Which theory best explains the development of EU environmental policy?

The successful development of EU international environmental policy has been the subject of much recent study within various disciplines. One promising theory for cross-disciplinary researches of EU environmental policy invokes the concept of international regime. Regime theory might expect to explain a great deal about the development of EU environmental policy in global environmental affairs. It is insightful to consider the EU environmental policy as a regime given that the regime definition most frequently cited is so broad as to certainly include the EU where ‘norms, rules and decision-making procedures in a given area of international relations' (Krasner, 1983, p. 2) are said to be in existence. This sort of theory would enable one to consider the connections between the institutions of the EU and the member states. It may explain the inter-state relationship that lies behind the formation and development of EU international environmental policy. Te positions the EU projects in international affairs are evidently themselves the product of interest mediation and agreed bargaining directed by institutions. This paper will consider the work of both international relations (IR) and international law (IL) scholars to evaluate regime theory as instrument of EU environmental policy, using ozone layer depletion case study as specific example. Main Body International Regime Theory Although international regimes were used much earlier by IL as a means of giving an account of legal regulation in unregulated areas (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 190), the regime theory has gained significance originally within the discipline of IR. The regime theory was developed to explain stability in the international system despite the absence or decline of domination (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 202). It is only in the 1990th that regime theory has again become the focal point of legal scholars searching for ways to stimulate international cooperation (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 10). This requires the organization into a unified pattern of the disciplines of IR and IL, the relationships between them having been one of mutual neglect, as explained by Hurrell and Kingsbury: Regime theorists have tended to neglect the particular status of legal rules, to downplay the links between specific sets of rules and the broader structure of the international legal system, and to underrate the complexity and variety of legal rules, processes, and procedures. On the other hand, theoretical accounts of international . . . law have often paid rather little explicit attention to the political bargaining processes that underpin the emergence of new norms of international . . . law, to the role of power and interest in inter-state negotiations, and to the range of political factors that explain whether states will or will not comply with rules. (1992, p. 12) There is no absolute agreement on what precisely forms an international regime. Goldie, in one of his works in this area, described regimes as: (1) the acceptance, amongst a group of States, of a community of laws and of legal ideas; (2) the mutual respect and recognition accorded by certain States to the unilateral policies of others acting in substantial conformity with their own, enmeshing all the States concerned in a regime with respect to those policies; (3) a common loyalty, among a group of States, to the principle of abstention regarding a common resource. 1962, p. 698) Thomas Gehring (1990) presents a more integrated work in this area, in particular as it better addresses the role of IL in international regime theory. He identifies international regimes as the regulations, developed within the context of a consultation of parties to the regime, governing a specific area of IR. Within this structure, IL is the search for unanimity and agreement on the priorities and plans for international action. Once these are made clear, norms will develop as to how to carry out these priorities and plans, resulting in accepted norms or â€Å"shared expectations† concerning the behaviour of states (Gehring, 1990, p. 37). Certainly, this progress from priority setting to norm gradual development takes time, but it is the regime structure that allows for the process to take place at all. Thus, regimes create the building blocks for the development of norms and rules. Development of EU Environmental Policy and Regime Theory. The influence of EU within environmental affairs cannot be disregarded as the environment in general has to a great extent become a matter of international concern. Of the many international organisations and specialised bodies dealing with environmental issues, the one mostly associated with such work is the European Union. Among other bodies and specialized agencies, the EU is most closely involved in environmental affairs. Regime theory is the most commonly employed theoretical paradigm in the study of EU international environmental politics. The study of the EU focuses upon how the EU affects the prospects of regime-building and how it may create the path of international cooperation. By signing up to agreements on behalf of its member states, the EU increases the scope of a regime by increasing the obligations of states that may in a different way have adopted lower standards. The EU pulls states into commitments. Often, however, the ‘convoy' analogy (Bretherton and Vogler 1997, p. 22) more precisely describes the process, whereby action is delayed by the slowest part of the train. This effect is seen during the ozone negotiations. Despite the attempts of Denmark and Germany to push things forward, the precluding tactics of France and the UK were able to ensure that on many occasions the EU was ‘condemned to immobility' (Jachtenfuchs, 1990, p. 265). Yet, by coordinating the position of (currently) 27 member nations in environmental negotiations, the Commission makes smaller the complexity of negotiations and decreases pressures upon international organisations to perform that function. Approaches informed by regime theory would also help to see the leadership role of the EU as an effort to originate cooperation conditional on the involvement of other parties. Hence the statement of a greenhouse gas decrease target as early as 1990 was planned as a first move in the ‘nice, reciprocate, retaliate' strategy that Connelly and Smith (2002, p. 269 indicated is the necessary to cooperation. Paterson (1996, p. 105) notes, for example, that â€Å"The announcement of the EU target in October 1990 was explicitly designed to influence the outcome of the Second World Climate Conference and to precipitate international negotiations†. Usually, however, IR perspectives tend to overlook the significance of intra-country dynamics to the creation of positions in international agreements. This factor severely restricts their applicability to EU decision-making development. In spite of that, in the ozone case it could be argued a combination of ‘domestic' and international pressures best explain the role of the EU in creating and supporting the regime in question. The EU is as one unit in this case. The four relationships are: one between member states and the EU; between the EU organisations in their internal power efforts; among the boards of directors and eventually between the various boards of directors and interest groups (Matlary, 1997, p. 146). With the EU environmental policy one clearly has a regime within a regime. Models of multi-level governance used to explain the policy development within Europe may be extended to include the international dimension. Viewed from this perspective, EU international environmental negotiations become a site of debate between transnational networks of environment departments from government and regional economic institutions working together with NGOs and sympathetic international organisations (such as UNEP), set against networks including Trade and Industry departments, business lobbies and international organisations which promote the interests of industry (such as UNIDO ( United Nations Industrial Development Organisation)) (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 36). The interconnected groups operate horizontally and vertically and across national, regional and international levels including state and non-state players alike in strategic unions established on particular issues. Cooperation in Environmental Problems Collaboration is represented by the game, wherein each state follows a dominant strategy that leads to suboptimal payoffs for both. Regime theory presents the EU primarily as a tool. The EU deliberately seeks to change the system, design strategies to do so, and attempts to implement the strategies. To assess the development of EU environmental policy in environmental cooperation, then, two potential roles of the EU must be examined: the EU as tool and the EU as independent advocate. The EU helps states overcome the complexity of issues to arrive at coordination equilibrium. States usually remain concerned that others will exploit them, and the EU is needed to increase confidence in compliance. As independent actor, the EU is expected to play a significant role in environmental cooperation. Increased autonomy of the EU on some environmental issues and the increased needs of states to rely on them for collaboration and coordination allow those organizations with unified leadership and significant resources to have independent effects. Ozone: The First Global Challenge The development of the regime intended to limit the release into the atmosphere of ozone-depleting chemicals is in many ways a case of EU-US relations. The key turning points in the development of the process of negotiating from a framework convention at Vienna through to legally imposing an obligation protocol commitments at Montreal, London and Copenhagen reflect changes in the negotiating position of the EU and the US (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 230). The development of ozone polices can be traced back to 1977. The ‘can ban' established in the US put the US in conditions to push for a global ban on CFCs. Process of negotiating moved very gradually at first against strong European opposition to cuts in CFCs, despite a Council resolution in March 1980 restricting the use of CFCs, reacting to American pressure and increasing public concern over the ozone problems. The supporters of controls (the US, Canada, the Nordic states, Austria and Switzerland), met together in 1984 to create the ‘ Toronto group'. The EU initially indicated that no controls were necessary. However, eventually it admitted that a production capacity cap may be required and presented a draft protocol that included their 1980 measures. The offered 30 per cent reduction was without difficulty achievable because use was already declining (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 200) and in essence served to fix the status quo (Jachtenfuchs, 1990). The deadlock that resulted between the EU and the Toronto group made certain that only a framework convention could be made at Vienna. This promised intercommunion in research and monitoring and promotion of information-sharing. At the March 1986 assemblyof the EU Council of Ministers, the EU took a position of a 20 per cent CFC production cut. This was partly impelled by the threat of unilateral action by the US to impose trade sanctions against the EU (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 261). The Montreal Protocol later agreed in September 1987 required cuts of 50 per cent from 1986 levels of production and use of the five principal CFCs by 1999. The figure of a 50 per cent cut was established as a settlement of a dispute by concessions on both sides between the EU's proposed freeze and the US's proposal for a 95 per cent cut. The Protocol contained an interval for the implementation of the Protocol by less developed countries, restrictive measures on trade with non-members and an ozone fund for technology transport. This latter element of the agreement is especially important for the EU for, as Jachtenfuchs (1990, p. 272) states, ‘The success of the EU's environmental diplomacy in this important field will to a large extent depend on how far it is able to provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries'. As a regional economic integration organisation, the EU was granted permission to meet consumption limits together rather than country by country. This was planned to assure some transfers of national CFC production quotas among EU member-states in order to allow commercial producers in Europe to improve production processes cost-effectively. Despite this concession, some European members in the Protocol process believed that they were ‘bullied' into an agreement favourable to US industry, dubbing the Montreal agreement ‘The DuPont Protocol' (Parsons, 1993, p. 61). In spite of that, on 14 October 1988 the Council adopted a law, transforming every aspect of the Protocol into EU legislation. The law came into force instantly in order to emphasise the importance of the issue and to prevent trade distortions which might emerge from non-simultaneous use of the new legislation (Connelly and Smith 2002, p. 269). At the March assembly of the EU Environment Council which took place in 1989, the UK after a long delay joined the rest of the EU in agreeing to phase-out all CFCs ‘as soon as possible but not later than 2000' (Parsons, 1993, p. 47). At the same time France submitted to external pressure to drop its uncompromising position. The London assembly of the members in June 1990 was consequently able to agree that all entirely halogenated CFCs would be phased-out by the year 2000, with successive lessening of 85 per cent in 1997 and 50 per cent in 1995. Some member states have gone beyond the restrictions stated in the international agreements, however. Germany, for instance, has passed legislation stating that CFCs be removed by 1993, halons by 1996, HCFC 22 by 2000 and CT (carbon tetrachloride) and MC (methyl chloroform) by 1992 (Parsons, 1993). On another hand, behind the diplomacy of the negotiations between the states, the case is in a fundamental way one of the competing positions of the chemical companies, chiefly, ICI (in the UK), Du Pont (in the US) and Atochem (in France). Industry agents served formally on European national delegations through the whole of the process. EU industrialists ‘believed that American companies had endorsed CFC controls in order to enter the profitable EU export markets with substitute products that they had secretly developed' (Benedick, 1991, p. 23). The EU followed the industry line and reflected the views of France, Italy and the United Kingdom in its policy. The significance of these commercial considerations is easily noticed in the persistent efforts to define cuts in HFCs and HCFCs (perceived to be the best alternative to CFCs). The EU has found it problematic to come to an agreeable position on reducing the production and consumption of these chemicals because substitute chem icals were not yet easily available. Indecision could also be explained by the fact that some European producers wanted to establish export markets for HCFCs in the less developed ‘south'. The differing commercial interests regarding the ozone issue presented the difficulty the EU faced in its effort to formulate common policy positions in international environmental process of negotiating. This case demonstrates that ozone depletion was one of the first global environmental issues to create a coordinated and consentient international response. Despite remaining weakness in the ozone regime it is regarded to be one of the few tangible successes of EU international environmental policy taking into account that governments took action before certain proof of environmental disaster had occurred. The EU has explicit rules, agreed upon by governments, and provides a framework for the facilitation of ongoing negotiations for the development of rules of law. Regime theory regards EU international environmental policy as a means by which states solve collective environment problems. Regime theory, as well as most current studies of cooperation in international politics, treats the EU as means to an end – as intermediate variables between states' interests and international cooperation. The EU is an independent actor which plays an independent role in changing states' interests – and especially in promoting cooperation. Conclusion The consideration in this paper of the ozone depletion regimes reveals that there is prospect for development in the international legal order. The picture that emerges of EU international environmental policy and politics is a complex and relating to the study of several subject disciplines. It should be noted that there is none predominant theoretical perspectives in international environmental politics adequate to explain this rich complexity. Given the complex reality of environmental cooperation between states and the context within which it develops, explaining policy processes and developments by a single theoretical perspective is an uncertain prospect. Still better understanding of the developments of EU environmental policy in these processes may be fostered by relying on a regime theory.

