Organizational Theory and Behavorial Problems/Ikea

Organizational Theory and Behavioral Problems/IKEA Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA, has built a monumental business from the ground up. Through innovation and creativity, he gained valuable market share in an untapped market. By providing a great product at a great price, through exceptional customer service, IKEA has distinguished itself among some of the top international organizations. The common thread throughout the case is a patriarchal style of leadership. Although Kamprad’s style of leadership has led to the success of his business, I will assume that problems are beginning to surface and that future issues are being questioned. Through his leadership, Kamprad has taken a hands-on approach to running his organization and is involved at great lengths in the day-to-day operations of his business. Simply defined, a patriarch is â€Å"a man who rules a family, clan, or tribe†. (www. websters. com) In this case, IKEA is treated and run much like a family, clan, or tribe. Everyone is expected to have the same outlook on their position, the organization’s goals first in mind, and perform their job to benefit the organization, not the individual. The most immediate threat to IKEA is the difficulty in finding employees who will accept and adapt to IKEA’s philosophy. Job security is a tremendous issue with modern-day employees. Often, employees are more concerned with doing a mediocre job to secure their position than to take risks and be creative due to a fear of losing their job. Current economics has instilled a fear in employees that hinders creativity and the offering of suggestions and ideas. Another threat perceived by some employees as well as by some consumers is that IKEA is expanding at a rate that is difficult for them to keep up with. Stores are being established at multiple locations internationally at a rapid rate. This leads to the issue of whether or not IKEA is capable of handling this level of expansion and whether or not they have ample qualified employees to fill all vacant positions within the organization. Also, it is a growing concern that IKEA’s well-established reputation of impeccable customer service will deteriorate due to an overwhelming amount of new clients, new demand, etc. There is also the issue that employees find it difficult to follow the frugal spending procedures of IKEA when the company is making such a large profit. Kamprad personally follows the spending guidelines and expects all employees to do so as well. Employees find it difficult to â€Å"bargain shop† for supplies, travel accommodations, etc. , when the organization is making more and more money every given year. If the money is there, why not splurge a little? A final threat perceived by individuals within the IKEA organization is an inclination to believe that the organization will deteriorate when Ingvar Kamprad retires or otherwise leaves the organization. Due to the patriarchal style of leadership that Kamprad has taken, who will carry on this philosophy? Who will take over the position of motivator and promote enthusiasm and innovation once he is gone? Can anyone really take his place? Related Literature In theory, the patriarchal style of leadership that Ingvar Kamprad has taken towards running IKEA and its operations is done so in a very positive light. It is pertinent to the success of the organization to make employees aware of all the positive aspects of his leadership style. For example, Kamprad has a very humane and compassionate relationship with his employees. He views them as individuals, not as numbers, and makes every effort to personally meet each and every one of them. This type of interaction is vital if he is going to defend his leadership position. By gaining the respect, trust, and adoration of his employees, Kamprad can show those within the IKEA organization that he is truly looking out for everyone’s interests, not just his own, or just those of the IKEA organization. Finding employees who will accept and adapt to IKEA’s philosophy is probably one of the most difficult tasks faced by the organization. IKEA’s reputation and future rely on it. Considering his years in business and his standards of what a valuable employee is to Kamprad, he should target his job vacancy marketing to individuals who may fit this profile of an â€Å"ideal† employee. For example, simply placing an advertisement in the â€Å"Want Ads† of a local newspaper may draw dozens of applicants, none of which may be qualified and/or right for the job. Young, motivated, easily-trainable individuals should be targeted directly. This may be college students who are currently taking sales and marketing courses who are looking for part-time work that may eventually be promoted into leadership positions. A target may also be stay-at-home moms who are reentering the workforce, with prior sales experience. First, a target market must be determined and a more focused approach to hiring should be taken. Once employees are hired, continuous training and reinforcement of the organization’s goals and principles need to be instilled. Mandatory training is pertinent and should be in a laid-back, relaxed, and friendly atmosphere, to mimic the IKEA persona. To dispel fears of losing their jobs due to risk-taking and creative thinking, employees need to be constantly reassured and encouraged that such behaviors are not only acceptable but expected. The best way to present this point is to provide employees with examples of other employees who have taken such risks, offered their opinions, and shared their ideas. If individual employees will not consent to being â€Å"used† as an example, names can be left anonymous. However, specific details should be given. It is especially important to point out the individuals who gave their thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc. , that may have proved to be wrong or disadvantageous to the organization. The most advantageous examples would be such employees who have since been promoted, rewarded, etc. By showing current employees that ideas and suggestions that don’t succeed with flying colors are not reciprocated with negative repercussion, employees may feel more confident about speaking up. Stress should be placed on the fact that the employees who have showed the most creativity and offered the most suggestions, creative criticisms, etc. , are the ones who hold the top management positions within IKEA. Expansion is necessary for any organization to succeed. IKEA’s global market is enormous and the rapid growth may not always be easy to keep up with. However, Kamprad had the right idea when appointing the head of Canadian IKEA to oversee US operations. This strategy ensures that a successful, well-trained, experienced individual is responsible for the groundbreaking of new markets. This, of course, should only be temporary until a proper replacement is found and/or thoroughly trained as to not overwhelm the individual with too many responsibilities. This will also allow Kamprad to be confident that a proven leader is paying attention to all the crucial details of starting up the business in a new market. New products and new services is also an important part, as well as a possible detriment, to IKEA’s expansion. Different markets demand different products and services. First and foremost, IKEA needs to decide where they stand, what their core values are, and how much or how little they are willing to change to adapt to various markets. For example, one market may rely heavily on furniture delivery options. IKEA, however, is known for the no-shipping policy. Should they change this policy to meet their consumer’s needs? In my professional opinion, IKEA should stay true to their policies and procedures. I say this based on the idea that if you change the way you operate for one market, it leaves other markets to question, â€Å"you did it for them, why can’t you do it for me? †. It is important, however, to consider the negative consequences of this type of approach. Market studies should be done to determine just how dependent consumers are on this type of service. Comparisons should be made with local furniture companies that may compete with IKEA to see if they are a threat to business. Overall, the market itself should be thoroughly analyzed to weigh the risks versus the benefits. If IKEA’s whole philosophy needs to be jeopardized to adapt to the target market, perhaps it is not in the organization’s best interest to bring their business to that location. It is important to remember that every change made to one market can either positively or negatively impact the organization as a whole. As for spending procedures, IKEA may not being doing a thorough enough job of presenting employees with the benefits of their cost-saving efforts. Again, communicating this type of information to employees is crucial. It needs to be reiterated over and over again that the company is doing so well artially because of IKEA’s frugal spending policies. Although it is important to show these benefits as they relate to the organization, it still may leave many employees asking, â€Å"what’s in it for me? †. Incentives should be given to help motivate employees to continue their money-saving practices. This may include a bonus, time off with pay, a luncheon for the store that saves the most in a given period of time, etc. In concept, the money employees save the organization will far exceed any bonuses or perks that are rewarded. However, employees will feel more appreciated and more motivated to cut back where they can. It is necessary though to ensure employees are not sacrificing quality or service in order to save money. Combating the perception that IKEA will deteriorate when Ingvar Kamprad retires or otherwise leaves the organization is a rather difficult task. In order to find an individual who will carry on this philosophy, succession planning is a must. An individual hand-picked and personally trained and mentored by Kamprad would be the best choice. Also, an individual who has worked their way up through the ranks and has a thorough and genuine understanding of the organization, its goals, and its policies will best suit this position. Because Kamprad is so â€Å"hands-on† and personally meets all his staff, he should be able to make an educated and well-informed decision as to who would best suit the position and best represent the employees of IKEA. Although no one may ever take his place, Kamprad can certainly find an individual who will carry on the IKEA philosophy in their own unique, creative, and prosperous way. Overall, I see IKEA as a very strong, very well-structured organization. They have a clear set of goals and objectives and have built a framework of the path to success. Problems they face are mostly due to the changing economy, the need for expansion, and the doubts of individuals within the organization. Although they face some serious problems, they can be solved through logical and rational decision-making. Research, planning and execution of these plans can address the issues discussed before they become problems. Using the innovative and creative ideas that the organization encourages of its employees, IKEA will continue to prosper.

