Ptlls 008 Roles, Responsibilities Essay

Important to define the terms prior to listing the entities which may impact on my work: Legislative requirement: A duty to act according to the law as defined in an Act of Parliament and usually enforceable through the courts. Code of Practice: A set of rules outlining how a person in a particular profession or situation is expected to behave. Statutory Code of Practice: A Code of Practice approved by Parliament and admissible as evidence in any legal action. The Children Act (2004) – Every Child Matters underpinned the Change For Children agenda. The Act came into being following the death of Victoria Climbie. The Act is applicable to children and vulnerable adults up to the age of 25. Focused on five specific outcomes for children: Be healthy Stay Safe Enjoy and Achieve Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well-being Protection of Children Act (1991) – gave local authorities to investigates cases of child abuse. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) – introduced a vetting and barring service for those working with children and vulnerable adults. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (previously CRB checks). Code of Professional Practice (2008) – introduced by the Lifelong Learning Sector. The code is based on 7 behaviours expected of teachers. Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988) – relates to copying and adapting materials. The Data Protection (1998) – relates to information held on people by others. Education and Skills Act (2008) – aimed at increasing participation in learning. The Equality Act (2010) – brought all the areas of discrimination: race, sex, disability, race into one Act. The 2010 Act identifies 9 areas of discrimination. Freedom Of Information Act (2000) – individuals can ask to see the information held on them Health and Safety At Work (1974) – imposes obligations on all to operate within a safe and healthy environment Human Rights Act (1998) – basic rights for all The Further Education Teacher’s Qualifications (England) Regulations (2007) – professional status for teachers in FE and a qualification route GRAVELLS, A. (2012) Preparing To Teach In The Lifelong Learning Sector 1. 2 Analyse own responsibilities for promoting equality and valuing diversity The definition of equality is to treat everybody equally, especially in terms of status, rights and opportunities. The 2010 Equality Act brought together a number of different pieces of legislation which means it is unlawful to discriminate against people on the grounds of pay, sex, race and disability. Diversity means being aware that every person is unique, not only because of their visible differences such as race, age or disability, but also non visible differences, religion, social background, economic status or political beliefs. Inclusion is about being objective and looking beyond first impressions. It’s about diversity and breaking down barriers, changing lives and promoting equality. Within my role it’s important for me to base my practice around the concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion and keep an open mind. Without an open mind I may not support all people equally to recognise their potential and achieve their aspirations. Discrimination could then be argued to have occurred as students would not have been treated equally.

Back Titration Essay

Synopsis The objective of this experiment is to determine the percentage by mass of calcium carbonate,CaCO3 in toothpaste using back titration technique. A known weight portion of toothpaste is obtained to react with known volume and concentration of standard acid solution. After completing the reaction, the resulting solution containing excess acid is back titrated with known volume and concentration of standard base solution. Determination of excess acid after reaction allow us to calculate the amount of acid react with CaCO3 in toothpaste sample. My result for this experiment shows that 19.6% of calcium carbonate presents in toothpaste sample. In conclusion,CaCO3 only made up approximately one fifth of toothpaste sample, toothpaste derived from a variety of component such as fluoride, water and detergent. Since the result obtained approaching 20%, saying that most of the error is avoided, the chemical reaction in this experiment is rapid and complete with no side reaction, determination of concentration of reactant is accurate, it is a successful experiment. Introduction The purpose of this experiment is to improve the understanding of practical application of back titration. Back titration is designed to resolve the problems encountered with forward titration. Back titration can be used for many reasons: when the analyte is volatile or insoluble in water; when the analyte contains impurities that interfere with forward titration; when the end point is difficult to identify in forward titration; when the analyte react slowly with titrant in forward titration.In this experiment, a weighted portion of toothpaste is analysed to determine the percentage by mass of CaCO3 present in the toothpaste sample. Back titration technique is applied in this experiment instead of forward titration.This is because the substance being analysed, toothpaste is insoluble in water but soluble in acid. Theory Titration is the scientific techinique of volumetric analysis used to determine the concentration of unknown solution which involves the direct and stepwise addition of standard titrant to the analyte until the reaction  reach neutralization.Back titration is also a kind of titration.It is called titration done in reverse because it is not carried out with the solution whose concentration of substance being analysed is required to be known as in the case of normal titration.In figuring out the concentration of an analyte(toothpaste,CaCO3),back titration works by reacting the analyte with a known number of moles of excess intermediate reactant(hydrochloric acid,HCl). The reaction goes past the equivalence point. The amount of intermediate reactant is in excess in the reaction with analyte.The resulting mixture containing excess of intermediate reactant is then titrated back with known volume and concentration of titrant(sodium hydroxide,NaOH). Knowledge of stoichiometry of the react ion allow the concetration of the analyte in the original solution related to the amount of reagent used. Procedure Materials was prepared and equipment was cleaned with distilled water if necessary.10 ml of 0.16M of standard HCl was measured and pipetted into a clean conical flask. Approximately 0.1-0.2g of toothpaste was removed using a glass rod from the container and the exact weight of toothpaste sample was recorded. The glass rod with weighted toothpaste was placed in the conical flask which contained 10ml of 0.16M of standard HCl. Toothpaste was dislodged completely from the glass rod into the conical flask. About 10ml of deionised water was added to wash down the toothpaste from the glass rod.A funnel was inserted in the flask and the flask was gently heated to boil over a hot plate for 3-5 minutes until the reaction was complete. The funnel and the side wall of the flask was rinsed with small amount of deionised water. The mixture in the flask was allowed to cool to room temperature.A clean graduated burette was prepared and the inside of burette was rinsed with NaOH solution. Rinsing procedure was repeated.The graduated burette was filled with excess amount of 0.08M NaOH solution. Some solution was allowed to drain out through stopcock to a waste beaker.The burette was clamped securely to a retord stand.1-2 drops of methyl orange indicator was added to conical flask and it was swirled. The conical flask was placed under the burette.The initial burette reading was read and recorded.To begin titrating the excess HCl with NaOH, The stopcock was opened all the way and  the flask was swirled.As the end point was approached, the rate of addition of HCl into the NaOH was decreased to drop by drop.The end point reached when the colour of mixture changed from red or pink to orange.The final burette reading of NaOH solution was read and recorded.The titration was repeated twice.

The Broadway fountain in Madison Indiana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Broadway fountain in Madison Indiana - Essay Example This fountain is known as the Broadway Fountain (Save Our Heritage Organization 1) A sculptor known as Felix Peano made a design for the bronze eagle finial and three panels. Above the columns of the plaza is a decoration proclaiming â€Å"Broadway Fountain for the People† (Gresham 2). Architect Gill had won the job to design the plaza again beating twelve other entries. Gill’s design was beautiful and was welcomed and accepted by the community. However, after a few years other people started to present other plans for redesigning the plaza and the fountain (Gresham 8). In the period of the World War II, it was recommended the removal of the grass walks, palm trees and chains to enable conversion of the plaza into a bus depot for workers during the war. City Parks in San Diego opposed this move, but their opposition bore no fruit in 1943, the City Council modified the building amidst heavy opposition from the public. The sidewalks were widened on both sides and the grass was removed. Asphalt paving was laid around the trees and around the information booths (Save Our Heritage Organization 2) When the Second World War was over, the Park Commission decided to the remove the amenities that had been set in the plaza for the war. Their view was to put a closed off plaza street inside the plaza. Their idea, however, required the removal of the fountain, the palm trees, markers and cannon. These plans and many other plans presented alongside them were not approved by the city (Gresham 10). For several years, the focus was on how to change the design of the plaza or remove it and thus its condition and maintenance were not taken into consideration. By 1955, the state of the plaza had depreciated so much that it could not be ignored. (Save Our Heritage Organization 1) This time, the chamber of commerce was proposing the removal of the fountain, palm trees and the

Principles of economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Principles of economics - Essay Example Also called the transformation curve, the PPC's concept is used in macroeconomics to show the production possibilities available to a nation or economy and also in microeconomics to show the options open to an individual firm. All points on a production possibilities curve are points of maximum productive efficiency or minimum productive inefficiency: resources are allocated such that it is impossible to increase the output of one commodity without reducing the output of the other. That is, there must be a sacrifice - an opportunity cost - for increasing the production of any good. All resources are used appropriately and as completely as possible-without the situation becoming unsustainable (Wikipedia Website). In economics, countries, firms, and individuals have to make choices as to how to use or allocate their resources. Suppose a farmer has to make a decision on buying feeds. He has two choices BRAND A and BRAND B, which are similar in all aspects and differs only on the label. When the farmer decides to use BRAND A, he cannot use the same resources to buy BRAND B. The choices this farmer face and the opportunity cost of buying one good rather than another can be illustrated using a PPC graph. The graph will be a straight line. In this case, the curve represents efficiency and it sh... Let's change the other product to fertilizer. With the increasing cost of fertilizer, the farmer could not afford to buy the feed at exactly the same ratio as buying the same feed, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this case, the opportunity cost increases towards the extreme origin as illustrated in Fig. 2. If for instance, the farmer obtained a new technology in decreasing his usual usage of the fertilizer but with the same effect. This would mean that he could now increase the capital to be used in buying feeds. Thus, an outward shift will be seen in the PPC as illustrated in Fig. 3. In the study of the PPC, it is also of essence to elaborate on the determinants of supply which often causes the shifts of the supply curve. These are: Technology Factor Prices, Number of Suppliers, Expectations of the Future and the Environmental Conditions. A CHANGE IN QUANTITY SUPPLIED means that only the price has changed and a new quantity is supplied along a constant supply curve. A CHANGE (DECREASE OR INCREASE) IN SUPPLY or a SHIFT IN SUPPLY means that a change in amount supplied occurs because of a change (shift) in the position of the supply curve. This SHIFT IN SUPPLY means that one of the other determinants of supply (technology, resource prices, taxes or subsidies, expectations, and the price of other goods produced) has changed (Sosin, 2005). In Fig. 4, resource prices went up so that less is supplied at each price. This shift could also be called a DECREASE IN SUPPLY. 2. a. Rise of Prices of Wheat When the price of wheat is increased, it also means that the price of bread will increase proportionately, since wheat is a main ingredient of

