Monday, September 30, 2019

London 2012: Did the Olympics benefit all, or leave a legacy of widening social inequality?

The Olympic Games have become a much sort after event by cities around the world. It is seen as an opportunity for the city not only to enhance and broaden its profile, but showcase its potential as an attractive place for investment (Hiller, 2006, p.318). This essay will explore the sociological impact that the Olympics have had on the city of London and its occupants. It will be argued that while there are numerous positive short term effects that come with hosting the Olympics, not only are the positive long term effects few and far between, but there is a number of negative effects impacting those belonging to the lower socio-economic group.By examining what has occurred in London and comparing this particular Olympics to some past cities that have played host (Barcelona, Sydney, Athens etc), this essay will show that while stimulating economic growth, contributing to the short term happiness of the inhabitants and more recently, promoting environmental sustainability, the Olympi cs generally bring few benefits for socially excluded groups. Firstly, by looking at the history of the five London borough’s to be transformed by the Olympics, we will examine whether class theory is still a relevant issue for London and if Marx and Webber’s ideas are still applicable.The argument will then be divided into economic, social, cultural and political spheres, with each being discussed in terms how they were affected by hosting the Olympics in London. The Olympics may be of only short duration; however its impact and meaning may exist far beyond the event itself for the host city (Hiller, 2000, p.440). The most visible of these impacts relates to the infrastructural improvements. All host cities carry out extensive regeneration of urban areas and in London most of this â€Å"clean up and reorientation of city spaces† occurred in the  five East London Olympic host boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Greenwich. (LERI, 2007 , p. 5).Traditionally, East London has been the heart of manufacturing and industrial work; it has been home to London’s working classes and has remained relatively poor compared to the rest of the city. In the last decade improvements in infrastructure and the regeneration of London’s docklands has seen the boroughs become socially polarised with small pockets of relative affluence surrounded by the still high concentration of relative poverty. The present day London is vastly different to Marx’s 19th century version, yet the re-emergence of class as a defining factor has seen a new generation of those once again being influenced by his writing and evolutionary vision.Marx believed that class is best understood in terms of economic factors; his theoretical model is of a two class structure of owners and non-owners (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p. 18). Today’s London is not that different, austerity measures and rising unemployment have deepened the gulf divid ing the haves and the have nots. In the New York Times, an article by Katrin Bennhold (2012, April 26) states More than a third of British land is still in aristocratic hands, according to a 2010 ownership survey by Country Life magazine.In the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition cabinet, 15 of the 23 ministers went to Oxford or Cambridge. With this in mind, Webber’s multidimensional model of inequality and his argument that it is power rather than class that ultimately determines the distribution of resources in society (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p.19) can be used to explain how London is currently being governed. Webber placed much emphasis on the market and in doing so was able to account for the importance of non-material resources, such as education and skills. Most of those living in the East London in the lead up to the Olympics were young, lacking a proper education or skill base and therefore had little or no relationship to the market, and so, no power.Like Webber , Bourdieu also believed that non-economic factors were important as sources of social power (Habibas & Walter, 2009, p. 50). He would have made much of the fact that, of London’s elite and those who currently hold power, most attended the same prestigious private schools, therefore creating â€Å"social and cultural capital† to use as a resource that few in the eastern boroughs could even dream of. In the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics the world was confronted with what has become known now as the  Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This economic depression led to an increase in unemployment and poverty throughout the world, particularly in the case of those already belonging to socially excluded groups.Social exclusion relates not only to economic disadvantage but includes the exclusion of people or groups from participation in mainstream social and economic life (Habibis and Walter 2009, p.78). The impact of the GFC was reported as leaving a whole generation of y oung people with opportunities that don’t live up to their aspirations, to the point where they may abandon hope for the future at all. The crisis means they almost invariably face fewer and less well paid entry-level jobs at every level, from graduate openings to factory work (Apps, 2011).This unrest led to the London riots only 12 months before the city was to host the Olympics. London’s Olympic bid was promoted as being aimed directly at developing an extensive renewal process to address the social and economic problems faced by those living in the eastern boroughs (LERI, 2007, p. 5). In economic terms, the infrastructural developments and large building projects are important because of their ability to attract investment and increase employment opportunities. For London, the games related construction activity is estimated to support a  £13.5 billion contribution to the UK GDP and the equivalent of 267, 000 years of employment in the UK economy between 2005 and 2017 (Oxford Economics, 2012, p.2).However, national figures from December 2012 show a decline of 25 000 construction jobs during the year (Moulds, 2012). In the lead up to the Athens Olympics in 2004, employment went up by 7%, however once the games were over Greek industry lost 70 000 jobs, mainly in construction (LERI, 2007, p.55). The economic benefits from the flagship developments and major projects are supposed to filter down to all groups over time, yet for socially excluded groups, there are often no benefits. Instead, the impacts are often negative, with house prices rising and the cost of living increasing. â€Å"Those who benefit are the existing asset holders and affluent middle class† (Ryan-Collins & Jackson, 2008, p.4). The social and cultural impacts of hosting the Olympics have in the past been more about the ‘feel good’ aspects of the games (Smith, 2009, p.117), than any particular form of social sustainability.Past Olympic host cities, particul arly Atlanta, Athens and Sydney, have attempted to use the games as an opportunity for long-term social legacies. However research suggests that  Sydney was the only city where a legacy for a socially excluded group (the Homelessness Protocol) was lasting (Minnaert, 2011, p.370). For East London, three important changes have taken place since the Olympics. Firstly, transport services to the area, especially Stratford have been dramatically improved. Secondly, in order to compete with the huge new Westfield shopping centre, the local Stratford shopping centre was given a makeover, yet is still providing cheap, affordable goods for low income families.And finally, local schools have benefitted to the extent that they have lifted their performance from very poor to be able to compete with the national levels (Power, 2012). Minnaert (2011, p.363) has recognised three growing Olympic legacies for socially excluded groups; skills/volunteering, employment, and sports participation. The O lympics has been acknowledged as providing volunteering programmes that improve skills and employability, yet Hiller (2006, p.320) highlights that the model for the Olympic volunteer is best suited to primarily white collar workers.The vast majority of London’s unemployed are young, with a poor education and little skill base. As pointed out by Habibis and Walter (2009, p. 134) ours is a knowledge based society and those who possess the knowledge and skills (the highly educated) are the ones who gain access to the rewards. The same issue applies when reviewing the idea of increased employment opportunities for the host city population. Whilst it is abundantly obvious that yes, there are more jobs, most are not evenly distributed; employment opportunities usually benefit those who already have the skills and education required to seek and obtain work, with or without, these increased opportunities (Minneart, 2011, p. 363).The economic impact of the London 2012 Olympic and Para lympic games (2012, p.32) states that 3000 previously unemployed workers (70% of them from the host boroughs) were employed in the construction of the Olympic Park and Athletes village, yet these jobs are unlikely to be permanent as research into the legacies of the Barcelona and Athens Olympics suggests that job creation tends to be temporary, often filled by migrant and transient workers, with little or no change in overall employment rates (East Thames Group, 2007 p.4).One of London’s promises during the bidding for the 2012 Olympic games was to inspire a new generation to take up sport (DCMS, 2012, p.3). In the past  the Olympics has been linked to increased participation in sport (Minnaert, 2011, p.363), yet there is little to suggest that these new participants are from any socially excluded groups. Although money, or lack of it, may play a part in this, another inhibiting factor is that sport involvement is also linked to cultural capital (Minnaert, 2011, p.363). Bou rdieu used cultural capital to refer to a form of value associated with consumption patterns, lifestyle choices, social attributes and formal qualifications (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p. 48). It is comparable to other resources like economic capital in that it not only impacts lifestyles but also life chances.Bourdieu believed cultural capital could be converted to economic capital through education. By sending their children to expensive private schools, working class parents can purchase the cultural power needed to move into middle class jobs (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p.109). It is still too early to tell whether London has succeeded in getting more people to take up a sport, but evidence suggests that in the past the Olympics has failed to show sustained participation once it is over (Minnaert, 2011, p. 363).Those who make the decisions in London today hail not from backgrounds that anyone in East London could possibly relate to. The current UK conservative-liberal coalition govern ment is comprised mainly of the affluent, privately educated, upper class. They and the global business leaders of the world were the decision makers for the London Olympics and decided how London was to be changed and regenerated. Western nations are currently seeing a rising influence of neoliberal discourses where the shift to a market influenced distribution has taken the place of a state related redistribution (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p.105).Indeed the London Olympics has even been called the Neoliberal games (Renton, 2012). Renton (2012) argues that with all the corporate sponsorship from entities such as BP, McDonalds, and Rio Tinto, the 2012 Olympic games are a reflection of the injustices and inequalities of the current economic system.One of the five government promises of the Olympic legacy was to demonstrate that the UK is a creative, inclusive and welcoming place to live in, visit and for business (LERI, 2009, p.6). Yet in the lead up to the games, there was suggestions of ‘social cleansing’ occurring as councils attempted to  relocate those claiming the housing benefit to areas outside the city (Bowater, 2012). There is also still debate over whether the Olympic legacy of affordable housing will eventuate. Affordable housing was also meant to be one of the legacies of the London Olympics, yet with the recent cap on the housing benefit, many are doubtful that those with low income will be able to remain in the regenerated areas (Moore, 2012).In conclusion, it is noted that while hosting the Olympics boosts a cities international profile, particularly regarding investment and tourism it does not benefit all. While some improvements have been seen in the host boroughs like better school performances, more hopefulness and resilience, the increasing global financial strain is causing cuts to funding and resources that may now turn the clock back and leave these areas even worse off than they were before the Olympics. The lasting legacy could be that with the local sporting facilities removed to make way for the large Olympic complexes, many will no longer be able to afford to use them.With class still playing such an important role in determining life chances, particularly in London, the need to build a social system where education and skills acquisition are genuinely based on meritocratic principals rather than class hierarchy is the only way that inequality can be reduced. The Olympics has always been based on such meritocratic principals and it is the socially responsibility of those in power to see that as so much public investment is spent on financing such a large event, that it can only be justified if all benefit by being completely socially inclusive.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Comprehensive Balance Sheet and Income Statement