Emphasis of Evolution in Texas Science Curriculum Essay

Evolution is known to be the change of the inherited behaviors to a given crowd of living organisms from one given characteristic to the other (Futuyma, 2005). Scientifically, these changes are believed to be caused by the mixture of three significant progressions; of which includes the variation process, the reproduction together with the selection. The behavioral characteristics of a given item vary according to the given population in a location. Biologically, the process is known to be that of the change in the behavioral characteristic of an individual and it is believed that whenever an organism reproduce its young one, they new organism either posses new characteristic or an altered characteristic of the individual (Maynard, & Szathmary, 1997). Thus, we can say that, evolution may occur whenever the original behavioral characteristic of a given item is traced in the new produced item or organism. Literature Review Evolution occurs when these heritable differences become more common or rare in a population. With this idea, may process in the today world have also been under going evolution so as to obtain the best to serve their people. Thus, in this particular paper, we are going to see on the emphasis of the evolution in the Texas science curriculum and see on the way they have affected the system in the region. To be able to understand this idea better, we have to look at the theories that have been formulated for the sake of the evolution in our science world. Darwin’s, have been one of the scientist who have majored in the formulation of the evolution theories that do exist to date. First, there is the theory of evolution basing on the premise, of which he imagines that, improvements of the life from the non-life and pressures a entirely naturalistic in this he suggests that the change in the way of doing things tend to be more of natural than that of trained effort (Denton, 1996). With this, he also assumes that the evolution process the recurrent characteristic of the individual tend to select the good ones only and fade off the negative attribute from the society, and with this, the process has been presumed to be that of slow but sure and thus no one should speed t up as might end up adapting the negative attributes from the past. Darwin’s hypothesis has been also the one for the calamity in the brightness of the tremendous advances that they have made in most of the science subjects in the education system. In the Texas science curriculum, this have been used to advocate for the ignorant in the country and because of this, the scientists tend to think that they have to do something in the nation so as to enlighten the education system in the country. With this, the country have been able to come up with three evolution critics of which they are put in place so that they can be bale to evaluate on the anticipated curriculum customary for the sciences courses in Texas schools (Stutz, 2008). With these critics in places, they have aimed at discussing on the Darwin’s theory that talks about the evolvement of the humans and other living organisms. The group have also been established so that they have to come together to facilitate the discussion on the theories that they exist concerning the evolution process in life (Stutz, 2008). With this, they are targeting to be able to eradicate the limitation together with the present necessities of the theories so as to enable the correct theories to be taught in the curriculum in the schools. This has brought contradiction in the country as there are some of the people who need the evolution to be taught in the school just as it is but not to modify it as they tend to think that, whenever the theory will be altered by the organization, it will be more of a religious theory and not a scientific theory to be taught in the schools (Stutz, 2008). For the process that the country is intending to undertake, the citizens tend to think that the public school students in the locality will drop behind their colleague peers if the country go ahead and evaluate the problems in the evolutional theory, this was protested by the member at the board of the education when the citizen insisted that they needed the original evolution and not the one that have been modified to be taught in the schools. Other than this, the nation is also experiencing the moment that the evolution I the school has to be taught to the student with the emphasizes on the advantages as well as their disadvantages as this will let the students be more logical in the world system other than being taught only the relevant part of it only. The president of the Texas freedom network who is Miller, K. said that the subject has to be taught in the institution as one of the basic science in the system and thus by no mean should it be modified as this will tend to reduce its relevancy to the student in the country (McCaffrey, 2008). To add on that, he also said that the subject of evolution has to be emphasized to all of the students without watering it down in whichever manner with the addition of the intelligent design or its removal of its weakness as all this tend to have meaning and a reason to the theory sated by Darwin’s. The country has continually emphasized on the original teaching of the theory of evolution as being stated by one of the biology professor in the country, he says that the modification of the theories in the education system in the country will harm the education for their students in which he continue to say that this will add more weakness to the evolution and thus weakening the whole understanding together with the passion for the study of science in their coming generation (McCaffrey, 2008). Thus, we can say that, as much as the Texas sciences curriculum tend to think that the y have to modify the evolution theories, some of the scientists in the region still believe in the first theory stated by Darwin’s and thus, they have ended up clinging to the theory of which have helped them in becoming the most recognized country in the science subject. Conclusion In the finale, we can say that, as much as some of the people in the education board in the county see the evolution as being old, they have disapproved by the scientists who have all the reasons as to why the theories should be retained as before.

