Essay on Contaminated Air Secondhand Smoke - 907 Words

Did you know that you could easily be a victim of breathing toxic fumes and having cancer? As of right now, countless people are being poisoned from the effects of second hand smoking. Many people have heard or seen the effects of smoking and yet they still do it. In this case, it’s not about them but about us. There should be certain areas where smokers can go that won’t affect others because it’s a nuisance and cause unrepairable damage to everyone. Have you ever tried catching your breath inhaling something unexpected? If not then you are lucky. For those who have, it must have felt irritating and uncomfortable, definitely if it’s a toxic that you had just inhaled. For instance, I attended a Halloween event at a theme park.†¦show more content†¦For pregnant mothers, they could possibly have miscarriages or still births, low birth weight infants, children born with decrease lung function, or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). As frighte ning as it may sound, all these effects could and have happen to others who were exposed to second hand smoking. Not only our daily routine consist of inhaling second hand smoke but also areas such as workplaces experience passive smoke. People have complained about work places because they experience irritating eyes, nose, throat, lungs, headache and nausea. Many employers seeks smoke free area because it improve the health and wellbeing of employees, reduce absenteeism, proved a safe work environment, to reduce the risk of offending customers, improve morale, reduce insurance cost, protect furniture and equipment, reduce the cost of ventilation, and many more. Smokers view that by smoking it is useful in excusing and legitimizing relaxation. Desmond Morris author of Manwatching said â€Å"the smoker has an enormous advantage over the non smoker in moments of stress and can actually create the impression that all his fiddling and fidgeting is really part of a nicotine pleasur e and therefore a sign of enjoyment rather than an inner conflict reaction.† But does coping with stress compensate for the irritation of others? Smokers argue about freedom and the property rights in a public area. They express thatShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay About Why Smoking Should Be Banned1047 Words   |  5 Pages I remember how my great uncle would always smoke in his house regardless of his surroundings. When his daughter visited him for a vacation, she brought her three year old daughter with her. The baby was healthy before coming to her grandpas house, but in less than two weeks, she had developed ear infections and started to cough. When they went to the doctors office to find out how she had gotten it, the doctor linked it back to the second hand smoke that she was breathing in. When my great uncleRead MoreWhat Causes Lung Cancer?1587 Words   |  7 PagesSmoking Many of us believe that cigarettes are main causes of Lung cancer however lung cancer can be caused by exposure to asbestos, high levels of air pollution, high levels of arsenic in drinking water, Radiation therapy to the lungs, Radon gas (radioactive gas) or Family history of lung cancer. Lung cancers it can also affect non-smokers (Secondhand smoke) as result of breathing .Every year, more people die of lung cancer than any other types of cancer such as Breast, Prostate and Colon cancers. Read MoreShould E-Cigarettes Be Restricted in Public Areas? Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagesnicotine habit or stimulates someone to begin smoking habits. Most importantly, those who do not smoke at all are concerned whether or not the secondhand smoke emitted from these devices is harmful for those who do not wish to inhale nicotine products. There are states laws that restrict smoking in public areas and now the question is should e-cigarettes be restricted in public areas as well? For those who smoke cigarettes and will continue to do so, making a switch to smoking e-cigarettes would be aRead MoreWe Must Ban Public Smoking Now Essay1884 Words   |  8 PagesHirschfelder 146) An occurrence that happens daily for many people is choking on a cloud of smoke, tasting and smelling its acidic tobacco as it swirls through their lungs. Smoking in public has been an issue that has plagued America for many decades, so commonplace by this point that it has become part of everyday life for millions of people. Secondhand smoke, also known as sidestream smoke or environmental tobacco smoke, contains many chemical contaminants and is potentially deadly to all who inhale itRead MoreShould Smoking Tobacco Be Banned?1875 Words   |  8 Pagessmoking tobacco in cars while children are present illegal. Central Idea: Smoking tobacco in cars while children are inside the vehicle should be illegal in the state of Idaho because: (1) exposure to secondhand smoke is harmful to the health of children; (2) the intensity of exposure to second-hand smoke in vehicles is much more harmful; and (3) the child or children in the car are innocent and cannot defend themselves. Introduction I. [Attention Getter] Visualize that you are driving to workRead MoreEssay on Smoking In Public Places Should Be Banned463 Words   |  2 Pagessmelling like smoke. It is the same going to a garbage dump, and smelling like garbage. I am not a smoker, and I cannot stand having the stench of smoke on my clothes. The smell of smoke is not harmful, but secondhand smoke is. Smokers should not be able to smoke in the public vicinity. Smokers are spreading harmful chemicals into my lungs. Smokers should respect a non-smokers health. The risk of cigarette smoke is deadly to an human beings lungs. For a smoker to be allowed to smoke in public is aRead MoreSmoking: Good or Bad1430 Words   |  6 Pageswalked around downtown Fort Collins, the odds are good that you will encounter a smoker. The negative effects of smoking outweigh the positive effects of smoking yet people still do it. There are ways to quit that can make your life better if you smoke. Smoking goes back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus first stepped onto the plains of the new world. Native Americans chewed and inhaled a specific type of leaf, using a toboca pipe to inhale the foreign leaf. It soon became a treasure for the EuropeansRead More The Health Risks of Smoking Cigarettes Essay1400 Words   |  6 Pageswalked around downtown Fort Collins, the odds are good that you will encounter a smoker. The negative effects of smoking outweigh the positive effects of smoking yet people still do it. There are ways to quit that can make your life better if you smoke. Smoking goes back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus first stepped onto the plains of the new world. Native Americans chewed and inhaled a specific type of leaf, using a â€Å"toboca† pipe to inhale the foreign leaf. It soon became a treasure for theRead MoreThe Dangers Of Smoking Tobacco1497 Words   |  6 Pagesteenagers would smoke while knowing it can affect their health, three possible reasons stuck out the most. Teenagers smoke despite knowing the health problems that originate from smoking because of peer pressure, an â€Å"invincibility† mentality, and seeing a role model or family member smoke. One factor that leads teens to smoke without worrying about future health problems is peer pressure. If a teen’s friends are smoking, the teen is very likely to follow in their footsteps and smoke too. Even if theRead MoreRole Of Three Agencies Where Health Care Administrators Help Promote Public Health731 Words   |  3 Pagesand activity areas; and that lie near industrial centers that emit pollution. The association conducts research and initiatives the benefit high-risk populations. For instance, the group worked with populations during the Zika virus outbreak in contaminated water in Flint, Michigan and Hurricane Katrina, which hit land on the United States Gulf Coast. The National Center for Environmental Health The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) develops, guides

