Power and politics strategy planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Power and politics strategy planning - Essay Example Hence, I would argue that the effectiveness of power and politics strategy planning determines the sustainability of an organization. To begin with, a firm follows specific byelaw that coordinates different business activities. Since an organization consists of large number of employees with different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, it is not practical to frame organizational laws that would satisfy the personal interests of every employee. For the smooth running of a firm, the company management must make sure that all employees comply with the common rules of the organization. While dealing with this issue, the management employs power in order to promote obedience, discipline, and thereby cohesion within the organization. Power is the conventional tool used by organizations in order to enforce their basic byelaws; organizations have been effectively employing this tool for centuries. However, the way organizations exert power is highly crucial. When the management applies excessive power over employees, a feeling of resistance may grow among them. The resistance in turn, would impede the production process and the long term objectives of the organization. ... In other words, business houses must heed enough attention to planning power exertion strategies. It is a common fact that employees are obedient to their employers on the ground of fear rather than love. When an employer shows a liberal attitude to his employee, the employee may hesitate to take his maximum efforts as the situation does not cause any threat to his employment. On the other hand, the employee will be more sincere and responsible if the management imposes certain restrictions on him. For instance, many of the IT companies demand their employees to work for more than 12 hours. These companies also appoint an efficient supervising team to evaluate the work done by their employees. Under such circumstances, employees are forced to employ their maximum capabilities. In contrast, if these employees are given the opportunity for their work options, it will certainly impede company’s profitability. Therefore, power is an inevitable element in the strategic management o f an organization. As discussed earlier, the impact of strategic planning would be adverse if this process is not organized properly. The application of power must meet employees’ basic requirements. When an organization employs power over its employees, the management must ensure that the firm does not hurt employees’ individual rights and sentiments. Similarly, the firm management must avoid biased decisions while deploying its various powers. It has been identified that legitimacy and uncertainty are two important sources of organizational power. In the opinion of Rainey (173), many of the scholars are of the opinion that some thoughtless rules and restrictions imposed on public organizations by external forces such as

Liabilities of a Director Essay Example for Free

Liabilities of a Director Essay A company is usually established by individuals or Directors (officers included) in this case so as to run it in appropriate manner in order to make maximum profits. For this to happen, it is for the company (Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd in our case) to enter or make contracts with outsiders like Kaplan Bank Ltd and Space Solutions Pty Ltd as far as our case is concerned. The contracts made by the company with other outsiders are usually done by Directors who are, most often than not, act as representatives of that mentioned company and be able to be liable by the acts of its Directors as stated in s126. Directors acting on behalf of the company during any contracts are usually in a crucial position of trust within that company, and therefore, the vast array of legal duties will stretch out on their shoulders for holding that position. Due to this hot position, it is easier than not, for their powers to be abused in different ways. Directors have been known to abuse their powers in office for their personal gain. For example, Directors have been held liable for inappropriately using company’s funds in making their personal secret profits. In such cases, the corporate law comes into play (the Common Law and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) and Directors or any other officer who recklessly breach specific duties and obligations should be prosecuted in the court of law. So for the purpose of liability, the common law and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) have been laid down so as to minimize the risk of wrongful behaviors by company’s Directors. In this paper, I will discuss the responsibilities, liabilities and duties of a director(s) in a company and give examples how Directors of various companies have been accounted or held responsible for infringing Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) laws. Directors’ Duties Since companies are usually established and managed by directors and a number of officers, these directors have that ostensible authority, collectively, to represent that mentioned company and not as an individual Director. As I am going to talk about it below, some individual directors (Andrew and Brian in this case) have been known to enter in to some kind of contract with outsiders (other companies) and not collectively as board of directors, as allowed under s201J and s198D of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Directors, in most cases, have contravened these sections of the Act because they have their own material personal interests outside the company and have disowned their â€Å"duty to act honestly and in good faith to the best interest of the company† as per Part 2D.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Directors can only avoid the civil or criminal penalties for breaching the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) only if they fully understand their liabilities and duties (Sieve rs, 1997 and Cassidy, 2006). Some of Corporations Acts laws, which directors need to be watchful for, in order to avoid contravening Corporations Act laws, are and not limited to: 1. Act in good faith and honest for the best interest of the company. 2. By considering company’s interests ahead of their own. 3. Avoiding conflicts of duty and interest. 4. Duty to avoid insolvent trading by the company 1. Duty to act honestly and in good faith to the best interest of the company As far as s181 of Corporations Acts 2001 (Cth) is concerned, any director including Andrew and Brian in our case, have to act â€Å"in good faith and in the best interest of the company (Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd)† (see Darval v North Sydney Brick and Tile Co (1988) 6 ACLC 154) and not for their personal intentional purposes. In our case, before resigning, Brian set up his own jewellery business so that he can engage in a lucrative business of supplying jewellery to his new friend Victor after resigning from Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd. Brian, under Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s.184, may have infringed the statutory duties that are found in ss.181-183, and therefore liable for civil or criminal penalties as per Corporations Act laws (Sievers, 1997 and Cassidy, 2006). 2. Duty not to improperly use the position of a director to gain any personal benefits As contained in s182 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), directors must demonstrate their powers for the required purposes so that companies like Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd for example can benefit and those directors who violate s180 of the Corporations Act law Sbe penalized or disqualified in the court of law as was illustrated in the case of Mills v. Mills (1938) 60 CLR 150 (Cassidy, 2006). In our case, the exercise of power by Brian to secure some personal advantage by starting his own jewellery business, is considered as an ‘improper purpose’ because it is not within the purpose of benefiting Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd, but to himself (see Mills v. Mills (1938) 60 CLR 150, Biala Pty Ltd v. Uallina Holdings (No 2) (1993) and ASIC v. Adler (2002)). Eventually, Brian will be responsible for any financial benefit he might have received as the head of Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd (see Queensland mine Ltd v Hudson (1978) 18 ALR 1) (Cassidy, 2006, p. 251). 3. Avoiding conflicts of duty and interest. The conflict of interest is a matter for all board of directors that does not only affect specific directors in the company. According to section 182 and 183 of the Corporations Act, any misuse of director’s position just for the disadvantage of the company and for the benefit of the director is generally forbidden by the law (see Aberdeen Railway Co. v. Blaikie Bros (1854). If some sections like s191 to s195 of the Corporation Act is analyzed further, it details some important rules on how Directors (Brian included) are supposed to disclose or declare to the board of directors, if there is any personal interest that is related to the affairs of the company. This is required so as to ensure that the honesty and integrity of directors are thoroughly observed (Cassidy, 2006). As far as our case is concerned, Brian may have violated s181 of the Corporations Act, for he did not declare or disclose to the board of directors that he has some interest of starting is own business as required under s191 (3) and he may be prosecuted in the court of law for not declaring his interest. 4. Duty to prevent insolvent trading by the company Corporate regulators have tried many means to make sure that there are no companies that can trade while insolvent by imposing higher level of liability on directors. As per s588G of the Corporations Act, civil penalties and personal liability on directors have been imposed on them if in case a company incur a debt and is declared insolvent. An example of a case where directors were liable for the company’s insolvency was that of Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Friedrich. Here, Maxwell Eise who was a director was fined millions of dollars for causing the company to undergo insolvency. The court argued that Maxwell Eise (Brian and Andrew in our case) had breached s588G of the Corporations Act and was liable for debts incurred by the company because his failure to prevent it. If in case directors of companies like Pandora Diamonds and Gems Pty Ltd have acted criminally and believed to be dishonest, in which may harm the company because of their self personal advantage, ASIC with the assistance of Australian Federal Police, criminal investigation can be conducted and tough procedures has to be followed when collecting evidence that will be use to determined as to whether a prosecution should go a head. And if the case is found to be more serious, it will be handled with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution; otherwise the lower courts will deal with these kinds of cases. All in all, directors should carefully study, understand and appreciate their duties and responsibilities that they are subject to as company bosses. Being a director of a company is not an easy task because there are several fiduciary duties that need to be adhered to.

AIDS in the Eighties :: AIDS HIV Diseases Essays

AIDS in the Eighties Four years ago I got into a near fatal car accident and lost a lot of blood. I was rushed into a nearby San Francisco hospital where doctors treated me with transfused blood. Ironically, the same blood that saved my life will eventually lead to my death. It is currently 1987 in San Francisco, one of many areas in the world suffering from a virus believed to have come from Western Africa. Earlier in the decade scientists discovered the virus was linked to the disease, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, which dominantly afflicted gay males. The virus, which was not extensively covered by the media, was reported to have been transmitted with bodily fluids through sexual contact, shared needles, fetus transmissions, and blood transfusions. Scientists discovered that the virus contained surface proteins that binded to receptors on CD4 T cells. The virus would then undergo self replication and hide inside T cells. The nascent virus then emerged out of the cell's nucleus, causing T cells to lyse. This cycle continued and gradually decreased the person's immunity toward pathogenic microbes. There have been many conflicting reports as to how this virus found its way from Western Africa to distant parts of the world. A popular reason may have been from a person that killed a monkey containing the simian form of the virus. The person may have eaten the monkey and contracted the zoonotic virus. Another perspective comes from devout religious individuals that believe the virus was brought to earth by God as a punishment to the sinning gays and lesbians. Either way, the disease became widespread, infecting both males and females. Its spread was due to travel. Because the world has become a smaller place from airplanes, cars, trains, and boats, the disease shifted from a localized epidemic to a worldwide pandemic. The media is partially responsible for the current image that AIDS patients have with the public. Uninformed reports from television, radio, newspapers, and magazines caused the public into a panic that lasts to this day. A few years ago, accounts of gay men dying from common diseases like the cold and flu began appearing in the media. Pretty soon, "normal" individuals became very sick from common diseases. Because early accounts had singled out homosexuals as having this unknown disease, it was assumed that homosexuals had spread the virus.