Large Quantities Of Non Biodegradable Waste Environmental Sciences Essay

To being in green standards, hotels must be eligible for environmental patterns within their operation. There are enterprises for bettering hotel public presentation, for case, The Environmental Management System ( EMS ) including the installing of environmentally-friendly merchandises and equipment every bit good as advancing usage of renewable energy engineerings. In EMS term, sustainable hotels need an ecological direction to accomplish environmental direction which must affect the measuring of environmental patterns through scrutinizing. The direction system must hold 3 chief properties ( Welford, 1995 ) . First, the system should cover all the activities of hotels and every individual in organisation have to be responsible seting it into practical manner. Second, people who are involved in demand to explicitly understand the process, hence preparation is critical for transporting out responsibilities and functions for effectual development. Third, there must be a committedness t o uninterrupted rhythm of betterment in the system in order to make zero negative impact on the environment. The traditional attack embarks on the auditing of the environmental direction system and an appraisal that hotels are run intoing their aims and marks to guarantee that energy is non being utilize unnecessarily during period of low tenancy. The first measure in understanding and practising green hotel is measuring the impact of each hotel installation towards the environment. They could make an energy profile of the hotel and find the major countries where consume the most energy and present actions that could cut down energy usage, initiate the energy efficiency steps by holding regular care, alteration the hotel edifice and edifice sub-system, promoting natural airing, and replacing disused hotel equipment. Furthermore most of energy usage in edifice is extremely inefficient, particularly the infinite conditioning in which the largest user of energy in hotel. It is perchanc e because of hapless insulated walls, roofs, Windowss, heating pipes, hapless direction of illuming and design characteristic that necessitate inordinate energy usage. So the environmental scheme could be achieved through pull offing the 3 chief sectors in a hotel as followers:EnergyA practical programme to conserve energy is to get down with the procedure which will cultivate the greatest nest eggs for the least cost. The indispensable country where major energy economy could be made is in the operation of Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning ( HVAC ) system that can assist forestall the waste of fuel and electricity. To get down with energy nest eggs with sensible cost, hotel equipment and systems can get down with installing of clip switches which control single units in unoccupied countries to work at specified clip, and puting conditions compensators to keep and set optimal temperature harmonizing to the external clime. In order to cut down electrical power, light-reflecti ve surfaces and contemplation are applied to replace electric illuming at the same time with usage of energy-efficient lamps and motion detector visible radiation. Apart from low-priced alterations and betterments, there are besides high costs alongside with long payback periods such as co-generation and renewable energy engineering. The former can besides be called combined heat and power coevals ( CHP ) which makes usage of the coincident production of electricity and heat, besides be harnessed to supply chilling. It is an effectual manner for preservation of energy due to retrieving of energy that might otherwise be release in the ambiance. The later which is be used successfully in many hotels is solar photovoltaic ( PV ) ; panels incorporating solar cells which convert daytime into electricity. It is peculiarly non cover with energy preservation, but besides cut down overall C footmark through cut downing CO2 emanations.WaterHotels consume a big volume of H2O and pollute natura l resources by untreated sewerage. This is the major cause of diseases in homo and serious jobs to populating beings. Minimal demands for H2O efficiency should prerequisite in the design procedure and are carried by puting intent and mark on design and building thereby can ensue in rapid payback by which it can cut down the sum of H2O ingestion. There is core rule that is non on the disbursals of the invitees ‘ comfort but prosecuting with sustainable H2O schemes. For case, conserving waste H2O that has been used in sink and bath can cut down the hazard of H2O pollution by recycling it for landscaping or in toilet systems, recycling of H2O every bit far as possible, mending of pipe escapes, installing of water-saving devices, and information of forces about H2O preservation patterns every bit good as engagement of invitees ( B & A ; uuml ; gler, 2011 ) . In endeavoring to go more water-efficient, hotels must eager to better on H2O ingestion rates by utilizing water-saving engi neerings in countries of major usage. In each room will hold cusps to inform invitee that sheets and towels are non automatically changed every twenty-four hours during stay, therefore diminishing use of H2O, energy and harmful detergents.WasteThe big measures of solid and liquid wastes spoil the surrounding environment and landscape due to inadequate direction and handling. It is hence necessary to minimise wastes at beginning every bit good as the recycle. Successful waste direction programme attends to the ‘3 R ‘s ‘ in precedence order- cut down, reuse and recycle. First of wholly, the hotels must scrutinize the major beginnings of installation ‘s waste watercourse where there are generated from at the same time with finding the costs of intervention and disposal of wastes for each section. Once the appraisal has done the segregation of wastes demands to be organised at beginning and distinguish containers my agencies of labels or pictograms for each type of waste. The decrease of entire sum of waste can be achieved in a figure of ways, viz. , for on-site hotel equipment it should be sustainable merchandises, besides least polluting and used with right process to increase life span, recycling electronic and electric contraptions and donate unwanted points which are still working to local associations. With respect to decrease of packaging wastes, buying should avoid telling little measures and utilizing refillable comfortss dispensers for hygiene merchandises such as soap, lotion, shampoo and conditioner in hotel invitee room can be replaced disposable one ( Ruben, 2011 ) .

Power Storage for the National Grid Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Power Storage for the National Grid - Coursework Example The high voltage electric power is majorly distributed by electrical transmission lines measured in voltage. The UK National grid is particularly honored for using hydropower, nuclear and thermal energy power in high voltage power transmission for use in economic growth, powering industries, companies, organization and machinery, and development of new technologies. For effectiveness and efficiency, the transmission of the electric power ought to be transferred at the high voltage and the lowest current. In the UK, the National grid therefore employs this technique by taking up a series of specific voltage levels to cover satisfactorily for power transmission, storage and use aided by the use of transformers. Transformers are step-up electricity voltages from the primary generator electricity output after which it is transmitted via the National grid electric cables. After reaching the end user, is used to power electrical appliances, machinery and other electrical consumption purpos es. Why electric power systems need storage. The single most important idea behind system power storage is to ensure sustainability and capacity for the power generated to supply the entire consumers without deficiencies. This is ensured by the program of storing energy which is known as the national grid storage system. The National grid storage system commonly stores power by the use of batteries, use of excess electricity to run electrolytes for developing and making hydrogen which can be stored and used afterwards for the purposes of operating fuel cells to produce electricity when the need arises. It is based on large scale energy storage in order for surplus electricity to be stored for future use when the demand is elevated or when need to use arises (Broom 2011). The reasons why electric power systems need storage are several and the most important of all is for the reason of sustainable use of energy. The most basic reason for power storage is for future use. It is realized that different levels of power are demanded from time to time and depending on the energy operations of the consumers. For power systems to respond effectively and efficiently to rapid changes in the use of power, power systems storage becomes vital as a back-up power plant. During the power generation there is ever a varying size gap between what power is produced and what is demanded (Electrical Energy Storage Technology Options: December 2010). This is dependent on how fast the power is built up from the generating source or how fast the demand for electric power rises. Consequently, slow power generating grids will not be able to meet the ever changing and rising electric power demands of the consumers, leading to an obligatory increase in production of electric power to meet the demands, meaning that the electricity power grid will have to sustain a bigger gap. The power storage system protects against this by using grid storage to store the variables and surplus power generat ion which therefore means that it would be able to respond faster to the demands of the consumers, meaning minimal fuel wastage, effective power grid management and reducing the gap between generation and demand (Baxter 2006). Another reason for power system storage is enhancement of power quality and power source balancing. When power is transmitted directly from the point of

A motivation letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A motivation letter - Essay Example n HR-related employee files reflecting salary aberrations, preparing tax returns and training new employees, giving me an appreciation for the complexities of human involvement. One of my primary goals is to work with clients to share problems and discover solutions. Auditing is a fascinating field that I could contribute to with my knowledge of common small-mid-sized business practices. I have a great deal of experience in the accounting field and also bring a strong basis of proficiency in computing systems. After working for a year as a computer engineer, it was a pleasure to develop unique accounting software for one firm and to maintain the existing accounting software for another firm for the past five years. As a computer engineer, I gained knowledge in a variety of application software, computer networking and teamwork skills. I am eager to discover new insights into the auditing field and perhaps discern new ways in which I might contribute. It is my hope that you are willing to accept me as a ready pupil and worker in Your Firm. Should you desire further information or to schedule an interview, I can be reached at Your Contact Information. My current schedule is open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (timezone) for phone calls. I can travel for interviews beginning next week Tuesday. With more than 5 years in the accounting departments of small and medium sized construction firms in Japan, my experience includes performing bank reconciliations, cash flow analysis and preparing financial statements and I am currently completing my training for a Master’s Degree in Accounting. Duties of my previous positions have also included performing payroll and monthly closing processes; ensuring tax, legal and company compliance with payroll issues; preparing tax returns and training new employees. This experience has taught me much about how business is conducted in Japan, but I have a desire to discover more about how these issues are dealt with

Literary Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Literary Analysis - Research Paper Example The idea of the bug that Gregor Samsa becomes is intended to be loathsome, toxic, and unpleasant; something avoided by humans. This concept is essential to interpreting any of Kafka’s work. Kafka’s storytelling is characterized by pessimism, dark humor, and a keen wit. It exposes his underlying cynicism shaped by a life of exploitation, misery and injustice. Within this story, Kafka uses Gregor as a symbol and a means by which he could explore his own difficult relationship with his father as well as his sense of alienation from society. Gregor's metamorphosis causes him to be treated as something less than human, a feeling Kafka felt deeply as evidenced in its appearance in many of his other writings. Through Gregor's metamorphosis, Kafka is able to express the pain of his personal existence, allowing Gregor to reveal Kafka's social situation and embody the author's sense of social, religious, and philosophical alienation. There are too many biographical similarities b etween the fictional Gregor Samsa and the real Franz Kafka to deny the link and the probability that Gregor's impressions are closely aligned with those of his author. At the beginning of the story, Gregor is painted as the good son. He is a simple man, hardworking employee, and is highly self-sacrificing as he struggles to both support his family and pay off his parents' debts. He does all this without complaint even though he is afforded little consideration or appreciation from the family he is attempting to help. This image of Gregor's home life is very similar to what is known of Kafka's home life, particularly as it relates to the relationship between Kafka/Gregor and their respective fathers. Kafka's father, Herman, was a businessman who had little understanding or patience for a son that would not follow in his capable footsteps (Brod, 1976). After hearing his shortcomings recited to him over the course of years, Kafka felt reviled and unwanted, like vermin. This is confirme d in his unpublished â€Å"Letter to His Father†, in which he even refers to himself as â€Å"Ungeziefer† (Kafka, 2009); that is, as vermin (Brod, 43). Other evidence of Kafka's sense of intimidation by his father is the fact that he developed a stammer that became so severe in his father's presence that he could hardly communicate. This issue created yet greater alienation between Kafka and the remainder of his family, leading to a situation in which he wrote in his diary, they had become â€Å"all strangers to me, we are related only by blood† (Brod, 229). A later diary entry confessed Kafka's final analysis of this destructive relationship, writing that his father had "inevitably broken my spirit" (Brod, 231). Many of these sentiments can be found in the relationship between Gregor and his father in the story. Understanding Kafka's history makes it easy to trace how Gregor’s transformation reflects Kafka’s intense feelings of isolation and vulne rability as well as his frustration in not being able to protect himself or his emotions with any sort of ‘armor’, especially when dealing with his father. Gregor's father is immediately introduced as impatient, demanding, possessing a violent temper. When it is discovered Gregor is still at home at 6:45 in the morning, his father begins pounding on Gregor's door with his fist and turns away Gregor's breakfast. Every time Mr. Samsa enters the scene, it is with reference to violence. Upon the first appearance of Gregor before the rest of