Course Project Comprehensive Balance Sheet December 31st 2012 Assets Current Assets Cash $42,485 Account Receivable$165,824 Allowance for Doubtful accounts 1,850 Net Accounts Receivable 163,974 Inventories 499,493 Securities (available for sale/at fair market value) 28,250 Notes Receivable (due next year) 23,000 Prepaid Expenses 16,252 Total Current Assets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦$773,454 Non-Current Assets Investments in Warren Co. $87,500 Land 125,000 Building$975,800 Accumulated Depreciation 341,200 Net building 634,600 Goodwill 100,000 Patents 125,000Copyrights 105,000 Trademarks 80,000 Deposits with Vendors 50,000 Total Noncurrent Assets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ $1,307,100 Total Assets $2,080,554 Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $197,532 Income Taxes Payable 62,520 Salaries Payable52,000 Notes Payable to Banks50,000 Mortgage Payable-current portion18,000 Accrued Liabilities 9,500 Accrued Interest on Notes payable 500 Customer Deposits (expected to be paid next year) 420 Total Current Liabilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. $390,472Non-Current Liabilities Mortgage Payable $290,000 Twenty-year, 12% Bonds, due 1/01/13500,000 Total Non-current Liabilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. $790,000 Total Liabilities$1,180,472 Stockholder’s equity Preferred Stock, 7%$300,000 Common Stock 400,000 Additional Paid-in Capital 37,500 Retained Earnings 162,582 Total Stockholders’ equity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ $900,000 Total Liabilities and stockholders’ equity$2,080,554 Income Statement For the Year ending December 31st 2012 Sales Revenue$2,000,000 Sales Discounts 120,000 Net Sales Revenue $1,880,000 Costs of Goods Sold 1,000,000Gross Profit $880,000 Less: Operating Expenses Selling Expenses Selling Expenses$300,000 Depreciation Expenses 60,000 Total Selling Expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 360,000 Administrative Expenses Administration Expenses$350,000 Depreciation Expenses 40,000 Total Admin Expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 390,000 Total Operating Expenses 750,000 Total Operating Income $130,000 Other Operating Income Rental Income$50,000 Dividend Income 30,000 Interest Revenue 25,000 105,000 Earnings before taxes $235,000 Income Tax expense 82,250 Net income $152,750

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Four factors that affect an organisations approach to talent

Economic environment: whilst the economy is on a down turn and there are a large amount of unemployed the company may have more than normal candidates to choose from and the possibility of taking on employees at a higher level, however once the economy takes an upturn and the job market improves the employees may move on unless the company provides a competitive salary/benefits package or prospects for development.Benefits: a benefits package is added value to an employee, if flexibility is offered within the package, to reflect the age, family needs and life style of a candidate this will attract a wider range of applicants and help to retain existing employees.Training and Development: will attract more candidates who are looking to expand their skills and better their careers; this will also help to retain staff within the company as they will be encouraged to apply for promotions or move within the company.Location of the place of work: if it is out of town with no public transpo rt links or good road networks to the location the company would attract fewer candidates. A lot of employees don’t like to travel too far to work and prefer to work nearer home. In a less populated area a company would have to look further a field as the job skills may not be available in the area.Three benefits of attracting and retaining a diverse workforceIncrease in profit: Companies can use their employees to help with their understanding of the needs of our multicultural society. As an example: within a retail employees could advise the company on specialised products to sell, in turn this could encourage more sales within the store and potentially increase profit.Increased levels of customer service: A diverse workforce will increase the levels of customer service; it can provide help with language barriers and the understanding of different needs within cultures. Age is also a factor, older customers do not always relate well to younger employees in a service environ ment and vice versa. A diverse work force will encourage a diverse customer base in turn a higher customer service level will increase the amount of customers.Increases the talent pool within a company: employees are often encouraged to apply to and work for a company with a diverse workforce, candidates/employees who have experienced a diversity in their every day lives or whilst in education will apply, this increases the talent pool available to the company and increases the chance of finding the best candidate for the job.Three factors that affect an organisations approach to recruitmentCost: Recruitment can be costly to a company and if the talent pool is not directly available they may have to pay for recruitment for example by using an employment agency. If a vacancy is not filled within the required time scale the company may use agency staff to cover the work load with additional costs incurred in comparison to a company employee.Time Scales: If a vacancy is for a specialis ed position, the company may have to look further a field for the ideal candidate. This can result in additional time taken for recruitment this in turn could put extra stress on the existing work force whilst they have to carry out additional work and customer service levels could be affected as a result. The company could also hurry the process to avoid this and result in the wrong person being employed hence the process could need to be repeated in the near future.Type of Role: A vacancy that doesn’t require definitive skills could result in a high level of candidates applying which in turn can make the recruitment process longer by having to sift through all of the applications or can result in fewer applications depending on the geographical economy. Recommendation to the company by existing employees can help, saving time and resulting in the ideal candidate for the job.Recruitment methods.Local career/recruitment fairs: The Company has a stand at the fair to advertise the job vacancies with recruitment material i.e. application forms, job descriptions etc, representatives from the Company such as Human resources and department managers speak directly to the potential candidates giving details of the company and vacancies available. Applications/CV’s, or details from the candidates are taken at the point of contact.Job centres: Job vacancies are advertised through the job centre at no cost. The company has a online account with the job centre details, of the vacancy are uploaded onto the online system the vacancy will then be advertised not only in the local job centre but also on line therefore the vacancy will have a wider geographical audience.Company website: the company advertises their vacancies on their own website with a job description etc. A section of the site is linked to the main page and the candidate completes a generic form for personal details this is then linked to the application form or a link to upload a CV. It can also be linked to a company’s online recruitment system.Selection methodsStructured Interview: Is developed from the traditional interview process, rather than asking questions based on the candidate’s application form questions are asked to allow the candidate to demonstrate certain competencies for example, â€Å"can you tell us about a situation when you updated a process and why?† The same questions and standardised score sheet are used for each applicant therefore allowing a fare process.Assessment centre: a selection of the following: Interview Psychometric test Role play In- tray exercise Group exercise Presentation Social sideThis process is used to give a good overview of all the candidates their strengths and weaknesses. A selection panel assesses the candidates as they complete each task by marking paper exercises which have an exact required outcome or rating by observations with a defined marking system, once the marks are collated the panel then discus s as a whole before a final decision is reached.Psychometric Test: through a company such as the McQuaig institute, the tests can be used for all levels of staff from senior management to semiskilled staff and can consist of one of or both of the following; an aptitude test consisting of a english, numeric, 3 dimentional thought and job/subject specific tests. Secondly a personality test which is aimed at finding types, there is no right or wrong answer. The company can use the information provided by a report as to whether the candidate has the potential, the right temperament or other criteria required to suit the needs of the job.Purpose of induction and benefits:The induction process is aimed at giving the employee a clear out line of the job requirements, with details of the company’s structure showing how the employee will fit into the team and outlines the function and aims of the company. The new recruit will be integrated into the company easier giving them confidenc e and a feeling of belonging; it keeps the them busy in the initial stages of employment allowing them to have a structured and easier settling in period, as well as providing valuable information. It creates a good impression of the company, helps to retain employees, giving a return on the time and money invested.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Business Economics Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Economics Master - Essay Example Market segmentation is a two step process of naming broad product markets and segmenting these broad product markets in order to select target markets and develop suitable marketing mixes. For example, before 1960, the Coca-Cola Company produced only one beverage and aimed it at the entire soft drink market. Today Coca-Cola offers over a dozen different products to market segments based on diverse consumer preferences for flavors and calorie and caffeine content (Michael & Ash, 2004). It is now possible (especially in urban areas) to do all of one's shopping through an Internet connection. Groceries can be ordered online and delivered to keyed freezers in the driveway. Pizza can be ordered online and delivered within 30 minutes. Clothes, shoes, music, books, condoms, shampoo, jewelry, and even cars can be ordered online and delivered to your home. Tse and Yim (2001) conducted a study in HongKong interviewing book buyers regarding their choice to purchase a book online or at the store. SanFrancisco holds the lead for Internet purchases, with 22.3% of survey respondents indicating they had purchased online in the last 30 days (Fetto, 2002). Although this may not seem like a huge number, consider that most online purchases are made by people who have at least some expendable income. Consumers with expendable income are the ones most carefully targeted by marketing and advertising agencies. Consumers use the Internet not only to make purchases but to comparison shop, gather information about the product from a variety of sources, read the opinions or reviews of the product posted by other consumers, and so on. McKinney (2004) has proposed that there are five Internet consumer segments: confident/convenience oriented/ comparison, store preferred, highly involved, apathetic, and apprehensive. These segments represent five basic attitudes that consumers have toward Internet shopping. Interestingly, most of the respondents in the study were in the first segment (3 C's); they were confident in using the Internet, felt it was convenient, and provided a good way to comparison shop. The smallest consumer segment was the store preferred segment-individuals who preferred traditional mortar-and-bricks shopping to online shopping. However, even this segment did report shopping online occasionally. Thus, the Internet is pervasive in consumer culture, and this is likely to increase over time. The advent of wireless networking may mean that eventually someone standing in a store could use the Internet to comparison shop the same item they are seeing on the store shelf. When considering the impact of the Internet on consumer behavior, it is important to consider the new "world brand" or global community implications of Internet advertising and buying. Though not everyone has an outlet for a particular store in their vicinity, if they have Internet access they can still buy the product. This presents special issues. Colors have different meanings across various cultures. Global mass marketing has moved beyond Coca-Cola, which sells essentially the same product worldwide. However, other corporations market globally in much the way that Nabisco markets Oreos. The increase in the number of online consumers is