Transformational Leadership As A Transformational Leader

Leaders have played a pivotal role in every society throughout history. Today s modern world is no exception to that fact. While there are many different styles of leadership, transformational leadership has become one of the most inspiring forms for leaders to embody. Along with changes in leadership style, the emergence of women as leaders in the workplace has brought about new forms of transformation. These changes have greatly impacted the professional climate of nursing. In order to fully examine these changes it is necessary to look at: the background of transformational leadership, how transformational leadership functions in nursing practice, the perceived boundaries for women as leaders, the application and effectiveness of female transformational leaders, and how women implementing transformational leadership can effect change of the term leader. Background During the past three decades, transformational leadership has helped to transform the workforce. The need for this type of inspirational style was recognized and explored in an original work called Leadership by James Macgregor Burns (1978). Burns believed that transformational leadership was a collaborative process that served to raise the morals and motivations of everyone involved (Leadership, 1978, 19). This type of leader works to inspire others with a goal or plan for the future. According the Marquis and Huston (2015) one of the key aspects of this style is the ability to empower othersShow MoreRelatedTransformational Leadership : A Transformational Leader985 Words   |  4 PagesTransformational leadership. Burns (1978) is recognized as one of the earliest theorist on transformational leadership, who introduced transformational leadership over 30 years ago. Transformational leaders are perceived as leaders who uplift their employee morale, subsequently uplifting the en tire organizational. Transformational leaders are known by their capacity to inspire followers to forgo self-interests in achieving superior results for the organization (Clawson, 2006). Avolio and YammarinoRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Transformational Leaders1745 Words   |  7 PagesEffective leadership requires skills to adapt to the demands of fresh situations. Leadership flexibility offers opportunities to hone unique approaches, as circumstances demand. Leaders can hang onto core styles while embracing principles found in harmonizing theories. Theories of particular interest are transformational leadership and servant leadership, among others. These approaches are synergistic rather than mutually exclusive. Moreover, they overlap with other beneficial leadership conceptsRead MoreTransformational Leadership : The Transformational Leader2649 Words   |  11 Pagesauthentic the transformational leader needs to be an ethical moral agent. â€Å"A leader is praisew orthy as a moral agent if he or she possesses a developed conscience and acts in ways that are kind, charitable and altruistic rather than selfish or maleficent.† (wright.edu). The authentic leader tends to complete actions which are best for the followers. Leaders actions should be judged based on the ends sought, means used, and the consequences achieved. Authentic transformational leadership can be definedRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Transformational Leader837 Words   |  4 PagesThe Four Components to being a Transformational Leader Being a transformational leader is a great humane leadership theory, which believes in inspiring people to do excellent work through example of a leader’s personality. A transformational leader’s main goal is to inspire followers to share their values, and connect with their vision. The four components to be a transformational leader are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized considerationRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Transformational Leaders Essay916 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferences There are many differences among the leadership theories. According to Schreuder et al. (2012) Well established theories of transactional and transformational leadership have been criticized for not including the situational context (p. 429). While transformational leadership is extremely motivational and follower-focused, transformational leaders lack the focus of assessing situations and altering their style to match it. Situational leaders, however, are adept in assessing the situationRead MoreTransformational Leadership : A Transformational Leader1503 Words   |  7 PagesTransformational Nursing Leadership INTRODUCTION Leadership is a process. The leader uses influence to inspire others toward a common goal. There are different types of leadership such as autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. One leadership theory is transformational leadership. A transformational leader is defined as â€Å"a leader who is committed to a vision that empowers others† (Kelly, 2012). A transactional leader is focused on day toRead MoreTransformational Leadership : A Transformational Leader2032 Words   |  9 PagesLeadership is the process of â€Å"communicating, motivating, encouraging and involving.† (PowerPoint 2) A leader who combines these vital characteristics will â€Å"inspire and motivate† subordinates to â€Å"help achieve group and organizational goals† (textbook) and are key ingredients to a successful organisation. Transformational leadership is one of the three main leadership styles adopted by managers. The book, Contemporary Management specifies the three main cha racteristics of transformational leadershipRead MoreTransformational Leadership : A Transformational Leader1076 Words   |  5 Pages As I take a moment to reflect on my time here, I have learned that I have traits of a Transformational Leader but that I also have room for improvement. I have highlighted areas in where I felt I needed the most improvement to become the Transformational Leader that I aspire to be. For the next three to five years, I plan to implement these changes to improve the way that I utilize the Elements of Adaptability, The Who, Stakes and Situation, Impact on Work Center Climate, and Ethical BehaviorRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Transformational Leaders895 Words   |  4 PagesAs leadership is ability to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members. Leaders use influence to motivate followers and arrange the work environment so they do the job more effect ively. To start with transformational leader, transformational leadership is a leadership perspective that explains how leaders change teams or organizations by creating, communicating, modelling a shared vision for the team orRead MoreTransformational Leadership : Transformational Leaders1968 Words   |  8 PagesTransformational leadership is regarded as one of the most effective leadership styles in times of change and uncertainty. It is used to not only create a long term vision within an organization, but also inspire its employees (Tyssen et al, 2014). For example, if an organization’s main goal is to increase sales, instead of thinking of the process as a â€Å"strictly-business† type process, transformational leaders look to motivate and encourage his or her followers to think of new ways to increase

Dr. King Free Essays

In 1963, after a protest in Birmingham calling attention to the need for equal rights for African Americans, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an open letter to the coalition of Christian ministers in the American South. We will write a custom essay sample on Dr. King or any similar topic only for you Order Now    Dr. King found himself the subject of extreme criticism from his fellow clergymen for his protest, specifically the illegality of the   protest. In his essay, Dr. King attempts to appeal to the ethical, emotional and logical sides of countrymen to show them that the laws that he was breaking were unfair and unjust in and of themselves. This paper will critically examine the appeals that Dr. King made and the effectiveness of those appeals. Dr. King begins his argument in favor of his actions with an appeal to the ethical considerations of his audience. â€Å"Since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms,† (King 1963).   He begins by telling his audience that he respects their motives and hopes that they will respect his. This is an important part of the ethical argument in that King wants immediately to establish that this was not a rash action and that he is not defending himself lightly. Next, he seeks to establish his own credentials and his right to be in Birmingham. King mentions that people in Birmingham have complained of his coming in as an outsider and he immediately wants to clarify that he was invited in. â€Å"I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates. Several months ago the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here† (King 1963) By first establishing that his organization has ties in Birmingham and that he was invited, King dismisses the idea that he is just an outside rebel rouser. After establishing his right to be there, king establishes the authority under which his ethical decisions will be made. â€Å"Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their â€Å"thus saith the Lord† far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town,† (King 1963). King calls to mind the ethical standard by which he wants to be judged: the Bible and his faith. Finally, King argues why his action is ethically justified. â€Å"Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,† (King 1963). With this argument he points out the ethical concern that most directly led to the Birmingham protest, injustice. King also appeals to the emotions of his audience. â€Å"Then, last September, came the opportunity to talk with leaders of Birmingham’s economic community. In the course of the negotiations, certain promises were made by the merchants–for example, to remove the stores’ humiliating racial signs.† (King 1963). He begins by gently reminding them of the racial humiliation that was an integral part of the South at the time. Next, he moves onto the violence that the average African American in the South had witness or heard.   And finally, he moves on to the emotional appeal of children, before turning the emotionally-charged words filled with hatred and familiar to all Southern â€Å"Negroes†. â€Å"But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters†¦when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: â€Å"Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?†; †¦when your first name becomes â€Å"nigger,† your middle name becomes â€Å"boy† (however old you are) and your last name becomes â€Å"John,† and your wife and mother are never given the respected title â€Å"Mrs.†; (King 1963) Throughout the essay, king also appeals to the logic of his audience. First, he points out that Southern blacks had attempted to sue the system, but that the system excluded them from it and therefore they could not change the system from within. Then, King begins to use statistics to back up his arguments, beginning first with the sheer lack of black voters in the South. â€Å"An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal. Let me give another explanation. A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state’s segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered.† (King 1963). King also argues that unjust laws or just laws which are unjustly enforced must be changed and that people should take whatever action is reasonable to change them. By providing specific examples, he makes it hard for any logical person to disagree. Though King’s â€Å"I have a dream† speech is more famous than his â€Å"Letter From a Birmingham Jail†, it is in this essay that he sets the tone for the entire civil rights movement. In his use of emotional appeal, he moves beyond sheer anger to the disappointment and pain caused by segregation. His logical arguments are made soundly so that opponents cannot argue that he is simply hot-headed or breaking the law for the sake of personal gain. However, perhaps the most important and effective of his arguments come in his ethical arguments. When King illustrates gently, but with great strength, the unethical behavior that has led to the crisis in the South, he is non-accusatory and simply states how things ought to be. This above all else is what marks the greatness of this essay. How to cite Dr. King, Essay examples