Orgnazational citizenship behavior( carrefour china) Essay

Orgnazational citizenship behavior( carrefour china) - Essay Example Although the Carrefour Foundation did succeed in taking humanitarian initiatives, yet it lacked involvement of the company’s own employees in its efforts. Therefore, the Board of Directors took measures to increase employees’ participation. Food program, professional integration and solidarity were the three core areas at which the Carrefour Foundation specifically focused. Carrefour primarily sells food and grocery products. The Carrefour Foundation has developed links between people and farmers for provision of healthy food. The employees of Carrefour established an organic pepper industry in Shuiruo and Saba and taught the farmers ways to implant certified organic Sichuan peppers. The employees also delivered lectures on personal hygiene to improve health and safety condition in the very villages. In 4 years, Carrefour has contributed up to â‚ ¬90,000 for the program. Fair trade is encouraged by purchasing significant portion of the total crops every year above ma rket value. Carrefour buys the products from farmers and then sells them over in 22 different countries. The foundation has also opened a school for the community and has improved the infrastructure. The program has helped raise the income of farmers, improved their living conditions in general, and has promoted social solidarity (carrefour.com).

Youth and gambling problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Youth and gambling problem - Essay Example The third group involves individuals with some kind of neurological or Neuro-chemical dysfunction. This group is highly vulnerable to problem gambling due to impulsivity and attention deficits (Blaszczynski 2000). Such importance and high emphasize on problem gambling lead to the discussion of impacts that these gambling patterns have on the youth which is the major part of our society and upcoming future. The gambling behaviors in youngsters are closely related to their exposure to gambling in their childhood. They start gambling as an adoption of behaviors they experienced in childhood and if they win in the start their greed to win more empowers them to continue gambling. In the losing phase, they are more likely to win back what they had lost earlier. This urge and empowerment leads to desperation and motivation to bring more money with legal or illegal activities and stay in the game. Such desperation mostly resulted in illegal activities like cheating, stealing, robbing, nonpay ment of debts and so on (Hales 2006, pp. 305-307; National Research Council (US) 1999, pp. 169-171). Effects of Problem Gambling on Youth: Health effects: The younger generation is often exposed to other dangers when they involve in gambling within casinos, gaming zones and other areas covered by private owners. The addiction of gambling alone brings psychological disorders, attention deficits, depression, violent behaviors and aggression. In addition to these threats to psychological and physical well being of younger generation, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, tobacco and other addictives available in the play premises also affect their habits and behaviors towards the addictive things.... The increasingly easier opportunities for gaming and wagering available to clubs, hotels, casinos, gaming zones and increased games of chance like X-Lotto, scratch-tickets, sports betting, internet gambling, Bingo etc. in such places exposes gambling to the younger generation more prominently than ever. Advancements in technology resulted in some easier modes of accessibility to gambling. Internet and mobiles are the best sources of easily available components to youth for card games gambling, betting and so on. The increasing use of electronic gaming machines (EGM) in such places help the owners to attract more youngsters and involve them in gambling easily. The impacts of gaming and wagering due to the high exposure of electronic gambling to the youth has been a point of debate among the researchers in legislative, social, economic and cultural fields. Sports bars and ‘events based wagering’ are two important areas of discussion for their impacts on the youth as these are specifically aimed to target younger population. We can say that problem gambling cannot be described simply as a social behavior as generic, neurological, psychological and biological effects are also involved in describing the problem gambling behaviors. The negative impacts discussed are important to be addressed and restricted. Problem gambling may influence a child’s social, personal, economic, financial and educational life negatively. Hence, awareness and restrictions on gambling for children and younger population is necessary. The role of parents, elder siblings and teachers cannot be ignored in this regard as youngsters tend to adopt behaviors which they observe in their loved ones.

Wine Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Wine Industry - Essay Example Among the new player is the New Zealand Wine Industry, even though it has a low base in 1980s at just about 4.5 million dollars in export, now it has exceeded it initial targets by 50%. The New Zealand Wine Industry was dominated by four major players that account for almost 80% of all exports and 16% is accounted from the 17 medium sized wineries. Almost all these wineries export a third of their production volume. One of this medium sized winery is the Coopers Creek (Case Study, 2001). Coopers Creek was established by Andrew and Cynthia Hendry in 1980. Andrew being a former worker in a wine company and Cynthia on pate making venture proved to be a right combination. The winery is located between the Huapai and Kumeu region in northwest Auckland that includes a four hectare vineyard. The company was formed with the partnership of its first winemaker, Randy Weaver and vintage and soon after the first label was introduced to the market (www.cooperscreek.com.nz/history.html). The company was arranged in a way that the winemaker, Andrew and the shareholders, made up mostly of grape growers, share a third of the company. He intentionally wanted the winemaker to be a part owner to have a more hands on approach in wine making at the same time joins in major decisions awaiting the company. The growers on the other hand wanted to be paid the highest price for its grape but at the same time as shareholders, they wanted to bargain for lower prices. That is why, as profits were generated, Andrew bought the share of the growers because it became difficult for them to play on both sides. Just after two years, the first Coopers Creek vintage was produced and soon after that the first label was introduced in the local market (Case Study, 2001) . After acquisition of additional vineyards and a new winemaker after Randy returned to the US, Kim Crawford the company continued to explore additional markets. It is their primary objective to grow the grapes where they grow best for best grapes are reflected in their wines. Coopers Creek was then considered to be one of the successful medium-sized winery of the decade and at the same time an 'Award for Excellence in Exporting' was received by the company in 1997. Now, at almost 20 years, the winery is still developing ways to improve its products with its new winemaker Simon Nunns. A steady increase in its production volume was observed in order to meet the local and international demand of its products (www.cooperscreek.com.nz/history.html). Business Background One of the initial strategies utilised by Hendrey was establishing collaboration between local competitors in the west Auckland area. It was during one of his visit in Australia that he observed the collaboration of some Australian wineries locally and he wanted to try the idea in New Zealand. The group regularly meets to decide their next move. They initially formed a joint advertising and promotion relationship with each other that they arranged special tours, special wines and music at each vineyard as part of their marketing strategy. They also collaborate on wine tasting when introducing new wines and labels. As the success of their collaboration on the marketing initiatives was felt, they also decided to collaborate also

The Franklin Fund and Tiffany & Co Research Paper

The Franklin Fund and Tiffany & Co - Research Paper Example Tiffany & Co. is a company with holdings that mainly operates through its subsidiary companies. The company mainly engages in jewelry manufacturing, product designing and retailing activities. However, the major portion of the sales is earned from its jewelry and specialty retailer, Tiffany and Company which operates primarily in North and South America and has stores in United States, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. Apart from these nations, a substantial amount of sale for the company products comes from Asia-Pacific and European countries. A brief history of the company Established first in New York in the year 1830, Tiffany & Co. during its initial years saw great growth prospect in the fancy and stationery goods market. With an advance of $1,000 from Tiffany’s father, 25 years old Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young opened their first store at New York City. Inspired by the natural world, their products bore the mark of harmony, simplicity and clarity, which went on to bec ome the hallmark of the company’s designs ranging from their silver hollowware and flatware to jewelry at later stages. It was in 1867, that Tiffany and Co got international recognition, when a foreign jury at Paris Exposition Universelle handed over the grand prize for silver craftsmanship. As it went on to spread its wings, Tiffany & Co. went on to establish the first American school of design, The Silver Studio. In 1886 the company created another benchmark when it launched the engagement ring Tiffany ® Setting which went on to become a new symbol in the jewelry industry. Tiffany won the greatest of honors and awards and held the leading position in thee world of designer jewelry creation. Tiffany boasted of being one of the most trusted and appreciated jewelry brand for many distinguished personalities of the American society; who preferred Tiffany & Co. over any other jewelry brand. The company continually changed and updated its designs to keep pace with the changing taste of the modern customers. One can get hold of all the legendary design patterns of Tiffany in the annual Blue Book Collection. Published for the first time in 1845 this book catalogues the best of all glamorous and spectacular jewelry created by Tiffany. Today’s version of the catalogue showcases the elite range of diamonds and colored gems that have been encrusted in wide range of precious metals For its elegant style and rich heritage over the past two centuries, Tiffany has gained the reputation of being the ultimate source of gifts for most cherished occasions of life. (Tiffany & Co., 2011). A brief biography of the current CEO Michael J. Kowalski, the chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co. is a renowned jeweler who was appointed as the president of the company back in January 1996.

