developing an accurate control process is to create the project baselines against which progress can be measured. Baseline information is critical regardless of the control process we employ, but baselines are elemental when performing EVM. The first piece of information necessary for performing earned value is the planned value; that is, the project baseline. The PV should comprise all relevant project costs, the most important of which are personnel costs, equipment and materials, and project overhead, sometimes referred to as level of effort. Overhead costs (level of effort) can include a variety of fixed costs that must be included in the project budget, including administrative or technical support, computer work, and other staff expertise use (such as legal advice or marketing). The actual steps in establishing the project baseline are fairly straightforward and require two pieces of data: the Work Breakdown Structure and a time-phased project budget. 1. The W ork Breakdown Structure identified the individual work packages and tasks necessary to accomplish the project. As such, the WBS allowed us to first identify the individual tasks that would need to be performed. It also gave us some understanding of the hierarchy of tasks needed to set up work packages and identify personnel needs (human resources) in order to match the task requirements to the correct individuals capable of performing them. 2. The time-phased budget takes the WBS one step further: It allows us to identify the correct sequencing of tasks, but more importantly, it enables the project team to determine the points in the project when budget money is likely to be spent in pursuit of those tasks. Say, for example, that our project team determines that one project activity, Data Entry, will require a budget of $20,000 to be completed, and further, that the task is estimated to require 2 months to completion, with the majority of the work being done in the first month. A ti me-phased budget for this activity might resemble the following: Activity| Jan| Feb| †¦| Dec| Total| Data Entry| $14,000| $6,000| | -0-| $20,000| Once we have collected the WBS and applied a time-phased budget breakdown, we can create the project baseline. The result is an important component of earned value because it represents the standard against which we are going to compare all project performance, cost, and schedule data as we attempt to assess the viability of an ongoing project. This baseline, then, represents our best understanding of how the project should progress. How the project is actually doing, however, is, of course, another matter. Why Use Earned Value? Assume that it is now week 30 of the project and we are attempting to assess the project’s status. Also assume that there is no difference between the projected project costs and actual expenditures; that is, the project budget is being spent within the correct time frame. However, upon examination, suppose we were to discover that Installation was only half-completed and Project Testing had not yet begun. This example illustrates both a problem with S-curve analysis and the strength of EVM. Project status assessment is only relevant when some measure of performance is considered in addition to budget and elapsed schedule. Consider the revised data for Project Sierra. Note that as of week 30, work packages related to Design and Engineering have been totally completed, whereas the Installation is only 50% done, and Testing has not yet begun. These percentage values are given based on the project team or key individual’s assessment of the current status of work package completion. The question now is: What is the earned value of the project work done to date? As of week 30, what is the status of this project in terms of budget, schedule, and performance? Calculating the earned value for these work packages is a relatively straightforward process. We can modify the previous table to focus exclusively on the relevant information for determining earned value. The planned budget for each work package is multiplied by the percentage completed in order to determine the earned value to date for the work packages, as well as for the overall project. In this case, the earned value at the 30-week point is $51,000. We can compare the planned budget against the actual earned value using the original project budget baseline. This process allows us to assess a more realistic determination of the status of the project when the earned value is plotted against the budget baseline. Compare this figure with the alternative method, in which negative variance is calculated, with no supporting explanation as to the cause or any indication about whether this figure is meaningful or not. Recall that by the end of week 30, our original budget projections suggested that $68,000 should have been spent. Instead, we are projecting a shortfall of $17,000. In other words, we are not only showing a negative variance in terms of money spent on the project, but also in terms of value created (performance) of the project to date. Unlike the standard S-curve evaluation, EVM variance is meaningful because it is based not simply on budget spent, but value earned. A negative variance of $10,000 in budget expenditures may or may not signal cause for concern; however, a $17,000 shortfall in value earned on the project to date represents a variance of serious consequences. Steps in Earned Value Management There are five steps in Earned Value Management (EVM): 1. Clearly define each activity or task that will be performed on the project, including its resource needs as well as a detailed budget.As we demonstrated earlier, the Work Breakdown Structure allows project teams to identify all necessary project tasks. It further allows for each task to be assigned its own project resources, including equipment and materials costs, as well as personnel assignments. Finally, coupled with the task breakdown and resource assignments, it is possible to create the budget figure or cost estimate for each project task. 2. Create the activity and resource usage schedules. These will identify the proportion of the total budget allocated to each task across a project calendar. Determine how much of an activity’s budget is to be spent each month (or other appropriate time period) across the project’s projected development cycle. Coupled with the development of a project budget should be its direct linkage to the project schedule. The determination of how much budget money is to be allocated to project tasks is important. Equally important is the understanding of when the resources are to be employed across the project’s development cycle. 3. Develop a â€Å"time-phased† budget that shows expenditures across the projects life.The total (cumulative) amount of the budget becomes the project baseline and is referred to as the planned value (PV). In real terms, PV just means that we can identify the cumulative budget expenditures planned at any stage in the project’s life. The PV, as a cumulative value, is derived from addin g the planned budget expenditures for each preceding time period. 4. Total the actual costs of doing each task to arrive at the actual cost of work performed (AC).We can also compute the budgeted values for the tasks on which work is being performed. This is referred to as the earned value (EV) and is the origin of the term for this control process. 5. Calculate both a project’s budget variance and schedule variance while it is still in process.Once we have collected the three key pieces of data (PV, EV, and AC), it is possible to make these calculations. The schedule variance is calculated by the simple equation: SV = EV – PV, or the difference between the earned value to date minus the planned value of the work scheduled to be performed to date. The budget, or cost, variance is calculated as: CV = EV – AC, or the earned value minus the actual cost of work performed. USING EARNED VALUE TO MANAGE A PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS Earned Value Management can work at the portfolio level as well as with individual projects. The process simply involves the aggregation of all earned value measures across the firm’s entire project portfolio in order to give an indication as to the efficiency with which a company is managing its projects. Other useful information contained in the Portfolio Earned Value Management table includes the total positive variances for both budget and schedule, as well as determination of the relative schedule and cost variances as a percentage of the total project portfolio. The use of Earned Value Management for portfolio tracking and control offers top management an excellent window into the firm’s ability to efficiently run projects, allows for comparisons across all projects currently in development, and isolates both the positive and negative variances as they occur. All of this is useful information for top-level management of multiple projects.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Business Plan for Innovative Clothing Case Study