Constantine Brancusi Biography Essay Example For Students

Constantine Brancusi Biography Essay I found it very difficult to find information on Constantine Brancusi in hard copy, therefore, you will see at the end of my paper that all of my sources are websites. The little information I did locate on the artist was very, very little. Therefore, I combined the small amount of information with some research I found on artists that were strongly influenced by Brancusi. Brancusis imprint on contemporary sculptural practice ranges from the dissemination of furniture-oriented sculpture and the emerging topos of architectural folly to new paradigms for public art. At the same time many postwar artists engaging in a dialogue with his legacy have read and productively misread Brancusis work. Through the violent but fecund gesture of subjective intervention, these artists have extracted from it new practices of far greater critical and historical significance than might have resulted from an objective, historicist approach. After his death in 1957, renewed interest in Brancusi occurred first and foremost in the United States. The Endless Column and many of the artists bases and furniture pieces, such as his working tables and stools, proved to be relevant to the concerns of U. S. sculptors who came to prominence in the 1960s. In particular, Carl Andre, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, and Richard Serra grew specifically interested in the structural makeup of the column based on the cloning of a single, identical unit. Its repetitive, modular, and nonhierarchical morphology provided them with an economical way of circumventing the relational orders of mainstream European art. The public works of Scott Burton and Martin Puryear have contributed not only to the ongoing debate between high art and utilitarian design, but also to a heightened awareness of arts social function. Like the Russian Constructivist, Bauhaus, and De Stijl practitioners before them, or the generation of furniture sculptors succeeding them, Burton and Puryear both considered that art should serve society as design and architecture do. Burtons and Puryears mutual interest in Brancusis art-cum-craft background is also shared by Richard Pettibone, who has signaled a connection between Brancusis aesthetic and that of the Shaker community. Pettibone is a pioneer of appropriation art, yet, unlike other artists of his generation who have denounced the pursuit of ideal form, he has unapologetically extolled it. He argues that Brancusis series of Endless Columns aspire to a perfection similar to a Shaker chair or a candle stand. This statement can be read as the antinomy within Brancusis project: that the most significant of his sculptures come close to the economy and integrity of the pedestal. Brancusis revolutionary reversal of the base from passive podium to generative element has likewise informed Didier Vermeiren, who is best known for his large corpus of works based on the assemblage of two identical pedestals. In Vermeirens so-called pedestal on top of a pedestal, pedestal and sculpture form replicas of one another. Elevating the element that is ordinarily used for the display of works gauged more valuable, all these artists have cunningly received, aesthetic orders. In the process, they have problematized and restructured the power relations between high and low, aesthetic and functional. Similarly, in different versions of the Endless Column, Brancusi played categories of pedestal against sculpture, and sculpture against architectural unit, until formal and functional elements performed an intricate self-cancellation. Unquestionably, next to the producer of the readymade, Brancusi was a legitimate transformateur Du Champ. The reversals exercised by Burton, Pettibone, Puryear, and Vermeiren with their point of departure in Brancusis works have subsequently been extended by younger artists interested not only in subverting prevailing cultural codes, but also in enhancing the social function of art. Among them, Kcho Alexis Leyva Machado has returned to the social agenda inaugurated by the historic avant-garde to address issues pertinent to the last quarter of the twentieth century, including problems of forced migration and cultural dislocation. Jean Arp Biography EssayIn a sign of homage, Sachs has even scribbled on the entrance door of his studio Brancusis name in white and underlined it with an arrow to replicate the unassuming mark found outside of Brancusis atelier in Impasse Ronsin. Before Brancusis studio was reconstructed by the architect Renzo Piano and opened once again to the public in 1997, Sachs suggested that it should be re-created with the most advanced technology available and be made as virtual as possible in order to maintain its tenor even in the absence of the artists performative acts. Although Disneyesque in spirit, Sachss version might in the end have pleased his predecessor more than one thinks. If Brancusis perennial experimentation with mobile groups and with the concept of social environment functioned as a source of inspiration for the contemporary situation, then one function of art today is to keep his legacy going. When I say, keep it going, I mean by continuously reframing it in relation to the changed conditions of the world and in ways congenial to arts reflexive strategies, ranging from playful allusion to demystificatory critique. In conclusion, I was very happy to learn about the strong influences that Constantine Brancusi has had on modern sculptors and their work. I feel that as a result of doing this research paper I have become very knowledgeable on Brancusis style. I feel confident enough to say that I may very well be able to recognize Brancusis influences on modern sculpture in future visits to museum and galleries. Thanks!

Native Son Essays (479 words) - Native Son, , Term Papers

Native Son Richard Wright is the author of the novel, Native Son. By writing the novel, he wanted to awaken America to the realities of the relationship between blacks and whites in the controversial 1930s. When he wrote this novel, it caused many disputes among Americans. Many people thought that some of the issues Wright included in his novel were not appropriate to write about. Richard Wright believed that even the bad parts of America should be seen, though. This story takes place in Chicago, Illinois in the late 1930s. The main character is Bigger Thomas. He is a twenty year old black man who lives in a one-room apartment with his mother, sister, and brother. The part of town they live in is infested with crime, and most of the buildings are dilapidated. Bigger believes that he could never get far in life because of his being an inferior black man in a"white" world. Bigger wants to help support his family, so he decides to apply for a job as a chauffeur. He is hired by a millionaire named Henry Dalton, who allows Bigger to live in his house. Mr. Dalton and his wife, who is blind, always try to help their employees succeed in life. Everything goes well for a while until one night when Mr. Dalton's teenage daughter, Mary, gets drunk. Bigger carries Mary to her room after she falls down while climbing the stairs. While Bigger is in Mary's room, Mrs. Dalton comes to check in on her. Although Mrs. Dalton wouldn't be able to see Bigger in Mary's room, he is afraid that Mary might make a noise and Mrs. Dalton might think that he is raping her daughter. In his terror, Bigger covers Mary's face with a pillow and accidentally smothers her. When Bigger sees that he killed Mary, he freaks out, chops up her body with an ax, and hides it in the furnace downstairs. Although he acts out of fear and doesn't know what he is doing, Bigger still feels a sense of control that he's never felt before. Bigger leads everyone to believe that Mary's Communist friend, Jan, kidnapped her. Nobody suspects Bigger until one day, when the remains of her body are found in the furnace. He gets his girlfriend, Bessie, involved to help him get money and run away, but he kills her to avoid betrayal. Bigger is finally caught by the police and put on trial. During the course of the trial, he is amazed to find that Jan has forgiven him for all that he did. He can't believe that a white man actually treats him like a human being. Bigger is convicted of murder and ultimately pays with his life to learn that all humans are equal. I love this book! It shows the true story of how hard it can be to live in a prejudiced society. This novel is full of suspense and is really able to stir up controversies within oneself. I would definitely recommend this book to people.