Future career Essay

Every person thinks a lot about his future and admits that hard work lies ahead. â€Å"Mother to Son†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Young people claim that they are willing to make the sacrifices needed to reach their goals. â€Å"If you don’t think about your future, you cannot have one.†Ã¢â‚¬ Hold fast to dreams†So it is vital to hitch your wagon to a star. In order to reach our goals, we should be persistent, optimistic, hard working, imaginative, creative†¦ and so on, but practical and down to Earth. So, most young people place a high priority on education. If you think about your future career it is worth mentioning the fact, that the future expectations of every man are connected with acquiring (getting) quality education which in its turn includes many aspects, such as: self creation, developing your abilities and character, keeping fit, social adaptability, creative potentials and intellect. The most important thing that young people want from life is career success followed by happiness, marriage and family and they are also concerned with global issues, such as ecological problems, social problems, wars, terrorism. Future is purchased by the present so while a teenager it is important to become a true personality. â€Å"If you can feel†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Every man is a maker of his own fortune and character. -to achieve aims;-to overcome future obstacles, troubles;-to fulfill dreams. â€Å"As long as I have a wish I have a reason for living, satisfaction is death!†The future comes one day at a time. A well educated highly intellectual person is one of the treasures of any society. So it is not only your wish but your duty to have a good quality education. But to get it one should remember ‘that there is no royal road to  learning† and † the rules of education are bitter but the fruit is sweet†. So it is important to have an active mind to get a balanced view of the world and to develop your mental abilities to the highest degree. It is vital to find your own place in the community to get along with people, to grasp the importance of any work for the benefit of the whole society, to find place between personal and society needs. But you are to remember that future is made of the same stuff as the present. Every day is your life, it isn’t a rehearsal, it is life. Never let the future disturb you, you will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason, which today arms you against the present. Very many of us live life of the never never. Telling ourselves that just as soon as we have get passed this or that stage period in life we would be able to devote all our energies to what we really want to do. But in this case tomorrow will never come. You should remember that â€Å"future is not a gift, it is an achievement†. And you are to appreciate this very day to start its creation new, without delay and don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. If you don’t think about the future you cannot have one. But if you do all you can in order your dreams and aspirations will come true, you will pursue an advanced level ofeducation, carry out successful career for yourself, marry and raise children and will certainly make contributions within the fear of your own family, work and community. So one of the most important and difficult problems, a young person faces is choosing an occupation, deciding what to do about a career and future. Career is not only a job or profession for which one is trained and intends to follow all his life, career is also the general course of one’s working life, the way he wants to live. Choosing an occupation takes time and it is the most complicated problem to find a right way in life. â€Å"The road not taken†¦Ã¢â‚¬ But few things are impossible to diligence and skill and though life â€Å"is no crystal stair†, young people have an advantage to choose their future way of life while at school. It gives them a goal to work towards and enables them to choose a right suitable course of study. While at school a person may find out that he will need to get some actual work experience to gain enough knowledge to qualify to the particular job. Fortunately there are a lot of people, young persons can turn for advice and help in making their decision while at school. Schools have changed a lot in recent years and they try not only to give pupils better education, but to encourage them to choose a future profession by specializing in particular subjects: languages, economy, business, technology or even religion. Pupils may choose between state and private schools. There are teachers who are professionally qualified to consult pupils, to help them in acquiring the skills and knowledge which will enable them to understand the structure of opportunities they face, to realize their strengths and to encourage them to make a right decision. But even if a person gets other people involved in helping him make a decision self-education is an important part of the decision making process, because â€Å"every man is a maker of his own fortune†. â€Å"God gives the nuts but he doesn’t crack them†Ã¢â‚¬ Miracles sometimes occur, but one is to work terribly hard for them†So being at school you are to put your heart in acquiring sound knowledge for your future. So choosing a career and getting a job are two of the most important things any person does in lifetime.

Twitter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Twitter - Essay Example Twitter emerged as a side project for a number of board members at the blogging and podcasting company Odeo. The original inventors included Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Evan Williams, and Biz Stone. The original name for the project was twttr. The first product utilization functioned within the Odeo Company, with the full version finishing development a number of months later ("The real history," 2011) . After the product was completed the original Twitter founders created Obvious Corporation and through investor funds purchased Odeo and all of its subsequent assets. In April 2007 Twitter spinoff from Odeo and became its own company. In terms of popularity the company gained perhaps its greatest boost at the Interactive portion of the South by Southwest festival; at this festival user-ship expanded from 20,000 to 60,000 (Picard, 2011). There were a number of early development elements that occurred throughout the product’s orientation. In large part the structural dimensions of the product have remained the same since its 2006 incarnation. Many of the early development elements occurred in terms of the company’s management and organizational structure. In 2007 co-founder Noah Glass was fired ("The real history," 2011). In 2008 Williams assumed company leadership in terms of becoming the chief executive officer and Jack Dorsey became chairman of the board. Williams would remain in this capacity until 2010 when Dick Costolo would assume the position. 2010 also witnessed a slight change in the company logo. Twitter has experimented with a number of modern development changes in the last two years. Perhaps most prominent among these is the inclusion of a trending sidebar that indicates the most popularly tweeted topics ("A visual history," 2011). Twitter has implemented this service as a means of advertising as specific companies are given the opportunity to have their subject of choice featured as a

Thieves of Baghdad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thieves of Baghdad - Essay Example hesis statement: In the work Thieves of Baghdad, Matthew Bogdanos exposes museum looting in Iraq, the effort to restore the looted items, and the global problem of illegal trade of antique items. The work is in the form of a firsthand account of an individual who is authorized to track down the antique items stolen from a museum. To be specific, Matthew Bogdanos portrays his own experiences in Iraq. His effort to restore the antique items stolen from the National Museum is an important part of the work’s plot. Besides, the work helps the readers to identify the hidden facts behind the archaeological and historical importance of the National Museum in Baghdad. Besides, Bogdanos helped the National Museum authorities to regain some of the valuable antique items stolen from the museum. In the work, the author portrays the problems faced by the investigators within the context of the unlawful trade of antique objects. So, the plot of the work is interconnected with the problems faced by the National Museum in Iraq and the global problem of the illegal trade of antique items. The issue of museum looting in Iraq is another theme made use by the author in the work. At the same time, the author criticizes the US forces in Iraq for ignoring the problem of museum looting. During the incident, the compound of the National Museum was under the control of Iraqi forces. Rothfield made clear that â€Å"In turning the museum into a military position, the Iraqis had violated the absolute prohibition against using protected cultural sites for military purposes† (90). As the National Museum compound was under the control of the Iraqi forces, there existed less scope to protect the valuable items displayed at the museum. The US decision to attack the Iraqi forces at the National Museum compound helped the illegal traders to loot the museum. Kelly and Thomas made clear that â€Å"An investigation headed by Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, USMC, concluded that 40 items were stolen from the

Visit Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Visit - Research Paper Example This year, as per Christian or Gregorian Calendar, it has fallen on 17th February. On this auspicious day, devotees observe fast and offer special prayers to Lord Shiva. Devotees chant Om Namah Shivay throughout the night of Maha Shivratri. The first word à ¥  (Om) has a special significance in the Hindu religion. It is the primordial sound of the universe. It is also the source of all sounds. It is the only word that can be spoken with an open as well as closed mouth. It is the sound that joins the outer world with the inner. When one repeats à ¥  for several times, it becomes a door to deep silence within - a step to enter into a deep meditation (Issitt and Main). I reached the temple site early in the morning as I was informed that this is a special day for Hindus as they observe fast and do puja (a religious prayer) on this day. On reaching the temple, when I contacted mahant (a priest) he informed me that I need to go through the temple and observe the rituals keenly. He also assured me that he would clear all my queries during a leisure time on some other day as it would not be possible for him to explain me everything on that day due to heavy rush of devotees. Usual timings of temple for visitors are from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and then from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. On the days of special events, temple opens up as early as 7:30 AM in the morning for devotees. On February 17, it also opened up early in the morning. The Shiva-Vishnu temple at Dykes Road had its humble beginnings in 1993. The purpose of opening the temple was to impart religious, cultural and educational values of Hinduism to its followers, especially younger generations. I began taking rounds of the temple. The Hindu temple has a distinct appearance and architecture. Externally and internally, they look entirely different than any church, synagogue or mosque. Hindu temple can be recognized by its shape and vastness.

Approach And Characteristic Of Corporate Governance In Russia Essay

Approach And Characteristic Of Corporate Governance In Russia - Essay Example Corporate governance offers the framework through which the goals of the companies are formulated and also suggests the means of accomplishing those objectives as well as identifies controlling performances (Viam Invest, 2012). It is in this regards that corporate governance can be identified as quite significant for today’s commercials. Sound corporate governance needs to offer adequate incentives to attain the desired objectives by the company. It must also assist in proper monitoring of the activities of the organisation and thus endorse the firms to make use of the resources in an effectual manner (Shvyrkov, 2012). Corporate governance method in Russia can be regarded as appealing since they tend to take place because of the institutional experiments undertaken by the Russian government in the early 1990s with strong support of international financial institutions (Paredes, 2003). Hence, the concept of corporate governance system practiced in Russia has been one of the sig nificant topics of discussion in the present times. Most of the Russian firms are found to be adhering to good corporate governance standards by escalating disclosure, conforming to the international accounting standards and espousing numerous codes related to the matter. The government of Russia, the regulators as well as private agencies has taken certain measures such as enforcement of the codes, improvement of the transparency along with accountability issues among others in order to enhance the corporate governance (DYCK, 2002). The objective of this paper is to demonstrate and discuss the numerous approaches as well as features of the corporate governance system in Russia. The various drivers as well as impacts of corporate governance in Russia will also be discussed in the paper. Last but not the least, it will endeavour to identify whether the corporate governance system of Russia offers transparency as well as accountability to its stakeholders. Approach and Characteristic of Corporate Governance in Russia The corporate governance system in Russia is featured by elevated ownership attentiveness in firms basically in the hands of the insiders. It has also been noted that the legal institution of the country is not quite firm that has generally led to greater personal advantages of controls through corruption and immature capital markets which might lead to inadequate return on shareholders’ investments a fragmented labour market as well as major participation of the state in business with increasing political barriers (Vasilyev, 2002). The Russian corporate governance tends to be quite different from that of the corporate governance in developed countries such as Anglo-Saxon countries. The chief conflict of interest with regards to the Russian firms has been between big and small shareholders instead of managers and greater number of fragmented shareholders as in the contexts of US or UK (Nestor & Jesover, 2000). Notably, the Russian model of pr ivatisation that was exercised in the period of 1992-1994 facilitated in the determination of the main features of the structure of corporate ownership as well as governance in the country. Privatisation also identified the main direction for the growth of Russian firms. Nearly