Business Plan for Innovative Clothing - Case Study Example ...................................................13 5.0 Important Milestones and activities...................................................................14 6.0 Financial statements............................................................................................15 6.1 Assumptions.........................................................................................................15 6.2 Profit and Loss statement...................................................................................16 6.3 Balance Sheet.......................................................................................................17 6.4 Cash Flow statement...........................................................................................18 References..................................................................................................................19 INNOVATIVE CLOTHING 1.1Business goals: Innovative Clothing (IC) will manufacture and market a complete range of branded casual clothing to cover the entire segment of this market. The company will position itself as store chain offering casual clothing of quality which is above expectations of the market, at competitive price and with designs which are simple but at the same time makes the wearer look smart. The company will aim to achieve a turnover of 3 million (Aus $) in the first year and 10$ by the end of third year. It will break even in the first year of operation itself and start generating substantial profits from second year onwards. 1.2 The Company Innovative Clothing is a general partnership firm. The fund for the establishment of the business is equally shared by 5 partners. As a general partnership firm the responsibility is also equally shared among the partners. The entire...The fund for the establishment of the business is equally shared by 5 partners. As a general partnership firm the responsibility is also equally shared among the partners. The entire activities of the business are under the control of a Board of directors in which the 5 partners are included. The company is manufacturing and marketing garments locally. With the experience gained, it wants to enter into retail sales of casual garments in a big way by setting up a chain of retail stores in Sydney. It will open 10 stores in the first year followed by ten more in the second year. The partners collectively have experience in production, marketing and design. They propose to recruit a Chief Executive Officer who will be in charge of operations. The CEO will report to the board represented by the five partners. Innovative Clothing proposes to transfer its manufacturing activity to China because of availability of work force at lower wages and various supports given by the government for investing there. The marketing and design activities will be located at Sydney. The company would try to cater to the needs of entire market for casuals instead of focussing on one particular segment only. For this it will evolve appropriate promotion and branding strategy. 1988-89 to $AUD 11.82 billion in 2006-07.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Labor Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Labor Discrimination - Essay Example The intention of this study is labour discrimination refers to the discriminating behaviour practices within the process of hiring, promoting, assignment and allocation of job responsibilities and compensation to the employees. There are several types of harassment also included in labour discrimination like sexual harassment, cultural harassment and wages discrimination etc. There have been several jurisdiction implemented to prohibit different types of labour discrimination and the victims have been given the right to file lawsuit against the employers in case of encountering discrimination at work place. Labour discrimination could occur intentionally or intentionally due to prejudice or ignorance. The discrimination of labour has been evolved as an important and serious area of concern for the business related people, workers and general people because all over the world it is common to see filing of lawsuits against major companies of the world on the charges of labour discrimin ation.If the lawsuits are filed against well-known companies then the cases often turn sensational and gain the attention of the community to look for the outcome of the case. Several cases of labour discrimination have been ended with multimillion dollar settlement. The class actions taken against the companies are usually supported and favoured by the people because they think that decisions in favour of labour put pressure upon the employers to change their practice and make it justified and fair with the workforce. (Susan et al, p28). The paper discusses two lawsuits filed against popular American companies Abercrombie & Fitch and Wall Mark on the allegation of labour discrimination. These two cases were widely followed by people because they involved popular retail brands of the country. These cases ended up with different conclusion and the accused companies are given different decisions. Abercrombie & Fitch was ordered to pay $50 million compensate the plaintiffs however, the case of Wal-Mart was blocked by the Supreme Court due to lack of sufficient evidences about the existence of discriminating labour practice by the management of Wal-Mart. The decision of Abercrombie & Fitch encouraged the class workers to raise voice for their due rights however, the case of Wal-Mart clarifies that the lawsuit must be filed with complete preparation and practice so that the court become able to make a justified decision. These two important lawsuits of the U.S. business world are discussed below and their comparative analysis has also been conducted to illustrate the practical implications of these decisions to the business world and labour management practice. Abercrombie & Fitch Lawsuit Abercrombie & Fitch is a popular American retailer company that main deals with the casual wean for the consumers age group 18-22. It also operates three other offshoot brands of children wear and other fashion wear. The company has established around 300 locations across US and t he process of international expansion is also on its way. The company employs over 22,000 workers in over 700 stores. Most of the employees are college age adults of different sex, race and ethnic groups (Jane, p2). The case was filed by the employees of the company who charged it for discrimination of the work force at workplace. The case against Abercrombie & Fitch was settled on the 14th of April 2005 when Judge Susan Illston of U.S. District Court for the Northern district of California finally approved the settlement of case Gonzalez v. Abercrombie & Fitch. The court required Abercrombie & Fitch to pay $40 million to several plaintiffs that were mostly females and others belonged to minority community (Shiffer et al, p7). After the settlement of the case the company established settlement fund to distribute the amount among the workers. The plaintiffs were sent the award checks in

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Discussion question Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 14

Discussion question - Coursework Example Therefore, VG should maintain the TSH level for eradicating any sort of work disturbance (Womenshealth, 2014). VG should consult with the doctor to know the reason of fatigue problem and test the TSH level for her body, which remained high as per the previous findings of the TSH level. From the perspective of instituting a therapy, it can be inferred that by conducting the TSH test regularly, VG can monitor the respective problem and likewise take measures for enhancing her wellbeing (Medicine health, 2015). If VG becomes pregnant, then she needs to consult with a gynecologist for further treatment and medication. On the other hand, if VG face thyroid problem, then the medication for her can be the replacement of thyroid hormones along with L-thyroxine dose. This dose has to be given at the initial stage based on medical history, age and weight of the patient (Medicine health,

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Parody of Personal Profile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Parody of Personal Profile - Essay Example life-changing experience of witnessing a suicide by a lady from homo sapiens – deep reflections on the concept of the life of a moth – decision to dedicate the remaining life to disprove conventional beliefs – personal epiphany – the nature of career always to the altruistic side – the mission to make the lives of others beautiful – successful at making the dreams of lovers come true – a complex and clearer understanding of life materialized through the substantial amount of work done so far. I am a strong willed female moth blessed with impeccable physical attributes and the right amount of knowledge and experience to use it discreetly. Apart from my innumerable past experiences of unquestionable success in the courtship contests exclusively for the flying creatures, I had also been considered the best bet in espionage related works for public and private missions. I have the gift to camouflage myself among draperies and wallpapers. I had been employed by many agencies to peep into many a lady’s sweet secrets since I hide best in their floral gowns. My life had been deeply influenced by intense childhood experiences of grief and remorse after losing both my parents to fire. Though I am aware that my genes make it inevitable that I am also to be attracted to the flames of death utlimately, I am intent on using my attractive and brief life for the benefit of others. The most significant aspect of my individuality is my ability to remain silent and invisible in the background. This allows me the space and freedom to see life at close quarters, even as I remain an unobtrusive entity. My beauty can be perceived only by those who have a keen eye for minute details. The spots and designs of my personality can appeal to all those who are observant, be it someone from my own species (preferably from the opposite sex) or anyone else who cares for small things. simple and ephemeral life has some meaning. I realized it when I observed a lady from the