My Personal Philosophy in Life Essays

My Personal Philosophy in Life Essays My Personal Philosophy in Life Essay My Personal Philosophy in Life Essay An element of my personal philosophy of life is related to the dynamics of ‘contentment’. Since the whole canon of Western Philosophy is centered on the causes, states and conditions of contentment, it is fair to say that my contribution through this narrative is a minuscule one. Yet, I would like to voice my assessment of this universal human concern and try to refine my theory through the responses it will elicit from the audience. I have synthesized my personal experience with a larger political event and have studied them both in a philosophical framework. I hope that the audience will eventually agree with me as they see the logic and weight of my arguments given below. I would describe my personal philosophy of life as closely allied to Epicureanism. Although this school of thought is grouped under Hedonism, it is markedly more moderate in the principles it espouses. As opposed to Hedonism, which is living life for the sole purpose of sensory enjoyment, ‘restraint’, ‘control’ and ‘moderation’ are the keywords describing Epicureanism. One of the sayings of Epicurus which had touched me and later influenced me was this: â€Å"A blessed and indestructible being has no trouble himself and brings no trouble upon any other being; so he is free from anger and partiality, for all such things imply weakness.† (The Principle Doctrines of Epicurus, 2011) There are unmistakable Buddhist undertones to this tenet – perhaps not a coincidence considering the blooming of Buddhism in Asia during the time of Epicurus. When I first came across this tenet a few years back, it immediately struck me as valid and releva nt to the personal and political domains. That it was intended as an instruction to conducting personal life is obvious, but its political application is not straightforward. On careful reflection, though, the tenet’s relevance to contemporary politics comes to light. Thomas E. Ricks’ 2006 book titled Fiasco, The American Military Adventure In Iraq, helps us connect Epicurean thought to a major political event. For instance, Ricks notes in his book how the United States invaded sovereign Iraq for the sake of oil and not for the stated reasons. He also documents the human and material costs incurred by both sides, with costs being disproportionately high on the Iraqi side. (Ricks, 2006) Placing Ricks’ findings and observations in Epicurean terms, I was able to synthesize the following argument: One could interpret America’s continued occupation of Iraq as a manifestation of ‘partiality’, in this case toward so called national interest, which in turn translates into the interests of military contractors and oil corporations based in the country. The destruction of lives and resources on both sides is as a result of America ‘troubling’ itself and ‘troubling’ its distant and weak enemy in the form of Iraq. Further, consistent with the tenet, the invasion implies ‘weakness’ on part of the aggressor, more specifically a ‘weakness’ for material wealth (in this case fossil fuel). It is interesting to note that the wisdom of Epicurus, set out two millenniums ago, finds application in contemporary political actions as well as in an individual’s personal life. In the case of the latter, I myself have been found falling short of being a ‘blessed and indestructible being’, for my occasional imprudent anger and partiality has gotten me into hot water a few times. One lingering memory in this respect is when I got into a verbal scuffle with a member of the audience during a college football game. I was slightly inebriated when my team was way behind in the game and the chance of winning was slim. At that point I over-reacted to a snide remark from a fan of the opposing team and got into a heated exchange. In retrospect I realized that though his remark was offensive it was not a defeat to my team and it did not mean anything significant. At that point I got the insight that my reaction is comparable to the way our government has conducted itself in the ongoing War on Terror operations. Just as I over-estimated the stakes involved in the defeat of my favorite team, the American government over-estimated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein and his illusory Weapons of Mass Destruction. There is a difference though, in that my adverse reaction was based on an over-spill of emotion (anger) whereas the government’s estimated threats were construed and deliberate. (Burnham, et., al., 2007) Research team of Gilbert Burnham et. al., have elaborated on the misinformation campaign organized by the government (in collusion with the media) in their supplement to the second Lancet study. In the study they identify how American diplomats underplay Iraqi fatalities and hype-up Iraqi insurgencies. When I place this in the Epicurean framework, it is an obvious example of ‘partiality’. My cheering for my football team (none of whose members I know personally) is similar to the cheering from jingoistic American citizens when the decision to invade Iraq was announced. (Ricks, 2006) Just a little bit of reflection made me realize that players of the opposing team are as hard-working, as meritorious and as deserving of their spurs as my own team is. Hence I questioned my allegiance to my team, when the real allegiance should be to broader aspects of the game like sportsmanship, fair-play, execution of skills, etc. Did all Americans similarly express solidarity with human beings in general, including innocent Iraqi civilians? I believe that, in order for civilization to progress, parochialism and narrow-mindedness will have to be overcome by embracing principles of solidarity and compassion toward fellow humans. Bringing about this transformation at the level of nations is a highly challenging project, given the power and efficiency of propaganda systems in place. But transformation at the individual level is more plausible. I personally have endeavored to mould myself in the Epicurean fashion with reasonable success and I implore members of the audience to consider this path. By embracing this philosophy, one can acquire a high degree of sophistication and refinement as a person. It will also enable an individual to navigate challenging phases in life with equipoise, stoicism and mental tranquility. More importantly, it will induce a state of contentment in the mind, which will make redundant conflicts and envy with fellow humans. : Epicurean Philosophy, Principle Doctrines of Epicurus, retrieved from epicurus.net/en/principal.html on 30th January, 2011 Gilbert Burnham, Shannon Doocy, Elizabeth Dzeng, Riyadh Lafta, and Les Roberts., (2007), The Human Cost of the War in Iraq: A Mortality Study, 2002–2006, A supplement to the second Lancet study. Thomas E. Ricks (2006) Fiasco, The American Military Adventure In Iraq. Published by Penguin Books.

Lead a Sales Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lead a Sales Team - Essay Example The company is rapidly expanding to sell it services worldwide through the internet. The sales plan has been envisaged keeping the objectives in mind. The company’s mission is to become the premium provider of adventure vacations for the 25 to 35-year old working men and women. The focus would be on beach packages and the objective is to generate minimum twenty enquiries per day initially by our promotional activity. Advertising would be done in a phased and planner manner and internet would also be used as a medium. Enquiries would also be accepted through the internet. New markets would be tapped to increase the market share. Collectively, the team expects to convert a minimum of 3 enquiries into sales, which effectively amounts to approximately 100 packages per month at a price of $2500 per package. This sounds a rather low figure but it is realistic and has been arrived at after a SWOT analysis. To break-even the company needs to sell at least 3 packages per day. Over the period of one year these figures are expected to grow and it is expected that after taking into account the insurance sales, the gross sales in the fi rst year would be approximately $3,757,000. The sales budget is the first to be prepared before other budgets can be prepared. The sales revenue expected to be generated is $3,757,000 out of which the direct cost of sales is approximately 40%. Almost 50% of the direct sales cost can be allotted to guide services and 7% to sales and marketing costs. In the industry about 2% is considered as the operating cost which has to be accounted (BSA, 2001). It has to be noted that not all would be cash sales and about 20% could be credit sales, in which case the sales would be credited only after payments are received. Thus the revenue collection would differ from the sales that take place every month. Ever level of the organization should