Sex Offenders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sex Offenders - Essay Example Robinson E.H. (1989:23) observes that cases of sexual abuse are rampant in poor communities and they often go unnoticed or reported. The lack of proper education coupled with the absence of a complete family unit in some cases in the African context, is cause for serious concern with regards to the increasing cases of sexual abuse. The family unit should form the basis for a conducive atmosphere which is morally and intellectually sound to develop the full potential of the child and give it a sense of belonging and values. It is against this background that the protection of the rights of children is given due prominence internationally. Principle 2 of The Declaration of The Rights of The Child proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1959 states that: The child shall enjoy special protection and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity. In this regard it can be noted that the issue of especially child sexual abuse is given priority by international bodies hence the enactment of laws shall always be in the best interest of the child. There are varying jail terms for sexual offenders depending on the magnitude of the offence. Sexual offenders usually commit these crimes under the influence of alcohol. Excessive consumption weakens the person’s ability to have self control and in some cases increases aggression. Unmarried man usually commit sexual offences more frequently than married men who are able to satisfy their sexual urge. According to the United Nations report based on the study of â€Å"Violence Against Children† (2006), more than 200 million children have been sexually abused the world over and it blames this

Case analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Case analysis - Assignment Example The data entered at this stage include prescription, drug, customer, payment as well as insurance. The system then performs drug utilization review against previous customer history to determine drug appropriateness of the drug as well as to avoid causing any harm. In case of any problem, the system comes to a stop until reviewed by a pharmacist. The next stage in the fulfillment process is insurance check. The process of insurance check comes in after drug utilization review. The system performs insurance check, after any hard stop had been reviewed, to determine the payor. Following successful insurance check, the script goes to the production section. Under the production section, the required drugs for the script are counted by a certified pharmacy technician. Next the drugs are verified by a pharmacist to ascertain that the script has the right drugs, right quantities and the contained information is correct. After quality assurance, scripts are sealed in a bag and arranged in alphabetical order at the pick-up section, for customers to collect. The purpose and objective of CVS is to promote the health of customers by providing quality drugs according to the documented prescription in a timely manner. The purpose is derived from the organizational goals forming the basis of the sponsored research to identify problems and recommend possible changes and solutions to them. The problems identified in all five sections include unmanned drop off window, ineligible drop off and drug utilization review hard stop. Other problems included insurance check errors, insufficient inventory for filling the script during production stage as well as unpleasant customer surprises like unauthorized refills and unprocessed scripts forcing customers to walk away with a bad impression having lacked medicine. Waiting time at the pickup section was also

Google Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Google - Assignment Example Since its formation, the primary goal of the company has been to put information across the globe in an order and make them available to the population of the world at large. With its mission, the company has been highly successfully providing the world with several products and services including web products (Google, n.d.). The current research focuses on the growth and development of the Google Company and the various changes, challenges and opportunities encountered by the company over the years. The impact of such changes would also be learnt in the process and using the business analytics tools like the SWOT analysis, BCG growth matrix, Porter’s five forces model, Nine forces model, customer segmentation, and win/loss analysis, a detailed analysis of the company in regard to the industry has been conducted followed by suggested recommendations for further improvement of the company’s prospects. ... The company obtains huge income from their ad systems and the bargaining power of the suppliers can be expected to be low if the company can sustain it dominance over the market with respect to its products and services. Google has supremacy on around 60 percent of the information searches conducted over the internet. This provides the company with a competitive advantage over its competitors like the Yahoo and the Microsoft. The buyers of the company too do not have a controlling power over the company since the different accounts of the company depending on the earnings of the company do not have a contribution to the total revenue of the company. Also, not more than 5 percent of the revenue is generated from the networking sites of the company. Since Google provides its customers with informed as well as sorted data in the present business world when large population are dependent on the internet exploration, other companies have not been found to be as effective as Google in prov iding such facilities, thus lessening the threats of substitutes (Morrow, 2008). The Google Company can thus be observed to maintain its position its position in the industry efficiently in regard to all the five forces that Porter had mentioned to be focused for the success of the company. Organization: The Organization of the company may be analyzed through a SWOT analysis and the use of BCG Matrix. The strengths of the company lie in its effective team of management that guides the company through all the decision making of the company’s actions. Moreover the company tries different measures that are followed across the world to determine its planning and procedure. The company is dominant in providing its customers

European exploration and overseas expansion Essay

European exploration and overseas expansion - Essay Example Firstly, the Europeans had desire for wealth and power. At the onset of exploration, many of these countries were weak economically, due to wars. Those in authority felt there were vast opportunities for wealth generation in the New World (Streich 1). This prompted the leaders to fund exploration in search of gold, spices, and other trade goods to sustain their ailing economy (Streich 1). This led to scramble for colonies, and they sent the wealth back to their countries. Secondly, there was religious interest. European had desire to spread Christianity to people throughout the world to counter the influence of Muslims. They also wanted to wipe the Muslims out of their territories. Thirdly, there was an improvement in the technology. The Europeans developed sailing ships with better navigation equipments (Streich 1). This made them able to move to various parts of the world. There was also development of more accurate maps. (Streich 1). Â  The Europeans expansion and exploration had a profound effect to those involved. The effects were immediate and long term. In the short term, the Portuguese built trading sites in West Africa, and some of them made Africa their home (McCannon 250-256). Secondly, there was a discovery of the new sea routes. In the long term, the Europeans competed to establish colonies. Secondly, there was also the expansion of wealth and power. Thirdly, there was the rise of the Transatlantic Trade that involved Europe, Africa, and America (McCannon 253).

Policy Briefing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policy Briefing - Essay Example The paper is a discussion on the impact of border control policy towards the citizens as well as its opportunities and challenges. Effective border control policy will present numerous opportunities to the United States and the neighbors. While the border control policy has changed unexpectedly since its inception in 1924. Its main mission has remained unchanged; to prevent and detect illegal entry of people into the United States of America. The department of homeland security is currently in charge of border security in the country. The point of interest is often the American Mexico border. Together with other law enforcers, the border patrol team has continued to place the US border under surveillance with an intention of identifying any threat to national security as well as illegal entry. Border policy does not prevent people from entering the United States, it only ensures that the entrance of people who are in possession of legal documents as well as screening individuals who may be trafficking contrabands and drugs into the country (Chà ¡vez, 2003). Border control policy is considered a stepping stone towards fighting terrorism since the September 11 attack. Implementation of border control policy by the department of homeland security will enable the country to deal with the challenges such as smuggling of drugs into the country, prevention of illegal immigration as well as entrance of terrorism and dangerous weapon into the country Strict Border control policy has affected both citizens and the country’s international image. The policy has resulted to prolonged security screening at the border there by delaying numerous activities that are linked to boosting the economy of the United States of America. The border patrol in the county is responsible for patrolling two thousand miles of coastal waters surrounding Florida peninsula as well