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The John Lewis Partnership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The John Lewis Partnership - Essay Example 6). The original owner of the business, John Lewis set up this particular business in 1864. Later in 1905, his son John Spedan Lewis became the head of Lewis’s other store (Peter John in Sloane Square). Political pressures to the extent of making major serious decisions regarding the company lured John Spedan Lewis so much. John Spedan wanted the company managed in a totally different manner. He decided that every single employee of the company who was permanent was going to have shares in the business; therefore, he organized the launching of a staff profit sharing plan, which was held at one if the businesses (Peter Jones store). The structure of the organization has become totally different in the sense that, everybody in the company has the say and gets the shares instead of having one director owning the company and making major decision. Everybody who works in the company is a boss and there is no possibility of having rules that can be followed as there is no one in cha rge of that work. This is because everybody in the company is a director. (Pederson 2008, p. 165). Finance Partners in the company have a direct monetary attention, making them exercise their power in the company. This is because in JLP, all partners are entitled to a yearly bonus, which is obtained from the company’s annual profits (that is 10% - 15% of every individual’s annual earnings). ... The partners together with their families have the privilege to enjoy all the leisure and accommodation in the facilities; hence this will most likely result in the collapse of the business in future. Marketing LP works in selections of highly aggressive business surroundings; Tesco, Sainsbury and walmat (Asda), thus controlling the food retail market in the United Kingdom. JLP has also ventured into the clothing business, electronics, furnishings, and even furniture creating competition with various departmental stores. JLP is aware that in order to make it in such business and with so much competition involved, everything that is done will need maximum competence and usefulness. This means that the management of the company has to be taken seriously, otherwise due to the entire staff ownership of the business, some members may not take their jobs seriously, as they may only be focusing on what they have in the company (Lewis 1986, p. 6). The company catalogue shows that the intenti on of John Lewis Partnership is merely to satisfy its members. John Lewis Partnership has come up with a convention arrangement of a massive organization in terms of setting up a main headquarters and varieties of dissections, stockrooms and branches, industries and retail supplies. Waitrose have demonstrated their focus on quality and importance for money, as their way forward to its selling and procedures. Waitrose have since had a tradition of marketing their products together with local products. This is the reason the company has been able to win the attention from all types of customers, both from local and international arenas. They have goods varying from expensive, cheap international and local goods. Waitrose predicted the

Monday, September 23, 2019

Liberal Art Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Liberal Art Studies - Essay Example Plunkitt would agree that there was such a thing as an honest profit and a dishonest profit. If political party, State, and personal interests stand to gain an advantage, he would see such a venture as something that was as justifiable and therefore being an honest profit. On the other hand, he would see stealing from others as dishonest profit and would condemn such an action. In other words, he may justify â€Å"a little† corruption as long as it doesn’t amount to stealing from others and as long as it benefits the State as well as himself. From a business perspective, Plunkitt does seem to have the dynamics of organizational behavior right. Buying something for a low price and selling it for a higher price is the essence of business, and Plunkitt’s views were in line with this sentiment. For him, corruption means actually stealing from others, while trying to make a profit is not corrupt at all. Plunkitt also believed in seeing opportunities and taking them and realized that who you know is more important than what you know. Both of these concepts are widely seen as accurate in the business

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Epistemology Essay Essay Example for Free

Epistemology Essay Essay Descartes uses epistemology and metaphysics to frame his famous cogito argument. But in order to understand how that works, first, we must discuss the differences between an epistemological and a metaphysical question. Epistemology is a facet of philosophy interested in knowledge. And an epistemological question is a question concerned with something relating to knowledge, apprehension of knowledge, knowledge-world correspondence, or the origins of knowledge. What is knowledge? Is knowledge even possible? If so, how do we get it? Does knowledge correspond to reality? How do people acquire knowledge?Is it from the world or from our experiences in the world or do we have it before we experience the world? Metaphysics is a division of philosophy interested in figuring out exactly what being is. Basically any kind of question about what is, natural or supernatural, including science and religion, is a metaphysical question. Some of their perennial questions are what is the difference between particulars and individuals? Is there a reality out there? What is reality? Is there a god? What is god? Is free will a possibility? Is change possible? What is identity? How much control do agents have control over their actions? And though these two philosophies overlap in some places, they have three major differences. First, epistemology is almost always focused on being a living thing, because even if one investigates whether or not knowledge corresponds to the world, an agent is still necessary to see uncover the knowledge there. Second, metaphysics is very often focused on the differences between things, and while you could ask the question Is there such a thing as knowledge? in both an epistemological and a metaphysical context, your answers could be very similar, but will likely be different. Theyd differ because epistemologically, asking the question will usually break down into questions about the justification for beliefs and knowledge; whereas a metaphysical question will focus on locating the conditions to declare knowledge existent. Third, epistemology with very little exception is focused on human beings; metaphysics in its very nature is about everything including human beings. But, metaphysics and epistemology have a lot of similarities. One particular way both epistemology and metaphysics can be approached is mind/pure thoughts and body/material being. And this is how Descartes approaches it in his cogito argument. While looking for the ultimate grounds of knowledge, Rene Descartes came into despair because nothing seemed grounded and it was as if the Empiricists had won. But then a brilliant revelation finally dawned on him: no matter what, in order to have any experiencein order to behe must think. He says that even if its the case an evil deceiver made up the universe just to trick us, and everything weve ever known is an illusion, we must exist as thinking things in order to be deceived (otherwise we wouldnt be able to be deceivedthings that cant think, e.g. rocks, cant be decieved). In fact, if I didnt think I couldnt do anything or have any experienceI wouldnt exist! Descartes method uses a very interesting train of logic. First, he takes a metaphysical stance: nothing is real. Next, he looks for things he can trust as real. This step uses epistemology (systematically verifying the contents of his knowledge) to ground a metaphysical question (what is real? What am I?). (So, its not a big surprise he ended up finding an epistemologically grounded first truth.) Finally, he uses a thought experiment, the evil deceiver, to uncover his first truth: I must think in order to exist. Once he formulates the cogito, he uses it to argue the metaphysical point that mind is separate from the body. After all, thoughts arent tangible, temporal, or destructible, whereas a body and things in the world are in space, exist in time, and can be destroyed. So, because of this, he makes a sharp metaphysical distinction between the mind and body, leaving philosophic room for religious beliefs like the afterlife and answering some questions about the mind. So, for Descartes, what I am is a thing that thinks because epistemologically, there cant be thinking without an agent to think. (And by thinking, Descartes really means understands, grasps things, has beliefs or knowledge.) Because of this, he thinks that I am separate from my body, which is a metaphysical claim. So, his idea of mind-body dualism needs both metaphysical and epistemological claims in order to function.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Organic project Essay Example for Free