Creating the Decision Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Creating the Decision Environment - Essay Example This is happens because the group welcome outside opinions, so there is no objectivity. This can be prevented by always having a neutral party that hasn’t been part of the group. This brings insight to it, and also leaves room for questioning of that decision and with this, a better decision is made. (Virtualsoft, 2009) Belief in Inherent Morality of the Group: The group has a mindset that the decision they have made is moral and ethical, this is because the group assume that they have done right. To prevent this kind of problem. The group should give the same scenario to an anonymous group of different people and gauge their responses to tell whether their decision is right (Janis, 2009). Collective Rationalization: This happens when the group makes a decision and they believe it rational. This happens when the collection of material is highly selective and biased. This tends to leave out some information that does not fit into the groups’ decision and reason for the s ame. This can cause a big problem because when a decision is made without all the relevant information regarding is examined (Marlene & Antony, 1998). This is mostly because of the close mindedness in the group. This is can be avoided by bringing in experts to examine the problem and advise the group before a group decision can be made. With the inclusion of an expert, critical information is less likely to be omitted. Illusion of unanimity: When the group look to each other to confirm their theories without consulting or involving an outside source (Janis, 2009). This close-mindedness can cause problems during the decision making process. To avoid this, the leaders should not state preference initially. This influences the group and affects the decisions made. Self-Appointed mind guards: this is also as a result of close mindedness, and the avoidance of troublesome ideas, these mind guards are usually to protect the leader. To prevent this symptom, a devil’s advocate should be appointed within the group and the sole purpose should be to critique every decision and look for flaws in it. This individual should ensure that alternatives are explored extensively. Stereotyping: Excessive stereotyping is a major symptom of groupthink; this happens when the group members start forming and constructing negative stereotypes of other rival groups (Janis, 2009). This happens especially if the other group’s opinions or ideas are not the same as theirs. This leads to the group shunning any external input leading to a decision that is a result of close mindedness. This can be prevented in decision making environments by always discussing what is happening with others outside the group (Marlene & Antony, 1998). With this, diversity is brought into the group and the decision in question will have been vetted by different individuals not just the group members, this makes the decision so much better. Pressure for conformity: Another symptom of groupthink is the m embers pressure anyone in the group that expresses an opinion or argument that is against their beliefs or ideas. They make this member or members feel that they have to conform. They make them feel that expressing an idea different from theirs is a sign of disloyalty. So in situation where a member might have a differing opinion they do not express it because they want to

Contemporary issues in management assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Contemporary issues in management - Assignment Example This paper makes a critical analysis regarding the innovation management practices adopted by two well known companies of the world. The names of these companies include Apple Inc. and Haier Group. These companies are well placed into consumer electronic industry and are known for their innovative practices at workplace. This paper aims at making critical analysis of organisational culture and human resource management practices in these two companies and their influence upon creativity and innovation of both the organisation. When we talk about innovation and management of innovation in the context of Consumer electronics, we cannot help talking about Apple Inc. It is considered as one of the most leading companies in the field of technology in today’s world. Initially, it was started with a scratch and grew rapidly in such a way that became a symbol of innovation in technology. It is known worldwide that no company can sustain in the market without innovation and creativity and when it comes to consumer electronic devices, continuous innovation and creativity becomes a prerequisite in order to survive and succeed in the market. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. and a great innovator once said, â€Å"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower† (Gillam 2012). Apple Inc. has set up itself as one of the most prominent companies in industry of consumer electronics. It has made the most significant position in both hardware as well as software through constant innovation and creativity. It was established in 1976 and since that day, it has been continuously focusing on innovation. It has made a great impact on society through its various major innovative products and features in the field of consumer electronics such as Trackpad, Mouse, GUI, iMac , iBook, iTunes, iPhone, iPod, iPad and so on (OGRADY 2008). Research and development is an integral part of any company especially when dealing in consumer

Concerned With Voluntary Euthanasia

Concerned With Voluntary Euthanasia J. David Velleman and Dan W. Brock are both concerned with voluntary euthanasia; a competent patient making a voluntary request to have his or her life ended. The arguments laid out in Vellemans, Against the Right to Die, and Brocks, Voluntary Active Euthanasia deal with active and passive voluntary euthanasia. Active being that the patient actively takes the last step in their death, while passive is usually defined as withdrawing medical treatment with intent to cause death. They do not consider cases involving involuntary euthanasia, when the patient is competent and refuses treatment. Nor do they consider non voluntary euthanasia, when the patient isnt competent at all. Many people believe that giving legality to voluntary active euthanasia (VAE) will in turn lead to involuntary and nonvoluntary euthanasia, the slippery slope fallacy, but for the purposes of this paper Im only concerned with VAE. Both authors agree that anyone could possibly be morally entitled to be allowed or h elped to die. However, Velleman argues against an institutional right to die. He believes that making the choice of voluntary active euthanasia available to the people can make them worse off even if they choose the option that is best for them. The ability to make a choice makes one worse off than going with the default option. In this paper, Im going to analyze Vellemans arguments while explaining how Brock responded to Vellemans arguments. To keep the integrity of each authors thoughts, I am going to use similar word phases which will be identified in quotes and later labeled with the paper number of reference. Velleman agrees that we have an obligation to assist some deaths, however he disagrees with those who use Kantian terms to justify such an obligation. He explains that voluntary active euthanasia deals with two major rights a person has, according to Kantian moral theory. They have the right to dignity and their autonomy. A multitude of life-preserving treatments are said to, violate a persons dignity or to detain him in an undignified state (Velleman, pg 2). A patient has the right of autonomy, or self-determinism, which is that we respect his/her competent wishes even if its a wish to die. Velleman goes on to explain how these rights become confusing when dealing with Kantian language in the terms of medical ethics. He has reservations about the loose definitions which dont match up with the extreme states of patients who are in question while dealing with euthanasia. Because of these qualms, Velleman disregards these Kantian-based arguments and moves on. Aside from problems in definition, VAE is dealing with other peoples autonomy. If laws are to be made which prohibit this autonomy, than these laws should make people better off. Velleman feels he has an answer to this dilemma which leads to his second argument against the option of euthanasia being given to patients, but unlike the first, this reason is consequentialist. When Velleman speaks of his consequentialist reasoning, he isnt referring to the consequences of mistakingly choosing to die, but instead, the consequences of placing such an option in the hands of the patient. He believes that giving patients this option will actually make them worse off. Im going to explain how Velleman attempts to prove this and then give the objections laid out by Brock. Contrary to natural thought, if we are given a second option besides the default, it will make us worse off than before no matter which option is chosen. Velleman explains this idea with an example of a cashier who is given the power to open the safe. Its not that the cashier doesnt directly want the power, but rather, it would make him a target for robbers. Even though opening the safe while at gun point would be the right thing to do, hed be wishing hed never been given the option of doing it (Velleman, pg 8). This makes him worse off because he can no longer have the default option, not being forced to open the safe at gun point, without choosing it. Multiple options become available and he is now subject to the pressures of possibility. Relative to euthanasia, this is the most important way of harm. We would be denying a patient the status quo of staying alive by default, with the option of euthanasia looming over his head. Because of this, the patient will now see himself in con trol of his own survival, which is ordinarily viewed as given to him. If the patient sees himself as this agent of control, then he will be held responsible for his actions by himself and others. He would then be required to justify his actions, whether it be his continued existence or choice of euthanasia. The burden of justifying ones existence might make existence unbearable and hence unjustifiable. (Velleman, pg 11) It may be perceived as insecurity, but justifying oneself personally and to others is extremely important to those who are ill. When the gift of independent activity is taken from someone, personal intercourse and intercourse with others is the only relief left in life. And so, unless he can defend his existence to the satisfaction of others, his only reasons for life may disappear. A patient who believes that his terminal illness is not an ample reason for ending his life with be faced with the burden of proof. Even if the patient believes that his life is worth living, he may find reasons to assume that those around him think otherwi se. Reasons ranging from the financial or the emotional costs of prolonging life may cause him to rationally judge that he is better off taking the option of euthanasia (Velleman, pg 12-13). Therefore, Velleman believes that if we offer the option of dying, than we may give patients new reason to choose death. Through the preceding arguments, Velleman is lead to believe that euthanasia should be permissible in some cases, yet still forbidden in others. However, he doubts that policymakers could define such conditions in which the option of dying would be beneficial and when the option of dying would be harmful. This leads him think that the best solution to the problem is allowing health professionals to decide. They should be given the power to permit, and never require, the option of euthanasia or to grant the patients request for it (Velleman, pg 19). It would be possible define certain conditions when the option should never be offered, but we cannot define conditions when euthanasia should always be offered. If put into effect, caregivers could withhold the option whenever they see fit, even when requested. Velleman claims that we already put so much trust into health professionals that this would serve as an effective solution. However, he still believes that the best policy of eutha nasia is no policy at all. Velleman states that he is inclined to believe that advances in medical technology have outrun the capacity of institutional rules to regulate their application. (Velleman, pg 20) And so, the policy regarding euthanasia should be weak and vague by design, left up to the individual health care professionals and the patient in question. (Velleman, pg 20) Dan W. Brock takes the opposite stance as J. David Velleman, believing that there should be an established institutional right to die, as stated in his article, Voluntary Active Euthanasia. He lays out many positive and negative potential consequences of euthanasia, but feels strongest about protecting patients right to autonomy. I will briefly explain some potential positive and negative consequences of euthanasia, but will focus more on his direct responses to Vellemans argument. Some potential good consequences of euthanasia include: giving the general public a broader sense of control over their life and death, showing mercy to suffering patients, and once death is undeniable in certain cases its more humane to do it quickly. Some potential bad consequences of euthanasia include: its not compatible with physicians moral and professional commitment as healers; to protect life, and euthanasia could weaken societys commitment to providing optimal care to the sick. Brock directly calls out Vallemans solution to the euthanasia problem and refutes it. Velleman argues that offering the option of euthanasia would make patients worse off than if not given the option at all. This leads Velleman to conclude the best solution is health care professionals having the power to permit, and never require, (Velleman, pg 19) the option of euthanasia or to grant the patients request for it. In doing so, situations in which there are unmistakable and over- powering reasons for persons to want the option of euthanasia (Brock, pg 19) would be the only cases granted it. Brock lists three main reasons why such restrictions wouldnt lead to the best outcome. First, polls and other evidence tend to show that most Americans do, in fact, believe that euthanasia should be allowed. Consequently, the amount of people made worse off by having the option wont outweigh those made better by having the option. Second, if people would be made worse off by the option of a right t o die, than why dont we see any consequences of voluntary passive euthanasia? People already have the option to refuse life-sustaining treatment and there is no evidence of harmful effects or public desire to take away such right. How would establishing an institutional right to active euthanasia make any difference? To this argument, Velleman has a refute. He states that the option of refusing life-sustaining treatment to end ones life may be just as harmful as having the option of active euthanasia. However, the proportions of deaths that occur as a result of passive euthanasia is very small, making the side-effects very small as well. Also, these side effects are to be accepted as an unavoidable byproduct of protecting the right not to be assaulted. Assaulted in this case as morally entitled to refuse treatment because we are morally entitled to not be drugged or punctured with needles. Third, there is a wide range of conditions that are reasonably disagreed about in the terms of euthanasia. If Velleman suggests restricting euthanasia to persons whose conditions indisputably call for it, than we would be denying the most amount of people who want it. In conclusion, Velleman and Brock disagree on whether to establish an institutional right to die or not. Velleman argues that establishing such a right would burden those given the option of euthanasia, that to offer an option of dying gives new reasons to end ones life. Because of this, he suggests the solution of a weak and vague euthanasia policy by design, left up to the individual health care professionals and the patient in question. Brock argues for an institutional right to die. He lists possible positive and negative outcomes and directly refutes Vellemans conclusion with three arguments. Brock and Velleman could go back and forth all day arguing and refuting each other. However, I believe that they disagree in the simple fundamentals of the situation. Brock believes that an individuals well-being and control over his or her own life far outweighs any impact on society, while Velleman believes that even the option would make patients and society worse off overall.

