Organizational Structure of Different Types of Companies Essay

Organizational Structure of Different Types of Companies - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that organizational structure has to be appropriately aligned with organization strategies and also has to be implemented together in strategy formulation as well as implementation by focusing on five core areas. These five core areas are strategy implementation; strategic change; human resources and strategy implementation; strategy and structure; and incentives and controls. Strategy implementation model assists in adapting to change through improving one particular model of objectives, controls, structures, mechanism, integration and also incentives for implementing company’s strategy. On the other hand, strategic change helps to understand the implementation stages. This will help the hierarchy in understanding who in the organization supports the change or who are against it and which way to conquer the change resistance, these all are understandable in strategic change. Human Resources and Strategy Implementation consists of HR g uidelines with strategy completion needs. Strategy and Structure is a vital tool for knowing how strategy concerns structure as well as how the decision of structure includes efficiency as well as effectiveness. Lastly, Incentives and Controls are creating some pathways to motivate and also control the performance of achieving a successful coordination. Global companies structure their activities keeping in mind a need for venturing into a foreign land. Therefore, they have to be flexible in their organizational structure as doing business in the different country has with different requirements so they have to be prepared accordingly. Although working in different countries of the world gives them advantages from the economic point of view as they can go for economies of scale in their production system and also save on actions like R&D, marketing, finance, and operations are accomplished which might not be obtainable to the domestic companies.  

Intelligence led policing Essay Example for Free

Intelligence led policing Essay The terrorist attacks of September 2001 had several governments taken aback of their incapacity to detect and prevent crimes of such magnitude. The United State’s Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, for example, have been working extra hard to detect and thwart such mishaps now and in the future. In order to realize this, most aspects of national security have been reviewed by various governments around the world (Wisler and Onwudiwe, 2009). One of these aspects is intelligence improvement and use for both internal and international security. Of most importance is internal security, given the fact that crimes such as international terror are planned and carried out by deterrents that are already living among us. Because the police have the mandate to provide internal security, they require effective intelligence to enable them to collect and act on any information related to looming attacks and dangers. Apart from intelligence led policing, there are numerous other types of policing. However, the main ones are: knowledge-based policing, problem based policing and community policing. For any crime type to be bunged, the intelligence used by police ought to be based on all possibly available information and data, collected and thoroughly evaluated. Intelligence has been defined in multiple ways. For the sake of this discussion, we will settle on a single definition: it is collecting data and information precisely touching on crime, analyzing and drawing conclusions on it. Therefore, intelligence is not any kind of information but that which has been studied and quality conclusions made on it. Intelligence can then be used to inform any concerned decision maker of the several available choices. The security personnel of any department, either the police or the military, can then draw on the analyzed findings to carry out their duties of preventing and stopping crimes by strategizing and laying good plans on how to achieve their set objectives. Intelligence led policing is a structured method of collecting, analyzing and evaluating data and information related to crime. The analyzed information is then used to guide the institutions which enforce law in determining their actions. It was first used in the United Kingdom in 1990 and later received a huge acceptance in the United States after the 2001 terrorist attacks. The Kent police in the UK used this kind of policing on car stealing, home breaks and certain types of crimes which were then considered high priority. The world’s governments later decided to use this method alongside others to curb international crime especially terrorism and to react effectively to simpler crimes at the domestic front (Wisler and Onwudiwe, 2009). The problem based policing is broad in its coverage bearing its stand on the notion that other types of policing are not committed to solving the basic criminal acts. While it concentrates on crimes that need the attention of the police and that it handles other issues other than implementing crime prevention programs, is not able to cover all sorts of crimes. On the other hand Public policing usually focus on a single type of crime for example street gangs only. It is normally used when certain crimes occur and their area of operation is the streets. It is also effective in the sense that the time, when the required information is obtained and when action is taken on it, is relatively short. Its mainstay is to deter and disable unlawful trends. Criminals are also profiled to help in analysis. Finally, its approach involves the use of tour of duty personnel, strategic divisions and detectives.