Organic project Essay Given the current condition of organic products in the United Arab Emirates, increasing the level of promotion for organic products will increase the awareness of the product. The paper shall look at a definition of organic products, identify some of its users and develop a questionnaire for tackling the issue of promoting awareness in the United Arab Emirates market. (Consumer’s Union, 2000) These assertions come against the background of the speech made by the country’s Minister for Health – His Excellency Humeid Al Quttami. He claimed that organic products were healthy options and that they would promote safety this was the reason why the Minister made a call to the country’s producers and marketers to make organic products more available and present them at much lower prices than they were currently going for. Definition of organic products Products can either be conventionally made/ grown or they can be organically grown. Products that are made organically are those ones that exert minimal influences on their surrounding environments or those ones with very low levels of additives / artificial additives during the process of production. What most people fail to realize is the fact that there is a distinct difference between natural products and organic ones. Natural products do not adhere to certain international or national standards. Consequently, the definition of natural products varies from place to place. However, most people agree that natural products are usually those kinds of products that have not been processed or those ones that have not undergone any artificial processes. (Stolze et al, 2001) Organic products from plants are usually grown in such a manner that no chemical fertilizers are applied during their growth phase. Instead, natural fertilizers made in farmer’s backyards are used to add nutrients to soil. Additionally, organic products are different from conventional products because when the latter plants are grown in the fields, they usually entail the use of insecticides to get rid of harmful insects. However, in the former category, this is done through natural mechanisms such as disruption of mating patterns among other things. Besides these, when organic farmers are tackling weeds, they normally do this through natural processes such as mulching or crop rotation instead of the use of herbicides. Organic products derived from livestock products such as cheese, milk and the like are usually obtained from animals that are exposed to the outdoors. Additionally, diseases in these livestock are managed through the process of rotational grazing or cleaning one’s shelter, providing the animals with nutritional food among other methods. The purpose of doing this is to ensure that diseases are prevented rather than dealt with when they have occurred. On the contrary, conventional products derived from animals are usually obtained from animals that have been injected with growth hormones or those eons that are given processed medication to tackle diseases outbreaks. (Eskenazi, 1999) Organic products are normally those ones that have been certified internationally or nationally. Consequently, this is an indication that the products have met certain criteria laid out for organic foods. Besides this, it should also be noted that organic products either fall in three categories †¢ One hundred percent organic †¢ Organic †¢ Products made with organic ingredients When products are one hundred percent organic, they usually contain one component or if they contain more than one, then it is likely that all these ingredients are organic. When a product is classified as organic, then chances are that the product has been made from organic ingredients that take up about ninety five percent of that product. Besides these, some products may be categorized as those ones that have been made with organic ingredients. In this case, these are products that have approximately seventy percent of their products covering them. Users and uses of the products Most people buy organic products in the form of food. In other words, they purchase them so that they can eat them. There are a series of products that fall under this category. Organic foods derived from plants are the most common and some of them include vegetables, fruits and even spices. There are those organic foods that are derived from animals and these include, milk, cheese or butter. The other category is that of processed organic foods some of them include items such as breakfast cereal, corn chips or pastas. It should be noted that the last category may not be fully or one hundred percent organic. (Hansen, 2001) In other instances, people use organic products as forms of medicines. In this regard the product is a form of treatment. Usually, most organic medicines are used as alternative sources of treatment from herbalists or alternative medical practitioners. These products are largely exported from China and other similar countries. Other people use organic or natural products for beautification purposes. For instance, other may use natural products such as honey as a form of facial treatment. Additionally, we also have organically processed or created shampoos for enriching hair. These and many more uses are available to organic or natural product consumers. There are various types of Organic consumers in the United Arab Emirates. There are those that purchase the commodity once a week while there are others who do this on a daily basis. Additionally, others do this occasionally. However, statistics indicate that numbers are rising day by day. Consequently, if more marketing or promotion is done, then chances are that the number of persons who are using or purchasing organic products will increase tremendously. It has also been shown that the highest forms of organic consumers are those who buy organic foods. Most of the products chosen by such individuals include †¢ Fruits †¢ Vegetables Meats †¢ Breads †¢ Juices †¢ Some prepared foods It should be noted that many people who are purchasing these natural or organic products are also concerned about their environments. Most of them tend to be inclined to use products that place less artificial fertilizer in the soil, products that leave fewer residues of herbicides in the air or also those ends that do not require greater amounts of processing that will eventually use up too much electricity. Also, many people who utilize organic products are also cautious about the excessive artificial processes such as radiation that may require too much use of the latter process. Consequently, they look for such eco friendly products. It should be noted that natural products within the UAE have a larger percentage of the market share than organic products. Consequently, much has to be done to promote this kind of product. (Consumer’s Union, 2000) A large percentage of organic consumers are concerned about their health. Some of these concerns may actually be real in their lives. For instance, some people opt not to eat non-organic foods because they react to chemically processed ones. For instance, it is possible to find that these people have allergies against the ingredients in non-organic ones. It should also be noted that the largest percentage of individuals who buy organic foods for health reasons are those ones who are scared of the effects that the product might have on them. Some people believe that organic products will sustain agriculture and therefore buy organics to support UAE farmers. However, others may oppose genetically modified foods and thus opt to buy natural or organics, besides this, many organic or natural food consumers are those ones who are conscious about their nutritional needs. They usually believe that these products have more nutrients and would therefore be more beneficial to them. Also, others purchase organic products so as to avoid negative effects associated with products that have been injected with hormones. (Stutchbury, 2008) Questionnaire design of testing the hypothesis The first process of the questionnaire will be identification of the objectives of the questionnaire. In this case, the questionnaire will be: â€Å"To assess whether there is relationship between promotion of organic products and awareness of the product. If there is a positive correlation between these products, then chances are that it can be done. However, if there seems to be no positive correlation, then another method needs to be used to promote awareness. The second aspect of the questionnaire design is identification of the population size. In this case, since the questionnaire is being done about the level of awareness of organic food, then it will imperative for those persons who will be considered in the research to represent the views of all food consumers. They need to be persons who have either heard about organic food or those who have not. Consequently, this is a large population size. Thereafter, there