Ceremony By Leslie Silko :: essays research papers

Ceremony by Leslie Silko The novel Ceremony, written by Leslie Silko deals with the actions of a Native American youth after fighting, and being held captive during World War II. The young mans name is Tayo and upon returning to the U.S., and eventually reservation life he has many feelings of estrangement and apathy towards society. The novel discusses many topics pertaining to Native Americans, through the eyes of Tayo and a few female characters. The novel is one that you must decide for yourself what you believe, and why certain ideas or characters points of view are important. When reading the novel Ceremony, you must decide what you actually believe, and what situations were only figments of Tayo's stressed mind. Many of these situations occur throughout the book, some are very clear and others have hidden meanings. On a whole I believed what Tayo had to say about the world from his shoes. There are certain instinces that I know what Tayo is seeing is completely impossible. In Ceremony one must decide why and how the women's perspective is of importance. I believe the reason the women's view is to put a different perspective upon everything that goes on in the book, as compared with the perspective of Tayo. There are two women in the book who put their perspective into the story, one of them is the elderly mistress of Josiah and the other one is Helen Jean who went on one of the many joyrides that Harley and the others went on. These women are actually just a way for the author to explain how the rest of society viewed Tayo. An example of this is when Helen Jean describes Tayo "Too quiet, and not very friendly(161)". Another thing this allows the author to do is to show how the War affected the young women from the reservations. She is able to show you how Helen Jeans life was in just a few pages. Silko was able to show how the Native American war veterans looked to anyone who happened to look upon them, but that wasn't one of them. The perspective of the women also helped to debunk a lot of the stories the men told about the war and their various conquests etc. Another item for discussion that comes up in Ceremony is what did you as a reader actually learn? Well I learned many things that I found to be interesting,