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Examining a Business Failure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Examining a Business Failure - Essay Example In simple terms, business failure can be defined as a situation whereby a company or an organization ceases operations due to inability to make profit or because it can no longer be able to bring in sufficient revenue that can cover the expenses it incurs. Studies have shown that business failure can be caused by the following factors: increased competition; poor implementation of strategies; outdated technology; poor management; poor leadership; financial problems; and economic challenges (Hatch, 2006). In order to have a better understanding of business failure, this paper will discuss the failure of Enron Corporation. Enron Corporation was one of the leading players in the energy market; actually, in the year 2001, it was the United States ’ seventh Largest Corporation in terms of revenues (Mclean and Elkind, 2003). However, it suffered a catastrophic collapse as a result of financial scandal (famously known as Enron Scandal) which involved its accounting firm (Arthur Ander sen), Enron’s management and leadership. The scandal involved fraudulent accounting procedures and practices which occurred during the 1990s and the beginning of 21st century. These fraudulent activities included manipulation of the Enron’s stock price. This scandal eventually led the Corporation to file for bankruptcy in December 2001 (Fox, 2003). Robbins (2004) argues that whereas events leading to business failure of an organization often take different dimensions, the contribution of the organization’s management, leadership, and organizational structures towards the failure cannot be ruled out. As a matter of facts, he notes that this contribution is usually central to business failure in any given organization. So, how did Enron’s leadership, management, and organizational structures contribute to the failure of the organization? Fox (2003) observes that the trials relating to Enron scandal showed that, indeed, the Corporation’s leadership co ntributed to its failure. Enron executives were charged with criminal acts that include insider trading, money laundering, and fraud. What became clear was that the Corporation’s leadership only focused on influence, greed, power, and profits and paid little attention to the Corporation’s Code of Ethics (Mclean and Elkind, 2003). Their focus made them to make wrong and deceiving decisions, as well as conspiring with Arthur Andersen auditors to engage in illegal accounting activities and methods. Jeff Skilling, Ken Lay and Andrew Fastow are the most notable top-level leaders of Enron whose behaviours greatly contributed to the collapse of the Corporation (Fox, 2003). For example, Andrew Fastow who was the Corporation’s chief financial officer engaged in improper partnerships, fraud, and money laundering activities. Jeff Skilling engaged in conspiracy, insider trading, made false financial reports, and in fraud. Ken Lay made misleading statement and got involved i n fraudulent activities (Mclean and Elkind, 2003). As leaders of the Corporation, Fastow, Skilling, and Lay were expected to adhere to and uphold Enron Code of Ethics that called for integrity, excellence, communication, and respect. However, they engaged in activities that challenged the Corporations ethics code’s foundational values. The top leadership as well as the Corporation’s senior management contributed to the failure by attempting to create a conglomerate in the energy industry that was aimed at increasing the

Legal Issues in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legal Issues in Business - Essay Example As the plaintiff had to purchase concrete from a different supplier at higher prices, the cost differentials were charged on the defendant and were deducted from the dues. The plaintiff allowed the defendant to resume supply on a condition that the supply would come only from a single plant. On resuming the supply, the defendant failed to supply the ordered quantity of concrete on numerous occasions (at least 42). Shortage of raw materials and plant breakdowns were the two primary reasons cited and on some occasions no reasons were cited by the defendant for non- or short supply of concrete. The plaintiff was again forces to purchase concrete from a different supplier and again at higher prices. The plaintiff charged the defendant for cost differentials and deducted it from the outstanding dues. The defendant on the other hand, maintained events leading to non- or short supply of concrete would fall under Force Majeure and hence the defendant was not liable for the cost differentials . The defendant had to suspend supply of concrete due to plaintiff’s non payment and deduction of cost differentials from outstanding dues. ... 2. Analysis Issues Following are the issues that were raised in the trial court and respective findings that the court has to decide on: Issue (a): Was the contract â€Å"sole supplier† or â€Å"exclusive† contract? The finding of the trial was that the contract was not a â€Å"sole supplier† or â€Å"exclusive contract†. Issue (b): Was the Plaintiff’s claim for cost differentials, incurred due to purchase from an alternate supplier to due defendant’s inability to meet quality requirement, during the suspension period justified and allowed? The finding of the trial court was that the Plaintiff was not allowed to claim cost differentials during the suspension period. Issue (c): Can the defendant use force majeure clause to exempt itself from the liability for non- or short supply? The finding of the trial court was that shortage of raw materials would fall under force majeure but not plant breakdown. Hence, the defendant was liable only non- o r short supply due to plant breakdown. Issue (d): Is the defendant entitled to suspend the supply? The finding of the trial court was that the defendant was entitled to suspend the supply. Issue (e): Was the Plaintiff entitled to terminate the contract? The finding of the trial court was that the Plaintiff was not entitled to terminate. The Plaintiff has appealed against all findings of the trial court. Judgement Following is the judgement of the court on the respective issues. The authorities that have been followed and distinguished have been discussed accordingly: Issue (a): The judgement arrived was that the contract was not a â€Å"sole supplier† or an â€Å"exclusive† contract. The judgement was reached based on the reasons that there was no mention in the contract being an â€Å"exclusive one’ neither was

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Therapeutic management of stroke to prevent secondary events in Literature review

Therapeutic management of stroke to prevent secondary events in patients who have experienced an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) - Literature review Example ever posited that duration of manifestation of symptoms is a major issue in ITA as in ITA, the symptoms are only kindly to be the same as what is seen in stroke in the first 24 hours or less. Writing specifically on the pathophysiology of ITA and its clinical manifestation, Iadecola and Gorelick (2012) stressed that the primary pathophysiology of the disease is the underlying heart or blood vessel disease, which manifests in several forms, including atherosclerotic vascular disease. Atherosclerotic vascular diseases have been associated with ischaemic stroke and actually considered a major cause of ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (ITA) (Rothwell, 2011). This is because the onset of atherosclerotic vascular diseases has actually been linked with the occurrence of occlusive lesions which take place in major intracranial and extracranial arteries. Meanwhile, any form of inhabitation of supply of blood to the heart could be associated with possible breakdown in the active functioning of the brain (Adams et al., 2008). Rashid, Leonardi-Bee and Bath (2013) noted that with the onset of atherosclerotic vascular disease which is the primary pathophysiology of both stroke and ITA, the damage to lesions resulting from occlusive lesions bring about further secondary manifestations, necessary for diagnosis. As this occlusive lesions, which is a form of severely stenotic lesions occur at the major intracranial and extracranial arteries, they lead to the narrowing of small penetrating arteries of the brain and thus the cause or onset of secondary events in patients with TIA (Fayad, 2006). In relation to the current research problem, Bornstein, Silvestrelli, Caso and Parnetti (2012) found that where there pathophysiology and clinical manifestation shows clear possibility of ITA, it is very important that immediate management steps are taken to avert further secondary events, leading to stroke. This is because there is only a thin line from the transition point from

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

ICT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 13000 words

ICT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE - Dissertation Example Analysis is given on the survey and comparisons made between survey findings and literature review. ICT is now an integral part of much of our lives and even when we go on vacation or on business trips too. Search terms: Hotel Customer Satisfaction (Amazon); hotel management systems; research studies on hotel ICT; ICT effects on hotel service; ICT and hotel service; hospitality and tourism research papers on ICT Table of Contents Acknowledgements 2 Abstract 3 Table of Contents 4 Section 1: Introduction 6 1.1 Introduction to the Research 6 1.2 Purpose 7 1.3 Statement of Objective 7 1.4 Research Question 7 1.5 Justification 7 1.6 Strategy 8 1.7 Limitations 8 Section 2: Literature Review 9 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Using Technology (ICT, PMS and CRM) 10 2.3 Experiential Marketing and ICT 12 2.4 Social Media and Applications (Apps) 13 2.5 Marketing with ICT Tools 14 2.6 Employee Motivation 15 2.7 Employee Rewards 17 2.8 Ideal Management 18 2.9 Impact of ICT on the Workforce 19 2.10 Front De sk Employees 20 2.11 Housekeeping and Food Services 21 2.12 Total Quality Management (TQM) 22 Section 3: Methodology 23 3.1 Introduction 23 3.2 The Journals and Books Process 23 3.3 The Online Survey and Questionnaire 24 3.4 The Overall Research Strategy 25 Section 4: Results and Findings 26 4.1 Introduction 26 4.2 Descriptive Information 26 4.3 Overtime Hours 27 4.4 Hotel Positions 27 4.5 Education Levels and Income 28 4.6 Experiential versus Experience on the Job 28 4.7 Training on the Job and for the Job 29 4.8 Decision Making Capabilities and Management Supervision 30 4.9 Management Supervision and Approval 31 4.10 Marketing and Technology as Part of the Job 31 4.11 Summary 34 4.11.1 SPSS Analysis –Descriptive and Correlation Analysis 34 4.11.2 Linear Regression Analysis 37 Section 5: Discussion 41 Section 6: Conclusion 44 Appendix 46 Resources 53 Section 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction to Research The hotel business is a major part of a person’s enjoyment experie nce, whether on a vacation or on business trips. Like anywhere else, there are problems to be solved on a daily basis, such as the traveller has to delay checking in by one day because of flight delays or even business delays. The ability for a customer to communicate directly with the hotel through electronic communications, such as an app on a smart phone, or through a laptop while at the airport, is essential to being able to solve a problem before it gets worse. As a consequence, the ability to take care of a customer through the electronic porthole (Buhalis & Law 2008; Buhalis 2008), means more satisfaction that things will be taken care of before the customer arrives and checks in. Additionally, customers can also order dinner when they land at the airport so that moments after checking in, if at night, dinner will be brought up to the room. The menu is accessible through the hotel’s website portal and registered customers can access inside with a key code, which is sen t when the reservation is made. This allows the customer to custom-define his or her preferences on specific accommodations (ADA 2006), such as the need for a portable fan, drinks, certain types of water and