is a need to look into the sampling strategy. Since the population size will be very large, it is essential to use a sampling strategy that will ensure accurate representation of the views among the UAE people. Also, it is essential to find people who belong to both categories being investigated. I. e. those who have already been exposed to promotional strategies about organic foods and those who had not. This means that fifty percent of the sample of the participants will come from one group and vice versa. The sample needs to come from areas that are likely to have these promotions for instance, though persons who purchase foods in the organic sections of supermarkets or those who go to organic stores. In order to access this information, it will be essential to select these organic stores. Three of them will be selected randomly and the consumers who buy commodities from those areas will also be chosen for the questionnaire. (Paddock, 2007) In order to access people who have little information about organic food, it will be wise to select people randomly in the street and then ask them whether they have heard about organic products. If they respond in the affirmative then they will not be considered. However, if they respond negatively, then there is a need to look for other people, who have not heard about. Questions within the questionnaire will first be tried among a small sample size so as to ascertain that they can be easily understood. This questionnaire will be a combination of ten questions and the questions will be structured. The reason behind choosing a structured interview is that it is easier to do analyses. Answers are preset and participants can be guided by them. If open ended questions had been used, then chances are that the responses would be too varied and that most of them would be very difficult to quantify. The other reason why this approach was chosen was that most participants may not have any idea about the issue under discussion. Consequently, giving them multiple choices will go a long way in enhancing the response rates. However, it should be noted that there are certain problems that may rise out of this issue. For instance, care should be taken to ensure that participants are not biased towards certain responses by the nature of the questions. Also, in certain circumstances, participant responses may not be found among the list. In order to minimize the chances of this occurrence, then one should first test the questionnaire among a pilot group (as mentioned earlier) and then look for ways of rectifying mistakes. Other mechanisms that can be used to test the hypothesis One method that could replace the use of structured questionnaires is personal interviews. This method could be effective if both sides of the coin were examined. In other words, if there was equal representation from the side of people who had received information about organic product promotions with those ones who had never heard of organic foods. This will go a long way in ensuring that the issues that have not been addressed will be tackled. It can also be possible to ascertain this method using secondary research. In other parts of the world such as the United States and Europe, consumption of organic products keeps rising from day to day. Many pieces of literature have indicated that the reason why this has occurred is that there is continuous marketing and promotion on the part of the organic producer. It would therefore be useful to examine the consumption of organic products prior to intense promotion; this could be during the nineteen nineties. Thereafter, one can compare this with the figures currently being consumed today. If there is a gradual increase of consumption rates in those years to the present day, then one can assert that promotions do increase consumption of the product. (Chensheng, 2006) Conclusion Organic foods boost the level of health for any particular individual. Some UAE consumers have already realized this. It is therefore imperative to look for methods that can boost awareness of organic products. Consequently, the research above has looked at one of the mechanisms which is through questionnaires. Others include personal interviews and secondary data from other countries.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Domestic Violence Against Women In Sri Lanka Sociology Essay

Domestic Violence Against Women In Sri Lanka Sociology Essay Woman is more fitted than man to make exploration and take bolder action in nonviolence There is no occasion for women to consider themselves subordinate or inferior to men.Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity.If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably mans superior.If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with women Traditionally Sri Lankan society held women in high esteem though the society was a man dominated. During last few decades it appeared that this situation has been changed and violence against women is increasing rapidly in Sri Lanka as same as the other countries in the world. The first place from where it starts the violence against women is the household where we are living. Among the other form s of violence domestic violence has the top in Sri Lanka. There fore, violence against women has become an issue which needs a quick and definite solution. Most of the people in our society think that domestic violence is a matter that should not revile to the out of the family. Hence domestic violence subsided for a long time without a solution. However it has been formed new legislation for the domestic violence in year 2005. But domestic violence has been increased more than before. This research is aimed at analyzing the possibilities of recurrence of the degrading process of inhuman. Domestic violence against women is mostly based on gender. The team gender mean different things to different people. The world gender comes from the world gender, this, in turn, comes from Latin genus. Both words mean kind, type or sort. 7. This difference in their behavior, attitudes and values that is superimposed on their biological sex is what is meant by them gender. Hence in other words, gender refers to a set of qualities and behavior expected from a female or a male by the society. Biological sex is quite different from gender, as it refers to aspect of the body such as the genitals, hair growth genetic make- up and or hormones. According to the gender characterizations superimposed by society, 8. Male are expected to have the qualities of Devious, Fearless, Impulsive, Honest, Tough, Violent, Heard working, Opportunistic, Insensitive, Extrovert, Dominating, Independent and female are expected to have different qualities as Emotional, Week, Beautiful, Sacrificing, Nurturing, Submissive, Shy, Calm, Polite, Sensitive, Cunning, Soft, Introvert, Compassionate, Enduring, Fearful, Quite, Timid, Tolerant, Dependent 10. These characteristics attribute to each gender are possibly satisfactory from the point of view of the society as a hole. However, when one considers from the point of view of the individual of either genders, it may not be so. Impact sometimes it could be even harmful. Similarly, there are many instances of traditionally imposed characteristics which are disadvantages to the women as well. This is more so in patriarchal societies like ours. 12. It is traditionally accepted that female should do the cooking, looking after the house etc, while the man works in the field. This is satisfactory as long as there is mutual understanding between the women and the man and the decision had been arrived at by mutual consent. Often it is not so. The role of the female has been thrust upon her and she is obliged to perform it even when she is pregnant or ill. It is this traditional compartmentalization of these roles according to gender attributes determined by the society that leads to problems. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 13. Domestic violence is defined as an abuse of power perpetrated mainly by men against women. The most commonly acknowledge forms of domestic violence are physical and sexual violence, threats and intermediation, emotional and economic abuse. PHYSICAL ABUSE 14. Physical abuse can include slapping, punching, beating, shoving. It can include attempts to harm the victim with weapons, like knives, sticks, or other items found lying in the home. In extreme cases firearms, may also be used to threatened and/ or helm the victim. SEXUAL ABUSE 15. Sexual abuse includes rapes, physically attacking a woman sexual body parts preventing the victim from using birth control and/ or safe sex practices. Rape is forcing woman to have sex against their will, which in many cases involves violence. In all cases it is a violation of an individuals rights her body. EMOTIONAL ABUSE 16 Emotional abuse can includes all intentional attempts to minimize the victims concerns and to make them feel back. Humiliating the victim in front of the other people, family and friends is a common way, this is achieved. PSYCOLOGICAL ABUSE 17. Psychological abuse can include any threats that are made or carried out with the intent of financial or emotional injury, blackmail or humiliation. Threat may be made to take the children away from the woman. ECONOMIC ABUSE 17. Economic abuse creates financial dependence. The victim can have her money taken away by her