Integrated Marketing Communications Report Essay - 1

Integrated Marketing Communications Report - Essay Example ting activities combined together perform at a single platform, forming a synergy, whose supplemented energy energizes the organization on the whole – it is all about streamlining marketing activities and all activities moving in the one single direction i.e. the goal or the objective of the organization on the whole or as a single marketing unit as the case may be. This concept has gained significant importance particularly since the time when media started to grow, and from a newspaper to radios and from radios to a single state owned television channel and thereon the multiple growth of the various media and media houses; this trend has led organizations into adopting various channels for their advertisements, so it became very important for these channels to have a synergized message i.e. consistency in the message and in the form that the message is being conveyed. Today, television advertisements are the fundamental set of acts, from which, media houses derive newspaper advertisement, radio advertisements, and so on. And all this is done to convey to the customer one single message i.e. the product being developed and sold is a useful one for them, but competition does not allow this; it attempts at retaining the customer base. The sole terminology that keeps an organization or a business alive in today’s competitive arena is ‘innovation’. More often than not, today, innovation is derived by the customer expectations and values that the customer associate with the planners and strategic think-tanks that formulate a new product launch. Innovation has really been the path-way and concluding a product that the customers expect and want has been the key to this path way. There are many ways and means by which firms analyze and realize the products that the customers expect from them. Once these are developed and created, the uphill task comes in creating the awareness about the product, thereby making the customers aware of the fact that these are the

The People of the State of New York Essay Example for Free

The People of the State of New York Essay Nature of the Case: Appeal upon a verdict convicting defendant of the crimes of assault on a police officer and criminal use of a firearm in the 2nd degree. Concise Rule of Law:Mental Hygiene Law  § 9.41 which permits persons who appear to be mentally ill and acting in a manner that threatens safety of self or others to be taken into custody. The Penal Law  § 120.08 imposes strict liability with respect to the serious injury aspect of a crime. Facts of the Case:In August 2008, McCray alerted Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Office (SDDO) and Franklin County Emergency Services he was armed and had intended on commit suicide. McCray was eventually found in a canoe to the Raquette River by a variety of police agencies including State Troopers and officers from Department of Environmental Conservation(DEC). This resulted in a standoff for many hours during which McCray maintained aim of the loaded shotgun at himself. A trooper seized an opportunity to grab the gun, along with a DEC officer. A struggle ensued and the gun went off causing massive injuries to a Troopers hand. After being arrested, McCray was charged by indictment with assault on a police officer and criminal use of a firearm in the 2nd degree. Following a trial, McCray was convicted as charged and sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, defendant appeals. Issues of the Case: Was McCray’s mental health status such that he qualified for consideration under Mental Hygiene Law  § 9.41 or Penal Law  § 120.08 which addresses the element of the intent? Did McCray’s attorney represent him effectively? Was his punishment considered harsh or excessive? Holding of the Case: Mental Hygiene  § 9.41 does not impermissibly criminalizes defendant’s mental illness. Penal Law  § 120.08 does not negate the requirement to prove intent. McCray was not impermissibly criminalized. McCray’s attorney had represented him properly. No, it was not excessive or harsh Rationale of the Case: As it is relevant here, Mental Hygiene Law  § 9.41permits a State Trooper to â€Å"take into custody any person who appears to be mentally ill and is conducting himself or herself in a manner which is likely to result in serious harm to the person or others† to detentions made pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law  § 9.41, and Penal Law  § 120.08 does not necessarily criminalize a defendants mental illness, contrary to defendants contention. The claim of ineffective assistance of counsel should have been made as an CPL Article 440 motion to the trial court, but, â€Å"viewed in totality and as of the time of representation,† we find the â€Å"evidence† the law, and the circumstances of [this] particular case†¦the attorney provided meaningful representation.† It is possible for an individual charged with assault on a police officer to present evidence at trial that he or she was mentally ill at the time of the incident, and thus, did not possess the requisite intent to commit the crime. Considering the defendant’s history, which dates back to 1987 and includes several prior firearm-related convictions, and the circumstances of this case does not support that the County Court abused its discretion in sentencing the defendant to the maximum available sentence, nor does it establish extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant a reduction of the sentence in the justice of the interest. The law and the circumstances of this particular case have revealed that the attorney provided meaningful representation. The decision that was imposed on McCrary by the County Court was not harsh or excessive. Disposition of the Case: On June 14, 2012 the judgment was affirmed.

The Main Ideas Behind Human Security Politics Essay

The Main Ideas Behind Human Security Politics Essay The main idea behind human security is to provide peace and security for the citizens both with nation-state and to ensure their protection against threats from the outside. A key source of military battle that gives focus for the Western worlds insight of the risk to human security was detached when the Cold War came to an finish. In fact, as early as the 1970s, the United States extended its explanation of national security to take in global economics, when it became obvious that the US economy was no longer the independent force it had formerly been, but affected by financial policies in a dozen other countries.2 But a fully-fledged dispute about the importance and re-conceptualization of security/protection did not start until the early 1980s.3 Human security is a contained scope. It doesnt cover all important, necessary, and profound features of human living. Rather is classifies and protects a inadequate vital core of human abilities and activities. This many have recently been described by fundamental human rights, or absolute needs, and basic capabilities. This core is a non-technical term which is a concern which lies behind human security. This may be defined or explained in the space of capabilities, the freedom people have to be and to do. Key components of this vital core are essentially human rights, which all persons and organizations are obliges to provide and receive respect, even if these responsibilities are not perfectly specifiable. The freedom and the rights in the vital core relate to survival, to livelihood, and to basic dignity. People which enjoy the rudimentary security as to their livelihood, survival, and self-respect even during awful conditions such as poverty, disaster, and war. The working definition doesnt state the freedoms and rights that relate to the vital core outside recognizing these three categories. The task of arranging among capabilities and rights, each of which is debatable by some to be essential, is a value decision and difficult one, which may be assumed by suitable organizations. Yet this decision is a circuital one if human security is to be effective and realistic. Due to this there is a foreseeable stress between (i) the need for participating engagement and analysis of this core by many, specially by those whose safety is endangered, (ii) the need for NGOs, international agencies, and public associations , among others, clearly to define a vital core and to introduce processes and organizations which prepare to protect it effectively. The imperfect but operational response to this stress is to continue a self-consciously unclear, wide working understanding of human security, and to articulate processes for operationalizing, this defini tion in existing circumstances by controlled organizations, for different populations. The key concept of human security is a people-centered concept. It emphases the attention from different institutions on human security and their societies worldwide. This focus on human beings separates human security from the objective of defending states areas that controlled security policies in the 19th and 20th centuries. Human security changes that focus to individuals despite of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or any other characteristics. The human security approach matches the movement in economic improvement and international policies to move and the emphasis from instrumental focus (such as state rights, and growth) to human development and human rights. In doing this the humans become the end of improvement, not only as a mean to increase efficiency or legal logic, and these different activities become people-centered. The aim of human security is directly on human lives. But in order to protect individuals lives efficiently, actors must identify and deliberately prepare for distinct threats. Threats which are made to humans are critical that is, they threaten to cut into daily or core activities and functions of human lives. Such threats may be sudden- as in economic collapse, but they need not be, for what is defined as threat as critical is its tragic depth rather than the suddenness. Additionally the dangers are pervasive, meaning the treat is at a larger scale example of this might be to do with large amount of populated countries, another is a treat which may come again and again, such threats could be environmental and nuclear, or even at such a magnitude that they may never recur. Human security threats have different mechanism of operations. Threats such as genocide or soil degradation may have a direct impact on the humans live. Other threats are indirect, threats such as overinvestment in military or in debt due to underinvestment in certain areas, which leads to the collapse of public health care sectors, or when a country have very low education standards. Human security relates to both of these kinds of threats. Another Different types of attempts have been made to give an adequate conceptualization of human security. There are two major contemporary theories of international relations. One of these approaches is based on noe-realist theoretical context, which aim is to maintain an ongoing emphasis on the primacy of the state within broadened conceptualization of human security. This type of approach is also known as the new security thinking.4.This approach is built on a set of assumptions that fundamental effort to dislodge the state as the main referent of security, while placing larger importance on the inter-dependency and trans-nationalization of non-state performers. Buzan claimed that the straitjacket militaristic method to safety that controlled the discourse during the Cold War was simple-minded and lead to the underdevelopment of the idea.6The critical or postmodernist method to human security, replicated in the work of Ken Booth, he claims that human security is eventually more significa nt than states security.9 The postmodernist conceptualization of security does not compare state security with human security. Booths view, states and suggest that governments must no longer be the sole referents of the security, because governments are supposed to be the protectors of the peoples security, have become the sole source of uncertainty for the numerous people who live below their power, rather than the equipped forces of a different country.10. This method tests the idea of a state as an current and tolerable source of security to its people. Both methodstry to address the non-military dangers to human security. The major modification lays in the way these analyses point to action. The enlargement of safety to conceive of more than just armed threats increases the argumentative question: What is it that needs to be madesafe?1 1asanoutcome, the continuing (security) discussion centers on the identification of a principal referent or unit of security has been central to a continuing (security) argument. Arguments for the state to remain the main referent of safety must not mean upholding the state as the sole or unitary referent of security. But somewhat it means that the safety of the state, in specific a state that is weak, should continue to remain primary, since the main aim is to build the volume of the state to deliver and keep security for its citizens.1 2 In other words, while the conceptualization of security must make the safety of individuals and human beings its end, the state, as the means, cannot be detached as the key referent. After all if the state is to deliver and uphold sec urity, it has to be protected itself or to use Buzans words, it has to be or become a strong state.1 3. This reason, of course, needs explaining. What establishes a state? Using the conventional explanation, a nation is consisting of a territory/land, government, and people. In additional disagreements the whole (that is the state), comprising all its essential parts, has a mutual relationship with the individual parts. The state cannot be protected if its essential parts are self-doubting or unbalanced. At the same time, if the nation as the organization demonstrating its essential parts is weak or doubtful in relative to other states, its elements will also be affected by such weakness or insecurity. Booth has debated that national security was used by governments that stood as protectors of their peoples security, to cover reality and hide what essentially was the security of their regime and its followers and consequently be dislodged as a primary referent of security.1