Monday, September 23, 2019

Letter from a Birmingham Jail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Letter from a Birmingham Jail - Essay Example King gave bits and pieces of the letter to his attorneys to take back to movement’s head office, where Reverend Walker started putting together and editing the legendary jigsaw puzzle. Martin Luther King's letter is a statement put out by eight white Birmingham clergymen on April 12, 1963, known as "A Call for Unity". King composed this letter in reply to that statement. The clergymen concurred that social unfairness existed in the United States, but argued that the fight against racial discrimination should be fought only in the courts, and not in the streets. The clergymen condemned Martin Luther King, referring to King as an interloper who creates problems in the streets of Birmingham. In reply to this, Martin Luther King referred to his principle that all states, as well as communities, were interconnected. King wrote that injustice in any place is a threat to justice in every place. People are caught in an unavoidable system of mutuality, tied in one garment of fortune. A ccording to King, whatever concerns a person directly, concerns everybody indirectly. He said this to prove to the clergymen that anybody who resides inside the United States cannot be taken as an outsider. Martin Luther wanted to show his regrets about the protests that were taking place in Birmingham. He, however, felt that the African American people had no choice but to protest due to the way they were being oppressed by the whites. The clergymen, nevertheless, condemned the massive tension caused by the protests. In reply to this, Martin Luther King affirmed that he plus his fellow protestors were using peaceful actions so as to create tension that would put pressure on the wider society to face the matter head on. The protestors hoped to cause tension (King, 462). They hoped to create a non-violent tension that would lead to the development. This is as written down in King’s letter. King wanted to inform the clergymen that without peaceful forceful actions, proper civil rights could never be attained. The clergymen also condemned the timing of the protests. King, however, wanted to show the clergymen that they had waited long enough for these God given rights. Opposing the clergymen’s statement that the protest was against the law, King argued that not only was civil defiance justified in the face of undeserved laws but that everybody has a moral task of disobeying unfair laws. Luther’s letter contains the famous statement that stated inequality at any situation is a threat to impartiality everywhere (King, 462). Some of the various topics that King was trying to convey are: direct actions, civil rights as well as discrimination. According to King, direct action is a just form of political activism which seeks to remedy political, social as well as economic ills. Direct action is often urgent and challenging. It can contain such activities as workplace occupations, strikes, sit-ins, guerrilla warfare, and demonstrations among others (King, 462). Direct actions are sometimes a form of civil defiance and can contain illegal actions, but it is for the good of a society. King also wanted to show to people that racial discrimination is an ill-mannered culture and that everybody deserved to be treated equally. Finally, Martin Luther King was against deprivation of civil rights to the American citizens especially the African Ameri

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Administration Effectiveness Essay Example for Free

Administration Effectiveness Essay The organizations must put up realistic and attainable objectives . This is something that can be understood by way of saying that goals of the unit must be made accordance with the support in terms of personnel , resources and equipment available to the unit . It is no right to put up goals that could not be supported by current logistics and personnel available within the unit. This study aimed to determine the administrative effectiveness of the Bureau of Jail Management and penology in the province of Albay in order to recommend measures for improvement to enhance a better system of jail management . Specifically , it sought answers to the following questions : 1. What is the status of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the Province of Albay in terms of : a.) Administration b.) Manpower c.) Physical Facilities d.) Services e.) Inmates 2. What is the level of effectiveness of the Bureau of Jail Management And Penology in the Province Of Albay in terms of : a.) Administrative Services b.) Security and Custodial Services c.)Rehabilitation Services 3. What are the problems encountered and solutions offered ? 4. What action plan may be proposed to effect a better system of jail management ? The study utilized the descriptive research method using the 5-point Likert scale to assess the perceptions of the respondents . A total of fourteen (14) officers , one hundred ten (110) non officers rank and thirty- six (36) inmates were considered respondents in this study. See more:Â  The Story of an Hour Literary Analysis Essay FINDINGS The following are the findings in this study . 1. The status of the Bureau of Jail Management and penology are presented in terms of its administration, manpower ,physical facilities , services and inmates. The services were more of the rehabilitation programs provided in different jails . A total of 124 BJMP personnel comprised the entire Albay BJMP. 2. The perceptions of the three groups of respondents o the level of effectiveness of its administrative services , security and custodial services and rehabilitation services are the following : the personnel and budget assessed to be as very effective with average mean of 3.41 inmates welfare with 3.20 also as very effective , mess and supply with 2.81 also as effective as general services with 3.28 as effective . The security and custodial services with the following average mean 3.88 or very effective and escort team with 3.84 also as very effective. Rehabilitation services in terms of the following components : Religious and guidance counseling with 3.24 or very effective livelihood with 2.69 or effective and health services with 2.80 or effective. 3. Most pressing problems were focused on insufficient office supplies , lighting , water and communication facilities as perceived by the non-officers and inmates while the officers viewed no capital outlay and lack of office equipment bunks ,mats and prisoners van as their most pressing problems . The solutions offered : funds for repair and procurement as perceived by the non-officer and inmates is budget for construction of jail facilities / transportation and funds for traveling expenses while the officers perceived on the jail extension . 4. Proposed action plan is prepared in order to address the pressing problems in jail administration and management . CONCLUSIONS From the foregoing findings , the following conclusions are drawn . 1. The services as rendered for rehabilitation by the administration were : conducting religious counseling and guidance ; establishing livelihood programs and activities ; and providing health services to the inmates . 2. Health services and livelihood projects were the only vital needs of inmates to make them productive while incarcerated. 3. Insufficient office supplies and materials and physical facilities were noted as the most pressing problems of proper physical facilities will be install , it will probably ensure safety and security of both inmates and the BJMP personnel . 4. Activities proposed in the action plan are implementable and can be easily achieved by the Albay BJMP. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The BJMP Central Office should Increase the funds allocated for the different jail Station/ offices. They should make intense representations to the DBM for them to release the immediate needed funds . Investigation of the physical condition and evaluation of the funds requested to ensure the viability of the programs presented. 2. The programs for rehabilitation services are more anchored on the health services to ensure the physical condition of the inmates . Likewise, livelihood projects should be provided to make the inmates more productive while they were incarcerated . Moreover, they should established linkages with other non-governmental agencies to help them in improving their undertakings particularly in the conduct of religious services and other viable programs. 3. Require the administration to adhere to the most and pressing problems of the jail offices and stations . install and give priority to the additional physical facilities such as lighting , water units , mattresses , and other office equipment . The office may not be able to supplement the needed supplies and materials but they could possibly solicit them from other local government agencies . 4. Immediate implementation of the proposed action plan. Areas for further study : a. Evaluation of on-going rehabilitation programs and projects for the Albay Provincial Jail . b. inmates plight in Legaspi City Jail. c. Perceptions on Jail Breaks in Legaspi City. d. Construction Of Conjugal Rooms For Inmates . e. Immediate Evaluation and Judgment of various cases.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Marxist Analyses And Motivation Theories Management Essay