Free Death Penalty Essays: Capital Punishment Around the World :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Capital Punishment Essays - Capital Punishment Around the World The essay pans the whole world and presents the death penalty practices. In the last paragraph the paper focuses on the USA exclusively. Over half the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice: * 75 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes * 14 countries have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes such as wartime crimes * 20 countries can be considered abolitionist in practice: they retain the death penalty in law but have not carried out any executions for the past 10 years or more making a total of 109 countries which have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. 86 other countries retain and use the death penalty, but the number of countries which actually execute prisoners in any one year is much smaller.(Death) More than three countries a year on average have abolished the death penalty for all crimes in the past decade. Over 30 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes since 1990. They include countries in Africa (examples include Angola, CÃ ´te d'Ivoire, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa), the Americas (Canada, Paraguay), Asia (Hong Kong, Nepal), Europe (Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine).(Ibid) Once abolished, the death penalty is seldom reintroduced. Since 1985, over 40 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or, having previously abolished it for ordinary crimes, have gone on to abolish it for all crimes. During the same period only four abolitionist countries reintroduced the death penalty. One of them, Nepal, which reintroduced the death penalty for murder, has since abolished it for all crimes; one, the Philippines, has resumed executions, but there have been no executions in the other two (Gambia, Papua New Guinea).(Should) During 2000, at least 1,457 prisoners were executed in 27 countries and 3,058 people were sentenced to death in 65 countries. In 2000, 88 per cent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA. In China, the limited and incomplete records available to Amnesty International at the end of the year indicated that at least 1,000 people were executed, but the true figure was believed to be much higher. In Saudi Arabia, 123 executions were reported, but the total may have been much higher. Eighty-five people were executed in the USA.

Being a Good Leader

Introduction In today’s organizations there is a greater focus on employees stepping up to be leaders rather just managing their respective responsibilities. It is not enough to simply manage tasks and perform your delegated responsibilities any more employees are expected to take initiative and motivate those around them to also be leaders even if you are not a manager by title. In order to be a leader, one must start by making a commitment and learn those skills needed to model the way and be examples to others. As our organizations become more diverse, being able to manage ethics and diversity is also important as we will encounter and work with others who have different perceptions, thoughts and experiences than what we may be accustomed or familiar with. We must be become change agents in our organizations, people who challenge the status quos and established processes in an ethical manner. If employees are motivated and engaged, organizations will be successful and be able to withstand adverse environments. Modeling the Way In all aspects of our lives we must be examples of how we want others around us to be whether in our own families, organizations or communities. How can we expect our employees to take initiative when they do not see their leaders taking initiative in their own roles? Even if you are not a manager or leader by title, people around you are still watching to see how you perform and behave. For example, I am an individual contributor in my organization but there are other employees around me who see what I do and how I behave in my role. I always have a positive attitude and a smile on my face which motivates them to also have a positive attitude. I have to be aware that I’m an informal leader in my organization even though I currently do not lead a team. On the other hand my direct manager is a great example on how a leader should behave and how to be an effective leader. She has the flexibility to work from home and she also gives me that option as a result that makes me work harder. Before introducing a new initiative, she always gets the buy-in of all our business partners so that when it is implemented, it is not a shock to anyone and everyone had an opportunity to share their thoughts. I never realized the importance of engaging everyone who will be affected by a new process or decision until now. Prior I was used to managers and senior leadership making decisions and the rest of the employees who were expected to follow them did not have any say or input. This is not an effective method of motivating employees. I have learned how important it is to seek feedback in order to continue doing the things that make you a good leader, change any actions that are not appropriate and start doing other things you would like your subordinates or those around you to do. â€Å"Setting the example is all about execution. It’s about putting your money where your mouth is†¦ It’s about keeping promises. It’s about walking the walk. † (Kouzes & Posner, 2007) Managing Ethics When we are a part of an organization, we are all responsible for managing ethics not just managers. Ethical practices should be woven in the fabric of the organizational culture and the organization should have systems in place to enforce ethical behavior. â€Å"When developing the values statement during strategic planning, include ethical values preferred in the workplace. When developing personnel policies, reflect on what ethical values you'd like to be most prominent in the organization's culture and then design policies to produce these behaviors. † (McNamara, 2008) First we must know what our own ethical values are, what are our belief systems? If we believe it is ok to steal from your organization because they owe you anyways, that person should take time to do some self-reflection and analyze their values. There are many laws in place that outline what an organization can and cannot do to assist managers in deciding what constitutes ethical behavior. Most organizations also have guidelines in place that explain what is acceptable behavior and what is not as well as procedures to report unethical actions and behaviors. Again, managers must behave ethically to set examples for their employees and those around them. Unethical actions not only hurt the individual but the entire company and that is why managers must enforce the company’s stance on ethics, ensure all their employees receive all brochures and materials so there is no question on how to handle observed unethical behaviors. Ethical practices should be a topic of discussion in meetings and on one-on-one conversations. Managing Diversity Today more than ever our workforce are increasingly become more diverse and managers must be equipped to not just treat diverse employees fairly but know how to leverage the different perspective, experiences and points of iew to create innovative products and how to respond to a growing diverse customer base. It is important for managers to understand diversity does not just imply to ethic or cultural differences but to also people in different age groups, education level, physical ability, economic status and many more. A manager must be able to communicate and manage conflict that arises betwe en an older worker and a younger worker. Managers have to the open about learning about different people in their organization and as a result, the organization will benefit from all the great ideas. As an example, by the end of the month, our organization have scheduled a meeting with diverse managers for a round table discussion to get their ideas on how we can improve our recruitment of diverse leaders into our organizations. We are tapping into their experiences and possible networks to create a process in place instead of searching outside the organization. We also want to understand if they have had opportunities for advancement or professional development to see how we can improve that process. It is not enough to hire diverse leaders if we cannot engage them in the organization, develop them and retain them. We also try to enforce to the organization that it is not the job of just Human Resource’s to own diversity and creating a culture of inclusion, it is everyone’s job. Managing diversity is not just the right thing to do, it makes good business sense. For example, if we do not have a strategy in place to create products and services geared towards the Hispanic population, which is growing at a rapid pace, our competitors who do target this group will experience larger profits. â€Å"Just as the workforce is becoming increasingly diverse, so too are the customers who buy an organization’s goods and services. (Jones, George, 2009) You do not have to be a manager to promote and support diversity. You can do it by your actions and by challenging others and educating them on how diversity makes good business sense and supporting your organization’s diversity efforts. Challenging the Process Good leaders do not just follow procedures and conduct business as usua l. True leaders question why certain procedures are in place and suggest alternative solutions to improve the process. Leaders take the initiative to conduct any research needed to show the proof or the foundation on how to implement a new procedure, present the business case for the change. Leaders have to trust their gut instincts when introducing a new process or a different way of doing things that may not be received with open arms. As an example, when my manager introduced a new diversity scorecard to the senior leadership to hold managers accountable for including diversity efforts into their respective departments, it was not greeted with enthusiasm. It took a few years of her having to â€Å"prove† the business case and showing with data why they had to be consistent with their diversity efforts. As a result, the same leaders who were skeptical are now the ones refusing to interview any candidates for open positions unless they have a diverse candidate slate. Now, three years since injecting diversity into our culture, diversity is included in our bonus achievement plan. As a leader who wants to implement change, you must be persistent and believe that the change you want to make will benefit everyone in the organization and other leaders are also committed in making similar changes within their regions and divisions. â€Å"Leadership isn’t about challenge for the challenge’s sake. It’s not about shaking things up just to keep people on their toes. It’s about challenge for meaning’s sake. † (Kouzes & Posner, 2007) Conclusion Being a leader is much more than holding a leadership title but we become leaders by the decisions we make. We must make a choice to have purpose and passion in our every day lives. We must care about ourselves, employees and the organizations we work for. When we have a purpose and passion about what we do it becomes infectious to others, we become examples and without realizing we are modeling the way for others to see how leaders behave through actions. Leaders must also do what they say they will do in order to be credible with their employees, colleagues and customers. If a leader looses his or her credibility, they will not receive the support he or she will need to implement any necessary changes. Leaders do not only manage ethics but have at the center of their belief system a high regard for human worth and dignity. (Huber, 1998) Their decisions are made based on these values and beliefs which tie in with managing diversity as our world becomes more global. Leaders are made by the decisions we make every day that help make our organizations as successful and competitive as possible. Resources Huber, N (1998). Leading from Within. New York, NY: Krieger. Jones, Gareth R. and George, Jennifer M. (2008) Contemporary Management 6th edition; McGraw-Hill Irwin, N. Y. , N. Y Kouzes, J. , & Posner, B. (2007). The Leadership Challenge. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. McNamara, C. (2008). Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers. Retrieved March, 2009, from Free Management Library Web site: http://managementhelp. org/ethics/ethxgde. htm#anchor39675