Terrorism---criminal justice Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Terrorism---criminal justice - Coursework Example The conversation on this topic has largely been avoided and there is little understanding among the public on this issue. Amimut refers to the Israel official policy of concealing information on nuclear weapons adopted in 1969 in the Nixon-Meir deal. Amimiut is a Hebrew term that means ambiguity or opacity. Amimut evolved out of various decisions that were continuously implemented due to strategic and political needs of the country. In the mid 1970s Shalhevveth Freier and the team of Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) formed the rules of the national doctrine on nuclear policy. The reasons for the country’s possession of nuclear were varied. Some leaders were of the opinion that the country’s possession of nuclear is a symbol of the country having a weapon of last result. Other leaders were of the opinion that Israel should not be the first country in the Middle East to be in possession of nuclear. During the Six-Day War, the then chief of Mossad, General Meir Amit was of the opinion that if Israel had nuclear weapons, this would act as an incentive for Soviet Union to supply Egypt wi th nuclear weapons. After an accident that occurred in Dimona complex in 1966 that left one person dead, the then Prime Minister of Israel Eshkol was shaken about the nuclear project and was of the opinion American diplomacy could be a better method. However, after heavy casualties that Israel suffered in the Six-Day War he changed his mind and supported the idea of the country creating a weapon and testing it in the desert so as to demonstrate the country’s nuclear capability (Cohen, A., 2013). Israel was also forced to make a stance of not been a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This stance was because NPT was against the countries acquired nuclear capabilities. NPT also lacked adequate guarantees against protection by nuclear possessing countries such as the Soviet Union. Despite the heavy thought of the

Processing the Crime Scene and Establishing Identity Essay

Processing the Crime Scene and Establishing Identity - Essay Example The second step which is examine usually supplements or adds to the initial observation of the crime scene technician. This step comprises of collecting evidences, analyzing the exit and entry points, and sizing up the general layout of the entire crime scene. Photographing is the third step in assessing a crime scene, where evidences as well as general views of the location is taken on film; so that a pictorial review can be done to evaluate how the area of crime actually looks like. Next is the sketch – where a rough draft or drawing is done by the crime scene technician to indicate the actual layout of the crime scene and the location of the bodies including the murder weapon and any other evidences related to the case. Last but not the least in the examination of a crime scene is the process. This stage entails the crime scene technician to collect all evidences, testimonial and physical.

Microeconomic issue- halo effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Microeconomic issue- halo effect - Essay Example nsumers tend to associate the positive quality of a personality’s image with a product and its brand, and since consumers have aspirations and desires, the seller hopes that the image associated with the product is powerful enough for the consumer to take action; first, to desire the satisfaction associated with the image, and second, to think that the product and brand linked to the image would be the means to achieve that satisfaction. This association between a person’s reputation and his words and actions is what the Halo Effect is all about (Economist.com). Thorndike in a 1920 study observed the Halo Effect at work in a study involving soldiers and the way they rated their officers. He discovered that when soldiers viewed their officer in a positive way, all the officer’s actions are viewed positively. This is the way a son would treat the punishment from a father whom the son admires: every punishment is for the son’s good, no matter how unjust the punishment may seem to an outside observer. Applied to microeconomics and the behavior of firms and consumers, the halo effect can be observed at work in many instances. In fact, the global economic crisis may have been caused by the halo effect, and the same halo effect is being used to get the world out of the crisis. Rosenzweig, writing in the McKinsey Quarterly, observed how the halo effect could explain both business success and failure, emphasizing the importance of consumer or observer perception in determining economic behavior. Among the horror stories associated with the crisis, the investment scam of Madoff shows how the halo effect contributed both to his success and failure. Madoff was an investment banker who served as the Chairman of NASDAQ, the over-the-counter stock market that boomed in the late 1990s. According to the New York Times, Madoff was able to head NASDAQ because of his high-profile lifestyle and low-key consistency in generating above-average returns for investors. His

Distracted by Today’s Technology Essay Example for Free

Distracted by Today’s Technology Essay We are part of a country that is focused on making life easier and faster. Technology is something that is constantly on the rise, we are always looking for that new gadget better than the last that is meant to facilitate the everyday life. As a result, many people are starting to lose the ability to show emotions or even carry on a face-to-face conversation, therefore making it difficult for those individuals to develop appropriate social skills. Unfortunately, we fail to see the damage that is being caused by the amount of time being spent on texting, playing with video games, or spending countless hours on social networks as an alternative to making new acquaintances or spending quality time with their loved ones. Let’s start with text messages, known as one of the most popular method of communication these days. It is an unavoidable fact that the text message has become a necessary part of our lives. Like with new couples, who are unable to attain an appropriate sense of what their new partner is actually like. These couples often prefer the convenience of texting as a way of getting to know each other, as opposed to talking on the phone or going on dates. What they fail to realize is that, by trying to maintain a relationship mostly through texting and with barely any physical interaction they are truly inhibiting their ability to assess reactions, expressions or feelings shown by the other person. Sadly, these couples usually choose to end their relationship before knowing if it truly had a chance to flourish into a something meaningful. Although talking on a cellular phone while behind the wheel of a car has been proven to be dangerous, it has now taken a back seat to those drivers who surf the internet and text while on the road. According to a study done by The American Automobile Association, forty-six percent of teens who were interviewed admitted to being distracted behind the wheel because of texting. Many parents will instruct their children not to text while behind the wheel, when in all reality they are not following what they preach by continuing to put us all at risk. Overall, it is a real source of concern that these individuals are consciously adding to the increasing number of accidents on our roads today. Then we have video games, which have been around for decades. In recent years, the popularity of video games has sky rocketed amongst our youth. Our children are learning how to hijack a car from a pregnant mother with her two kids, shoot a gangster with an automatic weapon, and even drag race down the streets of a quiet neighborhood, all from the comfort of their couch. The days of going outside to play with friends and bike riding have been replaced by sitting in front of a television set and playing with your Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation, just to name a few. Homework and chores are often overlooked, but worse are the many parents that are using these gaming devices as babysitters as an alternative to spending quality time with their kids. Many parents remain satisfied by simply knowing that their children are safely in the house, dismissing the possibility their children are becoming couch potatoes with no social skills. Sadly, many of these children are not receiving any other exercise than what is given during their P.E. class in school. These are the children that will likely end up as obese, anti-social members of our society. Lastly, we are now surrounded by social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter that are dedicated to connecting friends and family that live all around the world with the intentions of increasing communication between them. Friends can post pictures, write about what they are doing at the moment, and surf other friends profiles. While we cannot deny the benefits that these sites may provide, we should also not fail to realize the many dangers that can be linked to these social networks. Computer viruses are one of the most common disadvantages seen with social networks, one wrong click and you could send all you personal information to some crook across the country. But more damaging are the ill effects that our children are likely to encounter. Cyber bullying is much more intense and malicious than what some of us may have experienced in our high school hallways. Teasing, harassing, and name calling are now posted on the internet for everyone to see. In 2006, a teenage girl committed suicide for the constant bullying she received from her classmates and even one of their parents, her mother never suspected any of it. More importantly, many children and teenagers are now sharing too much information with strangers that they meet online, believing they are someone of their same age and with their same interests. Unknowingly, they are making themselves easy targets for predators of all kinds. This could possibly be avoided if parents were to limit the time spent online and diligently monitor their internet usage. I understand that some people may disagree with my views on the damaging effects that could be associated with allowing too much technology into all aspects of our lives. At the end of the day, what are the benefits we are receiving from allowing technology to play such a large role in our lives? Are we coming together at the end of the day? The days of â€Å"family dinner time† are slowly becoming memories of the past. Fewer are the families that sit around a table to share a meal, socialize, and relate stories about their day. We are missing out on opportunities to bond with our children and watch them grow. As well as new couples that would benefit from more phone conversations and dates, perhaps giving themselves a better chance at a more meaningful and stable relationship, possibly reducing the current divorce rates. It is a fact that we live in a world that technology has become a must in our lives. We are now dependent on cellular phones, and computers, while our children are consumed by their games. I also agree that all of the advancements made by technology are simply indented to somehow improve the way we function on a daily basis. But there should be a limit to how much technology we allow in our lives. Maybe we should make an effort to dedicate time to our families by turning off the cellular phone and put aside the computer a few nights a week. The benefits we will receive for maintaining a loving and nurturing relationship with our loved ones will continue to be evident for years to come.