Star Trek Technology We Use Everyday Essay Example for Free

Star Trek Technology We Use Everyday Essay Star Trek technology has become reality that we use in our daily lives. There are many different forms of technology fields that have been shown in Star Trek as a first that have become a reality rather than a Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) fantasy. Star Trek technology came from the great imaginative minds of writers and designers with little to no knowledge of science in the original series. It wasnt until the second series that they started to incorporate actual scientific methods and terms. Advancements in science have come about through the influence of creative people thinking of the future. This technology has been instrumental in how we conduct our lives. Contemporary technology has been influenced by Star Trek in many ways. Phones were around for many years before Star Trek; however, they were tied down to the house or office by wires and the bulkiness of the devices. No one could possibly make a phone call on the go, yet they could by using a phone booth. However, using a phone booth would not be of much use since it couldnt be carried around. One of the greatest inventors of this decade, Dr. Martin Cooper, decided to come up with a new form of communicating with the rest of the world. Dr. Martin Cooper found himself tripping over his phone cord when he saw Star Trek appear on the TV playing in the background. Cooper watched with envy as Captain Kirk calmly conversed while walking across an alien landscape. (Laytner, 2011) While Cooper watched Captain Kirk with his communicator, he was bewildered â€Å"And, suddenly theres Captain Kirk talking on his communicator,† remembers Cooper. â€Å"Talking with no dialing!† (Handel, 2005) With the idea set in his mind, he set out to make it a reali ty. In 1973, Martian Cooper, While working for Motorola, he [Cooper] created the first personal cell phone, citing Captain Kirks communicator on Star Trek as an inspiration. His first call on the 28-oz. (800 g) cordless cell phone — dubbed the brick — was to his rival at Bell Labs Research. (Grossman, 2007) However, this big brick of a phone didnt match the likeness of the communicator that Captain Kirk used, so in 1996, Motorola made the first flip phone named StarTAC. (Kessler, 09-0) These clamshell phones were highly sought after and held the cell phone design for many years until touch screen phones recently became more popular. Many Star Trek fans and even older more stubborn non-techies still try to keep the flip phone for the nostalgia of Star Trek and to keep pocket dialing to a minimum. In 1974, Ed Roberts created the Altair 8800, the first minicomputer that came in kits for consumers to put together, yet it wasnt a friendly user system since software wasnt invented yet. The Altair 8800 was named after a space system from the Star Trek series and was the basis for the basic computer language that Bill Gates of Microsoft, Steve Jobs of Apple, and Gordon Moore of Intel used to create new and more user friendly computers. This basic language that Ed Roberts created was inspired by Star Trek (Handel, 2005). When computers became a household name and personal were computers available to the general public, a new development occurred that would be called a laptop. Adam Osborne of Osborne Computer Corporation, the father of portable computers, introduced the first commercially available portable computer with software to run it, named Osborne 1 in 1981 (Scott, n.d.). In 1968, Alan Kay of Xerox made a concept and prototype of a portable information manipulator, named Dynabook, a different form of a portable computer that wasn’t user friendly or available to the general public (Maxwell, 2006). Without software, the Dynabook was hard to understand and use, so the Osborne 1 with its software and graphic interface to allow users to see what they were doing made it a true portable computer. Portable computers got an even newer facelift in 1993 when Robert Haitani developed the Palm Pilot, a first in personal data assistant (PDA) and a new form of portable computers. Robert Haitani, the designer of the Palm Pilot, said his first sketches were influenced by the Enterprise bridge panels and produced it. A few years later there was a combination of cell phones and PDAs since they shared hardware which resembled to the communicator in Star Trek. You could stand there and talk into it like Captain Kirk (Laytner, 2011). The Palm Pilot spanned PDAs which transformed into the current popular trend of tablets and smart phones. All the different technologies incorporated into the tablet and the smart phone can be traced back to their Star Trek influenced roots. Advancements in technology and science have been influenced by many sources. Star Trek played a large role in evolution of the modern technology by influencing many inventors. Even though the original series of Star Trek was written and designed with little to no knowledge of the technological advancements of the times, Gene Rodenberry wrote many views of how life would be with various forms of technology that weren’t even a reality, yet. Works Cited Grossman, Lev. (2007). Best inventions of 2007. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1677329_1677708_1677825,00.html. (Grossman, 2007) Time listed the best inventions and inventors of the 2007, and they had Martin Cooper listed for creating the first mobile telephone that wasnt mounted in a car in 1973. Laytner, Lance. (2011). Edit international. Retrieved from http://www.editinternational.com/read.php?id=4810edf3a83f8 (Laytner, 2011) Talks about the documentary How William Shatner Changed The World and the many inventions of many inventors help shaped the world now because they were influenced by Star Trek to reach for the future. Maxwell, John (2006) Tracing the Dynabook: A Study of Technocultural Transformations http://thinkubator.ccsp.sfu.ca/Dynabook/Maxwell-DynabookFinal.pdf (Maxwell, 2006) This thesis paper was great detail on Alan Kay, who made a from of portable computer that manipulated information, and his accomplishments and how the Dynabook became what it did. Handel, Alan. (Writer) (2005). How William Shatner Changed The World [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u304yVYoCJs

Concepts of Abnormality and Mental Health

Concepts of Abnormality and Mental Health Sevgi Gulbahce Psychology Access to Nursing Definition Example Abnormality It is behaving in ways which the majority of people do not behave in, or not acting in the ways the majority of people behave in. It can be anything that is not considered as normal. Abnormal behaviour can be affected by numerous factors e.g. social norm, the ambiguity of the break point between abnormal/normal and bias and fundamental attribution errors. And one thing that may be abnormal in the UK maybe seen as normal in another country etc. An individual can be said to be abnormal if they are unable to cope with the demands of everyday life e.g. interact with others, self-care and make themselves understood to others. Rosenhan Seligman (1989) believed the following characteristics describe failure to function adequately are: Vividness unconventionality, unpredictable loss of control, Irrationality/incomprehensibility, Violates moral/social standards and Causes observer discomfort. Normality The meaning of normal can vary from person, culture, place, situation and time. Normal can change with societal standards and norm. Normal behaviour can be subjective and can be recognised when compared to what is not normal or abnormal. A person carrying out normal behaviour can show empathy, can relate its thoughts to others. They understand their actions, they are aware of all actions and can act sanely. They can show the correct emotions when necessary, and are capable of understanding others etc. Definitions Explanation Evaluation Statistical infrequency It is used to find out the norm of a society. It can be used to categorise people in to normal, frequent, typical or atypical. It is not accounted for social acceptability or behaviour type e.g. a very intelligent person may be seen as abnormal because it is uncommon and odd behaviour that is uncommon but may be accepted as abnormal Deviation from social norms It is going against a societies accepted behaviour codes Social norms can be can change depending on the society and standards may change e.g. in our society it was seen as abnormal to be an unmarried mother before than it is now Failure to function adequately When a person has difficulty maintaining a social relationship or staying in a job Other than social dysfunction, it is also being in a disabling state of distress. Problems can be that certain mental disorders may not cause distress and that it may sometimes be normal to be distressed. Deviation from ideal mental health When a person does not have all the criteria’s required for a normal healthy functioning The criteria’s for the ideal mental health may be difficult to measure and so demanding that some people fail to meet them TAQ 2 Define Explain DSM IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition is a manual published by the American psychiatric association and it used to diagnose and categorize mental disorders Psychiatrics diagnoses are categorised by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. It includes all mental health disorders for both adults and children. It lists all the causes of these disorders, age at onset, statistics in terms of gender and prognosis. They use this manual when working with patients to help better understand their illnesses and the potential treatment and also to help the third party payers such as insurer’s. The DSM is divided into five sections and the fourth section is used to asses: the events in a person’s life such as death of a loved one, unemployment and starting a new job etc. ICD The International Classification of Disease tenth revision is a system of coding created by the World Health Organization. It notes the medical records of the diseases, symptoms, findings and causes of injury. The ICD-10-classification for mental disorders is made of 10 main groups: F0 Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders F1 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of psychoactive substances F2 Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders F3 Mood [affective] disorders F4 Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders F5 Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors F6 Disorders of personality and behaviour in adult persons F7 Mental retardation F8 Disorders of psychological development F9 Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence. (web 4 health, 2003) TAQ 3 Evaluate the biological (medical approach) and behaviourist approach to abnormality In psychology there are different approaches when examining both normal and abnormal behaviour. The four main are: biological, behavioural, cognitive and psychodynamic. We will be evaluating biological and behavioural in this essay. The biological approach to abnormal behaviour concentrates on medical issues that causes the mental illnesses. It can involve damage to the brain, physical illness, or chemical imbalances. The medical approach believes that it can be caused by any of the following four physical causes: genetic, biochemistry, Neuroanatomy and infections. Usually the mental illness is inherited from the parents. It can run in the family or if a certain gene is seen to be responsible for the illness. There are various chemicals in the brain to help with communication and these are called neurotransmitters. Examples of neurotransmitters are serotonin, dopamine and adrenalin. If an imbalance in these chemicals occur it can cause psychological disorders, this is called biochemistry. Neuroanatomy believes the abnormal behaviour is caused by a problem in the structure of the brain. It is found that the syphilis bacterium can cause disorders known as general paresis which can cause forgetfulness and delusions. Also there are research to suggest that influenza in a pregnant woman can cause schizophrenia in a child in the later ages. There are many different treatment types depending on the illness cause. If the is the problem is caused by physical problem then a physical procedure is carried out. If the problem is with the brain structure then surgery might be necessary and lastly if the problem caused is chemically then drugs are given to address the problem. Antipsychotics are prescribed to patients suffering from schizophrenia. Chlorpromazine can also be prescribed to help block some of the dopamine receptors stopping the brain to become less sensitive. If a patient experience suicidal thoughts Clozapine can be prescribed which acts on serotonin and dopamine pathways. Anti-depressants are prescribed to patients to help with preventing reabsorption or by blocking the enzymes. When drugs have little or no effect or in most extreme cases surgery might be carried out. These include cutting or removing certain parts of the brain. Frontal lobotomies are used in the UK to calm men that are violent. Deep brain stimul ation can also be used and is successfully used to treat patients with Parkinson’s, depression and anorexia. The behaviourist model believes that all behaviour is learned which also includes abnormal behaviour. The behaviour can also be forgotten which is the method used for treatment. There are three different ways in which behaviour is learned: classical conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning. Classical conditioning was discovered by a Russian physiologist called Ivan Pavlov. It is a learning method that happens through relations between an environmental stimulus and a stimulus that is occurring naturally. Watson and Rayner did a research on an eleven month old little boy called Albert. He was shown a white rat which he had no fear of, (natural stimulus). Afterwards the rat was shown again to Albert but every time a metal bar was struck with a hammer behinds Albert’s head producing a loud sound. Every time the metal bar was struck he would start crying. This was done a several times and they had seen that Albert had developed a fear towards the rat. (Revision with Richie, 2015) Operant Conditioning was found by a behaviourist called B.F. Skinner. It is a method of learning that happens through rewards or punishment for behaviour. An association can be made between a behaviour and the consequences for that behaviour. E.g. when a lab rat presses on the blue button he will receive a rewards which is a food pallet however when he presses the red button he will receive mild electric shock. He eventually learns to press the blue button for a rewards and avoids the red button. (Simply Psychology, 2015) Observation learning is found by psychologist Albert Banbura. It is known as social learning, it can occur from retaining, observing and copying behaviour in other people, and it can happen at any stage of life, but is most important during childhood. Albert Banbura (1965) demonstrated an experiment called the Bobo doll. Children were seeing adults hit a doll and either be rewarded, punished or neither. After seeing this the children had learned aggressive behaviour. If a person is rewarded for its actions they are more likely to repeat the behaviour. Behaviour therapies are used to treat phobias and involve the patient learning to associate their phobic stimulus with relaxation. SD is an effective therapy used on patients struggling with more serious disorders. It is slower process, however the longer the technique takes the more it can be effective. Aversion method that teaches a person to associate their unwanted behaviour with something unpleasant. E.g. teaching an alcoholic person to associate their preferred drink with being violently ill. Token economy is a method used in psychiatric prisons and hospitals. If a person behaves in a wanted way they are rewarded with tokens which can be used to buy something they like. Modelling is another treatment method and can be used to treat phobias. The patient watches a person coping well with the phobic situation, and then the patient may feel comfortable in doing the same. Bibliography Education portal, 2003, what is Abnormal Psychology? Definition and Common Disorders Studied, (online) available at: http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-abnormal-psychology-definition-and-common-disorders-studied.html (accessed: 13 February 2015) Prezi, 2015, Abnormal IB Psychology, (online) available at: https://prezi.com/yqvdodv4jrll/abnormal-ib-psychology/ (accessed: 13 February 2015) Intropsych, 2007, Defining abnormal behaviour, (online) available at: http://www.intropsych.com/ch12_abnormal/defining_abnormal_behavior.html (accessed: 13 February 2015) Alley dog, 1998, Abnormal, (online) available at: http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Abnormal (accessed: 14 February 2015) Simply Psychology, 2015, Abnormal psychology, (online) available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html (accessed: 14 February 2015) American psychiatric association, 2014, DSM, (online) available at: http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm (accessed: 13 February 2015) As psychology, 2014, defining abnormality, (online) available at: http://as-psychology.pbworks.com/w/page/9174252/DefiningAbnormality (accessed: 14 February 2015) Web 4 health, 2003, Mental Disorders and classification of mental disorders (ICD-10, DSM-IV) (online) available at: http://web4health.info/fi/psy-icddsm-what.htm (accessed: 14 February 2015) Revision with Richie, 2015, the Behaviourist Model of Abnormality (online) available at:http://revisewithrachie.com/revision-sheets/abnormality/the-behaviourist-model-of-abnormality/ (accessed: 15 February 2015) Simply Psychology, 2015, Skinner-Operant Conditioning (online) available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html (accessed: 15 February 2015)