Sullivans Travels essays

Sullivans Travels essays The Great Depression was a time when Americans were lost economically, and emotionally, and many movies have been made in an attempt to capture the horrors of life in that time. The film Sullivans Travels however is in my opinion satirizes the Depression. It inaccurately depicts the tribulations of the 1940s and is useless in its historical account. The value in this movie lays in entertainment, and in nothing else. In short, the protagonist in the film Sullivan, a wealthy movie director, wants to make a movie about pain and suffering, and in doing so, decides to live out on the streets with 10 cents in his pocket. From the beginning, he makes a mockery out of human kind in general. We see Sullivan going back and forth from his street-life to his mansion, never fully experiencing how life was for the unfortunate. In his attempt to become a tramp, he makes a joke out of the Depression. He is poor when it is convenient to him, and when he meets a pretty girl, he tries to use him money and fame to impress her. The movie really never focuses in on the pain and suffering of anyone, but instead we see a fickle man who attempted to do something beneficial, but instead turned away from it when it became difficult. Sullivan chooses when he wants to sleep in a bed, and out on the streets, and when the streets posed a problem, he had his team following him in a van while they promoted his actions as simply a publicity stunt. The climate during the Depression was that the poor and unfortunate had no choice as to whether they should sleep on the street or in a bed on any given night, they had no other life that they could go back to. In this movie, we are not exposed to any of the hardships that Americans underwent, but instead we see a game that Sullivan played. At the end of this movie we as the viewer have not been given and interesting insight to life in the Depression, we a ...

Free Essays on Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Helpful or Hazardous Should stem cell research be banned? This is one of the most controversial questions posed in the last century. The heart of this controversy is whether or not it is morally ethical or legal to use stem cells in research and medicine, possibly to discover the cures and treatments for many diseases afflicting people today. Although stem cells are found in adult organisms as well as in fetuses and embryos, embryonic stem cells are the only types that are able to become any other type of cell. As organisms develop, stem cells become specialized types of cells and are harder to find and less potent in their ability to differentiate. For, this reason, it is often though that embryonic stem cells offer the most promise for medical breakthroughs. This is also another reason why the government should fund embryonic stem cell research along with the fact that embryonic stem cell research can benefit those suffering from serious diseases and help with other medical problems such as burns. Stem cells themselves have actually been around for almost as long as life has been on earth. In essence, all life evolved from stem cells of some kind. Stem cell research has been around for almost as long as microscopes. It is only within the 1980s that more sophisticated developments have been allowed for the growing of cells in laboratories. Fetal nerve cells were one of the first stem cells that were used to treat Parkinson disease. The National Institute of Health states that stem cells are generally very early stage cells that have the ability to turn into other specialized types of cells and at the same time replicate themselves (2).For example, a Binion 2 stem cell can turn into liver cells, skin cells, and nerve cells etc. There are two groups of stem cells that are important: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. There are common terms that one may come across describing stem cells gr... Free Essays on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Free Essays on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Pro Embryonic Stem Cell Research "Is it more ethical for a woman to donate unused embryos that will never become human beings, or to let them be tossed away as so much garbage when they could help save thousands of lives?" (cnn.com) This is the question that was asked by Christopher Reeves an advocate for stem cell research who recently passed away. This is the question asked by millions of children and adults with terrible incurable diseases like Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease, spinal cord injuries and cancer who have the same hopes and aspirations that Christopher once had. Christopher Reeve’s advocacy for researching stem cell research helped to make it a major issue in the 2004 campaign between George W. Bush and John Kerry. Many people opposed to embryonic research including President Bush argue that stem cells can be derived from sources other than embryos such as adult cells, umbilical cords from babies, from human placenta (whitehouse.gov/). This is true but these people fail to realize the limited potential that these types of stem cells offer compared to embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are the only types of cells that are totipotent or pluripotent meaning they can become any type of cell in the body. (isscr.org/science/faq.htm) America needs to uplift the restrictions on embryonic stem cells and peruse research to the fullest extent so patients and their families are not denied the endless hope of possibilities that new research can bring to society. I believe that the ban on federal funding should be uplifted allowing scientists to explore their maximum potential while following certain ethical restrictions. In August 2001 Bush’s stem cell policy was supposed to provide the funding for 60 stem cell lines. Many of the stem cell lines turned out to be useless either having no scientific value or not even being a genuine stem cell line. As of today there are o... Free Essays on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Helpful or Hazardous Should stem cell research be banned? This is one of the most controversial questions posed in the last century. The heart of this controversy is whether or not it is morally ethical or legal to use stem cells in research and medicine, possibly to discover the cures and treatments for many diseases afflicting people today. Although stem cells are found in adult organisms as well as in fetuses and embryos, embryonic stem cells are the only types that are able to become any other type of cell. As organisms develop, stem cells become specialized types of cells and are harder to find and less potent in their ability to differentiate. For, this reason, it is often though that embryonic stem cells offer the most promise for medical breakthroughs. This is also another reason why the government should fund embryonic stem cell research along with the fact that embryonic stem cell research can benefit those suffering from serious diseases and help with other medical problems such as burns. Stem cells themselves have actually been around for almost as long as life has been on earth. In essence, all life evolved from stem cells of some kind. Stem cell research has been around for almost as long as microscopes. It is only within the 1980s that more sophisticated developments have been allowed for the growing of cells in laboratories. Fetal nerve cells were one of the first stem cells that were used to treat Parkinson disease. The National Institute of Health states that stem cells are generally very early stage cells that have the ability to turn into other specialized types of cells and at the same time replicate themselves (2).For example, a Binion 2 stem cell can turn into liver cells, skin cells, and nerve cells etc. There are two groups of stem cells that are important: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. There are common terms that one may come across describing stem cells gr...

50 Words with the Most Whimsical Prefix

50 Words with the Most Whimsical Prefix 50 Words with the Most Whimsical Prefix 50 Words with the Most Whimsical Prefix By Mark Nichol The prefix be- has a variety of interesting roles in language: Causation The prefix is affixed to a verb to indicate a causative agent, as in belittle, meaning â€Å"to diminish by criticism or mockery.† Creation Become and begin, and the archaic-sounding beget, are words starting with the prefix that indicate something coming to be; the prefix also appears in words expressing the near opposite, such as behead. Intensification It’s one thing to be dazzled by a luminous object, but a reference to being bedazzled implies a higher order of enchantment. Position Be- indicates relative placement, as in below or between. Its addition to a word transforms nouns and adjectives into verbs, as in besiege and beware (â€Å"be aware†). It also changes intransitive verbs (those that do not take an object) into transitive ones, as with becalm. The simple act of attaching these two letters to an existing word enhances English by providing us with terms that entertain us with their vivid imagery. Here are some more or less obscure be- words and their definitions: becloud: to obscure or muddle bedaub: to excessively ornament or anoint bedazzle: to enchant bedeck: to fancily clothe or decorate bedevil: to annoy bedew: to moisten bedight: to equip or adorn bedim: to obscure, or to reduce light bedizen: to adorn or dress in a tacky manner bedraggle: to drench befit: to be appropriate for befool: to delude or trick begrime: to make dirty begrudge: to give reluctantly beguile: to seduce behoove: to be appropriate bejewel: to adorn with jewelry belabor: to emphasize unnecessarily belaud: to fulsomely praise belay: to stop or hold off from beleaguer: to trouble or bother belie: to falsely imply, to reveal something as false, or to contradict bemire: to expose to or engulf in mud bemock: to ridicule benight: overcome by literal or figurative darkness benumb: to deprive of sensation bepuzzle: to confuse bequeath: to leave an inheritance (the noun form is bequest) bereave: to deprive (one so treated is bereft) beseech: to beg (the past tense is besought) beseem: to be fitting or suitable beset: to attack, harass, or surround besmear: to stain or obscure, or to defame besmirch: see besmear besort: to fit or become (also a noun meaning â€Å"appropriate associate†) besot: to infatuate or muddle besoul: to endow with a soul bespatter: to splash bespeak: to claim, request, address, or identify besprinkle: to scatter or disperse bestir: to rouse bestow: to put to use or in place, or to convey a gift bestrew: see besprinkle betake: to commit, or cause to act bethink: to recall, or to cause to consider betroth: to promise to marry, or to give in marriage bewhisker: to provide with whiskers (or, as bewhiskered, to have whiskers) bewhore: to corrupt sexually, or to characterize as a whore bewig: to place a wig on bewray: to betray Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Definitely use "the" or "a"35 Genres and Other Varieties of FictionCaptain vs. Master