Living a Pluralistic Way of Life Who Sees Diversities as a Connection t

"Culture", as a word, fits with a group of words that do not have just one definition or meaning, but multiple. With a diverse population prevailing in the United States today, our country is a melting pot of diverse cultures, every distinctive in its own respect. Culture is distinguishing one social group from another, including beliefs, language, traditions, art, food, religion and economic systems. Through lifelong and ever altering processes of learning, and sharing, culture shapes our patterns of behavior and thinking. A culture’s significance is so philosophical that it touches almost every aspect of who and what we are. As Henslin once said â€Å"Culture becomes the lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on around us.† It becomes who we are and how we see things differently from the people of a different nationality. In Warren St. John’s Outcasts United, culture is an important aspect that plays a significant role throughout the book and challenges the refugees in their daily lives. Having a pluralistic society can influence the behavioral and thinking styles of the people living around them. Some of these people may learn from the diverse range of cultures to find faults in their own living styles and try to better improve them. The Liberian’s, the Middle Easterner’s and the African’s are some of the examples of how one’s culture can impact lives of the people living around them. Starting a new life in a different culture is not easy, but instead, it is very hard to overcome some of the challenges that one may encounter. When visitors first arrive to a striving country, like America, they are excited to live the life they have been dreaming about for years. But after a certain amount of time, they start fee... ...ge that benefits every single individual. Clarkston, Georgia gave thousands of refugees a home to live in; they provided the immigrants with their basic necessities. Some of these new cultures that impacted the society to a certain limit were Middle Eastern, African, and the Liberians. The people in Clarkston got exposed to a lot of diversity around them which brought a lot of change into society caused by the various range of people living there. While some changes were beneficial, the others were not so good. However, in the end Clarkston symbolized a perfect model pluralistic society for others to look at and be appreciative. People should be acceptable to change; you never know, it could change your life forever in a moral way. A good way to look at culture through your eyes is to â€Å"see the world’s variety as a blessing rather than a burden† (The Aga Khan).

Struggles in the United States Steel Industry :: Business Essays

Struggles in the United States Steel Industry In the past decade the United States has encountered many challenges to its steel industry. The steel industry has changed tremendously since the early 1900’s when the United States dominated the steel market. According to figures on a Global Steel Business website, in 1900, the United States produced 37% of the world's steel. Now Asia produces 40% of the world's steel and China is the world leader in steel production. The United States decline in steel production has forced the United States to import 24% more steel in 1999 than 1998. (GSB 1) There are many reasons why United States steel industries are struggling. One main reason is the recent increase of steel production in poorer foreign countries. These countries have weak economies and are able to produce steel cheaper than the United States by paying smaller wages and using cheaper, less safe ways of producing steel. (GSB 1) An article headed by Global Steel Business writes â€Å" these economic stricken countries pay an average of four dollars less an hour than the United States.† (GSB 2) It also writes, â€Å"the methods used by such countries are abnormally dangerous.† (GSB 2) These changes have increased the United States imports from 98-99 from Japan 147.8%, South Korea 93.3% and Russia 53.3%. Another reason the United States is struggling is due to steel dumping. Dumping is the process when a company takes part in â€Å"pricing items below their production cost to drive competitors out of an import market† (SD1). Many countries, in cluding Japan, have been accused of steel dumping by the United States. Countries such as Japan are able to do legally dump steel on the United States do to their foreign government subsidies (SD1). According to an internet site dealing with steel dumping, â€Å"The U.S. Commerce Department ruled that Japan sold steel as much as 60% below fair market value† (SD1). The United States steel companies can't compete with these foreign steel prices and are constantly undersold. A third reason United States Steel companies are struggling is the problem within the company's management. Unlike a century ago when large companies ruled the market, now most steel companies are smaller. A recent article in The Economist magazine explains that these small companies often don't have the managerial skills to compete in the â€Å"highly complicated steel market† (The Economist 83).

Hanging Woman Creek :: essays research papers

Hanging Woman Creek is set in an era of American expansion when the major conflict of the Indian population was not much of a worry. The bigger worry for most men on the frontier was other whites. Bandits were plentiful, and the law was dealt out by the people. The book starts out in Chicago, concerning a man who had just been released from an overnight stay in prison. This man is called Pike, and has a reputation for being a fighter. His reputation is not that well however, because it seems that he loses more fights than he wins. He is sitting with an African-American man and another man by a fire, Eddie and Van. He quickly became friends with Eddie, and realized that Van was more trouble than he was worth. He and Eddie hitched a train to the West, looking for jobs as cowherds. They reach a town on the edge of the frontier that Pike has visited in the past. He finds some friends and one that offers a job. However, this job is not a very safe one. It is to round up some cattle near a n outpost on Hanging Woman Creek and stay there.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pike and Eddie find much trouble, and one man is shot in the back by an unknown assailant. Pike escorts a lady out to her brother’s homestead, and a while later the lady’s brother’s estate has been burnt down. Bohlen, a local rancher, was suspected of doing it. Ann, the lady that Pike escorted earlier, was at the house. She had escaped however, and was now on the run. Pike caught up to her and they headed back to the town. Along the way Bohlen attacked the group and killed Eddie and Ann’s brother. Pike and Ann made it back to town and Pike got his revenge on Bohlen, but only after he went through a court hearing and the truth came out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This book was very confusing and disorganized. It was very hard to follow and the author could have done a better job in explaining the plot. Facts were thrown in throughout the story about what was going on, sometimes with no real relevance. The author also stopped often to contemplate the meaning of life from the perspective of Pike. This was distracting, and made the book a very boring read. The book definitely could have used some more organization and a less complicated plot.