As I Lay Dying: Styles Used By William Faulkner :: essays research papers

As I Lay Dying: Styles Used By William Faulkner -Darl's Section (p.128) Most authors have certain styles that result in bringing across certain ideas. In As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner uses a subtle and discreet narrative manner to bring forth important pieces of information that adds to the story, and important themes. In one of the chapters narrated by Darl, this is shown very well In this chapter Darl uses a flashback to let us get a more in-depth look at the Bundren family; to let us see why it is so "dysfunctional." In this chapter we learn more about the relationships within the family, and more about Addie, about whom we previously have not learned much. We see how keen Darl's sense of intuition is, and we learn an important family secret. Darl is often used as an objective speaker, although he is indeed involved with the situation he is speaking about. In this chapter he recalls Jewel's purchase of his horse. This is a strong clue that Jewel is not Anse's son, since Anse is extremely lazy and would never work as hard as Jewel did for a horse. We also see the tension between Anse and Jewel. We see the lack of respect Jewel has for Anse. It is rather ironic when Anse says "He's just lazy, trying me" (p. 129) Since Jewel has been working really hard, and it is Anse who is lazy. Furthering on Jewel and Anse's relationship, I feel that it is fairly evident that Jewel knows that Anse is not his father. This is illustrated in the following section on page 136: "Jewel looked at Pa, his eyes paler than ever. 'He won't never eat a mouthful of yours' he said. 'Not a mouthful. I'll kill him first. Don't you never think it. Don't you never.' "The antagonism Jewel holds toward Anse is enormous, and this scene intensifies it showing that Jewel knows the truth or at least has a fair idea. We also see that Darl knows, and how he knows. At the end of the chapter, he sees his mother crying over Jewel when he is sleeping. He could see her anguish and almost feel it. His empathy and intuition led him to discovering the truth, and he also confirms his knowledge of Dewey Dell's pregnancy. We see the strength of his intuition and how it affects the rest of the family. The fact that Darl knows probably heightens the rivalry between the two brothers. In this chapter we see the way the family was before Addie's death and

Iago’s ego in “Othello” by William Shakespeare Essay

Sometimes there are people who are so evil and deceitful one can just feel dirty. Listening to them talk, hearing their words, and seeing their actions just makes one’s skin crawl. During the reading and the viewing of Othello it doesn’t take long to get this feeling about Iago. He is such manipulative, self-serving, and dishonest person; making it obvious he would be a man with a personality disorder. A narcissist is one who is only concerned about one’s self, manipulative, and will use anyone to get what they want. There is no doubt that Iago is the destructive villain in this play. Without Iago’s horrible traits and conniving actions this play would be very boring. He has been considered one of the most villainous characters of all time. Being around a person this evil is very frightening, they are able to accomplish so much with their manipulation. In this play there is no time wasted introducing the real characteristics of Iago. We see his self-servin g anger issues from the beginning. Iago is quick to mention his hatred for Othello (1.3.365). Iago’s ego has been hurt by Othello claiming Cassio as his lieutenant and passing up Iago. Iago feels that he has way more experience in battle than Cassio and just pretends to serve Othello until he can get his revenge (1.1.10-40). Iago mentions later that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia: â€Å"And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets he’s done my office† (1.3.366-367). Roderigo is the first person to fall to his deceitful ways. Iago’s craftiness get Rodergio to trust him with his with his money; Rodergio says, â€Å"That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were mine†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Iago states, â€Å"Put money in thy purse† (1.3.328) so that he might be able to win Desdemona’s love with gifts Iago will buy her. But the dishonest plan is here because he plans on keeping that money for himself. It is amazing to watch how quick and smart Iago can be with the other characters. He is able to quickly take a situation and find a way to use others as pawns to work his plan out. He is words and actions are so manipulative putting thoughts in others heads in order for them to assist him in his master plan.