A Balanced Score Card

The most important thing to having a successful business is to have the most up to date information. If you have all the information at your fingertips it can help you to make the best possible decisions. What kind of information is available and how do we sort through it and use this information? In the hospitality industry the amount of information received everyday is overwhelming, and it isn’t possible for staff to be able to sort through it and organize it properly. In the hospitality industry the information technologies are the tools that the staff uses to sort and manage the information and the balanced score card is just one such tool. The Balanced Score Card is a very useful tool for managers because it organizes information from different departments to create a picture of the hotels operations and the success of those operations. The Balanced Score Card is a tool that is used by business professionals, the information that this found on this card is useful to the managers for a variety of reasons. However the primary use is to monitor the organizations progress towards it vision and its mission. The information is like a snapshot of the health of the business. This tool allows manager to identify areas that need improvement, ones that are doing well and what might be future opportunities. (Nyheim &McFadden, 2007) In the balanced score card the data that is used is collected by many different departments. One of the main types of information found on the balanced score card is financial information. Some other information that can also be found on the card includes such things as information on employees, the turnover rate, and also promotions. There is also equipment functionality and learning and growth of the company that is found on the card. One last thing that is present on the card is customer information and it may include such things as customer satisfaction; 3 returning customers, and the overall experiences and suggestions made by the customers. With all the information collected from many departments in the hotel this is used to create the finished product which is known as a balanced score card. There is a vast amount of information that is collected by departments using a PMS or RMS that deals with customers such departments includes housekeeping, front desk and the food and beverage department. There are some other departments that collect data such as accounting, marketing, and sales. All the information that is collected from these departments is used to create the balanced score card, and this information is used to show strengths and weakness within the hotel. The different departments can then focus on their area of information that pertains to them; this allows emphasis to be focused where it is needed to make the changes necessary to get the departments where they need to be with goals, missions and visions for the future of the hotel. One important thing that the balanced score card can do is determine room rates for different times of the year and different days of the week. These initial rates of a room are computed by using wage cost per room, annual operating profit per room, and the cost of maintenance on each room, then by comparing the score card from prior years management can tell where occupancy is higher or lower and be able to adjust for that with the room rates. If the hotel has a slow time then marketing and sales can create special packages or rates to get people to fill the rooms. It is better to rent the room at a lower rate than to fill the room instead of leaving rates the same and the room stay empty, because if it’s empty there is no profit. Within the hotel industry the food and beverage department uses a form of RMS, it contains three components to compile data for their department, a point of sales system, inventory and 4 menu management, and also reservation and table management. The information is then taken and is used to create the balanced score card along with information from other departments. There are many ways the food and everage department can use this information, such as staffing needs, and also the efficiency of the current staff. It can also help to access the relationship between the food and beverage department and its vendors and then changes can be made if necessary. Managers can use the information to make sure that the department is meeting their budget and its goals for the hotel. There is also customer experiences that are collected on the balanced score card, and this information can help managers improve to better fit the needs of customers. The information on the card can also show the managers the busy time of year and the slow time which helps in ordering inventory, when specials need to be ran and when the department may need to hire more staff. The balanced score card information is very helpful for managers to be able to know when to hire for different departments. Because of the hotels off seasons in spring and fall, the hotel may need less employees for one department and still need the same amount in another department so by looking at the balanced score card it is easier to determine. It can be used by managers for staffing, such as extra weekend staff during the busy season, or a holiday weekend and this information is all found on the balanced score card. There are some other examples of information that can be found such as to much staff in one department, unnecessary overtime, if a full time employee is receiving hours due to the off season, and even if a staff can be promoted or moved to a different department. The success of any hotel is dependent on its staff and the information provided by the balanced score card is valuable in learning this information. 5 When management looks at the balanced score card they have many choices they should consider. Some of these choices might include profit and employee satisfaction within the company. It is very important as far as profit because a company needs profits to stay open, and as far as employees it is important because to do a job to the best of their ability it helps to have happy employees. The profit is one of the information that is shown on the balanced score card, accounting can look at this and know if marketing and sales need to make adjustment in rates of rooms, or other areas. One way to increase profits through marketing would be making changes to rooms, what kind of amenities are offered and doing promotions or discounts to help bring the profits up. The satisfaction of employees and their environment the input of employees are also included in the balanced score card. This will help management to adjust the environment to help with the employees so they are happy and more willing to perform well on their job and that is an important key in customer service. The Balanced Score Card is a very important tool for the use of management to make changes and improve areas or departments when needed. The information or data that is found on a balanced score card has so many valuable uses for all departments of the hotel and is so important in all areas from staffing to making up profits. It is by far one of the most useful tools in the hospitality industry today. References Technology Strategies- Nyheim,P.D.,F.M.,& Connolly,D.J. (2007) http://www.prenhall.com/nyheim Technology Strategies for the Hospitality Industry http://www.hospitalityguild.com/books.technology_strategies_for_the_h.htm A Balanced Score Card The most important thing to having a successful business is to have the most up to date information. If you have all the information at your fingertips it can help you to make the best possible decisions. What kind of information is available and how do we sort through it and use this information? In the hospitality industry the amount of information received everyday is overwhelming, and it isn’t possible for staff to be able to sort through it and organize it properly. In the hospitality industry the information technologies are the tools that the staff uses to sort and manage the information and the balanced score card is just one such tool. The Balanced Score Card is a very useful tool for managers because it organizes information from different departments to create a picture of the hotels operations and the success of those operations. The Balanced Score Card is a tool that is used by business professionals, the information that this found on this card is useful to the managers for a variety of reasons. However the primary use is to monitor the organizations progress towards it vision and its mission. The information is like a snapshot of the health of the business. This tool allows manager to identify areas that need improvement, ones that are doing well and what might be future opportunities. (Nyheim &McFadden, 2007) In the balanced score card the data that is used is collected by many different departments. One of the main types of information found on the balanced score card is financial information. Some other information that can also be found on the card includes such things as information on employees, the turnover rate, and also promotions. There is also equipment functionality and learning and growth of the company that is found on the card. One last thing that is present on the card is customer information and it may include such things as customer satisfaction; 3 returning customers, and the overall experiences and suggestions made by the customers. With all the information collected from many departments in the hotel this is used to create the finished product which is known as a balanced score card. There is a vast amount of information that is collected by departments using a PMS or RMS that deals with customers such departments includes housekeeping, front desk and the food and beverage department. There are some other departments that collect data such as accounting, marketing, and sales. All the information that is collected from these departments is used to create the balanced score card, and this information is used to show strengths and weakness within the hotel. The different departments can then focus on their area of information that pertains to them; this allows emphasis to be focused where it is needed to make the changes necessary to get the departments where they need to be with goals, missions and visions for the future of the hotel. One important thing that the balanced score card can do is determine room rates for different times of the year and different days of the week. These initial rates of a room are computed by using wage cost per room, annual operating profit per room, and the cost of maintenance on each room, then by comparing the score card from prior years management can tell where occupancy is higher or lower and be able to adjust for that with the room rates. If the hotel has a slow time then marketing and sales can create special packages or rates to get people to fill the rooms. It is better to rent the room at a lower rate than to fill the room instead of leaving rates the same and the room stay empty, because if it’s empty there is no profit. Within the hotel industry the food and beverage department uses a form of RMS, it contains three components to compile data for their department, a point of sales system, inventory and 4 menu management, and also reservation and table management. The information is then taken and is used to create the balanced score card along with information from other departments. There are many ways the food and everage department can use this information, such as staffing needs, and also the efficiency of the current staff. It can also help to access the relationship between the food and beverage department and its vendors and then changes can be made if necessary. Managers can use the information to make sure that the department is meeting their budget and its goals for the hotel. There is also customer experiences that are collected on the balanced score card, and this information can help managers improve to better fit the needs of customers. The information on the card can also show the managers the busy time of year and the slow time which helps in ordering inventory, when specials need to be ran and when the department may need to hire more staff. The balanced score card information is very helpful for managers to be able to know when to hire for different departments. Because of the hotels off seasons in spring and fall, the hotel may need less employees for one department and still need the same amount in another department so by looking at the balanced score card it is easier to determine. It can be used by managers for staffing, such as extra weekend staff during the busy season, or a holiday weekend and this information is all found on the balanced score card. There are some other examples of information that can be found such as to much staff in one department, unnecessary overtime, if a full time employee is receiving hours due to the off season, and even if a staff can be promoted or moved to a different department. The success of any hotel is dependent on its staff and the information provided by the balanced score card is valuable in learning this information. 5 When management looks at the balanced score card they have many choices they should consider. Some of these choices might include profit and employee satisfaction within the company. It is very important as far as profit because a company needs profits to stay open, and as far as employees it is important because to do a job to the best of their ability it helps to have happy employees. The profit is one of the information that is shown on the balanced score card, accounting can look at this and know if marketing and sales need to make adjustment in rates of rooms, or other areas. One way to increase profits through marketing would be making changes to rooms, what kind of amenities are offered and doing promotions or discounts to help bring the profits up. The satisfaction of employees and their environment the input of employees are also included in the balanced score card. This will help management to adjust the environment to help with the employees so they are happy and more willing to perform well on their job and that is an important key in customer service. The Balanced Score Card is a very important tool for the use of management to make changes and improve areas or departments when needed. The information or data that is found on a balanced score card has so many valuable uses for all departments of the hotel and is so important in all areas from staffing to making up profits. It is by far one of the most useful tools in the hospitality industry today. References Technology Strategies- Nyheim,P.D.,F.M.,& Connolly,D.J. (2007) http://www.prenhall.com/nyheim Technology Strategies for the Hospitality Industry http://www.hospitalityguild.com/books.technology_strategies_for_the_h.htm