Construction Waste Management Strategies

Construction Waste Management Strategies Introduction The construction sector is an important solid waste generator. In Brazil, the recent economic and politics growth has rapidly encouraged further development and investment in the construction sector. Nevertheless, such speedy growth of the Brazilian’s construction has brought an elevated concern and attention to the waste problem and its management for a developing country growth like Brazil. Nagalli, 2012 Like in Europe, Brazil has a compulsory regulation on construction projects to reduce the construction and demolition waste. The national laws obligate the builders to be responsible for the waste of their works. It is legally consolidated and requires the builders a proactive posture in sense to planning the waste management. Nagalli, 2012. The municipalities are the responsible party on the waste management in Brazil, except for the private investments such as (industries, private constructions or demolitions, etc.). Bà ¡ez et al. 2012. However, only (11) which presents (0.25%) of about 5000 Brazilian municipalities have construction and demolition (CD) waste recycling center As well as there are (13) stationary plants and recycling waste center produced in local communities. Therefore, it’s quite clear that a large part of the waste is not recycled in Brazil. It is also worth mentioning that since the established of CONAMA 2002 (Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency); things are moving better and all Brazilian local governments are nowadays obliged to prepare and adopt strategies for sustainable management of CD waste. MMA, 2002. All investors are obliged to produce feasibility studies plans of the production and use of construction and demolition (CD) wastes materials of each project. Notwithstanding, a very little amount of researches have been conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of the construction and demolition (CD) waste recycling centers. Professional inquiries illustrated that private projec ts which produces 20 tons per hour (t/h) or less of CD waste processing flow will probably not be met financially to continue, due to the low productivity and lack manufactured product prices, as the use of manufactured products are still not widespread so the investment in recycling on large scale with complex facilities centers will not be cost-effective neither. 02 Feasibility Analysis : Many studies and researches are taken place to develop plans for the feasibility study for the complex projects and the (CD) waste recycling centers in Brazil. One of this study was by UNIDO (1987), which presented a structural model for feasibility studies to complex projects, including a huge investments from different sources of funding and simplify the study and structure then adding control elements described by another important study from Kohler (1997), the following main stages were identified in preliminary feasibility studies for construction and demolition (CD) waste recycling centers as follows: Analysis of market needs and the amount of existing competition from different sources. Depends on the geographical location of the center. Assessment and estimated of waste generation. Depends on the geographical location of the center. The estimated incomes and cost from the construction and demolition waste. Investment analysis in construction and demolition waste field. Market Competition study analysis: There are plentiful resources for civil construction combining several elements in Brazil. The main consumer construction and demolition waste centers are located in areas with good and convenient quality of different reserves. According to DNPM (2003), â€Å"sand and gravel are low in price and produced in large quantities. Transport costs correspond to around 2/3 of the end price of the product, which make it necessary to produce sand and gravel as near as possible to the consumer market, which are the urban agglomerates†. In Brazil, which is one of the developing countries, the rate of consumption is estimated at approximately (2) tons /inhabitant a year. Sindipedras (2004). Comparing that figure with Europe countries, we found that Brazil has low consumption where the average consumption in Europe reaches (8-10) tons/inhabitant a year. Taking into account that the population in Brazil is about (180 million) IBGE(2000), so the total consumption estimated to nearly (270) tons a year about (175) million cubic meter. Table no.1: The rate of construction aggregates prices without transport.( SINDIBRITA.2004). Aggregates Aggregate grading Prices (excl. taxes) ( Prices (incl.taxes) (diameter in mm) (GBP $/m ³) (GBP $/t) (GBP $/m ³) (GBP $/t) Sands 3.10 1.80 4.00 2.35 Stone powders 3.10 2.00 4.00 2.55 Gravel 0, 1, 2, 3 from 5.0 to 75.0 3.80 2.60 4.85 3.36 Mixed Gravel from 5.0 to 55.0 3.10 1.75 4.00 2.27 ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF CD WASTE We should know the productivity and collection of (CD) waste to find out the needs and the interest of developing and establishing recycling centers. From Table no.2 below, estimates from the production and collection of construction and demolition (CD) waste in some of the main Brazilian Cities: Table 2: Estimative for production / collection of CD waste in some Brazilian cities (Nunes, 2004) Cities Estimative of CD waste Year- Population (IBGE, Production per inhabitant (kg/inhab.day) Collection per inhabitant Produced Collected 2000) (kg/inhab.day) Riode Janeiro n/a 1,100 2003 5,850,000 n/a 0.20 Salvador n/a. 2,750 2000 2,450,000 n/a 1.15 Sà £o Paulo 16,000 3,400 2001 10,440,000 1.55 0.40 Ribeirà £o Preto 1,100 200 2003 505,000 2.00 0.55 Sà £o Josà © 740 n/a 1995 540,000 1.50 n/a Piracicaba 635 n/a. 2003 330,000 1.88 n/a Vinhedo n/a. 10 2003 48,000 n/a 0.32 Guarulhos n/a. n/a. 1,100,000 n/a n/a Ribeirà £o Pires n/a. n/a. 105,000 n/a. n/a Sà £o Josà © do Rio Preto 690 n/a. 1996 360,000 1.92 n/a Santo Andrà © 1,000 n/a 1996 650,000 1.56 n/a. Belo Horizonte n/a. 2,300 2000 2,240,000 n/a 1.05 Londrina 1,300 n/a 2003 450,000 2.86 n/a Brasà ­lia n/a. n/a 2,055,000 n/a n/a Macaà © 40 2003 133,000 n/a 0.34 Florianà ³polis 635 n/a 2001 286,000 2.23 n/a Averages 2.00 0.65 The Rio de Janeiro city estimates a collection of 1,100 ton/day (0.20 kg/inhabitant .day), an amount below the average in other cities under study. The reason that some municipalities are less than the average for the disposal of waste is the illegal and calculated within the general waste in official statistical tables. IBGE (2000) ESTIMATED REVENUES AND COSTS In Brazil, the equipment used in the (CD) waste recycling center requires large investment. Most equipment used in the mining sector, which is one of the largest and powerful sector in Brazil, this was calculated when analysis or estimate the profits and benefits of investment. The Table no.3 below shows the form of the fixed capital investment required for (20) tons/hour which we can call it as a small center and (100) tons/hour as a medium center depending on the size of the production and the new or used equipment. It’s possible to add some cost with equipment and site, the costs with site acquisition, transportation and the way of disposal the recycling center rejects. Nunes (2004) Through consultations to many professionals, it was found that the minimum size of a site for  a recycling center would be: (a) 6.000 m ² the appropriate area for the (20) tons/hour recycling centers; (b) 30.000 m ² area for the (100) tons/hour recycling centers. Table 3: Investment in fixed capital and the operational costs (summary). SINDIBRITA (2004). Operational Costs Fixed Costs CONCLUSION: The Brazilian civil construction’s aggregates are available in wide range with good quality and close to the urban consumer centers. It’s worth mentioning that both aggregates as well as several new construction projects prices have been low for some time. Hence, and in order to attract more clients and bring better attention to such industry, the prices of the recycled aggregates must be competitive with the natural aggregates. Meanwhile, the (CD) waste reception as well as the recycling centers has to compete with the landfills. According to the Brazilian state-of-art, large amounts of inert material are usually needed to cover the landfill cells. The material is also required to build the access roads and maneuvering areas for the waste collection trucks on the landfills. Therefore, the inert landfills do set as high competitors with recycling centers in relation to reception of (CD) waste. It was therefore recommended that two different recycling centers’ pro jects should be analyzed in order to capitalize and boost such industry forward: one, a small scale (20 t/h), and the other midsize (100 t/h) with the assumption of the use of processed products and the absence of (CD) waste recycling projects in the country due to the lack of such industry tradition, the feasibility of future private recycling centers will initially be somewhere between the two aforementioned capacities. Nunes (2004) References: Andrà © Nagalli , (2012) â€Å"Quantitative Method for Estimating Construction Waste Generation† Bà ¡ez AG, Sà ¡ez PV, Merino MR, Navarro JG (2012). Waste Management. MMA (Ministry of the Environment) (2002) CONAMA Resolution no. 307. UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) (1987). Kohler, G. (1997), Practice of Recycling: Construction Materials. CONAMA 2002(Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency). Ângulo, S. C. (2002) (Development of new markets for the recycling of CD waste). DNPM (National Department for Mineral Research) (2006). Sindipedra (Federation of the Gravel Mining Industry of the State of Sà £o Paulo) (2004). IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) (2000)