How democratic is the UK Essay

It can be argued that Britain is both democratic and undemocratic; this can be shown via a range of issues relating to British politics and the society in which we live. The generally accepted definition of a democracy is a form of government in which the major decisions of government and the direction of policy behind these decisions – rests directly or indirectly on the freely given consent of the freely given consent of the freely majority of the adults government. There are two forms of democracy but the UK is run through an indirect or representative democracy as opposed to a direct democracy, which relies on referendums and would be difficult in a large, modern society. Furthermore, the UK is a parliamentary democracy, the government and representatives are intermingled meaning that the UK does not have separation of powers, meaning that the executive, legislative and judicial courts all work together unlike the American Presidential system which could create a lack in communication. In this essay, I propose to argue both for and against and eventually come to a conclusion whether the UK is democratic or not and give a comparison between the UK and the US in terms of democracy. There is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ democracy but certain aspects are needed to make a democracy. A democracy needs a political system for choosing and replacing the government through frequent, free and fair elections in which people choose their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office. Elections have to occur at regular intervals, as prescribed by law. Those in power cannot extend their terms in office without asking for the consent of the people again in an election. For elections to be free and fair, they have to be administered by a neutral, fair, and professional body that treats all political parties and candidates equally. All parties and candidates must have the right to campaign freely, to present their proposals to the voters both directly and through the mass media. A democracy also needs the active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life. To vote wisely, each citizen should listen to the views of the different parties and candidates, and then make his or her own decision on whom to support. Furthermore there should be protection of human rights of all citizens and a rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens. Does the UK fulfill these four key elements? Yes, the UK does. Therefore we can say the UK governmental system. Democracy by definition means the government by the people. That means that all the people should be able to have their say in one way or another in everything that affects their lives. As said previously, the UK is run through a representative democracy but there are problems with a representative democracy. Representative democracy would be fine if the representatives would really make all their decisions only after consulting their constituencies. In the least, after having a clear idea about the views of their constituents on a particular issue, and trying to accommodate these views as best as possible. However, a vast majority of countries that call themselves Representative Democracies are not true democracies according to the above definition. Most of them are actually just Elected Dictatorships. People can vote usually only once every four or five years. They do not vote on any issues. They just elect their so called representatives who then until the next elections have no obligations by law and little incentives to base their decisions on individual issues on the wishes on their electorate. They hardly ever bother to consult them on their stands on various issues. Therefore, legislative bodies composed of such â€Å"representatives† can effectively act in a very dictatorial manner between the elections. So to meet the definition of democracy, a direct democracy must be in place, like in Switzerland. The UK is divided up into constituencies. Within these constituencies, are MPs for each political party. The first past the post system means that the MP with most votes (first past the post) will win power for their party in that constituency. In the UK voting system, we do not vote who is our next Prime Minister. Our vote goes towards the MPs for our constituency. In this sense, the idea of UK as a representative democracy is flawed as we as people are not voting for one single figure but for an MP. The reason for voting for that party may be influenced by the leader of that party but you are not voting specifically for that person. An element of Britain’s governmental system is that there is no written constitution. This means that, theoretically, the government is free to pass any legislation as long as they have the majority in parliament which could be easily achieved if the party has a large majority of seats. This means there is no safeguard for laws that can be altered or new ones that could be created. This is very undemocratic as the government therefore has too much power. The government is also in possession of other powers such as the royal prerogative that allows the prime minister to go to war without consent from parliament. An example of where this was used was the Iraq war in 2005, which was heavily resented by a large majority of the public. Even though this aspect of Britain’s governmental system is undemocratic, parliament generally prevents government from taking to much power.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, 1911

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, 1911 What Was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire? On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out at  the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City. The 500 workers (who were mostly young women)  located on the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors of the Asch building did everything they could to escape, but the poor conditions, locked doors, and faulty fire escape caused 146 to die in the fire. The large number of deaths in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire exposed the dangerous conditions in high-rise factories and prompted the creation of new building, fire, and safety codes around the United States. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. Both men had emigrated from Russia as young men, met in the United States, and by 1900 had a little shop together on Woodster Street they named the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. Growing quickly, they moved their business into the ninth floor of the new, ten-story Asch Building (now known as  New York Universitys  Brown Building) on the corner of Washington Place and Greene Street in New York City. They later expanded into the eighth floor and then the tenth floor. By 1911, the Triangle Waist Company was one of the largest blouse makers in New York City. They specialized in making shirtwaists, the very popular womens blouse that had a tight waist and puffy sleeves. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company had made Blanck and Harris rich, largely because they exploited their workers. Poor Working Conditions Approximately 500 people, mostly immigrant women, worked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Companys factory in the Asch Building. They worked long hours, six days a week, in cramped quarters and were paid low wages. Many of the workers were young, some only age 13 or 14. In 1909, shirtwaist factory workers from around the city went on strike for an increase in pay, shorter work week, and the recognition of a union. Though many of the other shirtwaist companies eventually agreed to the strikers demands, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company owners never did. Conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory remained poor. A Fire Starts On Saturday, March 25, 1911, a fire started on the eighth floor. Work had ended at 4:30 p.m. that day and most of the workers were gathering their belongings and their paychecks when a cutter noticed a small fire had started in his scrap bin. No one is sure what exactly started the fire, but a fire marshal later thought a cigarette butt had possibly gotten tossed into the bin. Nearly everything in the room was flammable: hundreds of pounds of cotton scraps, tissue paper patterns, and wooden tables. Several workers threw pails of water on the fire, but it quickly grew out of control. Workers then tried to use the fire hoses that were available on each floor, for one last attempt to put out the fire; however, when they turned the water valve on, no water came out. A woman on the eighth floor tried to call the ninth and tenth floors to warn them. Only the tenth floor received the message; those on the ninth floor didnt know about the fire until it was upon them. Desperately Trying to Escape Everyone rushed to escape the fire. Some ran to the four elevators. Built to carry a maximum of 15 people each, they quickly filled with 30. There wasnt time for many trips to the bottom and back up before the fire reached the elevator shafts as well. Others ran to the fire escape. Though about 20 reached the bottom successfully, about 25 others died when the fire escape buckled and collapsed. Many on the tenth floor, including Blanck and Harris, made it safely to the roof and then were helped to nearby buildings. Many on the eighth and ninth floors were stuck. The elevators were no longer available, the fire escape had collapsed, and the doors to the hallways were locked (company policy). Many workers headed to the windows. At 4:45 p.m., the fire department was alerted to the fire. They rushed to the scene, raised their ladder, but it only reached to the sixth floor. Those on the window ledges started jumping. 146 Dead The fire was put out in half an hour, but it was not soon enough. Of the 500 employees, 146 were dead. The bodies were taken to a covered pier on Twenty-Sixth Street, near the East River. Thousands of people lined up to identify the bodies of loved ones. After a week, all but seven were identified. Many people searched for someone to blame. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company owners, Blanck and Harris, were tried for manslaughter, but were found not guilty. The fire and the large number of deaths exposed the hazardous conditions and fire danger that was ubiquitous in these high-rise factories. Shortly after the Triangle fire, New York City passed a large number of fire, safety, and building codes and created stiff penalties for non-compliance. Other cities followed New Yorks example.