Rock essays

Rock essays During the Doors concert in Miami, in 1969, lead singer Jim Morrison, "did lewdly and lasciviously expose his penis and shake it. . ." (Rosen et al. 90). Today, Billy Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, bares all at his concert in Philadelphia (Bernstein 95). The eccentric Courtney Love will rip off her bra for the audience to marvel and glorify at her action (Bernstein 95). She acts in such a fashion because she is insane and wants to prove it to the world, where as Billy Joe just performs naked for the shock value and the love of hearing tabloids and gossip. Both performers of past and present conducted strange acts on stage for the shock value and attention, but with performers of old, it reflected their life and what they were really like. Today's performers, however, do not act like that in real life, for the most part. Today, performers take on challenges, like the dare of a child. . . "Betcha won't do it!" These rock performers cannot turn down a dare or back away from even the slightest bit of public notoriety. By listening to one of their "questionable" albums, it is easily noticeable how they thrive off of it. All of these performers do have one thing in common, at one time or another, censorship made them victims because of their social unacceptable actions or the content of their music and lyrics. While censorship is slightly more realistic and open-minded (no more censoring performers from the waist down, like Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan show), it still affects listeners and their choice of music quite significantly. Although the government, music associations, and other various groups try censorship, the music a person chooses is still, and always should be, his choice. Some children are too young for the exposure to certain types of music. Albums containing sexually explicit lyrics depicting sexualacts in great detail are not good for young children to ...

Free Essays on Overcoming The Odds

Overcoming the Odds Women are viewed different than men are with regards to their gender roles. Women’s gender roles in a general sense are the homemaker, mother, wife, and sex object. In movies women are often put into roles that are exceptable to women’s rights groups as well as unexceptable. In the movie G.I Jane the main character Jordan who is a woman is selected to participate in a test that would allow a woman to take part in the Navy Seals training program. Until now it was unheard of to see a woman try to pass this rigorous training. Jordan deals with double standard rules at the start, eventually speaking with the captain so she is treated as equally as the rest of the men. She prevails at the end and proves that a woman can complete the training just like a man could. In this movie women are portrayed as not being capable of completing such a rigorous task that is designed for men. Women’s rights groups would be supportive of this movie due to Jordan’s drive to co mplete a male’s task that nobody thought she could do. In the movie G.I Jane there are a few relationships that play a big role in defining Jordan’s character. Her relationship with her boyfriend Royce plays the first part of discrimination against women going into Navy Seal training. Although he looks at the situation from a loving relationship standpoint he feels that she will not be able to complete the training. Royce looks at Jordan just like all the other men when she arrived at the Navy base. Jordan also known as Lieutenant O ‘ Neal arrives at the Navy base greeted by vulgar males in the cafeteria making comments and whistling at her. The male trainees treated her like she does not belong there and they think she is a joke. Jordan sticks up for herself and wants to prove that women can finish this training program as well as men can. They look at her because she is woman and therefore, â€Å"Our art, not our lives, to often presents us as a... Free Essays on Overcoming The Odds Free Essays on Overcoming The Odds Overcoming the Odds Women are viewed different than men are with regards to their gender roles. Women’s gender roles in a general sense are the homemaker, mother, wife, and sex object. In movies women are often put into roles that are exceptable to women’s rights groups as well as unexceptable. In the movie G.I Jane the main character Jordan who is a woman is selected to participate in a test that would allow a woman to take part in the Navy Seals training program. Until now it was unheard of to see a woman try to pass this rigorous training. Jordan deals with double standard rules at the start, eventually speaking with the captain so she is treated as equally as the rest of the men. She prevails at the end and proves that a woman can complete the training just like a man could. In this movie women are portrayed as not being capable of completing such a rigorous task that is designed for men. Women’s rights groups would be supportive of this movie due to Jordan’s drive to co mplete a male’s task that nobody thought she could do. In the movie G.I Jane there are a few relationships that play a big role in defining Jordan’s character. Her relationship with her boyfriend Royce plays the first part of discrimination against women going into Navy Seal training. Although he looks at the situation from a loving relationship standpoint he feels that she will not be able to complete the training. Royce looks at Jordan just like all the other men when she arrived at the Navy base. Jordan also known as Lieutenant O ‘ Neal arrives at the Navy base greeted by vulgar males in the cafeteria making comments and whistling at her. The male trainees treated her like she does not belong there and they think she is a joke. Jordan sticks up for herself and wants to prove that women can finish this training program as well as men can. They look at her because she is woman and therefore, â€Å"Our art, not our lives, to often presents us as a...

Identify and discuss the influence of sustainable development on Essay

Identify and discuss the influence of sustainable development on public health - Essay Example Next, it highlights the positive impact that sustainable health has on public health and how sustainable social, economic and environmental development can help in improving public health in a stable manner. Development is integral to the modern world, but if the development is not sustainable, it is possible that the entire balance of the system may go awry. Hence, it is necessary to ensure that development is sustainable. While most discussions related to sustainable development focus on how it effects the environment and society, it is also necessary to understand that it has an impact on public health. Rio Declaration of 1992 on Environment Development by the United Nations states that as human beings are in the center of all issues related to sustainable development, it is necessary that they remain healthy and in tandem with nature (United Nations, 1992). Therefore, public health is a critical feature of any sustainable development policy. Health and well-being are the pivots around which economical, socio-political and environmental stability centers around, as shown in the figure below (Price and Dube, 1997). 3. Unsustainable environmental development can lead to degradation of the natural environment because of spread of toxic residues from wastes, climate change and depletion of natural resources. Some examples include Climate change can result in floods, water related diseases, change in temperature patterns and loss of fertile land/natural harbors. Health wise, it can lead to skin cancer, higher concentration of toxic elements in the air, leading to respiratory diseases and skin diseases (Griffiths and Stewart, 2007) 4. Unsustainable economic development will result in unequal distribution of the resources - with some segments of the society getting all the benefits, where as with some others struggling for the resources. It can also result in overconsumption and

Political economy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Political economy - Term Paper Example Not only do these nations face internal challenges but they also have to contend with massive amounts of debt that they owe to developed countries. This issue will be the focus of the rest of the essay, which will elaborate on the merits and demerits attached to the policy of totally writing-off the debt owed by the most impoverished of Third World nations. Firstly, there is a strong case to be made for total debt relief from a post-colonial reparation perspective. Most countries that presently fall under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) category are former colonies for European imperialism. The HIPC group is predominantly comprised of countries from Africa and Asia. A primary reason for their prevailing impoverished economy was the exploitation suffered by them during the colonial period. Similarly, the prevailing political chaos in most of these countries is partly due to the abrupt transition of power from the imperialists to the local elite – a transition that did not make provisions for the establishment of democratic institutions and processes. The HIPC Initiative conceived and proposed by the World Bank and its agencies is one of the methods through which Third World Debt could be reduced. In other words, the initiative is intended to â€Å"release resources for poverty reduction, increase incentives for reform s, and remove a deterrent for both domestic and foreign investors† (Cappelen, et. al, 2007, p.69)). According to the World Bank, as of June 2006 "nominal debt service relief of more than US$59 billion has been approved for 29 countries through the HIPC Initiative, reducing their Net Present Value of external debt by approximately two-thirds. Of these countries, 19 have reached the completion point and have been granted unconditional debt service relief of over US$37 billion." (Cappelen, et. al, 2007,