Cheim weizmann Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cheim weizmann - Term Paper Example Weizman’s special talent in chemistry got revealed when he went to Germany and got admitted at the Polytechnic Institute of Darmstadt. Later he went to Switzerland and became a part of the University of Freiburg. The man who later displayed a successful political career was primarily engrossed with his studies at the earlier part of his life. Weizmann was awarded the doctorate in Chemistry in 1899 and two years later joined university of Geneva as an assistant lecturer. His excellence in chemistry was doing wonders in his career as in three years of time he joined University of Manchester as a senior lecturer. In personal life Chaim Weizmann was married to Vera Weizmann and the loving couple had two sons. Tragedy struck the Weizmann family when their younger son who was by profession a pilot of a fighter plane was shot down while flying and succumbed to the accident (Krane). Before discussing the political career of this great achiever, it is worth providing little more attent ion towards Weizmann the chemist. As mentioned earlier that he has moved to University of Manchester as a senior lecturer in chemistry in 1904. In 1910 he took British nationality and being a part of the Manchester University discovered how bacterial fermentation can be used to desired level to produce the determined level of similar substances. Weizmann is highly regarded as the father of industrial fermentation. The Weizmann organism or Clostridium acetobutylicum bacteria produced acetone within laboratory framework that later became important fuelling Allied war efforts (Dixon, 53). If he had contributed through the commercial production of acetone during the First World War, during the Second he got busy with synthetic rubber and high octane gasoline. Weizmann was highly regarded in England as one of the forefront chemists of his time and both during the First and Second Great War adorned with honorary posts to the British Military. Chaim Weizmann no doubt was an active chemist who had extended his helping hands towards the allied force during the First and Second Great War; yet at heart he was a strong believer in peace and considered science as the harbinger of the same â€Å"I feel sure that science will bring to this land both peace and a renewal of its youth, creating here the springs of a new spiritual and material life. And here I speak of science for its own sake and applied science.† (Spender 4) The academic and political career of this great soul ran on simultaneous track. While in Manchester he became a prominent Zionist leader and a regular attendee at the Zionist conferences. Weizmann is credited to have convinced the then British foreign minister Balfour (Balfour Declaration) on setting a Jewish homeland at Palestine, which was the long cherished Zionist demand. The man who later became the first President of Israel visited Palestine for the first time in 1907 (Isseroff). Though he was one of the founding members of the Palestine Land Development Company yet his inherent leadership and upright nature gets reflected through these words â€Å"A state cannot be created by decree but by the forces of a people and in the course of generations. Even if all the governments of the world gave us a country it would only be a gift of words. But if the Jewish people will go and build Palestine, the Jewish State will become a reality—a fact.† (Weizmann and Litvinoff, 301) Weizmann like a true leader had also tried to maintain a

Information Security analysis Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 21750 words

Information Security analysis - Dissertation Example The researcher states that of the 124 organizations involved in the present study, majority are public sector organizations from the education sector with a size of more than 1000 employees which have been in operation for more than three decades. Majority of the organizations have IT departments and employs at least one person knowledgeable about information security. Majority of the IT department staff in the respective organizations hold bachelor degrees, working in non-technical tasks, and whose working experience in the IT field is in the range of one to five years. The knowledge level of employees working with information security in the respective organizations is neutral (neither poor nor good) broken down as follows: security management, neither poor nor good; access control, neither poor nor good; cryptography, poor; security models and architecture, neither poor nor good; telecommunications and networking, good; applications and system development, neither poor nor good; b usiness continuity, neither poor nor good; law investigations and ethics, neither poor nor good; physical security, neither poor nor good; and operations security, neither poor nor good. Given that the knowledge level of IT staff among the organization is mediocre (not poor, but not good either), majority of them either have no plans to acquire certifications in security or have plans but specified no definite time frame. As to information security, majority of the 124 organizations do not apply any information security standards and this majority is undecided whether or not to apply InfoSec standards in the future. ... 5 Health Services 10 8.1 8.1 72.6 Food & Agriculture 4 3.2 3.2 75.8 Transportation 4 3.2 3.2 79.0 Electricity 3 2.4 2.4 81.5 Water 3 2.4 2.4 83.9 Foreign Affairs Sector 1 .8 .8 84.7 Labour Sector 2 1.6 1.6 86.3 Tourism 4 3.2 3.2 89.5 Social Affairs Sector 4 3.2 3.2 92.7 Justice Sector 2 1.6 1.6 94.4 Islamic Affairs Sector 2 1.6 1.6 96.0 Media Sector 5 4.0 4.0 100.0 Total 124 100.0 100.0 As shown in Table 2, organizations from the education, military, trading and contracting, and banking and finance sectors represent 23.4%, 10.5%, 10.5%, and 8.9% of the total number organizations considered in the study, respectively. Cumulatively, the aforementioned figures represent 53.3% of the total. The Embassy of Switzerland (2011) identified the following major sectors in Saudi Arabia: oil and gas, financial services, engineering and construction, medical equipment and healthcare, insurance, transport, electrical power systems, water resources equipment, telecommunication, food and beverage, an d education. Table 3 shows the frequency and percentage distribution of the 124 organization when they are grouped with respect to size. The organizations were categorized into five groups: 1 to 50 employees, 51 to 100 employees, 101 to 500 employees, 501 to 1000 employees, and more than 1000 employees. Table 3. Distribution of organizations according to size. Size of your organization Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 1 - 50 Employees 17 13.7 13.7 13.7 51 – 100 Employees 25 20.2 20.2 33.9 101 – 500 Employees 27 21.8 21.8 55.6 501 - 1000 Employees 11 8.9 8.9 64.5 More than 1000 Employees 44 35.5 35.5 100.0 Total 124 100.0 100.0 It may be gleaned from Table 3 that 44 out of 124 organizations or more than one third of the organizations considered in the present

Magnetite Biomineralization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Magnetite Biomineralization - Research Paper Example nt study showed that most human brain tissues had a least five million single domain crystals per gram and in excess of 100 million crystals per for dura and pia. The crystals were in clumps of 50-100 particles. During biologically controlled mineralization of magnetite the organism makes use of cell activities to control the nucleation, growth, final place of deposit, and the morphology of the mineral. The process of biomineralization of magnetite commonly occurs in an isolated environment. The nucleation and growth of biominerals is dependent on the existence of a localized zone that enjoys and maintains adequate supersaturation. The two phases of iron that commonly feature in the process of magnetite biomineralization in bacteria are ferrihydrite and magnetite. In bacteria, magnetosome organelle is responsible for producing magnetite. The organelle is basically a biomineralized greigite or magnetite. Magnetite Fe3O4 is a naturally occurring mineral. Scientists note that the mineral is one of the most magnetic minerals that naturally occur on earth. Research has shown that magnetite does not only occur naturally on the earth, it is also found in animal tissues. Indeed scientists note that almost all groups of organisms form one form or another of biominerals. Some of the organisms that have been found to precipitate magnetite include arthropods, chordates, and mollusks. Recent studies show that biominerals are found in humans such as in bones and teeth. The precipitation of magnetite in living organisms occurs through the biomineralisation process. This paper will discuss Magnetite biomineralization in light of its chemistry, occurrence, and crystallography among other issues. Biomineralisation or biologically regulated mineralization is basically the process through which living organisms produce minerals according to Kirschvink and Hagadorn (2000). Weiner and Dove (2013) note that biomineral products are composites that comprise both organic and mineral

Managing Organisations in a Global Context. Chevron Corporation Essay

Managing Organisations in a Global Context. Chevron Corporation - Essay Example Global scale of its operations, scarcity of skilled workforce, and a highly competitive commodity based business makes Chevron highly vulnerable to the external environment. For Chevron to retain its market leadership in a competitive global knowledge-based economy, it has to depend on efficient knowledge exchange between its operations groups (customer facing) and the technology center staff (responsible for technology and support). Therefore, it is important for Chevron to actively engage in knowledge management activities to increase operational efficiencies and overall cost-advantages. The report analyses the structure, organizational culture and leadership of Chevron to study its internal capabilities. Chevron has a decentralized organizational structure that poses both a threat and advantage to implement necessary changes for knowledge sharing and team collaboration. The principles of â€Å"The Chevron Way† that acts as a learning tool to communicate and reinforce the va lues and goals of Chevron is a key artifact for its team and learning-based organization culture. Chevron leader ­ship has been instrumental in driving key initiatives as best practice sharing, operational efficiency management system and benchmarking wrt industry practices. The key issues that are important to be addressed for Chevron’s long-term future are low-cost competition from state-owned oil companies, global communication challenge regarding environmental concerns and its existing decentralized structure. Introduction The financial crisis of 2008 highlighted once again two key lessons for organizations all over the world: firstly, that organization cannot operate in vacuum and is not invulnerable to what is happening in the external environment and secondly, the world is so interconnected that positive and negative effects in organizations can have ripple effects across the globe in a matter of minutes. External environment comprises of factors such as administrati ve and legal (international, non-governmental policies and regulations, legislatures and legal frameworks), technology (innovations, research and development), politics (government support and political systems in the geographical region), economics (inflation, labour laws, opportunity costs, currency restrictions etc.), society and culture at local, national and regional levels and stakeholders (Harrison, 1970). There are evident examples of organizations that have been deeply impacted due to pressures of the external environment such as Kodak at the advent of disruptive innovation in digital imaging (Forbes, 2008), Lehman Brothers bankruptcy due to 2008 global financial crisis (Investopedia, 2009) etc. Globalization has transformed contemporary business environment into a knowledge-based economy that makes organizations even more vulnerable to changes. Oil and Gas companies are no exceptions to this turbulent environment. The relevance of geopolitical tensions, environmental consi derations, oil economics and market dynamics make them complex entities to operate. They deal with a number of complex tasks, which reason the necessity of knowledge management system in the oil and gas organizations. Globalization, innovative technologies, outsourcing and offshoring, new joint ventures, government regulations and scarcity of experienced personnel have amplified the need to share and mobilize knowledge, expertise and best practices across multi-national organizations to retain their competitive advantage (Leavitt, 2002). This report addresses the above factors in case of CHEVRON Corporation, and