A Friend of Jims

A Friend of Jims A Friend of Jims A Friend of Jims By Maeve Maddox Theo Smith writes: I am often frustrated by what I call a double possessive. We seem to say and write friends of Jims not friends of Jim when the item possessed   is stated before that which possesses it. But when the possessor is identified first, we say, for example, Jims friends. Whats up with this? The double possessive appears in that of indicates possession and so does the apostrophe s (s) appended to the possessor. What can you tell me about this?    This double genitive construction includes both a friend of Jims and a friend of his. Its one of those English idioms that tries the souls of logic lovers, but it has been in the language for a very long time because it works. The double genitive makes it possible to distinguish between definiteness and indefiniteness. It also eliminates ambiguity. For example, theres a distinct difference of meaning between the following phrases: a photo of Daniel a photo of Daniels Although in use since Chaucers time or before, the double genitive attracted the attention of 18th century grammarians; their disapproval did nothing to stamp it out. Modern style manuals offer guidelines. According to the Chicago Manual of Style, The possessive form may be preceded by of where one of several is implied. â€Å"A friend of Dick’s† and â€Å"a friend of his† are equally acceptable. 7.29 The AP Style Book goes into more detail: DOUBLE POSSESSIVE: Two conditions must apply for a double possessivea phrase such as a friend of Johnsto occur: The word after of must refer to an animate object, and The word before of must involve only a portion of the animate objects possessions. Otherwise, do not use the possessive form of the word after of: The friends of John Adams mourned his death. (All the friends were involved.) He is a friend of the college. (Not colleges because college is inanimate). For a linguists take on the double genitive, read Mark Libermans Genitive Anxiety. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Contronyms (Words with Contradictory Meanings)"Confused With" and "Confused About"7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Mutually Exclusive