Organizational Culture And Change Management

Organizational Culture And Change Management The world has become a global village and so do the businesses. Competition among industries is becoming more and more global and businesses are facing ever climbing pressure to compete at this level. The market needs are changing rapidly and continuously and to cope with this, organizations have to keep on changing themselves to meet the new demands. The change can be a change in product or service, marketing strategies, change in management or IT system etc. but the most difficult thing to change is the values and beliefs of the people because its natural that people resist change. Cultural change is a difficult thing to do as there are people involved in it. British Airways had gone through a cultural change which started in early 80s when the company was in bad condition and was about to go bank corrupt. The newly appointed CEO Colin Marshall lead the change and took the company out of the crises and made it one the most respectable airlines of the world in less than 10 years time. This paper will talk about the problems with BAs leadership and organizational culture which lead the company to those crises and its affects on performance and this paper will also talk about the successful implementation of the change. The paper will demonstrate the analysis of the change process and flaws in the change which could have lead to better results if managed properly. Organizational Culture: Culture is the beliefs and values of people. The collective programming of the mind which differentiates the one group of people from another, culture in this sense includes system of values. Culture comprises of language, religion, customs, manners and education (Bode 2008). Language is the most important way of understanding cultures as this is the way information flows. Many scholars have been trying to define culture and they have defined it but it is always said that it is difficult. Culture is a very complex a phenomenon and cannot be captured in a few dimensions (Bode 2008). Organizations do have a culture and in simple words it was defined by Deal and Kennedy (1996) that the culture is the way things get done around here. Organizational cultural is influenced mainly by the leaders of the organization and also by the personal values and beliefs of the people. It is basically the system of mutually shared beliefs and values by the people of the organization. Organizational culture is a key component in achieving the organizational goals and strategies, improving the organizations competitiveness and effectiveness and management of change (Adeyoyin, 2006). BAs History: British Airways came into existence in result of a merger of two British carriers, BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) and BEA (British European Airways) in 1970s (Marriott 1998). British Airways is one of the most respectable and preferred airlines in the world today. British Airways won the Airline of the year award in 2007 on 25th OAG awards (BBC news). This success of the airline is the outcome of a successful cultural change started in early 80s. Before 1980s BA was doing good as there was little competition in the market and BA controlled 60% of the UK domestic markets and faced competition on only 9% of the routes in and out of the UK (Redman Wilkinson 2009). Due to little or no competition BA didnt focused on customer satisfaction and other issues and carried on the traditional way of doing things which lead them to disastrous situations when they felt the need for change. In 80s the rivalry among the airlines was limited in concerned to BA because BA was controlling 60% of the routes (Business Economics 1982). The threats of the substitutes was also limited for BA because BA has covered most of the routes and had large number of destinations and left the customers some times with no other choice. BA didnt have the focus on customer satisfaction and profit maximization and this caused major customer dissatisfaction. Lack of punctuality and uncomfortable flights were the reasons for this dissatisfaction (Warhurst 1995). BA recorded financial losses of  £140m and this leaves a threat for the new entrant in the market. So the threat for the new entrant was there. Drivers for change: Humans change with the passage of time as per the requirement and situation at hand. Similarly organisations need to change as well to adapt to the changing internal and external environment. A need of change can arise from two kinds of factors i.e. Internal and External factors. External factors include the competition, technological advancements, innovation, and deregulation of industry, labour costs, and access to resources, international economic changes, and government policies. Internal change factors tend to follow on from the external ones, and include adapting to shifts in corporate missions, changes in technological equipment and processes, shifts in employee attitudes and behaviour and corporate culture. In BAs case the initiating factors were both internal and external. The external factors were the competition, the governments threat of privatization, and access to cheaper resources and increasing prices of oil. The internal factors involved in pushing BA towards going f or a change were the internal rigid culture, Change of equipments and staff related issues. How the culture was formed? BAs cultural change was a success and still it is being used as a reference or a guide for the firms who go for cultural change (Mills et al 2008). There were four major companies who went through cultural change and some of the reasons among them were common, e.g. threat of privatization. Those companies were Jaguar, British Airport Authority (BAA), British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), and British Airways (BA). The founders of a company or the forefathers have a significant influence on the culture formation of a business. The way they do things leave a long lasting impact on the followers thus become the part of the culture (Poole et al 2004). Jaguar and BAA for example have always had charismatic leaders. Sir William Lyons and Sir Norman Payne were both charismatic leaders and autocratic in style (Salama 1995). This leaves the impression on the follower managers and showed its effects in their decision making styles. BNFL and BA till 1984 didnt have any charismatic leader like Jaguar and BAA (Salama 1995). There was variation in departments which shows the values of each of the departmental head. Christopher Harding was appointed as the chairman in 1984 and before him there wasnt a single dominant character at the top management level. Because BA had its origin from the ministry of defence, there was a strong civil service influence in the company. BA had a strong and close contact with Royal Air Force and both pilots and managers were recruited from RAF frequently. These militants left a very operational flavour to the organizations culture. In a survey a manager said that we couldnt get away from the fact that we are on a mission and that mission is everything to us and the customer are just an unfortunate add on. The management and leadership style was not participative as the CEO and the former chairman personally were very distant from the staff. The technical knowledge was considered to be very vital and the managers were recruited and promoted on the basis of their technical abilities instead of managerial abilities. All these factors made the culture of BA very rigid and a critical cultural change became the only solution for the company to survive. The Change Scope: Background: Other than the increasing competition and fuel costs, old fleets, and high staff costs in 80s, BAs management had to tackle these issues in order to avoid going bank corrupt, Improving the companys financial performance fundamentally, pre-tax losses were showing a figure of  £240m in 81 and 82 (Annual report 1st April 1983). CEO of BA said in 1982 that their money is draining at the rate of  £200 every minute (Mills et al 2006). Convincing the workforce of the supreme importance of customer services for the success of the company. Improving the perceptions about BA in the market. Maintaining momentum and regaining the focus which will allow them to meet new challenges. The main reasons for this crisis on BA were its culture and history. BEA and BOAC came together to form BA in 1981 (Staniland 2003). They remained sovereign till 1976 when the group division was changed to a structure based on functional divisions. Still a distinctive split within BA persisted until the mid 1980s. This improper assimilation disallowed BA to achieve the desired benefits of the merger, could not attain a common focus, created management segregation squabbles and resulted in a lack of a unifying corporate culture (Doganis 2002). The funny side of the merger was that most of the BEA and BOAC employees were war veterans who used to fly military aircrafts and they had a great influence on shaping the culture of BA. BAs culture was influenced by military mentality with a purely operational focus. The employees believe that their job is only to fly the plan safely and land it on time. Customer satisfaction and customer care, profit maximization and productivity were not considered as top priorities (Bowhill 2008). BA had financial support from the government and was doing a profitable business in the 70s (Parker 2009). These were the reasons which made it easier for BA to neglect its increasing inefficiencies over time. It was getting even more difficult to persuade the workforce and the management towards the need of a fundamental change. The competition was rising in the market and customer dissatisfaction plus the employees absenteeism were on the rise and the need for change was critical. The 1981 survival plan: The merger in 1981 leaves the company overstaffed and the staff expenses were unaffordable. The survival plan involves downsizing and the staff was reduced from 52000 to 43000 through voluntary measures. A 20% decrease in workforce in 9 months was a major downsizing (Thompson Martin 2009). Freezing pay was increased for a year which caused more volunteers leaving the job than was required. 