abuser, forcing her to have to ask for money whenever she needs any thing. INTIMIDIATION 18. Intimidation as a form of abuse can include making the women afraid by using looks, action and gestures, by destroying their property, or by displaying weapons. ISOLATION 19 Isolation can be used to control and limit what the woman does. Whom they see and where they go. The abuser may prevent them from seeing family and friends. USING PRIVILEGE TO CONTROL 20. Using privilege to control is also a Form of abuse. By treating a woman like a servant and having the last word about everything, the abuser is acting like master of the castle. He is defining and rigidly abiding by the traditional roles of men and women THE AGGRIEVED MAY BE a. he father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, stepfather or stepmother b. the son, daughter, grandson, or grand daughter, stepson, stepdaughter c. the brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother, step-sister d. brother or sister of parent (an uncle or aunt) e. child of a brother or sister f. The child of brother or sister of parent DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN BE CAUSED BY the spouse b. the ex-spouse c. the cohabiting partner d. parent REASONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Drunkenness of the aggressor 9. This is a major reason for subjecting wives to domestic violence. Alcohol appears to be the most proximate cause for many type of violence particularly in the rural areas where illicitly brewed alcohol is available in plenty. This is particularly a cause for incest where the father who is drunk, with all his animal instincts bared ,sexually harassed the young and innocent daughter, often with no mother to protect her as she has gone away to earn for the family. Anger 10. Another reason given after battering women by husband ids that. They got angry and beat the wife. The responsibility is given back to the women for irritating him and making him an angry. The common preventive measure prescribe to the wife is not to irritate the husband. Often no advice is given to the husband. However there is no justification whatsoever to convert anger in to violence which makes someone else suffer. It is said that conquer angry by love, conquer evil by good. Financial problems 11. Unemployment, less salaries or wages, housing problems are course to create domestic violence because inability to afford the expenses of the family, still the dowry is also course to create violence. Cycle of the violence 12. The person who has subjected to violence in his childhood or who experienced the violence from their parents can behave as their parents Incense by the victim 13. Sometimes the victims incense their husbands unnecessarily Societal factors creating with the family 14. Mistakes occurs day to day workings of women in the household; problems of children, misunderstandings of the relations of the wife or husband, have subjected to create violence against women. Sexual problems 15. Suspicion of the husband regarding his wife and assuming that an affair has been built his wife with another person, and refusing sexual behaviors of husband when he want are also coursed to create violence against women Cultural factors 16. Dislike to holding key appointments by wife and confine her to the household is also a major problem Structural inequalities 17. Supremacy of men in the household is also caused to create violence against women Extra marital affairs beyond wife or husband CHAPTER STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 1. Even though traditionally Sri Lankan society holds women in high esteem, it is a favorable increase of domestic violence against women in Sri Lanka. Although enough lows and legislations have been formed in time to time it is not appeared that a decrease of domestic violence against women. 2. Domestic violence is the first action which occurs among the members of a family in side a house hold. This includes various forms of sexual harassments as same as other form of physical harassment, oral or mental abuses. Generally it is not reported mental harassments but it occurs more than other form of harassments with in a household. 3. The domestic violence which takes place in a household mostly targets the women. Domestic violence against women usually does not occur in public. In the public Ladies first is the abstract. Hence it is not detected domestic violence because it appears that all are giving due respect for women. 4. Even though the government and some non government organizations have collected data on this issue they could not be able to make a effective solution for preventing domestic violence against women. JUSTIFICATION 5. Women have to face various type of violence for the sake of being born a woman. This study is mainly focused on ascertaining the reasons for violation against women in Sri Lanka and to make recommendations to overcome the problem. Research findings and recommendations could be vital to the government and respective authorities to make effective solutions to eliminate this violence. A proper analysis carried out may uncover avenues to assist measures in preventing domestic violence against women. 6. Hence, this research could be used to arrive at viable solutions on the issue of domestic violence against women. Later the remedial measures may be included in the national policies depending on the relevance and validity. SCOPE OF THE STUDY 7. There are so many aspects in domestic violation against women. The scope of the study is to find why these things happen and what precautions that can be taken to prevent the domestic violence against women. GENERAL OBJECTIVE 8. To developing a well-mannered family and it adopted to build up a well-mannered nation SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 9. Specific objectives are as follows; To find reasons for the violence and type of violence take place To suggest solutions to prevent domestic violence against women To study the ability to practice the solutions in Sri Lanka To analyze the statistical data HYPOTHESIS 10. Domestic violence against women is unable to prevent by the Law with out making an environment that promote to perform obligations of each others of the family. METHODOLOGY 11. This study will be mainly based on the primary data, which will be collected through questionnaires from a random sample of women to collect the qualitative data and it is to be used the data that has been collected from government and non government organizations concerned this problem in hall the island. The information drawn from the above methods will be used to finalize the report to prove or disprove the hypothesis drawn from the research. CHAPTER III PAST AND THE PRESENT Sri Lankan society has built on Buddhist culture since 2500 years ago. The basic teaching of Buddhism, salvation by ones own effort put forward the spiritual equality of all beings irrespective of gender. Singalowada Sutra at Sutra Pitakaya has defined obligations of a husband and as same as a wife to perform for each others. That taught to respect each others in the family. After introducing open economy, social values which gained from Buddhism have been loosed. It is started to import various goods and services. It created a consumer society in Sri Lanka. Wants of the people were increased. To adapt this society and fulfill these wants women also have to employ to earn money. Further the women has bee used a commercial dummy. This system very much cute to give some mental bribes to women who were missed their social values on money and introduced women rights in lieu of the obligations women. Women are experiencing to win their rights but the love from his husbands .Obligations of husband and only the rights of wives were remained. As a result of this situation, it started to destroy the picture which had drawn in our mind set as a mother, sister, wife and daughter and the violence against women were increased. At present in Sri Lanka, it was estimated that around 60% of women are subjected to domestic violence.* CHAPTER VI LEGISLATIONS TO PROTECT VICTIMS 1. It had not certain legislation for domestic violence in Sri Lakethe penal Code also does not have respective provisions with regard to domestic violence against women. Therefore victims of the domestic violence has to be consider under other general section like section 324- assault or section 311- causing grievous hurt. Although the amendment s to the penal code in 1995 expanded the definition of grievous hurt it did not take in violence against women as a crime. This amendment also did not concern victims who may have suffered only light injuries and those subjected to emotional abuse which exactly points to the entry not decisive by its CEDAE obligations. 2. However the Act made favorable provision in year 2005. The newly passed law on domestic violence is an act to provide for the prevention of any act of domestic violence which may be either physical abuse or emotional abuse between two people who are related. The provision of domestic violence act no 34 of 2005 specify the degrees of relationship. 3. This law is a civil remedy and is gender natural and does not disturb the criminal law remedies as it is not an alternative to the criminal process. This law focuses on ensuring the safety of the aggrieved party. To obtain a protection order you need to apply to the Magistrate Court. You can submit your application through an Attorney at Law or personally or through a Police Officer. 