Englands involvement in the Enlightenment and its affect on the Research Paper

Englands involvement in the Enlightenment and its affect on the Constitution - Research Paper Example This revolution aimed at achieving high levels of tolerance and inclusiveness, (Mason p 40). The movement was sparked by Baruch Spinoza, Pierre Bayle, John Locke and Isaac Newton in 1600-1700. The movement flourished until the rise of romanticism which put more emphasis on emotion. From that moment, the anti-Enlightment gathered momentum but then the 18th century, (Apetrei 2010). John Locke was one of the most influential thinkers in England under this movement. He influenced many other thinkers such us Voltaire among others. He defined property as a natural right derived from labor, (Mason p10). Using this, he came up with a slogan life, liberty and property, (Apetrei p201). The Great Britain customized its own Enlightment, (Mason p201). The Protestants in England sought to express themselves in ways that kept on widening the freedom of speech and the media at large. Unitarians and Quakers who were radical opened new levels of open communication that caused Voltaire to imagine they were congenial. This happened when he was in exile there, (Kors 1987). England was able to experience the revolution and, therefore it proceeded with smoothness to the path of democracy. This smooth road to democracy in England proved to be a dynamite in the France because of the resistance from the church and state was strong, (Mason p210). This gave rise to a revolution in France. The irony is that, England maintained a society that was full of class advantages and privileges and pious. With time, the power of religion slowly decreased in England. In France, it was radically removed, (Apetrei p10). In 1780, the debating groups or societies began to grow rapidly in London, (Kors p87). This was the immediate impact of the Enlightment movement. Prior to that, the society was dictated by superstitions and a blind following of the state’s policies and culture, (Kors 1987). The levels of indolence were high, with the church and the state leading affairs through emotion and force. Groups of fifty or more people, men especially, met to discuss issues of the state, (Mason p210). Law students also set up mooting clubs to practice rhetoric and openly discuss issues that affect their lives and the lives of the other citizens. There was the birth of the spouting groups and clubs, (Mason p110). These helped actors in training for theatrical roles, (Apetrei p110). This gave way for citizens to express their sentiments through theatre and art, (Mason 2010). The laws students could openly challenge the government policies, and compared their government with other governments and constitutions. Outrageous sermons were made, which were open and free as more Protestants sought for space to express their opinions, (Mason 2010). This gave birth to the rise of human rights. People were beginning to be convinced that they are entitled to some basic values and standard by the estate, (Kors 1987). England in particular was notorious for having different classed of people of di fferent status. These classes had different privileges-based access to power and perception, (Mason 2010). The aim was to make the society embrace decency and order. It also sought to make people more liberal than they were. Debating societies welcomed up to 1200 people a night who were willing to share ordinary issues that affected their lives, (Apetrei p210). Besides, the groups

Managing Organisations in a Global Context. Chevron Corporation Essay

Managing Organisations in a Global Context. Chevron Corporation - Essay Example Global scale of its operations, scarcity of skilled workforce, and a highly competitive commodity based business makes Chevron highly vulnerable to the external environment. For Chevron to retain its market leadership in a competitive global knowledge-based economy, it has to depend on efficient knowledge exchange between its operations groups (customer facing) and the technology center staff (responsible for technology and support). Therefore, it is important for Chevron to actively engage in knowledge management activities to increase operational efficiencies and overall cost-advantages. The report analyses the structure, organizational culture and leadership of Chevron to study its internal capabilities. Chevron has a decentralized organizational structure that poses both a threat and advantage to implement necessary changes for knowledge sharing and team collaboration. The principles of â€Å"The Chevron Way† that acts as a learning tool to communicate and reinforce the va lues and goals of Chevron is a key artifact for its team and learning-based organization culture. Chevron leader ­ship has been instrumental in driving key initiatives as best practice sharing, operational efficiency management system and benchmarking wrt industry practices. The key issues that are important to be addressed for Chevron’s long-term future are low-cost competition from state-owned oil companies, global communication challenge regarding environmental concerns and its existing decentralized structure. Introduction The financial crisis of 2008 highlighted once again two key lessons for organizations all over the world: firstly, that organization cannot operate in vacuum and is not invulnerable to what is happening in the external environment and secondly, the world is so interconnected that positive and negative effects in organizations can have ripple effects across the globe in a matter of minutes. External environment comprises of factors such as administrati ve and legal (international, non-governmental policies and regulations, legislatures and legal frameworks), technology (innovations, research and development), politics (government support and political systems in the geographical region), economics (inflation, labour laws, opportunity costs, currency restrictions etc.), society and culture at local, national and regional levels and stakeholders (Harrison, 1970). There are evident examples of organizations that have been deeply impacted due to pressures of the external environment such as Kodak at the advent of disruptive innovation in digital imaging (Forbes, 2008), Lehman Brothers bankruptcy due to 2008 global financial crisis (Investopedia, 2009) etc. Globalization has transformed contemporary business environment into a knowledge-based economy that makes organizations even more vulnerable to changes. Oil and Gas companies are no exceptions to this turbulent environment. The relevance of geopolitical tensions, environmental consi derations, oil economics and market dynamics make them complex entities to operate. They deal with a number of complex tasks, which reason the necessity of knowledge management system in the oil and gas organizations. Globalization, innovative technologies, outsourcing and offshoring, new joint ventures, government regulations and scarcity of experienced personnel have amplified the need to share and mobilize knowledge, expertise and best practices across multi-national organizations to retain their competitive advantage (Leavitt, 2002). This report addresses the above factors in case of CHEVRON Corporation, and

Sustainability Contents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sustainability Contents - Essay Example The fast rate at which business dynamics are changing, given the emergence of new opportunities at every turn should ensure that this field remains in high demand. The rate of growth being witnessed in many new fields as clean energy technology, among others, should ensure the growth security of this sector. The discussion we had after your school career day gave us an insight on your interest in the business world, especially your affinity for piloting projects and providing solutions for roadblocks faced in the completion of these projects. This is a rare yearning, which should see you aim to make your enthusiasm available to corporations and other organizations. After making us aware that you were pursuing a bachelors of Arts degree in Management of technology, in business, we agreed that the best options this gave you were either project consultancy, or project management. Project management involves the planning and facilitation of projects with a goal of completing the job with in the budget within a stipulated time (Schmidt, 2009). As a project consultant, you would be required to provide information to project teams of cross-functional nature on how to implement company directives, while also offering management and leadership services during this implementation (Wysocki, 2011). Purpose, Scope and Limitations of the Report This report aims to delve into the striking divergence and convergence of responsibilities and duties associated with project management and consultancy. It also aims to provide you with recommendations as pertains to your career choice. In order for you to make the most favorable career choice that suits your talents and desires, this report will focus on offering you detailed information on the various dynamics involved in both career choices. Our focus will be on the academic requirements, duties and responsibilities of both careers, remuneration packages associated with the same careers, job outlook in the future, and prevalent wor king conditions. Our research also revealed that academic qualifications and hard-earned experience are, but only a part of the requirements needed in today’s cutthroat business world, especially in your preferred field of project management and project consultancy (Ferraro, 2012). There are factors that are weightier on the minds of corporations and organizations when hiring in these fields. Over the years, with experience and understanding of the industry, other certifications not covered in the bachelor’s degree curriculum are becoming vital and almost staple in the qualifications for consideration when hiring in this industry (Firm, 2004). This report aims to furnish you with some distinct qualifications that will bring you on a level field with the rest of the field, while also maintaining your competitive edge in the field. We will also aim at providing clients with ideas on how to maintain your competitiveness once established in industry circles. When concludin g this report, we will also give clients our pieces of advice based on our advice, and the information that you gave us during our discussion. This report, however, might not be adequate if you are interested in finding more information about how these fields’ of project management and project consultant relate to other sections, and departmental divisions in the various companies. This is because it will derail us from the topic of discussion, and we might spend more time focusing on inter-departmental relations rather than the dynamics of your career of choice. Since