New Hire Orientation: A New Approach Essay

It is the first day of your new job. After arriving, suddenly you flashback to the last time you were in this situation. A dreadful feeling comes over as you recall how boring and useless that first week was. Five days of your life you will never get back. It was so awful; the thought of turning around and leaving crosses your mind. Is this job really worth it? Little do you know that this time it will be different because you are working for Peabody Energy. They have just launched an innovative New Hire Orientation program that will leave a positive impression. Never again will the words New Hire Orientation cause drowsiness! New research has proven that there are better ways to introduce new employees to a company than have been practiced in the past (Hemsley, 2012). Seeking out the most efficient and effective programs is becoming common practice with most Fortune 500 companies. It is important that they get the biggest return on investment possible in this economy (Hemsley, 2012) . While there is no easy answer, the process of changing and implementing any training program is no easy task. The following analysis of Peabody Energy’s New hire Orientation will describe the process in which it was developed, the content, the format in which is administered, and finally the evaluation. After consulting with Katie Schaller, Learning & Development Representative at Peabody Energy, there were many considerations that had to be assessed before they started. Taking into account all of the negative baggage that is associated with a New Hire Orientation, they started with reviewing past surveys. They also interviewed subject matter experts from each department to identify the scope of information the new employees should receive about their respective areas. These responses helped guide the new program development. Objectives are important in any project. Starting out with solid list of expectations increases your chances of success by 300% (Morris, 2009). The fi rst step in the process, before creating the objectives, is to perform a needs assessment. This is critical to determine if the training is even necessary (Noe, 2013). This first step should confirm that the need is not a performance issue, that it covers the correct content, and that the expectations are defined (Noe, 2013). In this assessment, it is presumed that the new employee could not have a performance issue, they need to know certain information in order to function at the company, and a timeline and  budget were established. History In the past, the New Hire Orientation at Peabody consisted of spending three full days in a conference room going over procedures, watching videos, and trying to keep your eyes open. It lacked engagement and consideration for different learning styles. This was a simple evolution of the company growing much bigger and faster than was planned. The old traditional training for a company of 50 employees needed to be restructured for a company of thousands located throughout the world. Not only did the physical locations grow, but the spectrum of talent matches. The company employs everyone from miners who work below the Earth, to Vice Presidents who hardly see the sun. Understanding that there is some common knowledge that they all need in order to be effective on the job is important. Fifty years ago, the company had less than 100 people and operated in three states. Technology was hardly a consideration. Most of the general company information was learning on the job. Having such a sm all pool of resources, it was fairly easy to navigate policies and procedures in different departments. In 2002, the company began expanding internationally. This brought with it many new challenges. Cultural difference, communication barriers, and logistics are just a few. It was during this time of growth that the Human Resource Department created a designated person to handle the training and development. That was not exactly a strategic goal; it just happened to fall on the person who took the most initiative. As things progressed, it was evident that a universal New Hire Training program should be established. Fast forward to 2008 when Katie Schaller joined the team with her work cut out for her. She brings with her a wealth of relevant knowledge in the training and development field. Objectives It is in this context that objectives were created based on the company’s business goals. The goal is to onboard new employees and acclimate them to our current systems as quickly as possible using minimal resources. Focusing on that, the program needed to streamline the information and use technology. The first objective was to modify the content and consider separating certain aspect of the training into more specified sections. For instance, if they were hired for Information Technology, learning about the  different types of coal mined was beside the point. Sure, it would be nice to the difference between sub-bituminous and metallurgical, but not necessary in the first days of work. Basically a list of every job description was created and the common key words became the core of what the orientation should cover. Topics, such as the example about coal types, could be studied later in follow up training and development courses, like Coal 101. The next priority considered was learning styles. According to the study done by Claxton and Murrell, there are four approaches to learning style. They are personality, information processing, social interactions, and instructional methods. Matching a student’s preferred method to their learning style can improve the learning experience (Claxton & Murrell, 1987). Who doesn’t want to do that? Trying to encompass all of those facets is tricky. They used the surveys to find out what matters most to the new hires and decided upon a mixed approach to appeal to the masses. It would be a computer-based training with the option of meeting in person for certain lessons. One way to implement the social interaction element is to host on-site meetings for the group of new hires in the relevant departments they will be interacting with. This will give them the opportunity to meet key contacts as well as get to know the layout of the office (Brown & Rusnak, 2011). Feeling a sense of belonging is vital to succes s (Brown & Rusnak, 2011). Format This self-paced course is designed to provide new employees with information that they need to know and also information that they might want to know as they begin their career with Peabody Energy. It is offered online to allow participates to work at their own pace, from their own computer, with optional face to face discussions. They are asked to complete the dull tax paperwork portion prior to arrival. This ensures they are not bogged down with mundane tasks right off the bat. The remainder of the course should be finished within 30 days of his or her hire date. A network lunch is offered quarterly at the St. Louis office to begin to build a network with new colleagues, team members, and other key stakeholders within our organization. As mentioned earlier, meetings will be scheduled according to schedules, in each relevant department. This will allow hands on experience with the people they will be interacting with and how the processes work.  The learning objectives for this or ientation training are to understand Peabody’s mission, strategy, and history. Employees will become familiar with the company’s Total Rewards’ philosophy. They should understand how to navigate and utilize Peabody’s performance evaluation process. Recognizing Peabody Energy’s Leadership Pillars and how they are demonstrated on the job will be discussed. They will understand the company policies and procedures in areas such as information technology, security, human resources, and travel. Finally, new employees will learn where to go for information and find answers to their questions. Content Upon receiving their invitation via email, they can click on the hyperlink and sign in to begin at their convenience. At any time they can stop the training program and begin again from that point. There are 15 required subjects they need to pass and over 25 additional resource folders. The entire training of the required fields takes approximately 120 minutes. Katie Schaller welcomes with verbal instructions on how to navigate the training program and what is expected of them. Next is a recorded PowerPoint listing the course description and learning objectives. Following is a two minute welcome video from Greg Boyce, our Chairman and CEO. New employees then watch a company video discussing the importance of energy and how Peabody plays a part in the global market. Steve Callahan, Vice President of Corporate and International Human Resources, delivers a presentation explaining how Francis Peabody started the company in 1883, a historic timeline, and maps showing where our offices and mines are located around the world. The presentations continue in areas such as inclusion and diversity, company credit card and out of pocket expense policies, security, information technology, talent management, total rewards, travel policies, community relations, and compliance training. Each area is presented by someone from the respective department. After completing each section, the new employee concludes with a quiz. Upon completion of the entire training, a confidential survey is sent to the participants. This is to gain feedback on how the program was received and any improvements or changes that should be considered. Learning Theories The design of this training program considers several learning theories, all  of which assist in the transfer of information. The main Learning Theory used for this program is the Need Theory. This theory is designed for those who need to know something (Noe, 2013). Anyone experiencing a deficiency in knowledge uses this. Because this targets new employees, they are a clean slate to absorb all the new information before them. They will feel a sense of satisfaction by completing this program. There are levels of satisfaction that have created some controversy between Alderfer and Maslow. Alderfer seems to believe that if the higher level needs of satisfaction is are not met, that employees refocus on lower level needs (Noe, 2013). Other theorists talk about achievement and standards of excellence (Noe, 2013). Reinforcement theory was actually used by the design team when they tailored the program to the results of the recent new hire surveys. They avoided certain topics and added mo re of what was truly needed. They used past outcomes to determine future results. The Adult learning theory, or andragogy, is another approach used because all of the new employees are, in fact, adults. There are definite attributes of adults that have an effect on how they interpret information. Adults need to understand why they are there, they need to be self-directed, and they have a problem-centered approach. Among other qualities, they bring great work experiences to the table. Most obviously, Information Processing theory was used to influence in the internal processes that happen when information is obtained (Noe, 2013). There is scientific evidence surrounding these concepts that prove how attention is affected, perceptions are created, and coding is utilized for best retention (Noe, 2013). Evaluation The Peabody Energy New Hire Training Program uses a level two evaluation (Noe, 2013). The primary goal for the training is to teach new employees information (Noe, 2013). Therefore, the criterion that is being measured is how much information is retained. This section will outline the stages of evaluation that Peabody used when creating this program. Finally, suggestions for improvement will follow. The first step Peabody’s training team had to determine was what, if anything needed to be measured and how they were going to do that. During the initial needs assessment, they created a list of objectives, all of which can be measured. However, because this is a new-hire training specific to general organizational  information, a thorough evaluation was deemed unnecessary. The next consideration was to address how the information can be found later, if needed. Paper books are expensive and difficult to update. They created a file on the network where all of the training materia l can be found at anytime. This is easy to update and reference as needed. Regarding measuring the objectives, following each section is a quiz which they are able to take twice. While this is not a pass/fail test, it gives them an opportunity to absorb the information. Another measurement of success is following up the training with a survey to find out how well received it was. Finally, the cost-benefit analysis cannot be measured accurately. The information covered in this training is essential for new employees to be successful. The evaluation level being used in the new hire training at Peabody is level two. The sole purpose is to give information to the employees. The nature of the training does not lend itself to a deep evaluation. Enhancements to the program could be creativity, and incentive, and group projects (Carvin, 2011). By working in small groups and staying in touch with a mentor has many benefits such as new ideas and behaviors (Carvin, 2011). Closing Statement In conclusion, if you are ever so lucky as to have the opportunity and experience a New Hire Training like this one, you will not forget it. The program considers individual learning styles and offering choices. The needs assessment identified requirements, created objectives, and applied learning theories. New hires are passing their quizzes and giving positive reviews. Overall, the process in which Peabody Energy follows in creating and implementing their new hire orientation is second to none. All things considered, the Peabody Energy New Hire Orientation training is a comprehensive approach for all learning styles. It utilizes Power Point presentations, auditory narration by different employees in the organization, and face to face discussion. The new hire is allowed complete it at their own pace and/or meet with SMEs within the first 30 days of employment. The information is consistent among all new employees. The only suggestion would be that current employees participate in th is training so that they are up to date with company facts, policies, and procedures. References Brown, M., & Rusnak, C. (2010). The power of coaching. Public Manager, 39(4), 15-17. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/856127114?accountid=8065 Carvin, B. N. (2011). The hows and whys of group mentoring. Industrial and Commercial Training, 43(1), 49-52. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00197851111098162 Claxton, Charles S. and Murrell, Patricia H. Learning Styles: Implica-tions for Improving Education Practices. ASHE-ERIC HigherEducation Report No. 4, Washington, D.C.: Association for the Studyof Hither Education, 1987. Hemsley, S. (2012). Academy rewards. Human Resources, , 50. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1172596169?accountid=8065 Morris, L. (2009). Getting your money’s worth from training & development. Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, 14(3), 105-107. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203905220?accountid=8065 Noe, R. (2013). Employee training and development. (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Rowold, J. (2008). Multiple effects of human resource development interventions. Journal of European Industrial Training, 32(1), 32-44. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03090590810846557

Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron Essay

Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a term in which contradictory words appear in conjunction with one another such as bitter sweet or a deafening silence. In an attempt to answer this question we must first define what the term ‘Green Logistics’ means. When the term is broken down into its composite parts ‘logistics’ is simply defined by Murphy and Wood (2011) as the part of the supply chain which plans, implements and controls both the forward and reverse flows of goods, services and information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in an efficient and effective manner. However, the term ‘green’ is much more equivocal when defined in a business sense. In 1996 McDonagh and Prothero proposed that there are several dimensions of ‘Green’ which not only cover ecological, sustainability and conservation issues but also political, corporate social responsibility, fair trade and equali ty matters. Since these topics are very broad it is hard to define ‘Green’ in a logistics sense. As a result of this uncertainty over the definition of ‘green’, it is helpful to look at the definition of ‘Green’ on a consumer product level. Ottman (2006, p.24), suggested that while all products inevitably have some effect on the environment, ‘Green’ products are those which aim to minimise this impact by conserving energy and resources and limiting pollution and waste. This definition builds on Reinhardt’s (1998, p.46) view that a ‘Green’ business â€Å"creates products that provide greater environmental benefits, or that impose smaller environmental costs, than similar products†. When we combine these definitions we can view ‘Green Logistics’ as the activities which facilitate the forward and reverse flows of goods, services and information through a supply chain in a way which is not only efficient and effective in achieving organisational goals but also aims to minimise the environmental impact and promote sustainability. When we define and consider ‘Green Logistics’ this way, I believe the term is not an oxymoron and when aligned with an appropriate higher level corporate strategy can actually a major competitive advantage for organisations who are able to achieve it. The body of this essay will provide practical examples of organisations who are successfully using the concepts of ‘Green  Logistics’ to not only minimise environmental impacts but also create and maintain a competitive advantage against competition. One concept which is becoming more prominent in ‘Green Logistic’ networks is the  practice of reverse logistics. Reverse logistics can be simply defined as goods flowing backwards through the supply chain from the consumer to the producers and suppliers. Tompkins (2010) provides multiple ‘Green’ benefits which arise from practicing reverse logistics such as increased sustainability throughout the supply chain and reduced waste product s, as well as producing an increased level of customer service through after-sales support. An example of reverse logistics in practice is the South Australian Government’s policy of paying 10 cents for every glass, plastic and tin container returned to collection depots. By doing this the Government is able to facilitate the recycling of materials which ultimately has a positive benefit on the environment. This provides a clear example of how logistics processes can be ‘Green’ by promoting greater environmental benefit than similar products existing in different logistics chains. An Australian Associated Press article revealed that in 2010, 80 percent or 49,800 tonnes of all containers are recycled in Australia which reveals both obvious environment and financial benefits arising from the practice of green logistics. Another common and relatively simple way for organisations to ‘Green’ their logistics processes while also reducing financial costs is to redesign their logistics chains with increased considerations for route optimisation and collaboration throughout the supply chain. Blanco and Cotrill (2013) make apparent one example of this through a case study of the agricultural cooperative Ocean Spray (based in New Jersey with a distribution centre in Florida) and competitor Tropicana who is based in Florida with a distribution centre in New Jersey. Tropicana’s third party logistics provider approached Ocean Spray and suggested that instead of Ocean Spray delivering to their distribution centre via road, they make use of Tropicana’s rail links between the two cities and utilise the empty train carriages returning from New Jersey to deliver to their distribution centre in Florida. This agreement allowed Ocean Spray to lower both their logistics  costs and environmen tal emissions and saved Tropicana the cost and emissions associated with returning empty rail carriages to Florida. Apart from the physical movement of goods, a firm’s logistics operations also incorporates warehousing strategies. The storage of goods may be overlooked when considering the environmental impacts of logistics chains. Figure 8.1 taken from McKinnon et al. (2013) shows the increasing usage of warehousing and its associated impacts. McKinnon et al. (2013) also proposed three ways in which firms can reduce the environmental impact of warehousing practices. Firstly firms should improve the energy efficiency of the lighting  and particularly heating methods used in warehouses (as shown in figure 8.4. McKinnon, 2013). Secondly, firms can harness green energy to generate energy from low carbon emitting or renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and biomass. Finally, and most importantly, firms should design sustainability into their warehouses, meaning that the buildings not only produce green energy more efficiently but also use less of it. If an organisation is successful in doing this it is able to not only fulfill the logistical goals of operating efficiently and effectively but also minimise impacts on the environment. While reverse logistics, route optimisation and energy efficient warehousing strategies are only a small example of ‘Green Logistic’ practices, which also include environmental packaging considerations, paperless order processing and improvements in vehicle energy efficiency, these practices may be ineffective in achieving ‘Green’ outcomes unless the corporate strategies of the organisation also align. Reinhardt (1998) suggests that for an organisation to establish environmentally friendly practices as a competitive advantage it must first consider whether this strategy is viable in the industry in which it operates. If a firm does consider environmental product differentiation an option it must then ensure customers are willing to pay for environmental quality, establish and convey the environmental benefits of its product and finally these benefits must be defendable against imitation competition. Only then can an organisation enjoy the benefits of a growing green trend in consumption (Peattie, 2010). If this is strategy alignment is adopted and maintained by an organisation, then ‘Green Logistic’ practices can provide substantial competitive advantages for the organisation while reducing impacts on the environment. Modern organisations can no longer afford to view ‘Green Logistics’ as an oxymoron and perhaps Henry Ford’s (1903) famous oxymoron â€Å"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business† may be more applicable. References: Blanco, E & Cotrill, K, 2013, ‘Delivering on the promise of green logistics’, MITSloan Management Review, December 2013. McDonagh, P & Prothero, A, 1996, Green management: A reader, The Dryden Press, London. McKinnon, A. Browne, M. Whiteing, A. 2012, Green logistics: Improving the environmental sustainability of logistics, Kogan Page, London. Murphy Jr PR & Wood, DF 2011, Contemporary Logistics: International Edition, 10th edn, Pearson, Boston. Ottman, J, 1997, Green marketing: Opportunity for innovation, TC / Contemporary Books, Lincolnwood. Peattie, K, ‘Green consumption: Behaviour and norms’, Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 35, Issue 1, pp. 195-228. Reinhardt, F.L. 1998, â€Å"Environmental product differentiation: Implications for corporate strategy†, California management review, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 43-73. Tompkins, J, 2010, ‘Reverse logistics is not the reverse of logistics’, Material Handling and Logistics, November 2010. ‘Big jump in container recycling in SA’, AAP General News Wire, July 22, 2010.

Personal Barriers to Online Learning Essay

Online learning or e-Learning refers to application of electronic technology for the delivery of instructional content or knowledge domains. Beamish et al. (2002), defines e-Learning as: â€Å". . . a wide set of applications and processes allied to training and learning that includes computer-based learning, online learning, virtual classrooms and digital collaboration. These services can be delivered by a variety of electronic media, including the intranet, internet, interactive TV and satellite. † In spite of the great flexibility and varied range of tools that e-Learning can provide to imparting education, implementing any e-Learning system can be a complicated and complex endeavour and online learning can be a very frustrating experience for the student as well as the teacher. A number of personal barriers affect students and teachers alike in any online learning system. Personal Barriers of Students The technology available with students determines the nature of the course content to a large extent. Students may simply not have the required bandwidth to access high-end multimedia content. The course designer has to tailor the contents to suit the technology availability of the students. This is especially true of e-Learning courses catering to international community scattered all over the world. In such cases severe constraints may have to be imposed on the utilization of technology resources available at the end of the imparting institution. The design would then have to optimized for dial-up users with at the most 800Ãâ€"600 pixel monitor screen resolutions. In fact, many universities take special care to ensure prior to registration that their respective e-Learning course content is accessible to the students. â€Å"Technical infrastructure deficiencies on the student side can impede course activities, especially in an online distance-learning environment. † (Arabasz, 2003, pp. 42) The proficiency level of the student in using ICT tools would enhance or undermine his e-Learning experience to a great extent. In the international context it would be unwise to expect uniform familiarity with ICT usage. A student, previously not exposed to ICT, will therefore not only have to handle the course requirements, but will also have to acquire the requisite skills in ICT to pursue the course effectively. From the learner perspective, literacy and IT skills and aptitude for self-direction, being confident and motivated to participate in online learning have also been identified as potential barriers to effective online learning (Australian Institute for Social Research, 2006, pp. 15). The factor that students have to study in isolation in an e-Learning system has triggered off many debates. Many perceive this isolation as a crippling obstacle to the development of e-Learning systems for higher education. Brouner and Flowers (1997) even suggested that the lack of human interactions in the incorporation of technology into higher education would have to be effectively made up by increased human contact. The e-Learning environment lacks the discipline and time regulations imposed on students in conventional education. This requires students to be more motivated, better time managers and more attentive during e-Learning sessions. The lack of the proximity and personal touch of the instructor as in a traditional classroom can create a communication chasm that both the instructor and the student may find difficult to surmount. In a situation where eye contact and proximity are limited, students cannot be disciplined nor affirmed by eye contact and body language (McKnight, 2000). Time is another constraint that affects online learning negatively. Whilst education has now extended geographically it has limited students with time restrictions (Jones et. al. , 2004, pp. 14). Trials and Tribulations for the Faculty Time is perhaps the biggest investment that the instructor has to make. The amount of time required to develop and maintain an e-Learning course is usually not anticipated by the people involved. The instructor has to spend a lot of time on restructuring and reengineering the course for e-Learning delivery. A complete over hauling is required. Instructors also need to give time for technical and pedagogical training as instructions in e-Learning differ radically from conventional approaches. Last but not the least, the instructor has to spend considerable time corresponding or communicating with students. A very important aspect of e-Learning is the views or approach of the instructor. The instructor could be trying to make the e-Learning experience as good and fruitful as the conventional classroom’s. It is a case of trying to replicate the conventional classroom in e-Learning. The second approach could be the instructor’s effort to improve the instructions through the medium of e-Learning. The instructor will have to decide on which approach to adopt, a decision that could profoundly influence the very character and quality of the e-Learning content. Technical issues can hamper an instructor’s efficiency or performance. The instructor is often not familiar with the technologies that are utilized. Development in multimedia would require knowledge of Flash, Shockwave and similar tools. It is difficult to find persons skilled in both the application technology and the field of education. The problem of technology extends to the teacher who may not be proficient in the software. The dependency on technology also tends to undermine the faculty’s confidence at times. â€Å"Are things going to work when I’m in the classroom? Will the Internet be up? Do I need to bring back-up materials on a disk? Will the last instructor have left things in good shape? These [issues] may be more basic than you’d expect, but dependability is still a major issue. † (Arabasz, 2003, pp. 41) Online Learning therefore requires very careful planning and implementation in order to achieve success.