Marxist Analyses And Motivation Theories Management Essay Motivation defined as: The set of processes that arouse, direct, and maintain human behaviour towards attaining some goal. Motivation is the inner drive that pushes individuals to act or perform. Employees motivation in a company or a firm is a very crucial management practice which should not be underestimated since its implications are very much pronounced. Motivated employees have greater concentration and are less likely to make mistakes, cause accidents or be involved in conflict. They are also likely to show greater loyalty to the company and have less absenteeism. Some authors argue that there is no problem of worker motivation in capitalist economics, as managers can rely on job insecurity to ensure compliance. Other have identified the characteristics of capitalism is that production of commodity occupies a dominant position and production of surplus value. The conflict of interests between owners and employees will be caused the problem of worker motivation in capitalist organizations (Knights and Willmott, 2007). Because of the owners interest is not making work more satisfying for employees but exploit them. The purpose of this essay was to explore is there a problem of worker motivation in capitalist economies. The following presents the literature reviews about motivation theories and Marxist analysis of the nature of capitalist economies. Secondly, the case of Wal-Mart that used illustrates the problem of worker motivation in capitalism. And also some critical arguments will be presented. Finally, make a conclusion that is based on the justified argument. Literature review: Marxist Analyses and Motivation Theories 2.1 Marxist Analyses Capitalism is a mode of production based on private ownership of the means of production (Heilbroner, 2008). Capitalists produce commodities for the exchange market and to stay competitive must extract as much labor from the workers as possible at the lowest possible cost. The economic interest of the capitalist is to pay the worker as little as possible, in fact just enough to keep him alive and productive (Isaac, 2008). In capitalism, the worker, who is alienated from the products he creates, is also estranged from the process of production, which he regards only as a means of survival. Estranged from the production process, the worker is therefore also estranged from his or her own humanity, since the transformation of nature into useful objects is one of the fundamental facets of the human condition (Pinder, 2008). The worker is thus alienated from his or her species being-from what it is to be human. Finally, the capitalist mode of production alienates human beings from other human beings (Harder, 2008). Deprived of the satisfaction that comes with owning the product of ones labor, the worker regards the capitalist as external and hostile (Carter, 1995). 2.2 Motivation Theories In this increasing competitive world where satisfaction of workers needs is the centre of attention for both private and public organizations. Not all people are motivated by the same thing and over time their motivations might changes (Hutchens, 1989). Therefore, Motivation theory can help us to consider the different investments which can be made in people. A motivated and qualified workforce is crucial to increase productivity and the quality of the organizational services in order to achieve organizational objectives (Isaac, 2008). The most popular needs classification is the one developed by Abraham Maslows. Maslow Hierarchy of Needs put forward a theory that there are five levels of human needs which employees need to have fulfilled at work. At the most basic level, an employee is motivated to work in order to satisfy basic physiological needs for survival, such as air, water, food, sex and sleep. Following the achievement of physiological needs, ones attention shifts to safety and security needs in order to overcome the threat of physical and emotional difficulties. The next three levels in Maslows theory relate to intellectual and psycho-emotional needs: love and belonging, esteem and finally the highest order need, self-actualization. He believes at this point individuals have the desire to achieve their full potential and skills (Anonymous, 2009). All of the needs are structured into a hierarchy and only once a lower level of need has been fully met, would a worker be motivated by the opportunity of havin g the next need up in the hierarchy satisfied (Pinder, 2008). For example a person who is dying of hunger will be motivated to achieve a basic wage in order to buy food before worrying about having a secure job contract or the respect of others (Locke Letham, 2004). Herzberg (1966) proposed a two factor (motivation-hygiene) motivation theory. The satisfier/motivators include achievement, recognition; work itself, responsibility, advancement and growth, while the hygiene factors include company policy and administration, relationship with supervisor, working conditions, personal life, salary, and relationship with subordinates, status, and security. Motivators are the factors that fulfill individuals needs for meaning and personal growth; hygiene factors create dissatisfaction when they are mishandled. Worker motivation problem in Wal-Mart In 2001, Wal-Mart became the worlds biggest company in terms of sales revenues and 2.1 million employees (Fortune, 2002). However, in order to minimize operating costs and maintain low prices, Wal-Mart pays relatively low wages, provides minimal benefits to its employees, and also Wal-Marts Punitive Policies Drive Employees to Work Sick. A deli section worker said: Everyone comes to work sick, including employees handling food. In the deli section, most of girls come coughing their brains out, but cant go home because of points coughing too loudly switch you to another department. Since you cant take days off. Her cough worsened, and she ended up hospitalized with pneumonia (Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, 2009). Being sick, deli section work was hard because its a hot area, requiring in and out visits to a freezer to get meat. Everyone is sweating and your hair is all wet, but we cant use fans because of the dust (Greenhouse, 2002). Another Wal-Mart worker told: Wal-M arts (sick) policy has not changed, and no one said anything about this. As a result, one worker said morale is low in their workplace and pretty much everyone hates their jobs, but havent much choice in todays economic climate (Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, 2009). Under Wal-Marts Open Availability policy, management demands everyone be available 24 7. A flood of people would leave the company if they could find other work. Fear and need keep them there. In order to provide low-cost products to customers, they cut staff salaries; reduce full-time employees health insurance fee and also no health insurance fee pay for temporary workers. Overall, Wal-Mart treats employees punitively. Theyre overworked, underpaid, and treated like wage slaves (Kaufman, 2000). Capitalist organization, like War-Mart think that they had managed quite well without to motivate staff, as they still rely on the fact that people need a job. Marx argues that labor is central to a human beings self-conception and sense of well-being. Labor are as much an act of personal creation and a projection of ones identity as it is a means of survival (Harder, 2008). However, Wal-Mart deprives employees of this essential source of self-worth and identity. The employees approaches work only as a means of survival and derive none of the other personal satisfactions of work because the products of his labor do not belong to him (Carter, 1995). Everyone comes to work sick, all of the staff do not have the right to rest when they are sick. Unless you found a new job then you can rest. If you are coughing too loudly that they will switch you to another department. Everyone hate their job but fear and need keep them continue to work. This entire situation is due to these individual rights are expropriated by capitalist company. In addition, the power of the profit motive encourages unscrupulous individuals to act unethically (Burawoy, 1979). Poor treatment of staff and lack of consideration for motivate. According to Maslows model of work motivation based on a hierarchy of needs in which individuals are posited to first seek the satisfaction of physiological needs before pursuing other desires (Ford, 1992). Employee is motivated first and foremost to satisfy physiological needs. Organizations must provide employees with a salary that enable them to afford adequate living conditions. Employees will feel less motivated to do some tasks if they feel their compensation is not appropriate. Paying employees less will lead to dissatisfaction. A dissatisfied employee is an unmotivated employee (Hutchens, 1989). However, wages at capitalist Wal-Mart have always been as little as we could get by with at the time The current wage does not honor Wal-Mart workers personal development and it stifles their participation as individuals in society (USA TODAY, 2012). According to Living Wage Calculator, the per-hour salary necessary to meet the minimal life necessities in Charlotte, North Carolina is approximately $8.73 per hour (Washington monthly, 2006). The current wage of many Wal-Mart employees falls well below this benchmark. From a more macroeconomic vantage point, economists estimate that the aggregate annual income of a full-time Wal-Mart employee is approximately $17,600 a year. Moreover, the annual income of an individual compensated by a living wage comes in at $18,152.40, well above Wal-Marts average figure. Even more disturbing, using very conservative estimates as approximations, a newly hired Wal-Mart employee can expect to earn approximately $14,560 annually. Not only does this figure fall far below the recommended living wage value, but it also only marginally clears the abject poverty standard for an individual of $11,201 (Anthony, 2006). In Wal-Mart, Employees money need does not satisfy. The company pay minimum wages but in getting in more out of them. Their minimum wages only enable workers to survival, let alone to meet other needs. These salary figures ha ve direct bearing on a Wal-Mart employees ability to purchase health care. Some authors said that it happens because the capitalists monopolize one thing: surplus value of labour belongs to them (Braverman, 1974). Another researcher said that capitalism has its drawbacks. Profit is a motivator who lacks morals. It is focused only on a single outcome of business actions ignoring all other outcomes (Cater, 1995). Company pays lower wages to gain higher profits. Wal-Mart cannot meet staff needs it will led them lack of motivation, that they tend to resort to anti-work behaviours such as absenteeism, late-coming, failure to meet deadlines, display of open frustration and all these factors work negative to the performance and credibility of an organization. As a result, with most the recent staff cynicism and resign, shoppers are waiting longer for service and getting upset (Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, 2009). It can be observed that Herzberg (1990) ranked hygiene and motivator factors as the most important motivational theory when uncertainty exists, problems can arise. If an employee is concerned that her job is not secure, she/he may be unmotivated to produce a full effort. Without safety, an employee can be unmotivated. If the motivational factors are met, the employee becomes motivated and work performs higher (Ford, 1992). In Wal-Mart, the working environment is bad that deli section workers working in a hot area, where everyone is sweating, but they cant use fans because of the dust. For above situation, Wal-Mart does not do anything and do not make any changes to meet employees needs. As well as, Open Availability policy also let staff feel that they become Wal-Wart Androids. For reducing the costs, Wal-Mart cut employees health insurance fee, and no insurance fee paid for part-time workers. Capitalist organizations think that they had quite well without theories of motivation; managers can rely on the fact that people need a job as a powerful force for motivation (Knights and Willmott, 2007). Their interests is not making work more satisfying for employees but in getting in more out of them. As a result of lack of employees motivation, most of employees began to hate their jobs, give a negative emotional attachment to their jobs, and being dissatisfied with its role in the work environment. Further, a recent study shown that; employee motivation is directly proportional to organizational performance and profitability (Fortune, 2002). With all these negative and unappealing characteristics of being a Wal-Mart employee, why do people inevitably find themselves working at this dreadful modern day sweatshop passed off as a nationwide superstore? Wal-Mart has left their employees in a dilemma that produces the mindset that no other stores will provide a job opportunity in this difficult economy but in return employees receive extremely poor treatment and considerably low wages (Nlcnet, 2001). Conclusion The problem of worker motivation is inevitable under capitalism because the workers are an exploited class. The lower their wages are, the higher the owners profits. The owners take the products, services and infrastructure created by the workers, sell them on the market, and pay the workers as little as possible. The Maslow need theories maintain that an individual is motivated to do something if he or she experiences a specific need that may be fulfilled directly or indirectly by performing that action. The lower order needs have to be satisfied in order to pursue higher level motivators along the lines of self fulfillment. In addition, Herzberg said that in order to motivate people an organization needs to first have the baseline that is the hygiene factors in place and then the motivators will be used to motivate and in absence of the base line motivation is not possible to achieve. It is indicative of the above discussion that most of the employees need to motivate. However, in the case of Wal-Mart, they paying staff lower wages, cut their self-control, and also the sick policy regulates everyone comes to work when they sick. Under those circumstances, most of the employees began to hate their jobs, and being dissatisfied with its role in the work environment. All of this is due to compan y wants to profit maximization. In sum, the long-term survival of any organisation depends largely on the motivation of its employees be it financial or non-financial. Therefore organisations should be willing to continuously and on regular basis, undertake employees surveys such as this one in order to understand what their employees expects from their current job. The result of such exercises could prove useful for the organisation, because knowing what their employees wants and efforts in meeting these needs facilitate a mutual working environment for both the employees and its management. Using the power to motivate workers will cause worker motivation problem.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Managing and leading People