16 routed were closed, 8 online stations and 2 engineering bases were shut down (Carleton Lineberry 2004). The survival plan was all about minimizing the costs and expenses as the company was heading towards bankruptcy. The activities involved in minimizing the costs also includes the halting of cargo service and selling the fleets and massive cuts in number of offices, administrative services and staff clubs etc (Jones and Lockwood 2002). Things were not going right and the survival plan was amended and staff was reduced by another 7000 and the total number than was appro ximately 35000. The voluntary laying off schemes cost the company around  £150 million and the company ended up with more volunteers than necessary because of no job security and sinking conditions of the company (Carleton Lineberry 2004). Changing image of the Airline: British airways had a bad image in the customers mind dew to unsatisfactory services and relatively higher prices. A survey by the International Airline Passengers Association put BA at the top of a list of the airlines to be avoided. (Redman Wilkinson). To improve the image of the organization BA launched its Manhattan Landing and The worlds favourite Airline campaigns and raised the advertising budget which was  £19m to  £31m for the year 1983-1984 in order to signal a clear commitment to changing the corporate image (Leban et al 2005). Building its turnaround team: 30% of the old employees had left the organization voluntarily which involved senior mangers as well (Barsoux Manzoni 1997). Culture is formed by leaders and now these leaders were not there which helped the cultural change process. Newly appointed CEO Sir Collin Marshall was a very charismatic leader. He brought in some new blood to give the company a fresh perspective and to regain focus. In 1983, Colin Marshall made customer service a personal crusade (Reichheld 1996). Customer services were something absent in the BAs culture which was very rigid and he wanted to achieve a shift from a strongly British, engineering, and operationally driven culture to one that emphasized productivity and profits while increasing the value placed on customer service. Support from top management: To make a change successful the leaders need to play the role model. Leader needs to be the one, who actually put the change terms in practice, supports his team and give them freedom of expression (Cameron 2004). Collin Marshall in this regard was very concerned and he used to spend lot of his time in terminals with staff communicating and reinforcing the desired culture for the organization and its mutual and individual advantages. Employees were given the freedom to share their ideas and thoughts and give their suggestions about helping the change to carry forward. Employees feel listened to and feels themselves as part of the companys success. Education and Training: Change needs to be reinforced and communicated regularly to make it feel happening. A continuous training needs to be done to help employees adapting to the new culture. BA in this regard conducted a training program named PPF (Putting People First). This training program was aimed at the people to examine their interactions with other people. The main focus of the training was to build positive relationships and customer services. Nearly 40000 of BAs employees attended the training program (Leban et al 2005). Another training program conducted by BA was MPF (Managing People First). This training program was aimed at other issues like culture and its importance, the leadership, trust, vision and feedback. These behaviour moulding programs resulted in good and BA was able to move on towards cultural change. After one year of training with TMI (training consultants), BA moved into profit (Senior Fleming 2006). Make the Change visible: Change needs to visible to the outside world. British Airways unveiled their new planes at Heathrow Airport and their new uniforms to give the world an impression that they have gone through a change and now they are a better organization (Leban et al 2005). With in 10 years the cultural change program succeeded in creating a strong commitment to productivity, profits and customer services. The morale was higher and the companys image in the market was better and this change lift the company out of bankruptcy to become one the worlds most respected airline. British Airways have launched a new campaign in 2009 named ONE DESTINATION. The CEO said at the time of launch that we started our journey towards responsible air travel in 1984 and we have discovered that our customers love to fly with us but are concerned about their impact on the environment (BBC news). Getting over the resistance with the help of suitable change models: Kurt Lewins change model comprises of three steps, i.e. Unfreeze-Change-Refreeze. The first stage in Lewins change model is unfreezing that is when manager develops a felt or need for the change which can be because of declining profits or shrinking market shares etc. In BAs case both profits and market shares were declining. This is where the CEO Collin Marshall felt the need for the change. The unfreezing stage is very crucial as this is when managers are making the workforce ready for the change. This is the advertising phase where the vision and content of the change is communicated which inspires the workforce and gains their commitment. Brirish Airways in this regard conducted the behaviour moulding conferences named PPF and MPF to change the behaviours and make the people ready for the change. The next stage in Lewins model is the change it self. This is the stage where the terms of the change are practically implied and practiced. The survival plan discussed above aimed at cost reduction and than the activities like increasing the advertising budget, hiring new blood and educating and training the people was the change process which was very well lead by the CEO. At this stage continuous feedback and reinforcement is required to make the change feel happening. Collin Marshall himself used to talk with the employees in small groups and spent his most of time reinforcing his vision and desired culture. Refreezing is the stage when people start to embrace the change and the organization has moved to the new culture. This is the stage where the change should be visible and BA made the change visible by inaugurating their new fleets and uniforms. John P. Kotter in his 8 step change model says that a strong enough team is required to carry the change process forward. BA did create a team of new blood managers who gave the company a fresh ad current perspective of business. Kotters model emphasize on communicating the vision of the change and BA was up to the task and had a great support from the senior management as the employees had the freedom of sharing their ideas and thoughts. Leadership Styles: As mentioned above that leadership of BA was heavily influenced by the retired army officers and co ordination and co operation was missing and leaders were like dictators. When the new CEO took over he changed the way of leading as in the process of downsizing, some senior managers were also removed from their positions because of the out dated leadership techniques. The success of the change was because of the new leadership who acted as mentors, and by adopting the democratic, consultive and persuasive, and transformational styles of leadership. Analysis of the Change at BA: The Thatcher Governments announcement of privatizing British Airways was the initial trigger which started the whole process of change (Staniland 2003). The need for the cultural change in BA arises in the transitional phase of the economic environment. The airline industry in UK was facing a severe competition which was an outcome of the privatization. Airline industry in UK was put to work under highly deregulated market which historically used to work in highly regulated market. The privatization decision changed the historic values and beliefs of BA dramatically as the organizations mission in the past was to make sure that planes fly safely and land safely. Profit maximization and competition were not much of an issue. Changing the culture is an ongoing process (Schabracq 2007) and even it is fully achieved, it still goes on in the form of monitoring and continuous inspection. British Airways since 1984 is in the transition phase and is replacing some of its main historical values and beliefs to be consistent with the new mission (Salama 1995). Collin Marshall was appointed as the CEO in order to accomplish this required cultural change. Training and behaviour changing programmes and evaluation systems have been introduced to motivate and stimulate changes. But in some areas other managerial career subsystems such as selection and promotion, had experienced minor modifications. Despite BA had put great deal of effort into encouraging certain behaviours, staff did not collate its employment policies and practices around the new culture (Coles et al 2000). BA failed to institutionalize the change through their stabilisation action plans. Management techniques were certainly impressive, but not everyo ne benefited from them. In areas such as marketing, the criteria for choosing Managers had changed from technical to managerial skills. However, some managers still preferred the old fashioned recruitment procedure based on promoting and selecting people who were good technical individuals, therefore BA had difficulties maintaining the change. At the corporate level, the managers were now rewarded based on performance. The new appraisal system varies across functions as the criteria for good performance was different among different departments. This issue arises from the HR departments ignorance towards the different subculture. The HR department had been trying to impose its own values and beliefs on the rest of the organization and this was identified by Marshall and a new structure for HR was developed later on in order to give the department units more autonomy. This conflicting situation reflects a lack of consensus regarding the desired organizational culture as viewed by top management. Recent Issues: BA had won awards for Best Airline and Best Business Class, a total of 7 awards (Investors Report BA.co.uk). However, BA was also on top of the list of the companies that had complaints, made by the AUC (Air Transport Users Council), totalling 117. Air France came second with 110 and Ryanair third with 77, EasyJet had 42 total complaints (BBCnews.co.uk 20 Aug 2002). If BA adopt a strategy for focus differentiation, tighter controls on the safe handling of baggage, more effective booking services would require to be implemented in order to provide this quality service, thus gaining customer satisfaction and justification of price differentiation. This would inevitably enhance its image and reputation (Johnson et al 2008). CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: British Airways had gone through many changes in order to promote this cultural change. British Airways lacked a holistic approach while implementing the change because despite of the HR departments attempts towards forming policies and procedures around the new culture, there was evidently a gap between HR and middle management. Some managers were still using the traditional approaches of reward system and recruiting people. British Airways needed to adopt a partnership model within HR. This model is about establishing a common interest in order to secure the competitiveness, viability and prosperity of an organisation. Economic tensions appreciated within this model, are fitting to British Airways unstable environment. The Partnership model talks about getting a commitment from employees to improve quality and efficiency and the acceptance by the employers as stakeholders with interest to be considered when decisions are made. In the beginning it will require a top to bottom approa ch in order to promote and advertise the change. However promoting good strategies which are suitable for all the departments and areas of the organization, as opposed to some areas, is the key to its success. British Airways need to adopt this model to promote teambuilding and working together kind of environment. This model will help in identifying the organizational goal by mutually sharing the values and beliefs of the people and they will start moving in same direction and the outcome of the change can be seen in the whole organization. British Airways is once again in crisis at the current time and is showing record  £401 million pre tax losses (BBC news). Flights are late and customers are facing some sort of the same issues as there were in 1980s. British Airways has a good history and current image in the consumer market. They might need another change in the organization. The change started in 1984 and still things need to be done. Therefore it can be said that changing culture is a complex and long term undertaking (Thomas 2005). It involves coordinated efforts by the top management to change its own values and behaviour and communicates it to the followers and others in the organization. Such changes must be reinforced by shifts in management education, selection and promotion. Culture cannot be managed on its own or as separate from the rest of the organization.