The Downside of Mining in Nevada

The reputation of Nevada as a major producer of gold and silver is a well-known fact already. The state is not called the Silver State for nothing. What are new here are the many negative impacts this reputation to the environment of the state and its consequences. The extensive mining of gold and silver causes disruption in the environment that has effects that could last a long time. The conversion of land, the vast usage of water, and deforestation mining has brought to the state is very alarming (Solnit, 2004). In order to produce gold, large chunks of land is dug up for ores. But then, to yield an ounce of gold, a hundred tons of ore is needed. Imagine how much land will have to be dug up and pulverized to mine the gold Nevada is producing. Therefore, mining gold disrupts the habitat of the different species that live in the places that are dug up. It also affects the agriculture of the state. Mining does not improve soil conditions, it actually worsens it. So, if the soil is not suitable for farming, the food that the farmers will produce will also be affected. This consequence directly affects the people living in the state, since food is essential for living. This activity also destroys groundwater which is an essential source of drinking water. According to Solnit (2004) mines pumps out groundwater during mining, but this water is discarded. Thus, groundwater dug up is not used but its sources are dried up. Also, water in gold-rush districts is being contaminated by gold. Some are being directed to other waterways. This effect to groundwater will surely result in scarcity. And humans again are directly affected. What is there to drink if the waters have went out of the state and the people are left with the contaminated ones? Indeed, the gold and silver reserves of Nevada are good sources of income for the state and the whole country. However, the government still has to guard their courses of action about this matter. If the environment becomes completely destroyed it will affect its people greatly. References Solnit, Rebecca (2004). Meanwhile Back at the Ranch:The Wild, Wild Wars in the West. ZNet: A community of people committed to social change. Retrieved February 1, 2008, from http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=6017

Marriage Gone Wrong Spills Over to WorkView in a new window Assignment

Marriage Gone Wrong Spills Over to WorkView in a new window - Assignment Example ording to the US employment and labour laws, external harassment of an employee, not only possesses a security threat to him or her but to the whole company employees (Bennett-Alexander and Hartman). Thus, it is would be prudent for the company to develop human resource policies (protocols) that could be useful in handling situations like this. These policies are expected to be in compliance with the federal laws and the state laws of the particular state in concern. Some of the policies that could be applied in this particular situation include: As the employee in this situation had clearly put it to her supervisor, the situation in this case is personal. The simplest way to tackle this issue is for the employer to personally talk with the employee. To achieve this, a trusted member of the management team, like her supervisor, could be invited to the meeting in order for her to talk freely without feeling that her personal boundaries, as well as her constitutional rights, are being violated. Through this, the employer may be able to understand her attitude in the workplace and even officially refer her to relevant authorities who handle matrimonial issues. However, this protocol proves less effective especially given the fact that the husband’s audience in the meeting is not guaranteed. In order to avoid unnecessary chaos in the workplace, the supervisor, having been informed of the situation, should immediately alert the security department of the company of this employee’s situation. It is usual that some employees in a company usually feel demystified in the company to the extent that they feel their personal issues may not be addressed. This could be a reason as to why the employee, in this situation, felt that her supervisor should not bother telling anyone of her problem. However, her confrontation with the husband could generate a general disturbance to the company that could lead to even the arrest of the employer on allegations of improper security

Student Entrepreneurship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Student Entrepreneurship - Assignment Example The assignment "Student Entrepreneurship" tries to determine various factors that are responsible for deterring or motivating the students from becoming an entrepreneur. Past researchers reveal significant statistics, where one in four working Americans is expected to be self-employed. But the real matter of concern for the growth of the economy is a self-dependency of youth who brim with fresh ideas and innovative thoughts for establishing new businesses and being recognized as successful entrepreneurs in the near future. This study aims to identify and analyze the preference youth holds for visualizing himself as a future employer or a competent employee. Entrepreneurship is about taking risks; hence it clearly depicts the true nature, behavior, and characteristic of an individual. Uncertainty and ambiguity clouds a business, thus the risk pervasiveness or evasiveness trait can also be evaluated. Our current study would certainly facilitate in comprehending the above areas of concern. Entrepreneurship is the act through which systematic and organized knowledge, experience, skills and other related attributes could be well applied for establishing a creative idea and transforming it into a well-planned course of action. Entrepreneur, on the other hand, is the person who initiates entrepreneurship. He is the one who creates abundant job opportunities, facilitates wealth creation, applies modern and innovative tools and techniques and gives a valuable contribution towards the advancement of economic growth.... LITERATURE REVIEW ‘Entrepreneurship is the act through which systematic and organized knowledge, experience, skills and other related attributes could be well applied for establishing a creative idea and transforming it into a well planned course of action. Entrepreneur on the other hand is the person who initiates entrepreneurship (Cooper, C A & Dunkelberg W. C., 1987). He is the one who creates abundant job opportunities, facilitates wealth creation, applies modern and innovative tools and techniques and gives a valuable contribution towards advancement of economic growth (Schumpeter, J. A. (2000). In words of Amar Bhide, there is no perfect description of an entrepreneur. He can be a dynamic personality or a gregarious one (Scherer, R. F., Brodzinski, J. D., & Wiebe, F. A, 1991). He can possess analytical skills or intuitive. Entrepreneur may be risk averter or risk taker (Gartner, W. B, 1988). Past researches have also been conducted to explore (Gallaway, J. H & Bernasek A, 2002) influence on entrepreneurship. It has been observed that different reasons are responsible for motivating individuals for the same. For females, independence and sense of achievement are the driving factors while for male family businesses were considered as the top most factor for motivating individuals to opt for entrepreneurship. The past researcher’s have stated that there is a lot of difference between the way the business is actually conducted and the manner in which it is comprehended by the people at large (Shane, S., & Venkataraman, S, 2000). Greg Watson in his findings has revealed that businesses are driven by corporate business ethics which is defined distinctly by different individuals. Statistics display that US

Encryption of data in transit and data at rest Research Paper

Encryption of data in transit and data at rest - Research Paper Example Encryption in the field of computer security is a process that allows users to encode their data using a certain key or a certain algorithm. Through the use of encryption a user is able to enhance the security of his or her data. Even though encryption of data does not necessarily restrict the access of data it however does ensure that a hacker is not able to interpret encrypted data and hence use it for personal benefit. Encrypted text is usually referred to as cipher text whereas unencrypted text is referred to as plaintext. Encryption is usually made use of for two basic data types, data in transit and data at rest. Data in transit usually refers to data that is on the move, whereas data at rest refers to stored static data that is used on a few numbers of machines. Encrypting data in transit is usually carried out through the use of private and public keys. Private keys are usually made use of to encrypt the main data that is important to a particular organization or to a particular user. The sender usually makes of an encryption key that only the receiver is aware of. The receiver then makes use of the same key to decrypt the information that is provided by the sender (Salomaa, 1996). Public key on the other hand, is used to facilitate the exchange of the private key. Public key is made use of to encrypt the private key. The sender of the data asks the receiver to provide him or her for an encryption key. The key is then used by the sender to encrypt the message. Once the message is encrypted, its decryption can only be carried out by the receiver (Salomaa, 1996). When it comes to securing data at rest, there are two basic process that can be used, encryption and authentication. Encryption to data at rest can be applied at a small scale, such as to a sensitive file, or it can be applied at a large scale, for example to the complete contents of a device (Scarfone et al., 2007). The type of encryption technique that is

History Education in Primary Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

History Education in Primary Schools - Essay Example The pedagogical imperative of such historic education was to harbor conformity, rather than the modern notion of enabling critical though. 1 Colonialism and the World Wars brought about a change in how history would be taught, especially after Education became the state’s function. The emphasis then shifted towards a nationalistic approach of teaching history, what we term as propaganda. We now we live in an era where history is studied in a global context, with the supplementary aim of creating a sense of multiculturalism and diversity. Among the roles of history education, especially in the current context of increased cross cultural interaction, the role of History Education includes: 2 Schools as Social transmitters Promoting active Citizenship Making History Real Promoting Positive Values The same study suggests that debate on the role of history education usually occurs on: Nature of truth Tempering truth Avoiding Moral Relativity While the methodology and focus of histo ry education might be a matter of debate, the importance of this area of study remains uncontested, particularly from a functional aspect. FOCUS OF HISTORY EDUCATION: The focus of history education has often been a matter of debate between politicians and the academia, the crux of which has primarily been the purpose of teaching history. Politicians like the British education secretary, Michael Gove3, claim that the purpose of history education is to inculcate a sense of nationalism in the students so that they are in touch with their political and cultural roots. A score of policy makers believe that the history currently being taught in schools deviates from important British history and is more inclined towards European history and global events. This would obviously imply trimming and framing the curriculum with selected facts and information that would reinforce patriotic sentiments in the targeted students. Academians like Dr Marcus Collins, of Loughborough University, claim t hat such a selective approach of history education is reminiscent of a subtle form of propaganda, that has been a feature of undemocratic nations. This school of thought believes that the most pressing issue with history education isn’t the curriculum, but the amount of time that is devoted to teaching history. Where history education should be made compulsory to higher levels of education, policymakers are bent towards further curtailing the time that is allotted to teaching history. If this notion is translated to educational policies, then history education will indeed become impotent in imparting the necessary analytical skill set it sought out to cater to. It is believed that British history cannot be isolated from European history as much of Britain’s political activity took place beyond its borders, across continents. This debate is part of the government’s frustration over the liberal academic approach that is prevalent in schools, citing a lack of focus and discipline as major issues. As a consequence, the government4 has erected a new program where military officials will be planted as teachers in school to maintain decorum and cement a more focused approach to teaching with the notion of the ‘