Errors, Uncertainties, and Measurements Essay Example for Free

Errors, Uncertainties, and Measurements Essay Measurements are all subject to error which leads to the uncertainty of the result. Errors may come from systematic errors (deterministic error) or random error (not deterministic error). In this experiment, the group measured the diameter of sphere using different kinds of measuring devices (foot rule, vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper) in order to achieve accuracy in the scientific measurements. After experimenting, it was revealed that the micrometer caliper has the lowest percentage of error. 1. Introduction In the early days, people used mostly human body parts for measuring. And because the measurement depended on the body size and length of the person measuring, it often leads to varying measurements which leads to inaccuracy and errors in the measurements. In the following years, a better system of units of measurement was developed – the metric system. The metric system is an international decimalized system of measurement, first adopted in France in 1791. Numerous measuring instruments have this system of measurement. Aside from meter sticks and ruler, the vernier caliper and micrometer caliper also use this system. The vernier caliper is a measuring device which takes advantage of a vernier scale, a scale used to provide very precise measurements. The vernier adds an extra digit of accuracy to any measurement, allowing it to be highly accurate. Like other calipers, a vernier caliper has an L-shaped design with a movable arm which can be adjusted to allow the object being measured to fit between the arms, and a measurement to be taken. It has two scales – main scale and vernier scale. The main scale is fixed while the vernier scale can slide along the main scale as the movable arm is shifted. Measurements are taken by looking for the mark on the main scale which is just to the left of the zero on the vernier caliper for the first measurement, and then looking to see which mark on the vernier caliper comes most closely into alignment with a mark in the main scale. Micrometer caliper is a calibrated screw device for finding exact measurements in which an object to be measured is to be enclosed between two jaws, one fixed while the other movable by means of a fine screw. When the jaws are just touching the object, the distance between the jaws can be read on an associated scale, ofteh to an accuracy of 10 -4. It uses the principle of a screw to amplify small distances that are too small to measure directly into large rotations of the screw that are big enough to read from a scale. Most micrometers have their readout right on the handle of the instrument. This experiment aims to achieve the following objectives: (1) to study errors and how they propagate in simple experiment, (2) to determine the averge deviation of a set of experimental values, (3) to determine the mean of a set of experimental values as well as set of average deviation of the mean (4) to familiarize the students with the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, and foot rule, (5) to compare the accuracy of these measuring devices, (6) and to detemine the density of an object given its mass and dimensions. 2. Theory Significant figures are very essential in science. Each recorded measurement has a certain number of significant digits. Calculations done on these measurements must follow the rules for significant digits. The significance of a digit has to do with whether it represents a true measurement or not. Any digit that is actually measured or estimated will be considered significant. Placeholders or digits that have not been measured are not considered significant. There are rules in determining the significance of a digit. First, digits from 1-9 are always significant. Second, zeroes between two other significant digits are always significant. Also, one or more additional zeroes to the right of both the decimal place and another significant digit are significant. Lastly, zeroes used solely for spacing the decimal point are not significant. Least count of any precision instrument is defined as the least distance travelled by it. For a micrometer it is measured in the following manner. Least count (L.C) of a screw gauge = Pitch/ Number of circular scale division. Pitch and Number of circular scale divisions are the two factors determining the least count of Micrometer. 3. Methodology In measuring the diameter of the sphere provided, the group was given three measuring devices. To determine the average deviation and mean of a set of experimental values as well as the diameter of the sphere, the group was given the three measuring tools to study the measurement and its errors. First, the group determined the least count of the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper and the foot rule then we made ten measurements for the diameter of the sphere using the foot rule. After completing the ten measurements, the group then calculated the mean diameter of the sphere by adding all the independent measurements and divided it to 10. Next, the group calculated the deviation (d) of each measurement of diameter from the mean diameter. After getting the deviation of each measurement, the group calculated for the average deviation (a.d). The average deviation is the sum of the deviations (d) divided by the number (n) of observations.

Exploring Sport Opportunities for Disabled

Exploring Sport Opportunities for Disabled Exploring sport opportunities for young athletes with different abilities Abstract The aim of the study is to develop a new terminology from the negative term of â€Å"disability† and to try and hava an inclusive system during physical activities in schools. In addition is tries to highlight the importance of having more inclusive sport opportunities for everyone and to improve the self-esteem of people with different abilities. In Malta few athletes with different abilities have the opportunity to be included into sport activities. In schools there is not much time allocated for persons with disability both during physical education lessons and also during break time. As the athlete with different abilities starts thinking seriously of sport activities he encounters a lot of mishaps primarily the over-protection from parents and organisers. In addition he also faces the disadvantage of the lack of sport opportunities for him. This reason led the researcher to investigate what is really going on, both during childhood when it comes to school activities i.e. physical education lessons, and at later later stage during adolescence and adulthood when it comes to sport opportunities offered by society. This study is made up of five chapters which start from the history and defenition of disability and ends up with the guidelines to a way forward. Introduction The aims of the study are: To try and transit from a terminology that might sound negative â€Å"disability† to a better word â€Å"Different abilities† To try and have an inclusive system during physical education in both primary and secondary schools To have more sport opportunities which include everyone both for leisure and also on a professional level To strengthen the self-esteem of persons with different abilities The study is made up of five chapters. Chapter 2 tackles the history of disability and sports. An overview of the study background and key terms used within the study investigation are also provided. Chapter 2 gives an overview of some basic terms and general knowledge related to disability and sports which give a better understanding of the aims of the study. An evaulation and illustrations from experts regarding sport and disability sectors also follow. Chapter 3 investigates the approach taken and the processes involved in achieving the dissertation objectives. Details of the sources used as well as a description of the method used to collect the primary and secondary research data are also provided. The study concludes with an evaluation of the achieved results in the previous section. The conclusions derived state the opportunities available and what can be really done to enhance further inclusion into sport for persons with different abilities, compared to the literature review findings. A study critique concludes the dissertation. CHAPTER TWO: History of disability 1.0 Introduction 1.1 History People with different abilities better known in society as people with a disability have always been in existence. For many different reasons they have become more present in the twenty first century than before. About ten percent of the population is considered to have different abilities and the parliament directives of the late twentieth century improved the accessibility and availability of services and facilities for this group which is considered to be the largest minority group in society. This resulted in more individuals with different abilities going along more easily with their daily living. These people are being more recognized in society even in sport. Athletes with different abilities have been participating since at least the last hundred years. However it has only been from recent times that these athletes started receiving the appreciation that they merit and have also been recognized as athletes. The roots of the link between sport and disability to disability sport started primarily during the 20th century and developed into a new movement. This movement has developed up to the point so as to include the complexity of its members and also restructuring of its aims and visibility. Athletic opportunities have expanded so as to have individual accomplishments of athletes with different abilities. These overlooked and unseen sportspersons are gaining increased recognition firstly as athletes and above all as humans with different abilities. Exceptional performances by top athletes with different abilities are purely seconds or tenths of seconds behind those of top able-bodied athletes, in sport disciplines like downhill skiing and swimming. Athletes with bi-lateral leg amputations finished a hundred metre race in 10.85 seconds and others with less severe impairments finished in even less time. A top male wheelchair athlete finishedd a marathon at an average of 3.5 minutes per mile and managed to complete marathons in almost ninety minutes or less, while a female wheelchair athlete did the same marathon in an hour and forty nine minutes. 1.2 Definition of Disability The terms functioning and disability must be defined clearly in order to understand the interrelationship between functioning and disability. The term â€Å"functioning† describes the functions and structures of the body. It helps to grasp an individual’s interaction with a health condition and the environmental and personal contexts. Disability is viewed as the result of the interaction between individual functioning and the environment when linked with a health condition. The level of difficulty is highly dependent on the degree of functional autonomy and independence of persons living with disabilities, be they sensory, physical or mental. Accordingly, functionality is defined as the ability to perform those activities necessary to achieve well-being through interaction between the biological, the psychological (cognitive and affective) and the social spheres (Sanhueza Parra, 2005), and whose loss entails the risk of disability and dependence. Care thus avoids what M orris (2001) terms the social construct of dependence, which negates the individual. For people with disabilities, respecting their right to care gives them access to assistance from others and to essential technical aids, and a physical and social environment that is adapted to their particular impairment. Following the environmental approach taken by WHO, functional autonomy may therefore be defined as the ability to perform functions related to daily life, such as those activities necessary to achieve well-being through appropriate interaction between the biological, the psychological (cognitive and affective) and the social. This enables the individual to live in the community with little or no help from others, albeit with assistive technology. (United Nations, 2012 pg 183) Very often, lay and, sometimes, professional people do not seem to make a distinction between such terms as Impairments, Dis-abilities, Handicaps. These are often taken to mean one and the same thing. But this is wrong. The World Health Organisation, in 1980, published a manual titled International Clasification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps, whereby, three distinct and independent were proposed, each relating to a different plane experience. †¦ Disability is â€Å"any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being†. It represents objectification of an impairment and, as such, reflects disturbance at the level of the person. †¦ Disability is concerned with abilities in the form of activities and behaviour a person`s body is expected to carry out as essential components of every day life, such as represented by tasks, skills, and behaviour. Disability signifies a departure from the normal in so far as the performance of the individual is concerned as opposed to that of the organ or mechanism. ( Troisi, 1992 pg 3 4) CHAPTER THREE:  LITERATURE REVIEW Young people are often seen as challenges to most people in society. This is exactly what the article â€Å"Positive Youth Development through Sport† edited by Nicholas L. Holt declares. According to Holt speaking from the perspective of Positive Youth Development (PYD), argues that young people are frequently pointed out as problems in society waiting to be solved. However young people are understood to embody potential, awaiting development. Holt points out that sport itself provides a developmental context that has been associated with PYD, but sport on its own does not lead to PYD. In fact he points out that in some environments there are instances when negative outcomes arise from sport participation. Thus it is the manner in which sport is structured and delivered to children that influences their development. Nicholas Holt quotes Larson and expresses that, organized activities can provide youth with opportunities to experience positive development. He states that sport is the most popular organized activity into which youth engage (Larson and Verma 1999). Both theory and research point out the importance of structural out-of-school-time (OST) activities as important assets in the positive development of youth (Mahoney et al. 2005). Holt in his article says that youth participation in organized sports has been linked to indicators of adolescent’s physical, social, psychological, and achievement related behaviour and development. Researchers (Barber et al. 2001: Eccles et al. 2003) found that, in comparison to non-participants, youth who participate in sport enjoyed attending school more, received more frequent educational and occupational support, had higher academic performance, longer periods of tertiary education by age 25, and attained a job at age 24 that offered autonomy and a promising future. Although there where diverse research findings regarding the relationsip of sport participation and alcohol use, some found a relationship between sport participation and a lower level of alcohol use (Peretti-Watel et al 2003). Other findings indicated a positive relationship between sport participation and alcohol use. Sport participation has also been consistently linked to a lower use of cigarettes, mariju ana, cocaine, and ‘other drugs’ (Page et al 1998). Furthermore it was also related to lower rates of depression and lower incidence of suicidal behaviour. Researchers and youth advocates have proposed important benefits of sports involvement. However, to date, little research has accounted for the dynamic ways in which youth spend their free time. A book entitled No one`s perfect, tells the story of a Japanese Boy who despite being born without arms and limbs he managed to do it his way into sport. This Japanese little boy, named Ototake, came home from school one day and told his parents he had signed up to play basketball. In contrary to other parents who would be delighted to such a request, they where shocked. Oto was born with no arms and no legs. Despite his disability, this extraordinary young man has always proven a hard-worker, rich in versatility and with an upbeat approach to life. This positivity served him as valuable as limbs. No Ones Perfect is his true account of how he slam-dunked one challenge after another, including basketball. Ototake says that thanks to having short arms and legs plus a wheelchair, he was a winner in the popularity department. He found himself always the centre of a circle of friends. With time the typical willfulness of an only child began to kick in. Ototake maintains that at first break time, when everyone would be playing tag in the playground, or physical education lessons, were dead boring for him since with his power wheelchair he could not keep up with his friends. Thus he usually yelled for them to come and play with him: â€Å"If you want to play in the sandbox, follow me!† Strangely enough, the kids who had been happily chasing one another a short while before would all troop after the wheelchair to the sandbox. Ototake highlights that looking back to school days, most people with disabilities admit that recess was the worst part of their day. This is that particular time when ordinary children, unless they are real bookworms, would enjoy. The main reason is that for disabled kids the forty five to fifty minutes of a class period pass quickly enough while they sit quietly in their seat, but during breaks, when they can`t join in the fun their classmates, they feel greater sense of isolation so they can`t wait for recess to be over.