A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay: The Importance of Setting

The Importance of Setting in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream  Ã‚      The two locations of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are essential to the development of the plot, although their presentation relies wholly on the characters we meet there, their adventures and their descriptions of these places. Athens is not an accidental choice of location: although much of the detail of the play is quintessentially English, the classical setting enables Shakespeare to introduce the notable lawgiver, who has had his own problems in love; it makes plausible the reference to the severe law, and it allows Oberon to refer seriously to Cupid and Diana without the play's seeming blasphemous. Theseus is an enlightened ruler, notable for his wise judgement but there is a limit to his abilities: the problem Egeus gives him seems incapable of solution, so he tries to buy time and work on Egeus and Demetrius. But there seems little hope that the "harsh Athenian law" will produce a solution acceptable to all parties. The wood is mentioned first by Lysander, who has been there with Hermia and Helena on May Day, and in the following scene by Bottom. Neither seems to have any inkling of what they may meet there. The wood may be unremarkable in the daytime but at night it is a place of danger and confusion. The young lovers experience the confusion but do not know its cause. The mechanicals go to the Palace Wood because they wish to rehearse unseen, little knowing that the wood is full of spirits (not to mention the four young lovers).    Lysander's literal losing of his way anticipates his metaphorical losing of his way, in pursuing the wrong woman. Demetrius speaks to Helena in a manner no gentleman would care to use ... ...men's own strange standards the device is flawed, since Thisbe is left to find the dead Pyramus by (imagined) "starlight". The performance of Starveling also gives Theseus and Hippolyta the chance to crack some very topical jokes about changing and waning.    The play opens in Athens. We see how the young lovers and the mechanicals leave (for different reasons) this known and familiar place and enter the wood. This is the proper domain of the fairies, and no place for men, who enter at their peril. In the symmetry of the play, we see this process reversed in Act 5. Here the fairies come into Athens into the home of Theseus. But they are in no danger, not even of discovery. While they can promote the general fertility of the natural world in the wood, the importance of Theseus and Hippolyta requires a more direct overseeing of the conception of their heir.    A Midsummer Night's Dream Essay: The Importance of Setting The Importance of Setting in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream  Ã‚      The two locations of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are essential to the development of the plot, although their presentation relies wholly on the characters we meet there, their adventures and their descriptions of these places. Athens is not an accidental choice of location: although much of the detail of the play is quintessentially English, the classical setting enables Shakespeare to introduce the notable lawgiver, who has had his own problems in love; it makes plausible the reference to the severe law, and it allows Oberon to refer seriously to Cupid and Diana without the play's seeming blasphemous. Theseus is an enlightened ruler, notable for his wise judgement but there is a limit to his abilities: the problem Egeus gives him seems incapable of solution, so he tries to buy time and work on Egeus and Demetrius. But there seems little hope that the "harsh Athenian law" will produce a solution acceptable to all parties. The wood is mentioned first by Lysander, who has been there with Hermia and Helena on May Day, and in the following scene by Bottom. Neither seems to have any inkling of what they may meet there. The wood may be unremarkable in the daytime but at night it is a place of danger and confusion. The young lovers experience the confusion but do not know its cause. The mechanicals go to the Palace Wood because they wish to rehearse unseen, little knowing that the wood is full of spirits (not to mention the four young lovers).    Lysander's literal losing of his way anticipates his metaphorical losing of his way, in pursuing the wrong woman. Demetrius speaks to Helena in a manner no gentleman would care to use ... ...men's own strange standards the device is flawed, since Thisbe is left to find the dead Pyramus by (imagined) "starlight". The performance of Starveling also gives Theseus and Hippolyta the chance to crack some very topical jokes about changing and waning.    The play opens in Athens. We see how the young lovers and the mechanicals leave (for different reasons) this known and familiar place and enter the wood. This is the proper domain of the fairies, and no place for men, who enter at their peril. In the symmetry of the play, we see this process reversed in Act 5. Here the fairies come into Athens into the home of Theseus. But they are in no danger, not even of discovery. While they can promote the general fertility of the natural world in the wood, the importance of Theseus and Hippolyta requires a more direct overseeing of the conception of their heir.   

being independent Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Graduating and getting out on your own is a difficult step to make. There are a lot of things that you have to take into perspective. The choices that you make when you get out of highschool believe it or not are crucial and life altering. Decisions that you have to make are ones like what you want your career to be, where you want to live, and a big decision is buying a house. In making these decisions you have to do a lot of research and things to be prepared. I did a lot of research in hopes of finding a career that I would like and three things that I could see myself doing was owning my own spa ($100,000 yearly salary), managing a spa($60,000 yearly salary), or being an Esthetician. After thinking long and hard about it however, I decided I would like to be en Esthetician. An Esthetician is a person who gives care to skin in a non-medical way. An Esthetician makes a decent amount of money which is important to have if I want to be able to afford a house.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being an Esthetician would be fun because I enjoy working with people and I am good at working with them. I am also good with my hands which is necessary in my job Making other people feel better about themselves makes me feel better about myself. One set back in that job however would have to be foot fungus. Feet aren?t my favorite thing on the human body especially with any kind of fungus on them. Going into a job that has a high paying salary often requires experience or schooling. I would have to take classes and work hard to get my license so that it is easier for me to find a job. To become an Esthetician it is only required to have at least 17 weeks of classes which would cost under $1,000.00 and at the end of the classes I would graduate with my license in esthetics. I looked at job offers and have came to the conclusion that if I was an Esthetician I would make an estimated amount of $50,000.00 a year. That salary however can vary depending on your qualit ies and experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I plan on living in Long Beach, California and the reason being is I have always had the desire to live near the beach. Living far away I would have to take into consideration transportation. Being on my own requires you to be financially stable. So I figured out that if I had a 2002 Jeep Gand Cherokee La... ... in Long Beach which is a wealthy town. So the price of my house is very reasonable for the area I am going to be living in. It could be cheaper to take out a 20 year loan and pay $100 a month more which would cover the interest but with my salary it is better for me to take a 30 year loan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I asked myself two questions at the beginning of this project, one being what if I run out of equity on my home with a reverse mortgage? I found that answer on www.google.com and it said that you can?t run out of money and they can not force you to move out of your home. Another question was, when I am old if I have to go to a nursing home what will happen to my house? That answer was also found on www.google.com and it was that if you are moved out for a year or longer then my home can be sold. All of these things and more have to be considered before you even buy a house. So researching and taking your time thinking about every detail is extremely important. You want to be able to afford what you have and still have money to save or spend at your discretion. I hope that one day this bit of research gives me some backing for when I actually do move out on my own.