A Democratic Society Essay -- essays research papers

A Democratic Society Throughout time the debate upon which is the best system of government has been an ongoing debate. Somewhere between the realms of democracy, socialism, fascism, communism, and monarchism lies the answer to the perfect system. Traditionally speaking, North America has always tried to remain democratic in ruling. The democratic system, unlike it's alternatives, encourages equality and liberty among the people which in modern society, makes it the most attractive system of government today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Arguably, equality is the goal of many governments today. But what one must realize is that equality cannot be reached without giving someone else inequality. While democracy influences equality, communism and socialism frown upon the very idea that all people should be treated equal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The very idea that all men are created equally is very misleading. All men are not created equally. Human beings are unequal in essence because they are unequal in most physical and psychological characteristics along with health, intelligence, and emotional balance. For most of us, living amidst inequality is common. Equality is said to be having the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. In modern society this is very true to a certain extent. The only thing equal about people is that we are all born and eventually we all die. In North America, I believe that equality among people is nearly impossible. The education is the main source of the problem. Education itself created inequality between children at an early age. Since no two persons are created equally, they will not have the same opportunities, nor will they make use of opportunities offered to all people like the education system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most important things to a person living in North America is liberty. Liberty  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberty can be defined as limited only be laws established on behalf of the community . To a certain extent, this enables people to be in control of their own lives. The individual has the right to choose how they conduct their lives. In the U.S. people rely on the Bill of Rights to protect themselves from government and other people. This bill of rights includes freedom of speech, press, and assembly. Among these freedoms is also the freedom of religion and freedom from unr... ...p;  A democratic society cannot function properly without liberalism. Liberalism is an ideology. It is a whole way of thinking. To be liberal means you are optimistic. Liberty and equality are the two things that separate our society from that of a communist or fascist government system. With things like the civil rights movement our society is slowing becoming more aware of the world beyond that our immediate environment. Ethnic groups and minorities are better represented our society than they were fifty years ago. You can no longer discriminate against someone because of there skin color which makes our world a more politically correct environment. Being democratic gives all people an equal chance to prove themselves in life. One thing I have learned about democracy is that is important to be open and not to think in the same mind set. Rules are meant to be broken. I have always thought that part of being democratic means making room for new ideals and theories that make society function better as a whole and in the end be more capable in handling problems in society. With all this in mind, freedom is in the hands of the individual and it is their choice what to do with it.

The Great Depression Essay -- American History

The Great Depression was a period from October 29, 1929 to around 1940, close to when the U.S. entered World War II. This period was an economic depression that was started by the Stock Market crash. Such a catastrophic time span has many different causes that can all relate and combine. The Great Depression had many underlying causes that started originated after World War I. A series of events, including the economic boom of the 1920’s were contributors to the Great Depression. World War I came to an end in November of 1918, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. This treaty ended the fighting and of many other results, it put the blame on Germany for the war. This resulted in Germany having to pay major reparation fee’s and put Germany in a financial hole. The treaty took away parts of Germany’s land and made it impossible for them to use their natural resources to profit from. The amount that Germany had to pay back was more then they could, and this started a chain reaction for the transfer of money. In 1924, The Dawes Plan was signed into action and the U.S. became a creditor nation. Germany owed around 32 billion in war reparations. They were unable to pay this, so the U.S. loaned Germany money, with that Germany paid European countries War Reparations, and with the reparation money they received, U.S exports were able to be bought. This benefited the U.S. because the loans would have to be paid back with interest, and it let the econ omy experience a boost because goods were able to be exported. The Dawes Plan boosted the American economy, while facilitating other European countries’ attempts to reestablish a stable financial state after World War One. This time period in the 1920’s is referred to as the ‘roaring twen... ...ted to drop on the Stock Market. Investors’ worries were little at the beginning, but as it continued to drop, many investors started selling their shares. Eventually on Tuesday, October 29, the stock market crashed, as no buyers could be found at any prices for shares. This marked the beginning of the Great Depression (Gusmorino). The Great Depression was marked by the Stock Market crash, but in reality, its origins were able to be traced back to World War One. Many actions by the U.S. government, done to boost the economy, worked temporarily and gave America a period of great economic success. During this time, many underlying problems were ignored, and actions done to protect the U.S. economy, eventually ruined it. The Great Depression was not something that could have started as a result of one action, but it was a result of more than a decades worth of actions.

Racial Controversy Surrounding the Assassination of Martin Luther King,

The Racial Controversy Surrounding the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. The impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. today is no doubt revered. He is commonly called the â€Å"Father of Civil Rights,† and is looked upon as a national icon, in an almost presidential-type light. His achievements have not only begat a national holiday for his birthday, but also helped lead to the creation of Black History Month. However, his accomplishments were not so regaled in his own time. In fact, most Caucasian Americans refused to even recognize any ban or barrier he and his cohorts attempted to change. African-Americans were just simply not respected by most whites in the 1950s and 1960s because they were considered â€Å"inferior.† This resonates with Baldwin’s opinions of whites’ refusals to accept that they may have made a mistake, and instead of taking responsibility for that mistake, they dump it on African-Americans and other races. A good example of this â€Å"dumping† of responsibilities occurred with the assass ination of King. It may be a possibility that the many different conspiracy theories that evolved after King’s assassination were created in a way to avoid Caucasians admitting that a single white person shot and killed the head of the Civil Rights Movement. Along with the many different conspiracy theories, there has been an uncovering of faults in the FBI’s investigation, some of which include not taking African-Americans’ eyewitness testimony seriously. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s first step into the world of civil rights occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, in December of 1951. After she refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger, Rosa Parks was arrested for violating the city’s segregation ... ... Luther King, Jr.: Conspiracy Theory #4†. Infoplease. 8 Apr. 2004 . Frank, Gerold. An American Death: The True Story of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Greatest Manhunt of Our Time. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1972. â€Å"King Report—Part 2†. U.S. Department of Justice. 8 Apr. 2004 . "Martin Luther King, Jr.". Encyclopedia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 8 Apr. 2004. Library Gateway, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. . Ripley, Anthony. â€Å"Funeral Is Ignored by Whites But Some Atlanta Stores Close.† New York Times 9 Apr. 1968: 1-2. ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times. Library Gateway, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. 11 Apr. 2004 .

English Essay

What does Emerson think of people who call for consistency in thought and action and who fear being misunderstood? ? He believes being foolish is ridiculous and for little minds, and that you should speak your mind uninhibited, and that being misunderstood is not necessarily a bad thing. Many of history’s great minds were misunderstood. 5. Emerson makes many of his points through a series of figures of speech – comparisons between two things that are basically unlike. In â€Å"Self-Reliance† what does he compare with the ordinary things and events listed below. Be sure to respond in complete sentence format. Example: He compares cannon balls to words: â€Å"Else if you would be a man, speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. † A. planting corn- Planting corn is compared to basically reaping what you sow. No reward can come unless one puts in hard work, pain, and suffering in life, just like the work that goes into planting and harvesting corn. B. an iron string- An iron string is compared to trust in oneself. ? C. lay- Clay is compared to aspiring men who must let themselves be molded by the â€Å"Almighty effort†. * * â€Å"That government is best which governs not at all;†. Thoreau’s essay, inspired by a night in jail, was a bit biased against the government. Thoreau’s theory of how he believes a government should operate is simply not feasible- it is not reasonable to protest the operation of government policies by breaking the law, and then criticizing the government after spending a night in jail; the government is needed to stabilize a country, to provide order amidst chaos, and to ensure common welfare and health. The government has many functions in a country, and nothing could be accomplished without it- for example, a stabilized economy. Now, some people would argue that the government causes inflation and economic depression, but it is also the only thing that can stabilize it and bring it back into an upswing. By evidence of the Confederate states, before they became the United States, trying to be a united group but having separate small governments does not work. A government with even minimal power cannot collect taxes, enforce its laws, or protect its citizens. Chaos would then ensue. Chaos is also caused by lawlessness, which is in turned caused by a weak government. A wonderful example is the early United States. They attempted a Confederacy, a band of loosely tied states whose government had no real power. They states fought, the people fought against the states, it was mayhem – every man for himself. Laws were broken and justice was exacted in the form of revenge. There was no safety, no guarantees, no order. But with a strong government in place, society can function normally and live in relative peace. There is a system in place to protect, to lead, to help. Without it, all hell breaks loose. And hell is a place of misery and sickness, which is another thing that the government typically seeks to remedy. They may tax their people, but that money Thoreau refused to give up would be redistributed out to people in need. It goes to homeless shelters, veterans, old retired folks, a sick single mother, a young adult struggling to make it out of the ghetto. The government is there for the common good. It helps out the people, because the people elect its officials. There may be a handful who disagree, but the government is typically run by the majorities wishes, so that the majority of its people are at least satisfied, if not happy. A single person can be smart, but people as a collective group are stupid. They are like sheep- they require guidance and leadership in order to run like a well-oiled machine. Therefore the government must have power, and use it to govern. There will always be a andful of people like Thoreau who oppose the government, and argue for the underdog because they feel that the system has not worked in their favor, or even hindered them. But overall, a government is designed for the common good, and governments like the USA and many European countries are doing just that. But there is no point to a government that does not govern, for then it is worse than having none at all. The government is required to ensure the common good, health, and order is enforced and the majority of its people are safe and happy.