Euthanasia :: Free Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia A considerable portion of society supports euthanasia an instrument of preserving dignity in the terminally ill, bringing peace to the incurable, and closure to their families. Some Americans believe to maintain the democratic values upon which the Unites States stands in balance, they must possess the right to determine the applicable time to end a person’s life.(Chapman 209) The more widely help opinion comes in the form of opposition. The majority strikes out against euthanasia, targeting it as an instrument of the divine, a tool that humans, above democratic values and inalienable rights, dare not employ themselves lest they suffer the wrath of imposing on Almighty God. The human race as a whole must wipe their eyes of their own naà ¯vetà ©. Humans cannot play God. Encroaching on God’s proverbial territory would usurp divine function and interfere with divine plan. (Maguire 132) From Greek words meaning â€Å"good† and â€Å"death†, euthanasia is commonly referred to as mercy killing or physician assisted suicide.(Brody 75) The argument deals with the question of whether licensed physicians have the right to play a role in mercy killing. Indirectly executed and therefore viewed by and large with a lesser face of malcontent, a â€Å"Do Not Resuscitate† order, or DNR, refers to refraining from heroic measures to keep someone alive. In other words, a doctor may withhold treatment to let a person die naturally. Opposition arises in the form of protesters and activists, defrauding and doctor’s right to play God in trauma rooms and on operating tables. Unfortunately, courts and moral theorists ha long accepted the proposition that people have the right to refuse medical treatment they find painful or difficult to bear, even if that refusal means certain death. (Walter 176) A growing concern over medical costs questions family’s ability to make rational decisions as responsible caregivers. The cost of a dose of barbiturates and curare and the few hours in a hospital bed that it takes them to act is minute compared to the massive bills incurred by many patients in the last weeks and months of their lives. Legalizing euthanasia would render substantial monetary resources that could be used by the families or by the healthcare provider for more practical treatments. (Friedman 116) Permitting money to influence human life is overtly immoral, but nevertheless pressures the acceptance of euthanasia. If legalize, the natural evolution of policy and procedure would see growth in the category of patients for whom euthanasia is permitted.

The History Behind Beowulf :: Literature German Essays

The History Behind Beowulf Main Beowulf and Warfare Scop;Bede characters links bibliography Out of the 30,000 lines of literature left from the Anglo-Saxon period, almost 4,000 lines are preserved in the text of Beowulf, the epic poem of the hero with the strength of 30 men in each arm. It is a story of the supernatural as well as a record of Anglo-Saxon history. Because there was little literacy and few books in Medieval England, scops were the key to recording history. They upheld the history of England since the very beginning, along with the ancestry of her first settlers. Beowulf takes place in 6th century Denmark and Sweden. The Geats (Beowulf's tribe) inhabited the southern part of Sweden) and Hrothgar and his glorious mead-hall Heorot were from the Danish island, Sjaelland. Some historical digressions in the epic poem take place in other parts of Sweden, but also Denmark, Germany, Poland and "the Low Countries." The first part of Beowulf takes place in Heorot, King Hrothgar's glorious mead hall. At the time this poem took place, research proves that the Danes held their throne on Sjaelland Island at Lejre. Archeologists who have worked there have discovered a number of magnificent halls that were built around the 500s and onward, any of which could have been Heorot. Although there is no knowledge that Beowulf was a true man, there is certainly a great deal of Germanic history incorporated in the poem. Whether Beowulf was real or not, his character fit seamlessly into the context of his society and family tree. Many of the characters were real: The Geat king, Hygelac, Hrothgar, Ongentheow, Haethcyn, Onela and Heardred. Also, the Ravenswood battle which took place in 510AD is true. The Composition of the Poem Although, much that is written about the creation of the story of Beowulf is speculation, it is known that the only manuscript that remains is from circa 1000AD. Although this work is venerated today, in Medieval England, it was viewed in much different light. Monster stories were quite common at that time; along with Beowulf, several prose works with supernatural characters were compiled in the manuscript. Also a poem "Judith" was found. The author of Beowulf is a mystery, as most poets of the Anglo-Saxon period are. He might have been a court poet, or a monastic poet. Depending on the Christian interpretation of the poem, it could be either.

Nodding Ethics of Care and the Four Standard Essay

Ethics is a study of human conduct in relation to his moral principles. These moral principles may be regarded as the behavior or conducts that human psychology has adopted or the way on which the obligations and specific duties of the society demands from its members. (Carol, 1982) The ethics of care is an ethical theory that to talk about what makes an action right or wrong. These theories were developed by feminists during the late 20th century. According to these theories, while the deontological and consequentiality theories emphasize on the importance of universal importability, ethics on the other hand emphasize on the importance of relationship. (Bartky, 1990) Nel Noddings Nel Nodding was an American feminist and educationist who was famously known for her work in philosophy, ethical care as well as her educational theories. She emphasized on the basics of ethical theories and their recognition. (Sarah, 1990) She was in much advocacy of the independence of people in achieving their interest and those that are vulnerable to our choices as well as their outcomes needs extra consideration and would be determined by measuring through 1) the level of the vulnerability depending to one’s choice and 2) how much it would affect one’s choice The most important reason for this theory is safeguarding and promoting one’s interest. (Dewey, 1993) Reference: Bartky, S. 1990: Femininity and Domination, page 104-5. Routledge, New York Carol, G, 1982: â€Å"In a Different Voice: Psychological theory and women’s development. † Cambridge, Harvard University Press Dewey, J. 1993: Educating for Intelligent Belief or Unbelief. New York: Teachers College Press Sarah, L. 1990 ‘Some Concerns about Nel Noddings’ Caring’. Hypatia 5 (1),

Colorism: Black People and Skin Color

Growing up as a youth being in an interracial family, I always experienced prejudice whether it was inside my home or out on the street. My father was an African-American, his family was accepting but all could see that they praised the fact that my skin was 5-6 shades lighter than that of my other cousins. This of course caused unresolved issues, issues that couldn’t and wouldn’t be talked about among us as children, but later on became deep conversation filled with tears and understanding because we were finally able to get from under the stigma that our parents were engulfed in because their parents had subjected them to the same treatment. While on the other hand, my mother’s side of the family is Irish, German, and Indian. They despised the fact that my father was an African-American man. I would hear my mother’s mother talk badly of my father. She even went as far as not to allow my father in her home. She was the hardest on me out of all the grand children when it came to disciplining us, because my father’s skin tone was that of a black man. They also tended to favor my mother’s eldest daughter because her father wasn’t an African-American. As a child growing up I experienced both positive and negative feedback for my skin color. But I must say that it was about 85% positive when not in the presence of my mother’s mother. Note I don’t say grandmother because she was hardly ever a grandmother toward s me, just because my skin color was that of a black girl, while my cousins were mostly fair skinned. Colorism in the United States is a stigma that won’t get lifted because of what slavery has embedded in the minds of African-Americans. According to wikipedia. com, Colorism is defined as a â€Å"Black-on-Black racism, based on skin-tone. † The discrimination is based on the idea that a person's worth is directly related to the color of his or her skin, valuing lighter tones over darker tones. It's commonly known that Colorism plagued the Black community after slavery and through the early to mid-twentieth century. In the early 1900's, many black organizations, including colleges, practiced the â€Å"brown paper bag test† when accepting new members. If a person's skin was not lighter than a brown paper bag, they would be denied admittance. Though the brown paper bag test is out of date and frowned upon as a shameful moment in African-American history, the ideals behind the practice still lingers in the African-American community. Modern-day Colorism rears its ugly head in the day to day lives of African-Americans every day. This issue has affected every hue or shade of blackness within the African-American community. In â€Å"The Color Complex† by Midge Wilson, Wilson addresses the issue by tracing the origin of Colorism, â€Å"To trace the origins of the color complex, we must return to the year 1607 when three ships sailed in Chesapeake Bay, stopping at Jamestown, Virginia, to establish the first English colony in the New World†¦.. It was a new land and a new era filled with possibilities. What might have been unthinkable in Europe and Africa was an everyday occurrence in the wilderness. Miscegenation, or race mixing, became widespread as Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans mixed their seed and substance to produce a kaleidoscope of skin tones and features. But these primary race groupings differed sharply in their civil liberties and political freedoms. Subtle variations in appearance took on enormous consequence in meaning, especially among Negros,† (Wilson, pg. 9). With the emphasis of color being placed in the forefront of the black community, blacks have let this issue set the stage for ignorance for over four hundred years. The effects of these actions have trickled down into some of the most prominent black organizations that define our community and our blackness, such as the NAACP, Jack and Jill, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and etc. It is no secret that these types of organizations were created in order to create a faux safe haven for the wealth of the light-skinned mulattos. In the early years these organizations were called Blue Vein societies, because in order to quote â€Å"belong,† the test of how light you were was could you see your blue veins through your skin? And if they could, you were in. Works Cited â€Å"Colorism. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Nov 2009, 22:52 UTC. 2 Nov 2009 . Wilson, Midge, Russell Kathy. The Color Complex: The Politics of Skin Color Among African Americans. New York: Harcourt Publishers, 1992.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 192