Managing and leading People INTRODUCTION Leader can simply be defined as; Leaders go first. They set an example and build commitment through simple, daily acts that create progress and momentum. Leaders model the way through personal example and dedicated execution JAMES KOUZES BARRY PONSER So, leader in any prospective define his/her first moment of truth that what is he/she doing and its a truth or not? Leadership is a natural phenomena and it by birth ability which will be define in the discussion paragraph. Leadership, especially, is very much about doing what is correct for the situation and the people involved in it. Causal such elasticity and separation of response, however, must be a steadiness of values and ground rules, if the leaders professional creditability is to remain the crucial source of authority. Creditability, in turn, in the role of a leader, goes beyond professional reliability and competence. In this assignment, our topic is to examine how the domains of wellbeing can become the cultural norm within an organization and the extent to which transformational leadership is the driver for the embedding of the domains of wellbeing. Therefore I need to consider issues associated with trust, emotional intelligence, the psychological contract, the emotional connection between leaders and employees. The main aspect of this question is how transformational leadership can facilitate and or drive emotional and psychological wellbeing which could in turn improve performance (through high performance working). Reviewed experiences, over many years, in various leadership roles and in a variety of very different pitches, definitely confirms that the interaction of nature and nature is the obvious core element in the development of personality and, as a result, leadership style. But it is also very much a matter of what we do with the hand of cards that we have been dealt and what we, as individuals, make of ourselves, by frequently learning from our experience and the resultant self-development and professional renewal, for which we are each personally and ultimately accountable. We frequently came across in fact ordinary managers doing pretty extraordinary things as leaders and producing outstanding results with their teams, but we also repeatedly saw so many instances of where acceptable performance could quite easily have been raised to outstanding levels, but for the want of intelligent, daring and fully occupied close-quarter leadership. The aim of this assignment is to focus on the capability bunches that our work suggests are crucial in the world of business and to offer ways in which such understanding and do-how might be further developed. The competencies, critical though they are, need to be exercised for most favourable impact with in an organization, as the outcomes of a shared leadership attitude, determined by at least five fundamental activities. 1. Personal steadiness, discipline and truthfulness 2. Narrow-mindedness of patchiness 3. A concern to build mutual trust 4. Focussed passion for the business 5. appreciation of the critical importance of emotional brainpower, in leadership. (Michael Williams (2005) leadership for leaders) So, we will clearly discus about transformational leadership and some relations which are between leader and employee, discuss in detail below and what strengths must be in a leader due to which he can easily promote his work and above Michael explained about fundamental which we will discuss in depth as well. THE ROLE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE EMBEDDING OF EMPLOYEE WELLBEING AS A CORE VALUE WITH IN AN ORGANIZATION There are three different types of talents in which we can categories different diversities and hundred of peoples roles which can be identify in these categories; Striving Talent: In this type we can reflect an individuals talent of motivation, and constrain, including among others. We can say that in this strength a need creates in human to get, to win, to outshine, or to be busy in to provide services to others. Thinking Talent: This second category of talent in which we see that how people think or how they appraise the options open for another peoples! Or how that type of people create verdicts and either their thinking is prearranged and regimented for the people, or weather this type talent people prefer the pleasure of making up their mind till the last moment! This type of talented people called thinking talent leader. Relating Talent: this type of category includes understanding, the ability to commence and assemble relationships, high own and interpersonal consciousness and the ability to inspire and manipulate others. These cluster of talents shows an individual personally reflect and they are very much close to their high level of talent. And this type of individuals seeks for the management because these abilities can make a profitable organization under the exclusive work of employees. And many types of category in which these type of individual can survive or grow like; in a technical or functional field, general management field, autonomy or independence field, security or stability field, entrepreneurial or creative field, service or dedication to a cause, purely challenged field, lifestyle accomplishment etc. These are the major fields in which these types of individuals can grow more efficiently then other fields. Talent or Talented people can be define in these ways, Continuously demonstrate outstanding ability he achieve goals out of his range or with in his ground in which he is expert / experienced. In priority a leader has its a way by his physical actions and this ability is the main strength should be in his/her personality and looks noble because generally we sketch the personality through appearance and physical body activity which a leader shows first look and create the personality in mind. And this characteristic counts Introspection Again and again show high skill in those strongly transferable areas where they are on testing to show or perform or prove their self to be highly motivated or potential. Managerial perception most likely begins with the recognition that there is no one right style of leading and managing. But the new standard manager is mostly acting in the role of transformational leader. But according to the center of creative leadership that those companies which use up capital for the development of the leaders actually they wants to improve their bottom-lined financial performances, magnetize and retain their talent, constrain a performance culture and want to increase their organizational agility. Todays market is competitive and volatile. To be successful, our business needs to be dynamic and ahead of our competitors. In order to accomplish this we need strong leaders within every business unit driving innovation and efficiency. Having leaders with focus, motivation, and the ability to drive change throughout our workplace will allow us to accomplish our goals. -Molly McKenna, director, GSI education training, Thomson Reuters. Explanation of the above mention article is; in this era the market is very much broad in a sense that there are many types of same professionals are available in the market but to make a successful business we should invest on that leader or manager which has an extra capabilities which understand the market scenario and has a capability to make more profitable business through the skills which we have discussed before in this assignment and make their employees more potential with the understanding with trust, the emotional pact, poignant understanding, etc. Leaders have got to have the teamwork of their followers. That type of leaders which use force, fear and manipulate or underestimate to others they basically not a leader and they can never do a smart work and cant grow the business. I will give you the example of a good leader like US President Barrack Obama could not have been elected if the voters do not share his belief in the necessity of change in American politics. So, I realize that he is a good example that how to treat others and like that for good leader that how to treat or understand his employees. Another example from the history; that Abraham Lincoln could not have pursued the civil war if enough followers did not share his goals of preserving the union and ending slavery. So, I think that leadership is nothing more than motivating his employers. It means that leaders must have the skill but first he should understand employees mentality that at what stage you have to choose to deliver your concept or theory. He is I think like a teacher which teaches his student but before teaching first he understand that what the students caliber and how I have to deliver my lecture or how I have to maintain. Something should be come naturally in leaders personality like a pleasant attitude with his/her clients this is a major thing which attracts the customers or followers or employees. And another popular training or teaching methods for leader should be; Apprenticeships Famous speakers Formal education How to manuals Internet guides Job shadowing Off-side conferences On-site workshops Seminars Dont try to teach too many new procedures at once. Training should be an ongoing process. You probably didnt learn your job in a day. Make sure you show patience and a willingness to answer questions. Be realistic in your expectations. (Ferguson-third edition in Career skills library-LEADERSHIP SKILLS) All the above mentioned aspects make through only through the culture which is a very important part because business ideas or perceptions comes and go but only one concept which always seems to have come to stay and that is only Culture and organizational culture which makes or develop by the leader and in many of the companies generates by their CEOs and the fundamental issue is how to preserve and cultivate and make sure the well-being and success of the team. But some indicators which can make a possible grow in the field or in organization which creates a good culture like; Professionalism Seriousness Values Respect Pride Self regulation (Cranwell-ward, bacon, Mackie (2002) Inspiring Leadership) So, these tactics creates good environment in the organization. 1st tactic is the most important because all circumstances (well dressed, appereance,attribute,companys prospectives or rules and regulations) are a part but leader have to keep up in his/her mind and the second tactic, which must be regarding to your target or goal which you have to perform in any circumstance or in any crucial environment and third one tactic relates to your personal perception which you have to categorized accordingly in a part of your mind which standards or principles should be appropriate, fourth tactic is about high opinion, admiration and about the best opinion which leader should always be in a mind and always before start of any task job or goal and the fifth tactic means to maintain your and your co-workers self-importance. Give work Satisfaction with delight and pleasure because satisfaction is the most important part and the last tactic of leaders for creating a good culture is to up to date your personal rules, directives and use the leaderships parameter at any task or target. A leader has an ability to coach of those who work with him/her. He/she will find that they will work better and will respond you as compare to before coaching. As in the honorable world, coaching is a good way for helping people to improve their talent and achieve their goal with full potential. Successful coaching by leader gives many more benefits, its not the financial result which you invested in your training or coaching but also the productivity increases after this coaching, and ability of consideration decisions rises and as well the motivation or inspiration be increase. And when leader time to time give training or coach to his/her employees, leader be aware of his/her employees nature and it makes easy to communicate more sincerely and more easily. You will get more efficient feedback and proactive listening skill and clear-cut language all contribute to coachees stock of relationship construction tools which, when focused on the business, can increase inspiration to create and improvement and add genuine bottom line value. (A C Black. London (2008) Lead Others Effectively-steps to success) In all over the world any coaching dialogue, leaders will always need to show admirable listening expertise. As mentioned above that through the active listening you can easily understand your employees and you can target and make your more profitable business through the employees understanding, can create your blind trust, touching intelligence, well the major part is the emotional agreement, as well you create diversification (means; Many types of culture compile in one culture through the brilliant understanding and make a relax able environment for all) and make or shape them in one group or team and then you can masterly convey your massage or to coach them and can do straight talk in a reliable and consistent pattern and can get a maximum profit and increase revenue it day by day. It has been realized through efficient decision making inventive problem solving from a leader that decision making Leadership is purely a core managerial and leadership responsibility. Developing decision is basically to abstract a way of action through his compass of the boundary and to make alternative decision options. The decision makes only one time with the help of required commit resources for the change to add some new. Central to decision-making is the element of choice among alternative course of actions. A decision is therefore a chosen course of action from alternatives (Harrison 1996) Means, a leader should has the capability to perform different types of or many another more choices of performing to do a work or task which through decision given so the decision maker always take that decision which can give you many ways to resolve or to act upon it. So, the course of action should be prominent and understandable and it makes the way if take loss then what will be! Because the market value can be change at any time so, the main objective which have on front side that is cultural value that in which environment and what are the circumstances and how to maintain and grow in the given portfolio and another capabilities add which we have already discussed above then take the decision because these would not only be words but also a complete task or compiled track which has to be used in the many course of actions. A Leader can do a best leadership when mentally and physically leader will be relaxed and will maintain or balance his life. On discussed topic, Angus I. McLeod wrote in his book self-coaching leadership that; When we consider life-balance it is helpful to set up some areas for introspection. Here is a typical list; Friends Rest and holidays Eating out Physical activity Health Wealth Appearance Hobbies Kids Family life Partnership Personal growth Faith activities Contribution to others Environment of home (Angus I. McLeod (2007) Self-Coaching Leadership) So, according to McLeod theory a best transformational leader should follow these instructions in life balancing which are very important and plays a positive role in the life. It shines your strengths gently and makes your leadership activity more attractive. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Leadership is not a situation or a position in an organization but it is a sense of responsibility, the planning and homework are the essence of a good management and the most important due to which you can inspire and make a space in their hearts or lead the peoples is nothing except Respect. If you are not personally attached to your own self so you can not teach or coach others which would be a harmful and worse for you. So, your internal abilities like your skills and expertise makes you the right if you have for the designated role and control your emotions and feelings but understand and utilize them in that way that others inspire from you and give you better response which you wants then they will give you a better response and grow the business which you wants from them. This is called a leadership skill or Style to which you built your good skilled team and develop them and this developing creates team and action called Team Development. You motivate your team and shine their strengths on individual but in a team and make them in passion over a longer life frame. But the leader must to know the balancing of his life and their followers life so that they do work without stress and makes a healthy environment without any conflict between followers and the leader. In this time this is not a practice how you have to perform the task but also the time ask that how quickly has to resolve the matter so the above discussed leadership qualities and their attributes are the most important and the basic thing in all the criteria culture whether in or out side the organization. Anthropologists kluckhohn and Kelly (1945, p.97) have defined Culture as all the historically created designs for living, explicit and implicit, rational, irrational, and non rational, which exist at any given time as potential guides for the behaviour of men. Culture is the man-made part of the environment. And there are so many different concepts about culture from different researchers and philosophers. Culture actually makes from the incorporated model from human knowledge, their behaviors and faith and it only consists of verbal communication, and faith. Encyclopedia Britannica, fifteenth edition, 1991, Culture consists of language, ideas, beliefs, customs, taboos, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, work of art, rituals, ceremonies, and other related components. Bjorn Bjerke (1999) Business Leadership and Culture So, culture has been defined in many ways. But its much important and play marvelous role in transformational leadership. Culture is an organism of communal symbols and meanings. In short: a good leader is a best transformational leader which can understand employees nature / psychological wellbeing and all the circumstances through his all capabilities and make them a good source for the improving of working. REFERENCES Peter Honey (1999) Improve your people skills-second Edition Alan Hooper John Potter (2001) Intelligent Leadership-creating a person for change Michael Williams (2005) leadership for leaders THOROGOOD Bjorn Bjerke (1999) business leadership and culture Ferguson (2009) Career Skills Library-LEADERSHIP SKILLS-third edition John Adair (2003) The Inspirational Leader Angus McLeod (2007) Coaching Leadership Gillian Watson and Stephanie c.reissner(2010) Developing Skills For Business Leadership A C Black. London(2008)Lead others Effectively-steps to success Cranwell-Ward, Bacon, Mackie (2002) Inspiring Leadership-staying afloat in turbulent times