Police Response to Domestic Violence Essay

In 2005, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 1,181 females were killed by an intimate partner. That means everyday, 3 women are killed as a result of domestic violence. These overwhelming statistics also state that out of all the women murdered in the United States, one out of three of the murders are the direct result of an intimate partner. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that includes whether sexual, emotional or physically, that is imposed by a partner in an intimate relationship. This has been a major problem in the United States and for decades domestic violence continues to increase. We acknowledge that domestic violence continues to be an epidemic on the rise. According to Eve S. Buzawa and Carl G. Buzawa, reform of police action in domestic assault cases has been a recurrent theme for twenty years (Dunham & Albert, 2010, pg.137). Unfortunately, the traditional police response involving domestic violence assaults still seems to take precedent. Law enforcement maintains their reactive approach by means of avoiding interventions, screening out calls or sustaining the attitude that domestic violence is not a real crime. Nevertheless, the issue regarding the lack of presence and concern for domestic violence victims goes beyond the stereotypical reasons why law enforcement do not take a more proactive approach. The reasons may include personal attitudes, lack of training or even fear. However, when domestic cases involve minorities, law enforcement has been known to become suspiciously bias. Nonetheless, domestic violence is not only limited to male and female relationships. Homosexuals are also involved in domestic violence disputes as well and officers particularly avoid intervention in these cases even more than heterosexual relationships. In this report, we will explore the different characteristics involving police responses to domestic violence, the reasons why law enforcement hesitate in their response, and the different statistics involving intervention in heterosexual, homosexual and minority households. Avoiding Intervention We have acknowledged through many texts and the experience of our fellow officers that police work is a very mundane profession. The highlights we visualize on television shows are mostly for entertainment purposes. In reality, police work consists of domestic violence interventions, which also includes cases of drug abuse. Unfortunately, police interventions in domestic violence cases still lack a proactive response. Although today Domestic Violence intervention still needs to be revised in making calls of service more productive, it was not until the early 1970’s when making an arrest for felonies without a warrant were not legal (Doak, 2010, pg. 150). Only fourteen of those states allowed the same protocol for misdemeanors and since assault and battery is a misdemeanor, victims were forced to make their own criminal charges, which resulted in lack of arrests and lack of making a report (Doak, 2010, pg. 150). Fortunately since 2006, new legislature has authorized warrant less probable cause for misdemeanor arrests in all states concerning domestic violence cases (Doak, 2010, pg. 150) but law enforcement continues to show a lack of enthusiasm in making arrests. According to authors, Roger G. Dunham and Geoffrey P. Albert, there are several reasons concerning the reluctance to respond to domestic violence calls. The common issues that involve law enforcements lack of intervention include: Organizational impediments, lack of training, fear of injury and most importantly police attitudes. Domestic violence is misdemeanor, so in result police officers don’t think of this assault as a â€Å"real† crime. They avoid making arrest as to conclude that domestic violence is a waste of time. It’s common for police response to a domestic violence situation to lack enthusiasm or prolong making an appearance at all. However, fear is also an imperative reason that causes law enforcement to hesitate in the involvement of domestic violence cases. Until recently, police officers weren’t aware of the proper protocol in handling domestic violence cases. Also, in many cases the victim can also turn out to be the aggressor when an officer attempts to make an arrest. This can be a convincing deterrent in lack of police response. The most important reason I would like to discuss is police attitudes towards domestic violence cases and victims. The reasons I mention above are all characteristics that contribute to the lack of involvement; however the individual attitude of the officer places much emphasis on their actions. Victim Statistics Approximately 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States. In a 1995–1996 study conducted through the fifty states including the District of Columbia, it was found that nearly 25% of women were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or dating/acquaintance at some time in their lifetime (American Bar Association, 2010). According to the U.S. Department of Justice, between 1998 and 2002, of the almost 3.5 million crimes committed against family members, almost half of these were crimes against spouses. Eighty-four of those spouse abuse victims were females. In 2001, intimate partner violence made up 20% of all nonfatal violent crime experience by women. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by their intimate partner (American Bar Association, 2010). Two years ago my best friend was a part of these overwhelming statistics. For nearly three years she found herself in a very abusive relationship with her then boyfriend who is now the father of her three-year-old child. The late night calls I received kept me on edge because I just continued to worry when I was going to get that fatal call that my best friend was dead. There were numerous attempts of escape but like most of these women, â€Å"love† can sometimes be a curse. Fortunately, my friend was able to break away from her abuser. Unfortunately, turning to the statistics I mentioned above, all are not so lucky. Although going through that experience with my best friend was one of the hardest things in my life, knowing that there were numerous attempts to seek help from law enforcement to only be ignored angered me more. As I discussed before, police officers are not concerned with victims of domestic violence. At least that’s what many victims say including my best friend. Victims are not taken seriously because the misdemeanor crime is not taken seriously. Regardless of your race, being a victim of an intimate partner relationship continues to get the back seat. Studies have shown that certain characteristics do play a significant part of how a police officer will act to an individual call for service. In cases of domestic violence police attitudes towards women, different races, and even sexual preference has played a detailed part between making arrests and telling an abuser to just take a walk and cool off. Victim Characteristics â€Å"One in three women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Kathy Doherty, an executive director of an association named Between Friends (Chaney, K., 2008). It is very disturbing to be aware of these statistics and still lack the support from law enforcement to take the matters seriously. It’s even more unsettling to know that your race will play a significant role in how a police officer will exercise his/her own discretion. In studies I have read, theorists believe that when we evaluate the relationship between domestic violence victims and police response, institutional racism becomes a term widely used to define the relationship. According to the Macpherson Report’s definition: ‘Institutional Racism consists of the collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their color, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behavior which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people’ (Belur, J., 2008, pg. 428). According to Amanda L. Robinson and Megham S. Chandek, authors of Differential Police Response to Black Battered Women, stated â€Å"not only are colored women . . . handicapped on account of their sex, but they are almost everywhere baffled and mocked because of their race. Not only because they are women, but because they are colored women† (Chandek, M. S., & Robinson, A. L., (2000), pg. 30). Institutionalized racism is the very plague that has made police responses to domestic violence calls for service ineffective. Minority ethic women have not been treated fairly involving many accounts including sexism and racism. Today, gender and ethnic backgrounds are reasons for their complaints to be handled â€Å"differently†. According to reports made by the National Crime Victimization Survey and the FBI (homicide reports), Black females experienced domestic violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females, and about 22 times the rate of women of other races (Newto n, C.J. 2009). Minority Women are not the only class that suffers from discrimination when evaluating proactive police response. The LGBT community has also been a victim of sexism when seeking assistance from law enforcement in domestic violence cases. Take this example from the article, Stonewalled: Police Abuse and Misconduct Against Lesbian, Gay and Transgender People in the U.S.: A gay Filipino man was reportedly beaten on several occasions by his partner, a white U.S. citizen, who was reportedly addicted to drugs and alcohol. When police responded to one altercation, they reportedly arrested the Filipino man and threatened to report him to immigration authorities, saying: â€Å"You’re not a citizen. We should deport you, you shouldn’t be hitting Americans; you’re not an American.† The Filipino man was sentenced to 52 weeks of batterer’s intervention in court (Amnesty International USA, 2010) This type of injustice is unacceptable especially in a place where our Victims Rights and Human Rights are supposed to protect us. Ethnic backgrounds, gender or sex should never play a significant role in how a police officer addresses a call for service in a domestic violence case or any case. Institutional Racism must be abolished from our practices of handling violent victim’s cases regardless of certain characteristics of the victim. Changes for Reform Luckily, we as a nation have come forward to not only address the problems involving police response in domestic violence cases but to also promote a solution. There have been committees and social groups, such as Battered Women Advocates, who have helped to spread the awareness of domestic violence. Also the Minneapolis Domestic Violence experiment (1981-1982) has also played a significant part in finding a â€Å"far more effective way to deter future violence than merely separation of the parties or officer mediation† (Dunham R. G. & Albert, G. P, (2010), pg. 147). Although assaults and batteries are misdemeanors, provoking public interest in the issue can place unlimited pressures on our criminal justice system. Law enforcement agencies have developed plans and in-service trainings to make officers responding to domestic violence cases more comfortable and aware of their options. Training also leads to a decrease of fear of injury when approaching volatile situations. The most prominent federal response happened in 1994, when the Violence Against Women Act was passed to help the fight to stop violence against women. Conclusion Law enforcement plays a vital role in our criminal justice system. Although police officers are just regular citizens in uniform, we still hold them to a higher standard compared to the general public. We must understand that this country as a hold must work together to stop violence against women (or men) and the assistance of the numerous law enforcement agencies is more than needed. This report was designed to shine a light on the many issues surrounding calls for service in domestic violence cases. It’s not to suggest that all police officers are racist, sexist or homo-phobic. However, we must stay on top of the issue to better achieve in the success of stopping institutional racist attitudes. It will always start with that individual who is behind the uniform that is responding to a call. To continue to generate discussion will only make the issue of domestic violence involving police interaction an issue of the past. References American Bar Association. (2010). Commission of Domestic Violence. Retrieved May 16, 2010, from http://new.abanet.org/domesticviolence/Pages/Statistics.aspx Amnesty International USA. (2010). Stonewalled: Police Abuse and Misconduct Against Lesbian, Gay and Transgender People in the U.S. Retrieved May 16, 2010, from http://www.amnestyusa.org/lgbt-human-rights/stonewalled-a-report/police-response/page.do?id=1106617 Belur, Jyoti. (2008). Is policing domestic violence institutionally racist? A case study of south Asian Women. Policing and Society, Volume 18, Issue 4, pg. 426-444. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2009). Prison Statistics. Retrieved October 27, 2009, from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/prisons.htm Chaney, K. (2008). Domestic Violence hits Black Women Harder. Chicago Defender Online. Doak, M.J. (2007). Domestic Violence, Law Enforcement, and Court Responses to Domestic Violence. Child Abuse and Domestic Violence, 147-165. Dunham, R. G., & Albert, G. P. (2010). Critical Issues in Policing. Illinois. Waveland Press. Newton, C, J. (2009). Domestic Violence: An Overview. Retrieved May 16, 2010, from http://www.findcounseling.com/journal/domestic-violence/domestic-violence-statistics.html Robinson, A. L., & Chandek, M. S. (2000). Differential Police

Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Chemical Oceanography: Tracing Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) Erika Mae A. Espejo 3rd year, BS Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman Abstract Dissolved organic matter (DOM), the fraction passing through a 0. 45 Â µm membrane filter, is considered poorly understood mixture of organic polymers because of its complexity. Although it largely influences a lot of biogeochemical processes in aquatic environments, its characterization is not that simple.However, due to the fact that it comprises optically active fraction called colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) together with the help of its colloidal components, tracing of DOM can be possible. Through different methods and instruments such as fluorescence excitation-emission spectroscopy, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), isolation-fractionation technique (pairing of fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy), and satellite remote sensors, analysis of DOM can be done wh ich can help elucidate its dynamics in aquatic environments.Introduction When a molecule absorbs light (energy), an electron is excited and promoted to an unoccupied orbital. Figure 1 shows a Jablonski diagram which describes what happens when an electron is excited: Fig. 1 Jablonski diagram The energy difference between the ground (S 0) and excited singlet states (S1, S2 or higher) determines the wavelengths at which light is absorbed. Absorption (excitation) can result in a range of transitions to various vibrational sublevels of excited singlet states, which is then followed by nonradiative relaxation to the lowest sublevel of the S 1 state, via vibrational relaxation and internal conversion.Internal conversion, singlet–triplet intersystem crossing and fluorescence then compete for relaxation to the ground state (S 0). The wavelength of the fluorescence emission is determined by the difference in energy between S1 and S0 states. The greater the conjugation in the molecule, the lesser the difference in energy resulting in a longer wavelength of fluorescence. Discussion The fraction passing through a 0. 45 Â µm filter includes material in true solution, together with some colloidal components, and is termed dissolved organic matter (DOM).It could be autochthonous/external (from degradation of terrestrial plant matter which is dissolved and transported through river systems and estuaries to the marine environment), or allochthonous/internal (from exudation by phytoplankton, excretion by zooplankton, and post-death organism decay process). DOM influences different aspects of aquatic environments like microbial and plankton (aquatic) ecology, trace metal speciation and transport, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) toxicity, trace water masses, mobilization of organic and inorganic pollutants, photo degradation, drinking water treatment, and carbon budgeting.This implies that tracing and characterization of DOM is essential to understand its dynamics ; however, since DOM is a complex and poorly understood heterogeneous mixture of aliphatic and aromatic polymers, and its composition varies in time and space depending on proximity to sources and exposure to degradation process, characterization is arduous (involves large sample volumes and many stages) [4]. The optically active fraction of DOM (passing through a 0. 2 Â µm filter) is called the colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). It absorbs ultraviolet and blue light radiation in 350-500 nm range and also fluoresces when excited by light .Its presence gives water a yellow/brown color (and often described as yellow substance or gelbstoff) and its light absorption is highest in the ultraviolet (UV) region and declines to near-zero levels in the red region of the spectrum [2]. It plays an important role in determining the underwater light fields, represents a significant component of ocean optical signals for satellite-based measurements of ocean color and can interfere in globa l and regional estimates of primary production; affects the ocean color, underwater light fields and aquatic chemistry through a suite of sunlight-initiated photochemical processes [3].Thus, using spectroscopy, it can be used as a tracer for the characterization of the DOM pool. This review discusses four approaches in fluorescence spectroscopy for tracing CDOM. The first one is the Fluorescence Emission-Excitation Spectroscopy. Fluorescence excitationemission matrices (EEMs) are emission scans from excitations over a range of wavelengths (? ) which provide information on number, types and abundance of fluorophores present in CDOM [4] . It can also ifferentiate between CDOM of terrestrial and marine origin (marine CDOM has a fluorescence maximum at shorter wavelengths than terrestrial). For multivariate analysis of EEMs, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a two-way data analysis method is used (for example 45 excitation ? times 150 emission ? equals 6750 variables). However, Stedmo n et. al said that Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) is better suited to EEMs since it is a three-way version of the PCA where the data are composed into tri-linear components. Equation 1 describes the PARAFAC model (the second approach): xijk = ? ifbifckf + ? ijk (1) where xijk is the intensity of the fluorescence for the ith sample at emission wavelength j and excitation wavelength k, aif is directly proportional to the concentration (moles) of the fth analyte in sample I, b jf is linearly related to the fluorescence quantum efficiency (fraction of absorbed energy emitted as fluorescence), ckf is linearly proportional to the specific absorption coefficient (molar absorbtivity) at excitation wavelength k, F defines the number of components in the model, and a residual matrix ? jk represents the variability not accounted for by the model. Figure 2 and figure 3 show that the model reproduces the main features of the measured EEMs when they sampled in the east coast of Jutland, Denma rk: This implies that PARAFAC modeling is an effective method of characterizing CDOM with EEMs. This approach was able to trace CDOM to help elucidate its dynamics: Stedmon et. al said that the model was successful in grouping the fluorophores present into groups with similar structure. They have found out that excitation at longer ? uggests that the fluorophores responsible for this fluorescence are more aromatic in nature or contain several functional groups, the ratio of fluorescence in this region (~500 nm) relative to the fluorescence at 450 nm, varies depending on the number of aromatic groups and, hence, the source of the material, and ratios twice as large in the estuary than in the terrestrial samples, suggests that the fluorescence is not only due to terrestrially derived matter but also CDOM produced/transformed in estuarine processes.As with the behavior of CDOM, results show that this approach distinguishing is capable between of CDOM derived from different sources sinc e there are considerable differences in the composition of CDOM from sources of DOM. Table 1 shows the behavior of CDOM from different sources: Table 1. Behavior of CDOM from different sources High fluorescence intensity Low fluorescence intensity Lakes: there is a net production of ? Transported out of the forest and again autochthonous DOM during estuarine mixing (where the freshwater input from the stream mixes with the saline waters of the inner estuary) ?In freshwater: due to mixing (dilution), and degradation/transformation ? In forest stream: photochemical degradation due to exposure to sunlight (photochemical degradation bleaches the DOM fluorescence and causes the specific fluorescence to decrease) ? Results show that this approach enables us to establish relationships between general characteristics of the DOM pool and its fluorescent properties. The third approach is the isolation-fractionation based techniques ((ion-exchange resins, reverse osmosis, rotary evaporation, a nd tangential flow ultrafiltration).However this approach uses isolates which may not completely reflect the actual structure, behaviour, interactions and reactivity of DOM in the natural environment due to alterations in the structure of the DOM during extraction and concentration and due to their removal from the original environment in which they were situated. Nevertheless, the paired fluorescence and absorbance measurements can still distinguish CDOM from different sources. Figure 4 shows that DOC against a340 for all sample sites and demonstrates a strong correlation (r=0. 9, n=30); a340 was found to be the best proxy for DOC from all the optical measurements taken, where a340 is absorption coefficient at 340 nm (provide a check for inner-filtering effects when highly absorbent DOM quenches fluorescence, resulting in a decrease in intensity): Fig. 4 Relationship of DOC and a340 measured in River Tyne, northern England The last approach is through satellite remote sensing, a me thod that could estimate the amount of CDOM in surface waters over large geographic areas would be highly desirable.Satellite remote sensing has the potential to CDOM observation with high spatial and temporal resolution and enables scaling up to the level of large ecosystems and biomes which implies that match-ups have really high correlation (hence approach is [3] . Figure 5 below shows satellite measurements of CDOM successful and verified): Satellite-derived CDOM products will allow us to estimate processed such as ecosystem production of DOM and sunlight decomposition of CDOM [7] . The new odel will also allow us to validate the remote sensing estimates of phytoplankton (chlorophyll concentration) and productivity, and may open up new possibilities for using ocean color remote sensing with studies in areas such as photochemistry, the photobiology of ultraviolet radiation and even ocean circulation [3]. Conclusion The importance of CDOM in tracing and characterizing DOM has been showed through the use of its optical properties; thus enabling us to explain the dynamics of its pool.The use of fluorescence spectroscopy makes it possible to distinguish the properties of CDOM which can enlighten us on how it influences the biogeochemical processes in the aquatic environments (for example the absorbance measurements can tell us what components of CDOM are present, its molecular weight, it sources, etc), and how it behaves in different environments. References: [1] Andy Bakera, Robert G. M. Spencer. Characterization of dissolved organic matter from source to ea using fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy [2] C. A. Stedmon*, S. Markager . Behaviour of the optical properties of coloured dissolved organic matter under conservative mixing [3] S. P. Tiwari, P. Shanmugam. An optical model for the remote sensing of coloured dissolved organic matter in coastal/ocean waters [4] Colin A. Stedmona, Stiig Markagera, Rasmus Bro. Tracing dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments using a new approach to fluorescence spectroscopy [5] Claude Belzile, Laodong Guo.Optical properties of low molecular weight and colloidal organic matter: Application of the ultrafiltration permeation model to DOM absorption and fluorescence [6] C. Romera-Castillo, M. Nieto-Cid, C. G. Castro , C. Marrase, J. Largier, E. D. Barton, X. A. Alvarez-Salgado. Fluorescence: Absorption coefficient ratio — Tracing photochemical and microbial degradation processes affecting coloured dissolved organic matter in a coastal system [7] http://neptune. gsfc. nasa. gov/science/slides. php? sciid=73