Assignment Example Thus, designers such as Dior Homme, Raf Simons and Thom Browne started the slim-fit trend to accommodate this shift in clothing culture. Brand also played a huge role in shifting clothing customer preference. As the shift to slim-fit clothing was started by high-end fashion designers, consumers felt compelled to follow this changing trend due to the prestige and loyalty they owed to the brand. With this saw the rise in sales of slim-fit clothing in America. Being market leaders in the fashion world, other designers followed suit as competition is an essential component in coming up with a products marketing plan (Perruault, 154). Retailers and clothing wholesalers were soon in competition in marketing this new fashion trend and saw the slim-fit style being replicated across all men’s clothing, from suits to polo shirts. The result of this style shift was products being snugger to big-bodied men. Big-bodied men ended up being alienated. The consequence of this was the creation of a whole new market segment. Designers, retailers and wholesalers could produce slim-fitting products that are marketed to muscled or big-bodied consumers. Market decision making is largely influenced by the product. A marketing plan would try and differentiate a product in order to reach a larger segment of the market. Retailers such as Ralph Lauren with their Polo brand offers custom fit polo shirts which are roomier amid their array of slim-fit polo shirts. Most retailers are currently trying to produce clothing that is slim-fitting but roomy. The market movement by large retailers and wholesalers indicates the potential growth in sales they can experience in marketing slim-fit clothing to big-bodied consumers. The  efforts of these retailers to offer slim-fit clothing options may be hampered by efforts of high-end designers such as Calvin Klein. The fashion icon has in recent years tried to bring voluminous clothes back in fashion. This

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

Globalization - Essay Example As it can be guessed from the restaurant title, it provides mostly substantial meals with a lot of meat. One more peculiar feature is that the prices in this restaurant are quite reasonable. The whole network of Beefeaters covers 141 restaurants in the country and several more in the capitals of some European countries. Each year for about 10-20 new restaurants are introduced in the UK and in the whole world. The great advantage of Beefeater is the opportunity to spend the evening in quiet surrounding, having pleasant communication at a restaurant table. Soft music follows the process of taking food and moreover clients of the restaurant have the chance to have a dance. The space in the restaurant is enough to celebrate remarkable events such as a wedding breakfast, anniversaries and so on. The restaurant interior includes both modern and classical art. The common room suggests the modern design of the interior, while the private cabins are decorated in a floral or classical style. T he specialty of the restaurant is meat cooked on grill. It is believed to be a healthy product since it contains small amount of additives, and other harmful products. On the menu there are different kinds of fish, meat and meat dishes. Beefeater represents a restaurant of the pub type. It means that people visit it not only to have a good meal but to honour the tradition of pub-visiting. Beefeater as any other business nowadays is involved in the process of globalization. â€Å"Globalisation (or globalization) describes the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of political ideas through communication, transportation, and trade (Sheila, 2004 ).† It can be said for sure that Beefeater has penetrated into the globalization process. The first thing to be mentioned is that several restaurants of the brand are located in European countries. This process has been taking place for several decades. To enter a for eign market, a company has to fix in the local market and make enough profit to carry out the market research and other procedures abroad. The restaurant Beefeater uses the domestic products while they are quickly-spoiled and cannot be transported from abroad. The design and trends are taken from the American net of restaurants. The very idea of launching the network of the same restaurants in the country belongs to the USA. This network is characterized by reasonable prices, because of the pattern that is copied in every city. With every other restaurant the expenses are reduced by a small percentage, since the organizers know the best way to save money to set up a new building. The cooks can be also referred to the process of globalization since they are invited from other countries. In order to attract even more clients the company has introduced new dishes with the international flavor in the menu. The cooks prepare Indian, Mexican and French meat at Beefeater. The thing is that in order to get employed by the company one needs perfect recommendations, a talent and accuracy. All jobs at the restaurant demand the abovementioned features. The next aspect that connects Beefeaters and globalization is the personal site of the company. On the site www.beefeater.co. one can find the company’s history, menu, services it provides and the working hours. The Internet site also made it possible to leave positive or negative comments on-line. Being on the Internet widens the

The Manifestation of Stress within an Organization Dissertation

The Manifestation of Stress within an Organization - Dissertation Example Workers who are stressed out are highly likely to be unproductive at work, have less motivation to work and will be less safe to have at work because being stressful means that there huge mood fluctuations that a person goes through and when that happens, he can take out his agitation on others and release the stress he has been building up inside him through aggression. This might destroy the work environment, thereby rendering the stress factor unsafe at work. Stress is the result of pressures from either home or work. Whatever is the source of stress, it usually cannot be helped by individuals. It is not like that stress cannot be prevented at all. It can be prevented if all the right measures are taken, especially when it comes to your workplace and the task that has been assigned. (James, 1983) When a worker feels stressed out, does he feel the urge to be absent at his workplace or does that further encourage him to go to his workplace? This is the question that this research paper focuses on. Since time immemorial, absenteeism has been a very common thing in workplaces. It also somehow makes a loophole in the office as when one person is absent; a single loop in the whole chain is missing which somehow decreases the rate at which things take place. Therefore, there is a need to find that when stress occurs, does it directly relate to being absent, not being absent and preferring to be in the workplace or it has absolutely no connection with absenteeism at all. (Jeanne, 1998)

Chiquita Brands Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chiquita Brands Inc - Research Paper Example Corporate Ethics The strategy for business ethics in Chiquita Brands was begun in 1998 when the company engaged the professional services of SmithOBrien to craft and implement a CSR policy for the company. The first comprehensive CSR report was released in 2004. (SmithOBrien website). Chiquita Brands’ corporate commitment speaks of the corporate values of integrity, respect, opportunity and responsibility as the embodiment of what they are and what they do. The company defines integrity as ethical and lawful business communicated in an open and straightforward manner (Kotler and Lee, 2005). Respect is seen as fair and respectable treatment of people. They recognize that the growth and development of their employees is the key to the company’s success. They take pride in their services and make sure that these exceed customer expectations. As much as they uphold the primacy of their customers, they recognize that their accountability is to all stakeholders, including emp loyees, suppliers, shareholders, communities and the world. (Chiquita website). At Chiquita Brands, corporate social responsibility is an integral part of their global business strategy. They make it a point to live up to the requirements of SA 8000, one of the more credible and verifiable social accountability standards (developed by Social Accountability International), by regularly including the SAI assessment in their corporate responsibility reports. Their openness on issues about their social, environmental and financial performance is highlighted in these reports. (Chiquita website). As part of their pursuit of these corporate commitments, Chiquita Brands has implemented an anti-retaliation policy to encourage the reporting or raising of concerns about potential misconduct and other ethical issues. This policy is available in six key languages to make sure it is understood by employees, contractors and vendors in most Chiquita locations. (Chiquita website). CSR Issues Involvi ng Chiquita Brands Notwithstanding the implementation of a corporate responsibility policy sometime after 1998, a number of violations or infringements resembling CSR violations have been reported and documented involving Chiquita Brands. On of these was the conviction of Chiquita Brands in 2007 by a US court of illegal financial dealing with Colombian terrorists in the form of â€Å"protection money† during the period 2001-2004. $25 Million Fine The court slapped a fine of $25 Million and five-year probation, and was required to hire a permanent compliance officer. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the fine would have been almost $100 Million, but the court rendered a much lesser penalty in consideration of Chiquita’s self-disclosure and full cooperation (Annual Report 2010). The situation in Colombia is atypical of businesses engaged in landed estates for their production, as in banana production. Where the country is under-developed and the econ omy is struggling, this would have been an ideal location to operate a wide-area plantation because of the low cost of agricultural work (Vellema, 1999). Protection Money Most such areas, however, are characterized by the presence of insurgents who are also members of the local community and who feed on instigating for peasant rights, as in Panama and the Philippines (Vellema, 1999). There is no way an organization