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Life and Death in Thomas Do Not Go Gentle and Frosts Stopping by Wood

Life and Death in Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle and Frost's Stopping by Woods  Ã‚        Ã‚   "'Carpe Diem'('seize the day') is a Latin phrase which has come to denote an important literary motif especially common in lyric poetry: the encouragement to make the most of present life while it lasts, or to 'live for the moment," (The UVic Writer's Guide). Both Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle" explore the idea that people should attempt to live life to its fullest. Thomas's poem, written to his father, employs a very emotional, pleading style that deeply appeals to the audience, while Frost's poem, a series of thoughts about his own eventual death, exhibits a more pensive, practical, subtle style that craftily forces the audience to think of their own eventual demise. The themes of the two poems are similar in that both explain that death is impending, that people should not take for granted the time they have left on earth, and that people need courage to face death and to realize when death can wait. Thomas, how ever, strongly believes that people should take an active role in what happens to them during their lives as evident in his fervent, cogent tone, while Frost believes that each person has an appropriate time to die, and that people should try to accomplish their obligations before they let themselves give in to death's temptation. "Do Not Go Gentle" is an emotional plea to Dylan's aging father to stay alive and fight death, without altering his individualism. In other words, Dylan wants his father to take his life into his own hands and control his own destiny. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (Thomas 2570), a line that is repeated throughout the poem, best su... ...rature. (1994) 1344. Holbrook, David. Dylan Thomas: The Code of Night. University of London: The Athlone Press, 1972. 196. Holbrook, David. Llareggub Revisted: Dylan Thomas and the State of Modern Poetry. Cambridge: Bowes and Bowes, 1965. 100-101. Kidder, Rushworth M. Dylan Thomas: The Country of the Spirit. Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press, 1984. 94, 187-190, 197. Pritchard, William H. Frost: A Literary Life Reconsidered. Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1985. 43. Stanford, Derek. Dylan Thomas. New York: The Citadel Press, 1986. 116-118. Thomas, Dylan. "Do Not Go Gentle." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. (1996) 2570. Waggoner, Hyatt H. "A Writer of Poems: The Life and Work of Robert Frost," The Times Literary Supplement. April 16, 1971, 433-34. Zverev, A. Untitled. Poetry Criticism, Vol. I. 222.    Life and Death in Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle and Frost's Stopping by Wood Life and Death in Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle and Frost's Stopping by Woods  Ã‚        Ã‚   "'Carpe Diem'('seize the day') is a Latin phrase which has come to denote an important literary motif especially common in lyric poetry: the encouragement to make the most of present life while it lasts, or to 'live for the moment," (The UVic Writer's Guide). Both Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle" explore the idea that people should attempt to live life to its fullest. Thomas's poem, written to his father, employs a very emotional, pleading style that deeply appeals to the audience, while Frost's poem, a series of thoughts about his own eventual death, exhibits a more pensive, practical, subtle style that craftily forces the audience to think of their own eventual demise. The themes of the two poems are similar in that both explain that death is impending, that people should not take for granted the time they have left on earth, and that people need courage to face death and to realize when death can wait. Thomas, how ever, strongly believes that people should take an active role in what happens to them during their lives as evident in his fervent, cogent tone, while Frost believes that each person has an appropriate time to die, and that people should try to accomplish their obligations before they let themselves give in to death's temptation. "Do Not Go Gentle" is an emotional plea to Dylan's aging father to stay alive and fight death, without altering his individualism. In other words, Dylan wants his father to take his life into his own hands and control his own destiny. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (Thomas 2570), a line that is repeated throughout the poem, best su... ...rature. (1994) 1344. Holbrook, David. Dylan Thomas: The Code of Night. University of London: The Athlone Press, 1972. 196. Holbrook, David. Llareggub Revisted: Dylan Thomas and the State of Modern Poetry. Cambridge: Bowes and Bowes, 1965. 100-101. Kidder, Rushworth M. Dylan Thomas: The Country of the Spirit. Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press, 1984. 94, 187-190, 197. Pritchard, William H. Frost: A Literary Life Reconsidered. Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1985. 43. Stanford, Derek. Dylan Thomas. New York: The Citadel Press, 1986. 116-118. Thomas, Dylan. "Do Not Go Gentle." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. (1996) 2570. Waggoner, Hyatt H. "A Writer of Poems: The Life and Work of Robert Frost," The Times Literary Supplement. April 16, 1971, 433-34. Zverev, A. Untitled. Poetry Criticism, Vol. I. 222.   

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Literary Devices in Carvers Cathedral Essay -- Raymond Carver, irony

Upon reading Raymond Carver's short story of the Cathedral one will notice the literary devices used in the short story. When analyzing the story completely, one then understands the themes, motifs, metaphors, and the overall point of the piece. This leaves the reader with an appreciation of the story and a feeling of complete satisfaction. Carver tells the story in first person of a narrator married to his wife. Problems occur when she wants a friend of hers, an old blind man, to visit for a while because his wife has died. The narrator's wife used to work for the blind man in Seattle when the couple was financial insecure and needed extra money. The setting here is important, because Seattle is associated with rain, and rain symbolically represents a cleansing or change. This alludes to the drastic change in the narrator in the end of the story. The wife and blind man kept in touch over the years by sending each other tape recordings of their voices which the narrator refers it to being his wife's "chief means or recreation" (pg 581). The narrator does not move chronologically, contrarily, but uses small flashbacks to tell his point, leading up to the actual visit of the blind man where he then tells the story in a present tense. This lets the author seem like he is actually telling the story in person, reflecting on past occurrences of his life when necessary. His tone however, is a cynical, crude, humorous tone that carries throughout the story. The word choice and sentences are constructed with simple, lifelike words, which makes the reader sense the author is really telling the story to them. The narrator is biased against the blind from the beginning. For instance, he stereotypes all blind people thinking they ... ...irst time for everything." However, because of the way her "inhaled" and "held in the smoke", the narrator believes he has been "doing it since he was nine years old" (pg. 506). This alludes to Robert's childhood, another thing the narrator and him share. Hence, upon analyzing the story, one can conclude the certain themes that parallel through the pages. Firstly, a theme of unity and trust is present at the end of the play. This is supported by the image of the cathedral, which is a place of unity. Most importantly, the notion of equality among people is the main theme within this story. The narrator starts as a biased, idiot, who dislikes all people that are not like himself. He even at times is rude to his wife. Ironically, it takes a blind man to change the man that can literally see, to rule out the prejudices and to teach him that all men are created equal.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Microbiological routes for the production