Chosen business: Tesco Essay

There are different types of information that Tesco use these are: – Verbal information: This is spoken information it could come from the customer, it could also come from Tesco if they let any promotions over the tannoy. – Written information: This is information that is written in a document, Tesco uses this type of information in its leaflets, receipts and collects this information from customers through comment cards etc. – Onscreen information: Tesco will use this type of information in their TV adverts so that they can get a lot of promotions across to their potential customers, they can also use this to show customers how good they are compared to their competitors and that their products are cheaper. – Multi-media: This type of information is a lot of different sources mixed in, it includes pictures, presentations, videos and can include on screen information, Tesco does not normally use this type of information because they tend to use types of i nformation that they can easily communicate with their customers such as verbal or written in the form of a leaflet or poster. – Web based: This type of information is given out or collected through the internet, Tesco have a website that they use to communicate information on the business to their customers. Customers can also give information through this by buying products online and giving reviews on Tesco. Tesco use these types of information for many different purposes, these are: – Updating knowledge: They use information to update their knowledge on things like what products are selling the most and which ones have high demand, they can then make sure that they supply all of these products for the customers, they can find this out by questionnaires etc. and also written sales figures and this will update their knowledge on what products are their best sellers so they can promote these. -Informing future developments: They use information to inform their future developments because if they can get lots of information from their customers then they can use this to make plans for their fut ure developments in order to make their organisation better, they can use customer feedback via written information. -Strategic direction: They use different types of information in order to decide which strategic direction they are going to take, they can use sales figures and department feedback to see what is making Tesco do so well. If they come across a problem, like they do not have enough sales then they can use this information to change their strategic direction. -SWOT analysis: They use both internal and external forms of information in order to see what their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are. Tesco will use sales, customer, department, competitor and growth information in order to conduct a swot analysis they will then find that their strengths are having specialist marketing expertise because they are such a huge organisation they know what they are doing. They also have weaknesses such as a large amount of competitors that could overtake them such as Asda and Morrison’s. An opportunity could be the development of technology such as self-scan machines that they can use to promote their business. A threat could be how Asda is currently top of the market and this means that they need to come up with more ideas to get above Asda. -Offering competitive insight: They will use information such as market share and published sales figures from other their competitors to see how good other competitors like Asda are doing they can they use these to see what they can do better. They will also use the on-screen information such as the TV adverts to get a competitive insight because they will see what offers their competitors are doing and try to match or outdo these. -Communicating sales promotions: They use both written, on screen and verbal information in order to communicate their sales promotions, they will do this because by using more than one method of information they can get more information and better information out to their customers and it will mean that more of the customers are likely to see the promotions and buy the products. -Inviting support for activities: They can use onscreen and written information to do this because if Tesco are holding a fundraiser then it is important that they can get this message out to their customers and staff so they will hand out leaflets on the activities they are holding and advertise it on the television for people who are not coming into store this will invite support. They can also use written information such as messages on bulletin boards in the staff room to invite support for new technology in the business such as new ICT and then staff will be able to voice their support or non-support for this new software etc. There is lots of places that Tesco get this information from, these can be both internal and external: Internal -Financial: This is a place where Tesco can get their information from because if Tesco is doing well and generating a profit then they know that they are doing something well and may not need to change their strategic direction if they are constantly growing and generating more money. -Human resources: This is a place where Tesco get their information from because they can tell them if the staff are good enough to do their job for example, do they have the right skills to do their job. Human resources can also give them a lot of information such as training that they are giving then Tesco can use the staff for different things because they will be trained to do this. -Marketing: This is a place where Tesco can get information on how departments are doing but they will also use this to give information out to their customers for example Marketing can advertise the promotions and create the adverts, they can also market new products that come into the business so that customers know what products exist so that they can buy them. -Purchasing: This is a place where Tesco can get their information because they will get information such as if they are getting a good deal on all the products that they are buying for their stores, they will also get information such as are they having good suppliers where deliveries arrive on time. -Sales: Tesco gets information from their sales because they can look at their sales figures to see what products are selling the best and what kind of products have high demand, they can then make sure that they make the most of these products and promote them more so that customers buy more e.g. Warburton’s because customers buy bread very often so it is often on promotion in Tesco. -Manufacturing: Tesco make their own brand products, they get information from this because they know how much it is costing them to manufacture these products, they can then put a reasonable price on the products so that they are giving their customers the best deal and they will be able to make profits if they know how much the product is going to cost them to manufacture. External -Government: Tesco get information from the government on things like how much they can legally pay their staff e.g. minimum wage, this is important information because they can use this to not spend too much on wages if they don’t need to but also to protect their staff. -Trade groupings: Tesco can use the information they get from trade groupings for things like their competitors because they will be meeting with these people and can then gain more of an insight into their business and Tesco can improve to be better. – Databases: Tesco can use the information they get from external databases in order to help their organisation, they can find out independently published databases on the sales of individual products that they sell. They can also get databases on how other competitors are doing so this information can help them to change their strategic direction if they need to. -Research: Tesco can do their own primary research into products and their customer service to see how they are doing but they can also use external secondary research, this can be done on forum sites where customers have reviewed Tesco and they can also do secondary research from people who have already published research and they can use this. -Reliability of data sources: If Tesco does a lot of secondary information then it is important that they find out how reliable to sources of the data are, if the person who took out the research is a reliable source e.g. a government source then they can use this well because they know that the information is reliable and will not mislead them but if it is from an anonymous source then it is not likely to be reliable and may be biased so it might not be the best idea to use this as it may lead to Tesco making wrong decisions. Task 2 (M1) Verbal information is an appropriate way of communicating and gathering information in Tesco because it allows for Tesco to get their information to their information to the customers quickly and would allow for Tesco to get all of their promotions out quickly and often verbal communication is a more persuading way of giving information and by giving the promotions verbally Tesco may be able to persuade their customers to buy more, so this would be an appropriate way for Tesco to get the information it needs across to its customers. The source of verbal information can come from sales, I think that this is an appropriate source for verbal information and for information in general because it comes from the customer themselves, it is normally a one on one encounter with the staff and the customer so this means that information is less likely to be manipulated because there is less people for it to go through before it can get used, so this source is reliable and valid because the info rmation is coming direct from the customer or the information is coming directly from the seller for promotions etc. Another type of information is written information, when Tesco uses this it is normally in the form of leaflets so that they can show their customers what is on offer at Tesco, it is an important and effective way of getting information across to the customer because it means that they can read it anytime they want, even when they are not in the store they can pick up the leaflet and see what is available at Tesco. Written information allows for the customer to view the information any time they want and it allows for Tesco to get the information out to many people at once, verbal information may not be appropriate when trying to get a lot of information out to a lot of people because it is often not possible to talk to many people at once other than a tannoy and also verbal information will only allow for information to be passed to people who are in the store at the time whereas written information can be given to people who are not in store. The source of written information could be marketing within Tesco, this is an appropriate source of written information because marketing has the right skills in order to make an effective leaflet that gets all of the information needed to the customer, they know from other departments what information needs to go into the leaflet e.g. what promotions are on or what jobs are available via human resources so they can then market and advertise this in a way that will attract customers to take and read the information. The final type of information that Tesco use is on-screen information, this is in the form of TV adverts and sometimes on screen adverts in store, this is a good way of getting information across to the customer about things that might be going on at Tesco e.g. new products or events that are being held. On-screen information is a good way of giving out information because customers will still remember what they have seen even after the advert has finished and this means they will remember what is happening or what products there is and if people see something they are interested in then they are likely to go and buy it as a result of the on-screen information, it also allows for Tesco to run adverts even when the stores are not open, it also allows for them to advertise directly to the customer in an environment that they are comfortable with because most people watch the television at home and will be relaxed and more likely to take in information. It is reliable because it has come directly from Tesco which means all of the information is what they want to share and all the information is correct. A source of on-screen information at Tesco is the marketing department, they are responsible for advertising and marketing all new products and generally advertising the organisation. They will be able to make the information clear and attractive using multimedia and on-screen and if customers are attracted to an advert they are likely to listen and be interested, allowing for the information to be shared to the customer. Marketing is a good source of information for on-screen because they know what they are doing and have the right skills to make an effective advert that is fit for purpose.