4. Any person against whom an act of domestic violence has been committed or likely to be committed may make an application. Such a person is referred to as an aggrieved person under this Act. An application should be made to the Magistrates Court with in that jurisdiction the aggrieved person resides or the relevant person resides or the act of domestic violence took place. Up on receiving such application the court can consider the application and determine whether an interim protection order is urgently needed to ensure the protection of the aggrieved party Domestic Violence and Women Health 1. Violence as defined by WHO is the intentional use of physical force or power ,threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community that either result in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death physical harm, mal development or deprivation 2. The victim s women tend to have many disorder which, when considered superficially, do not appear to be connected to violence. A WHO study done recently identified following complications that could be associated with violence. Bleeding during pregnancy 3. It is now that physical assault can cause bleeding in pregnancy due to partial separation of the after birth (placenta), while the baby is still with in the womb. Low birth weight 4. There are instance where the mothers deliver babies with lower weight than respective their maturity. These babies too face risks the mental stress that the mother undergoes due to violence, effects of passive smoking through husbands smoking are factors leading to the effects of assault. Lack of attention and care 5. It is often seen that the mothers who are victims of violence tend to attend antenatal clinics late or not attend such clinics at all. This late or non attendance is seen at the maternal death reviews where each maternal death is looked into in detail. This leads to not getting necessary care and changing attitudes that permit such abuse, developing legal and policy frameworks to prohibit and reject it, and improving womens access to economic recourses and girls access to education. CHAPTER V THE IMPACT ON CHILDREN Children may test their parent by behaving badly. Children are dependent on adults to tell them what is right and wrong. Children need to feel loved, accepted and safe in their family. This means living in a home where there is no uncertainty when violence may erupt. Children try to make sense out of what happens in the world; to believe that there is a reason for what happens. This may lead them to feel that it is mothers fault that she is beaten. They may think that it is their fault. They may feel guilty that they cannot help parents. They may take fathers side because they feel safer to be on the side of power. This may happen more with male children. Though children rose in violent homes are at risk for perpetrating or experiencing violence in their adulthood. CHAPTER VII THE WAY THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS 5. Buddhism condemns any form of violence in no uncertain terms. Buddhist teaching Buddhist teaching extends beyond the universals Buddhist concept of ahimsa or non violence and provides directions for the lay followers to live a happy, peaceful and fruitful life with out conflicts in the family with in the boundaries of dharma. 6. When one considers the fundamental principals elaborated in Buddhism, one cannot see a gender distinction. The three universal characteristics (tilakkana) which are anicha, dukka, anathema are common to both genders alike. The Ariya Attangika Magga, the path that is to be followed for emancipation, is available to both genders and it is to be followed in the same manner by both genders. Hence emancipation or Nibbana is common and is attainable by both genders that follow the right path. When facts are so, the logical conclusion is that, in Buddhism there is no gender equality. However, when it comes to interpretation of the Buddhist doctrinal issues, at times, this fundamental Buddhist social principle is not very clearly presented. The attitudes towards gender as depicted in the Pail Canon reflect the attitude towards gender with in the society at the time of the Buddha, as well as the Buddhist attitudes towards it. It is also accepted that there are contributions from sources ot her than the Buddha eighth in the Canon 7. When we are analyzing the problem of domestic violence against women it appears that the fault is always transferred only towards the men. All the good men and women raised their fingers towards men. Actually this society is a man dominated society. Men always try to maintain the supremacy. Further he has got some strength more than woman by the nature. The true love can collapse these barrios to live together for man and woman until the end of the life. But unfortunately the social system which we have to face restrict to the peace of the family. Therefore both man and women should have responsibilities and obligations for each others to strengthen their family. The Lord Buddha preaches following responsibilities and obligations for the exemplary family. Five Kinds of Duty for a Husband   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      a. A husband must be kind to and adore his wife   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      b. He must not treat his wife in an insolent manner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      c. He must not engage in sexual misconduct with other women.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      d. He must give her control and authority over domestic matter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      e. He must provide his wife with garments and ornaments. Five Kinds of Duty for a Wife   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      a. A wife must arrange chores of the household well and run it smoothly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      b. She must distribute gifts fairly between her relatives and her husbands relatives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      c. She must not engage in sexual misconduct wife other men.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      d. She must keep and maintain all things orderly that are handed over by her husband.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      e. She must be skillful and diligent in all her house works. 8. If this code of conduct is adhered to there is no room for domestic violence to occur. But what usually happens is completely disregarding thee need to remind men of their deities CHAPTER VIII ANALYSIS 1. At present there is no systematic mechanism for data collection in relation to the prevalence, causes and consequences of violence against women and there are no disaggregated statistics available concerning intimate partner violence. However records of complaints to womens organization assisting women affected by domestic violence, police statistics and newspaper reports suggest a higher prevalence of intimate partner violence. Recent studies on this subject estimate the prevalence to be between 18.3% and 60% in Sri Lanka. Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Incidences 791 895 1020 1208 1514 2015 2688 3154 3207 3612 4523 2. Following statistics in respect of domestic violence against women in whole the island receive from Women In Need (WIN), which provides free counseling and legal advice to victims of domestic violence shows an idea of resent trend of violence against women in Sri Lanka. 3. Above chart shows that the number of personnel who has got leagle advises from Women in Need each years. It clearly indicate that the number of personnel who have got advices for domestic violence from Women in Need has increased rapidly year by year. 4. Although the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act came in to operation from 3rd October 2005 it appearse that problrems regarding domestic violence against women. Actually it has been increased. Therefore it is difficult to say that the law is an effective one to prevent domestic violence against women in Sri Lanka. Legal Advices Colombo Kandy Matara Badulla Anuradapura Jaffna Puttalam New 1844 627 422 396 265 31 282 Repeat 2679 316 2028 1015 1009 242 315 Total 4523 943 2450 1411 1274 273 597 5. The chart shows that the number women who faced domestic violence and request consultant from the Women in Need from January to October in year 2009. 4523 person have got consult and Most of them have got consultant at the repeat list. If there is a new provision in the law to solve domestic violence against women and they have got legal consultations why they came again and again to get legal consultation is a problem. 6. According to the questioners it appears that Sri Lankan women dont like to tell their problems out of the household and they always think about the future their children. Most of the women married with love affairs and someone married with out the authority of their parents. Therefore they have a problem to tell even their parents. 