Microbiological Paths For The Production Of Pharmaceutical Products.IntroductionMicrobiological Aspects Of PenicillinRecent publications and primary literature suggest that penicillin is an first-class curative agent which increases its demand for clinical application and chemical surveies. Microbiological production, chemical purification and isolation are major jobs associated with its usage. Penicillin is produced by Penicillium notatum in really infinitesimal measures and its civilizations were investigated for big scale production of penicillin. Cultures of P.notatum tend to spontaneously lose their penicillin-producing ability due to physiological or biochemical devolution. Penicillin activity straight depends upon the nature of strain. It is critical to choose strains of highest authority for maximal penicillin activity. All the strains are different from each other in their penicillin-forming ability. 1. Penicillin production in Penicillium Chrysogenum. Biosynthesis of lysine and Penicillin in Penicillium chrysogenum is regulated by ramifying point intermediate ?-aminoadipate. In penicillin tract, it is condensed with L-valine and L-cysteine to organize tripeptide by ACV synthetase. The internal ?-aminoadipate pool plays a critical function in lysine and penicillin biogenesis. The break of lys2 cistron directs the pool towards penicillin biogenesis ensuing in penicillin over-production. The targeted break was carried out by utilizing two different techniques and their consequence on penicillin production was studied. P.chrysogenum Wis 54-1255 ( low-level penicillin-producing strain ) and P.chrysogenum pyrG1 mutant strains were used in transmutation experiments. P. Chrysogenum L2, a lysine auxotroph was used as a control. Spores of P.chrysogenum were collected from home bases of power medium after holding grown for 5 yearss at 28Â °C. Two plasmids pDL1 and pDL7 which differed in selectable marker and size of DNA part homologous to a im were selected for break of lys2 by a individual crossing over. pDL1 includes ble ( phleomycin opposition ) cistron while pDL7 contains pyrG cistron as a selectable marker. Out of 495 transformants tested, 2 lysine auxotrophs ringers ( TD7-88 and TD7-115 ) were obtained. Both were unable to turn in Czapek medium supplemented with ?-aminoadipic acid while P.chrysogenum L2 ( command strain ) grew. These consequences proved that lys2 cistron is disrupted in TD7-88 and TD7-115 strains. Two plasmids pDL2 and pDL10 were constructed for break of lys2 cistron by dual recombination. Out of 964 transformants tested, merely one lysine auxotroph ( TD10-195 ) was obtained which was unable to turn in ?-aminoadipic acid supplemented Czapek medium. Transformants TD10-195 and TD7-115 were more stable without any reversion rate as compared to TD7-88 with really low degree of stableness. Although the growing of transformants were slower than parental strain in defined medium incorporating 4.0 Mm lys ine, the penicillin degrees were double from those observed in parental strain at 96, 120, and 144 H and threefold higher at 168 H. 2. Penicillin Production by Fungi turning on nutrient merchandises. Many fungous species widely used as commercial starting motors such as P.nalgiovense, P.chrysogenum, P. Verrucosum, P.griseofulvum and P.roqueforti were used to analyse the production of penicillin while turning on nutrient merchandises and presence of penicillin biosynthetic cistrons in Fungi of genus Penicillium. The synthesis of toxic compounds might besides be secreted to nutrient merchandises. All the strains were screened utilizing bio-assaies in both solid and liquid medium with Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 as a trial strain to observe penicillin production. Antibacterial activity was found in P.chrysogenum, P.griseofulvum NRRl 2300 and P.nalgiovense. ?-lactamase signifier Bacillus Cereus UL1 was used to prove whether the antibacterial activity was due to penicillin or other substance. Result indicate that antibacterial activity can be attributed to ?-lactam antibiotic penicillin. Agitation of liquid submerged civilizations of P.griseofulvam was carried out to corroborate peni cillin production which proved that P.griseofulvam strain NRRL 2300 had highest production degree. Southern smudge analysis was used to analyze the presence of penicillin biosynthetic cistrons. The presence of penicillin cistron bunch in P.griseofulvum proved that the antibacterial activity observed is due to penicillin. P.griseofulvum which is a possible beginning of penicillin in nutrient merchandises can be often isolated from maize, barley, wheat, flour etc. In instance of P. Verrucosum, the antibacterial activity observed was due to either patulin or penicilic acid as it contains merely one cistron of penicillin cistron bunch. Both patulin or penicilic acid are secondary metabolites produced by different strains of Fungi. In order to obtain safe and high quality nutrient merchandises, antibiotic and toxin production by nutrient micro-organisms should be analysed and studied in item. It besides helps to bring forth modified strains in which the synthesis of toxic compounds can b e eliminated without losing their food-ripening and flavorer belongingss. 3. Production of penicillin in methylotropic barm Hansenula polymorpha. -lactam antibiotics such as penicillin and Mefoxins are largest selling antibiotics against bacterial infections. Industrially, penicillin and Mefoxins are produced by filiform Fungis Penicillium.chrysogenum and Acremonium chrysogenum severally. The chief purpose was to present penicillin biogenesis tract into yeast Hansenula polymorpha as it is more various, easy to manage and cultivate with superior agitation belongingss as compared to filiform Fungis. In penicillin tract, peptide synthetase ?-L-cysteinyl-D-valine synthetase signifiers tripeptide ACV. It is converted into isopenicillin N ( IPN ) by enzyme isopenicillin N synthase ( IPNS ) . The pcbC cistron which encodes IPNS was cloned in H.polymorpha intoxicant oxidase booster in pHIPX4 and integrated at PAOX venue in H.polymorpha genome. A strain ( IPNS 4.2 ) incorporating pcbC look cassette was cultivated at 37Â °C on methyl alcohol medium to bring on PAOX. Wild type H.polymorpha serves as control strain. Aliquots were taken a t regular clip intervals to analyze IPNS protein. Western smudges prepared utilizing rough infusions of H.polymorpha and P.chrysogenum revealed that strain IPNS 4.2 produces an ?-IPNS specific protein. IPNS was produced at all growing temperatures in strain IPNS 4.2. In stationary growing stage, comparatively low IPNS protein degrees were observed in cells grown at 37Â °C. It was assumed that hapless or slow folding of protein at high temperature can be an intrinsic factor. However, IPNS protein was to the full stable and its degree was significantly enhanced at 25Â °C if compared to its production at 37Â °C and 30Â °C.The sum is comparable to highest penicillin bring forthing strains of P.Chrysogenum. Results indicate that penicillin production in heterologus barm was merely successful at decreased growing temperatures. As yeast genome does non encode non – ribosomal peptide synthetases such as ACVs, the following measure will be to infix functionally active ACVS in hete rologus host in order to present full penicillin biogenesis tract in H.polymorpha. 4. Penicillin production in surface civilizations of P.notatum. Two-liter Erlrnmeyer flasks incorporating czapek-Dox medium were inoculated with P.notatum and incubated at 25Â °C. It was tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in alimentary stock by ordinary dilution methods. The pH of the medium fell from 6.5 to 3.0-4.0 and remained low throughout. Neutralized samples showed high antibacterial activity and batches runing from 10 to 100 liters were extracted with amyl ethanoate at pH 2. It was assumed that penicillin in these civilizations existed in non-extractable signifier. The pellicles were thin, without furrows or spores, and liquid with swoon xanthous touch. The antibacterial activity was extractible at pH 2 with organic dissolvers when the medium was supplemented with yeast infusion, brain-heart extract. In brown sugar medium ( dark brown sugar, 2 per cent ; NaNO3, 0.35 ; MgSO4.7 H20, 0.05 ; KCI, 0.05, KH2PO4, 0.15 ; FeSO4.7H20, 0.015 ) growing is more rapid and abundant accompanied by intense xanthous pigmentatio n ( chrysogenin ) as compared to czapek-Dox medium. The sourness falls in early phases from pH 5.5 to 4.5 and so rises to 8.0. Penicillin started roll uping on 5th twenty-four hours with upper limit on the eleventh to the 13th twenty-four hours. Maximum penicillin activity appeared after maximal growing was attained. All the sugar was consumed before maximal penicillin was accumulated. 5. Penicillin production in submersed civilizations of P.notatum. Experiments with submersed civilizations were conducted on machines agitating at rate of 60 to 90rpm, with maximal growing observed over a period of 6 to 10 yearss at 25Â °C. Brown sugar medium was distributed in 80-ml measures in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks and inoculated with a spore suspension of P.notatum, strain 832. The flasks were incubated at 25Â °C on a shaking machine. Growth commenced on the 2nd twenty-four hours with maximal growing appeared as little unit of ammunition pellets of mycelium. Penicillin started roll uping on 3rd or 4th twenty-four hours and reached its maximal value ( 20 to 30 oxford units per milliliter ) on 7th or 8th twenty-four hours. Organic fraction in brown sugar is responsible for penicillin-promoting capacity. Zinc besides had a catalyzing consequence. The shingle or submersed civilization technique provides better aeration as compared to come up civilization. By turning P.notatum strains in shake civilization, variable factors of diffusion and pell icle formation are eliminated, while growing and metabolic procedures are accelerated. Care of an equal O supply is indispensable in the penicillin production in submersed civilizations of P.notatum. 6. Aculeacin A Acylase as an industrial biocatalyst for production of penicillin Aculeacin A Acylase ( AuAAC ) from Actinoplanes utahensis NRRL 12052 catalyzes hydrolyses of acyl medieties of fungicidal antibiotics. As AuAAC was similar to ? -lactam acylase, it was investigated whether AuAAC would act as new ? -lactam acylase. An engineered aac cistron was made and cloned into look vector pEM4. The cistron was amplified by PCR utilizing chromosomal Deoxyribonucleic acid from A. utahensis NRRL 12052. Primers were designed harmonizing to the DNA sequence of aac cistron. Purified PCR merchandises were digested with XbaI and EcoRI endonuclease and cloned into pEM4 vector. The ensuing plasmid was so introduced in S.lividans 1326. The AuAAC output was 21-fold higher in recombinant strain produced by S. Lividans ( pEAAC ) as compared to A.utahensis. Its pureness was determined by Na dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel cataphoresis. The thermic stableness was studied by pre-incubating AAC for 20 min at different temperatures. It was stable up to 50Â °C and so reduced at higher temperature. It was determined that purified recombinant AuAAC is able to hydrolyse penicillin V. The kinetic parametric quantities for hydrolyses of different natural ?-lactam antibiotics were determined to analyze hydrolytic specificity of recombinant AuAAC. The pure recombinant enzyme was incubated with increasing concentrations of penicillins ( V, K, F, dihydroF, and G ) in 100 mM K phosphate buffer, pH 8.0 at 45Â °C for 15 min in 100 Â µl. AuAAC shows the same substrate specificity if compared to penicillin V acylase on natural penicillins. Penicillin K was best substrate for which AuAAC shows highest biomolecular changeless value of 34.79 mM-1 s-1. 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