Why should national parliaments have a role in the EU framework What Essay

Why should national parliaments have a role in the EU framework What role should national parliaments play in a) shaping, and b) scrutinising, EU decision making - Essay Example In the commission, each commissioner’s cabinet includes a member responsible for relations with the parliament, and the regular meetings of this group of advisers has become an important feature of policy co-ordination within the commission; in addition, one commissioner has designated responsibility for relations within the European Parliament1. While relations between the EU institutions have become increasingly interdependent, there has also been growing need for co-operation between the national and EU level for the purposes of development and significance in implementation of EU policies. Since, in the course of establishment of the single market, much of the European economy has been re-regulated at the European level, greater responsibility has fallen on the Member states’ administrations to implement European legislations. This has had a dynamic effect on both the national and the European level; within member states, national (and often regional and local) authorities have had to familiarize themselves with the European Union regulations that they have to implement. Hence each of the national parliaments has to be involved in the consultation aspects when it comes to the formulation and scrutiny of these regulations. On the European level, the decision making institutions, and the commission in particular had to design regulations for centralized application, anticipating and overcoming difficulties in ensuring uniform implementation and compliance. The result from these ripple effects of developments in the 1980s and 1990s has been the need for effective and continuous communication between the policy makers and the scientific experts from the member states, commission and council officials and members of the European and national parliaments. The absence of any institution or set of interests having hierarchical control over the decision making process is one of the reasons why committees have become such an institution or

The impact of European settlement on Aboriginal people in Canada Essay

The impact of European settlement on Aboriginal people in Canada - Essay Example From fishermen on the coast, to traders for fur and other commodities, it is interesting to note that the story of the contact between Europeans and aboriginals does not start from the voyages of discovery but has its origins in the journeys of the Vikings. However, the real impact on aboriginal people only becomes clear when French and British explorers started making journeys into Canada rather than remain on the Canadian coast. Their journeys took them to areas where farm output was better and this allowed larger settlements to be created by the explorers (Schneider, 1996). The story of these connections between Europeans and people from the old world was quite similar to the situation which developed in America and elsewhere in the world. The aboriginals were struck with disease and conflict. Diseases which were unknown to them and for which their bodies had no real defenses were laid up against them. Smallpox and other ailments destroyed entire settlements of natives and they were not able to counter the disease with their medicine. As the concept of the disease and the manner in which it spread remained alien to them, they were also unable to take real precautions against the disease which spread quickly (Wikipedia, 2008). The aboriginals were also impacted in terms of religion and education as the Europeans attempted to civilize the nations of the new world. At the same time, there were several nations which were on friendly terms with the European settlers such as the Algonquin and others included in the Wabankaki Confederacy. With these nations, trade and exchange took place to a great extent which was mutually beneficial for all parties. However, the trade was often replaced with broken contracts and war. For example, the French were continually troubled by the Iroquois who had been given arms by the British in order for them to fight against the French. The

Popular Music, Youth and Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Popular Music, Youth and Education - Essay Example Green’s Music on Deaf Ears: Musical Meaning, Ideology and Education explains the status that popular music plays on a social standpoint. Green explains that the set-up of music in classrooms came about because of the roles and eventual division social classes in society. Because the only way to measure skills and set classifications for music was based on the performances of the students, the students who received the most education had enough money for private lessons (Green 51). Therefore, on a social level, it was the higher-class students whose parents set the standard for what music was going to be like in the school system. The study showed that students who had parents that were higher up on the social ladder were more interested in music than students who had parents lower on the social ladder (Green, pp 47-48). The higher class of students also had a higher appreciation for the classical training and thought they had a better understanding of the need, awareness and w isdom that this music brought to an educational setting (Green, 51). The willingness to learn and the likelihood that the students in the higher classes listened to this type of music out of the classroom were higher than students who did not receive this opportunity (Green, 52). The liking of classical music in the upper division and the fact that students who were fond of popular music over classical music not being represented in this study shows the role that music played in society and the relevance in education (Green, 45, 48).

Auditory System Essay Example for Free

Auditory System Essay The world contains all kinds of energy that translates into information about what we see, hear, smell, touch and taste. A sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing specific sensory information. The components of a sensory system include sensory receptors, neural pathways, and parts of the brain involved in sensory perception. To begin, energy from the environment stimulates the receptor cells in whichever sense organ is being used. If this information were auditory, the ear would convert sound waves in the air into electrical impulses that would further be interpreted by the brain as sound. A sound wave first enters the pinna, the fleshy part of the ear on the outside of the body. It then travels through the external auditory canal where it then meets the eardrum, a thin membrane in the outer ear. The eardrum then vibrates in response to the sound wave. What we hear will depend on the wavelength and frequency of the wave. The eardrum is connected to a group of three small bones call â€Å"the ossicles† in the middle ear. This group includes the malleus, incus and the stapes. These three bones, the smallest in the human body, protect the eardrum from more intense sounds and also deliver the vibrations to the base of the stapes. The stapes then sends the vibrations into the inner ear and interacts with the round window. The round window, a small membrane that allows liquid inside the inner ear to be displaced and receive the vibration. The vibration travels through the spiral structure of the inner ear called the cochlea and ends at the round window. Inside the cochlea there are three canals: the scala vestibuli, the scala media and the scala tympani. The scala vestibule leads up to the apex of the cochlea, the scala tympani leads down to the round window and the scala media sits in between the other two canals. All of these canals are filled with fluid and are separated by two different membranes; Reissner’s membrane and the Basilar membrane. Both of these membranes are flexible and respond to the vibrations traveling through the scala vestibuli. The movements of the membranes then send the vibrations down the scala tympani. A structure called the Organ of Corti, which is situated on the basilar membrane, becomes stimulated as the membrane vibrates and sends nerve impulses to the brain. Within the Organ of Corti are a group of specialized cells called hair cells, which are covered by the tectorial membrane. As the basilar membrane vibrates, the hair cells are bents and push up against the tectorial membrane. This causes the hair cells to fire and send nerve impulses to the auditory cortex on each of the brains hemispheres through the cochlear nerve. How we determine pitch can be explained with two different theories. The Place Theory states that the entire basilar membrane does not vibrate at once so different parts of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies of sound. Lower frequency sounds vibrate the basilar membrane near the apex of the cochlea while higher frequency sounds produce vibrations closer to the base. The Frequency Theory states that the frequency of firing matches the frequency of the sound wave. Hearing loss can occur for a number of reasons. Damage to the eardrum due to age and prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea to wear out and become less effective. A buildup of earwax can block the ear canal and prevent of sound waves from entering the eardrum. Otosclerosis, a genetic form of hearing loss in which the stapes is fixed in place so sound cannot enter the inner ear.

Road Safety Essay Essay Example for Free

Road Safety Essay Essay Driving age young people under 25 make up around one-tenth of the population in OECD countries, but represent more than a quarter of car drivers killed on the road (See Figure 1). And they are not only a danger to themselves. Studies in the US and the Netherlands show that for every 10 young drivers killed, 13 passengers or other road users also die in the same crashes. Worldwide, road crashes are the single greatest cause of death for men aged 15-29, and the second greatest for 15-29-year-olds overall, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures. Even in countries with a good overall road safety record, large numbers of young lives are being lost on the roads – more than 8 500 young car drivers die in OECD countries every year, and death rates for young drivers are typically about double those of older drivers. Although overall road safety is improving, the ratio between young and older driver death rates has not improved in many countries, so there is clearly a need for specific measures to tackle the problem of young people’s safety on the roads (See Figure 2). see more:short article on road safety Young men are particularly at risk, with death rates up to three times higher than those for young women. To make matters worse, the risk for young male drivers compared to older drivers has actually risen in a number of countries over the past decade. In the UK, for example, in 1994 a young male driver’s risk of being in a fatal crash was a little over 4.5 times that of a driver aged 30-59; by 2002 this had risen to 7 times greater. Young drivers have high numbers of crashes when driving at night and on weekends, and when carrying young passengers. Many crashes are the result of speeding and while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Failure to use seatbelts is also a key factor in death and injuries. Young people are over-represented in single-car and loss-of-control crashes, and crashes where the driver is turning across oncoming traffic. Apart from the enormous social costs, these highway tragedies impose a huge economic cost burden.