7. After established the prevention of domestic violence against Act Child and women bureau has started to get entries regarding domestic violence. But in 2009 only the 236 incidents were reported and 55 incidents have been reported from January to September in 2010 in the entire Island. CHAPTER IX RECOMMENDATIONS 1. After introducing liberalization policies in year 1977 in Sri Lanka media played tremendous role to change attitudes of the nation towards traditional women and to collapse her traditional values. Hence it has been proved that the media can do a major role to change attitudes of the nation. Therefore it is recommended to use media on the authority of the government to create well planed public awareness program to respect all women as a mother. 2. Another responsible party is business world who sole women in Sri Lanka with their goods and services by advertisement. Therefore it is recommended to contribute them to make a social marketing campaign to change attitudes of the nation towards women as a must. 3. Government should take an action to cohabit Tele-dramas which make people to experiencing hate to each others. 4. It is recommended to start school level awareness programs to educate girls and boys regarding the expected qualities of male and female and to teach to patience others opinions. Buddhist and other religious teachings regarding the family life and obligations of each person who are playing a separate role with in a family should be thought. Through this awareness programs it is able to deliver these massages to their parents also. 5. Police or the respective authorities should make a mechanism to collect data with regard to the complaint of domestic violence against women separately and d. 6. Awareness programs should plane for the public to inform quickly regarding domestic violence incidences that take place in the next door to the police and obtain their assistance immediately. 7. Domestic violence should be considered as a health issue and specialist doctors should attached to the hospitals to treat victims of domestic violence. Police officers who got complaints of the victims of violence should educate and trained to treat them in a supportive manner. 8. The education system that has been focused only to the examinations and competition should change and should buildup a nation who has humanity. 9. Try to provide care for them with emotionally sound adults with whom they can relate. 10. It will help them to see adults who can settle differences without abuse or violence. It is important for them to see adults who respect each other. 11. Accept that you are not perfect. Do not feel guilty about it. Keep doing your best and be open to change and learning new ways. 12. Remember that your children need to be able to depend on you. Dont depend on them to act as your partner. Let them to be dependent. Encourage them to have friends and activities in a new community as soon as you settle. Friendship can help them to regain security. They need to belong too. 13. At past Sri Lankans has experienced to go to temple to solve their problems because they know that the venerable monks have solutions all the problems they have. There fore people got solutions with out bias for anyone. Hence again it is useful l to start that past experience. CHAPTER X CONCLUSION 1. Four type of married life is described In the Pathama Sutra Sanvasa Sutra of the Anguttara Nikaya. a. Foolish man with foolish women b. Foolish man with a goddess c. A Good with foolish women d. A good with a Goddess 2. The last being the best and is being encouraged. 3. It is important to note that in this sutra, the qualities of man and women have been giving equal prominence and in no way the man considered superior. Further this sutra explains how the ideal wife and husband could continue their relationship to the next birth. 4. If both have equal saddha, sila, cage and panna, they will meet in the next birth too. 5. As shown as the data analysis it is unable to prevent domestic violence but punish someone aggressor who committed a violence by the law. According to this Analysis only way that can prevent Domestic violence against women is fulfilling obligations described in this research to each others. Therefore a government also should have an obligation to create a fair environment with in the country to make well mannered nation without violence.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Foreign Language Essay -- Language

Only 9% of the U.S. population is bilingual, and less than 8% of college students enroll in foreign language courses (Baron). The United States has not put enough emphasis on the importance of foreign language education. People are not aware of the price this country pays due to a lack of language professionals. Its national security and diplomacy are lagging behind. American companies are becoming less prevalent in the international economy. Americans are isolated from culture that thrives in their communities. However, the future generations can be salvaged from this weak state with foreign language education. The teaching of foreign language in American public schools will help shape a culturally-nourished nation ready to advance into international political, economic, and social affairs. The national security and diplomatic affairs in the United States has suffered and will continue to if foreign language education is not rectified and strengthened. Perhaps the most severe tragedy on American soil, 9/11, exposed the language-related weaknesses of the U.S. government and intelligence agencies. After 9/11, the intelligence community revealed that it was only 30% prepared in languages crucial to national security (Holt). Although the government, had 123,000 hours of Arabic language recordings following the attacks, there weren’t enough linguistic professionals to analyze the information (Holt). In 2006 the FBI reported that only 33 FBI employees had limited skills in Arabic (Holt). However, they weren’t even in departments in which their skills could be used towards counterterrorism (Holt). The breach in national security is widening when intelligence agencies can only offer agents with â€Å"limited† language skills. There are intel... ...gn-language-educ_b_127588.html>. Lowery, George. "Cornell Chronicle: U.S. Should Emphasize Foreign Language Education." Cornell Chronicle Online. 24 Oct. 2007. Web. 03 Jan. 2012. . Osborn, Terry A. The Future of Foreign Language Education in the United States. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey, 2002. Print. Pufahl, Ingrid, Nancy C. Rhodes, and Donna Christian. "CAL: Digests: What We Can Learn From Foreign Language Teaching In Other Countries." Center for Applied Linguistics. Sept. 2001. Web. 02 Jan. 2012. . Ramzy, Austin. "Get Ahead, Learn Mandarin - TIME." TIME World. Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 26 June 2006. Web. 02 Jan. 2012. .

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Models of God, Humanity, and Nature My Experiences, Thoughts, and Criti

Models of God, Humanity, and Nature My Experiences, Thoughts, and Critical Analyses I ask a lot of questions; I’m a curious person. I once asked my mom why people die, why there are bad things in the world if God is so good and all-powerful. Her response was that we just couldn’t really understand why God does anything because we can’t comprehend God’s â€Å"master plan.† I’m sure that she was right, but that response is not very satisfying to a curious little boy. I saw an inconsistency in my understanding of reality, and I wanted to get things straight. I guess this little anecdote begins to illustrate a couple of my basic life principles. A concise explanation of how I look at the world is just this: We humans, as finite beings, use models to understand complex things – God, Nature, Humanity – and in doing so must simplify things. There’s nothing wrong with this simplification, as long as we know we are doing so and why. Our models of these complex things can be based on a number of things – usually logic, evidence, and our experiences (I’m probably exluding a powerful one, namely tradition). These varying models of reality, however, must be internally and externally consistent – that is, with themselves and with other models used by a single person. When the models used by a person are internally or externally inconsistent with themselves or with logic, evidence, or experiences, the first reaction is probably confusion (or maybe anxiety), but in the continued search for consistency, one can arrive at further insight and a desired level of comfort in oneself and the way one views reality. I guess this is sometimes called the search for the meaning of life, although that’s a rather grand phrase for ... ... Humanity, and Nature are inter-connected internally and externally, I must work to understand these relationships, and in doing so, I must work to maximize the enjoyment and well-being of all things related to me, directly and indirectly, consciously and unconsciously. Additionally, I must treat all manner of things (entities perhaps) as subjects, rather than objects, recognizing that each has a level of being and enjoyment that it can attain, with the help of me and the rest of the world. I must work to avoid and eliminate violence of all forms by using memory, empathy, imagination, and true forgiveness to short-circuit the cycle. If I live my life in a continual state of change, using creative, responsive, and responsible love persuasively to acheive a higher level of good, then I will be living in a way that’s consistent with process theology’s Christianity.