Mutually Exclusive Mutually Exclusive Mutually Exclusive By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Could you write a piece on the use of the term â€Å"mutually exclusive†? I always get a little befuddled when someone says, â€Å"This and that are not mutually exclusive.† I have to stop and do the math to make sure I follow. The expression â€Å"mutually exclusive† is used in statistics to refer to events that cannot occur at the same time. For example, with $10 in my pocket, I go into a store intending to buy a battery and a jump drive, but each item costs $10. I can buy the battery or I can buy the jump drive, but not both. The purchases are â€Å"mutually exclusive.† Writers use the term when discussing subjects that seem to be so opposed in nature as to be incapable of coexisting but which, in their opinion, can in fact do so. For example: Feminism and Christianity dont have to be mutually exclusive. Interpretation: Feminism, which advocates the equality of the sexes, is being contrasted with Christianity, a patriarchal religion that teaches female submission. Privacy and Security Are Not Mutually Exclusive. Interpretation: Security, in the sense of government defenses that rely on surveillance and data gathering, is being contrasted with privacy, the condition of being free from public attention. Are Religion and Science mutually exclusive? Interpretation: Religion, which requires adherents to believe in events that defy the laws of physics, is contrasted with science, which insists on physical proofs before belief. The Germans don’t see brains and brawn as mutually exclusive. Interpretation: â€Å"All brawn and no brains† is an idiom that reflects the popular belief that athletic qualities and intelligence are not to be found in the same person. The statement, from a sports site, posits the idea that intelligence can be expected of athletes. Three other common expressions that use the adverb mutually to mean a reciprocal action or status are: mutually beneficial: good for both parties. Example: After 1940,  Mexico  and the  United States  slowly crafted a  mutually beneficial  relationship. mutually delighted: good feelings on each side. Example: By the end of their first term together, in the spring of 1874, it was  clear  that teacher and pupil were  mutually delighted.   mutually assured destruction: a state of hostility in which two equally strong opponents are capable of destroying one another in open conflict. Example: Fifty years ago this week the idea of mutually assured nuclear destruction was outlined in a major speech. But how did this frightening concept of the Cold War fade from peoples psyches? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Passed vs Past"Gratitude" or "Gratefulness"?Supervise vs. Monitor

Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Question - Essay Example gs about [her] own life, and that is the part that made [her] feel violated,† (contrasting with other arts that are iterative of her work, such as episodes of Law and Order or CSI, which just use her professional discoveries). Essentially, Lewis is saying that though someone has a right to use her professional discoveries, publications and so on in whatever way they like (these being public documents that she puts out as part of her job) there is something special about the circumstance of her life that belong to her alone, and no one should be able to use them without her permission. This is an argument that makes a good deal of sense. Surely the person who wrote the play wanted to be accurate about the life of someone like Lewis, but that does not mean they needed to actually steal instances from her own life. This speaks to lazy, derivative work on the part of the playwright – it would be as if someone who wrote a new play could not think of a new villain so simply wrote in Lord Voldemort or Darth Vader. Part of the magic of art is that it takes something that is creative and makes it feel real and authentic, and small personal details are an important part of making a character real. To simply steal those details from a living person is not doing your job as an artist. This play is not

The Role of the Uniqueness of the Holocaust in two Jewish religious Essay

The Role of the Uniqueness of the Holocaust in two Jewish religious responses to the Holocaust - Essay Example His priority is to document and explain the Jewish experience of the Shoah evaluating its impact on Judaism. Jacobs begins by describing the ‘holocaust’ as murder, debunking the historical connotations that word has of a ‘burnt sacrifice’. He prefers Shoah which means ‘total destruction’. He considers this to be an important distinction given that it was not Germans who were sacrificed, but Jews who were put to death. Jacobs refers to the Shoah as ‘unprecedented’ rather than ‘unique’. 'unprecedented' rather than 'unique'. It was Katz1 who first referred to the 'unique' intentionality of the holocaust, distinguishing 'genocide as the intent to destroy the national, religious, or ethnic identity of a group' from 'the intent to destroy physically all persons who identify with and are identified by a given national, religious or ethnic identity'. Denialists argue that this mystifies and removes the event from its place in history, denying the historical fact that others were subjected to similar genocide, and -- ironically - to make all those who experienced the Shoah less human. "those Jews who suffered did not think of themselves as victims of a "Holocaust." Nor did [they] use such terms as "Churban" or "Shoah," . Rather, one typically spoke about the "recent Jewish catastrophe," or the "disaster."2 Denialists claim that the original goal was resettlement in Madagascar or Russia; it shifted to extermination for expediency. What, they argue, is 'unique' about that Ethnic cleansing is quite common. Look at the Interahamwe of Uganda, the Bosnian Serb paramilitaries led by Karadi and Mladi, or the anti-independence militias of East Timor. American - Indian Ward Churchill views Steven Katz as a member of an exclusive tribe of Jewish historians who "argue the uniqueness of Jewish victimization" and who consequently "downgrade and shunt into historical oblivion" the suffering "not only the victims of the many genocides occurring outside the framework of Nazism, but non-Jews targeted for elimination within the Holocaust itself," specifically Gypsies and Slavs. Jewish theologians continue to disagree with the Denialists, since "it was never the quality of [the Shoah's] sheer terror or unlimited suffering that set it aside from other catastrophes but the meaning of this suffering, its causes and effects, what has been called the intentionality of the Holocaustt"3. Katz responds to Particularists (eg Jacobs) and Universalists (eg Denialists) as follows: 'the Nazi program of genocide, if understood as a war against a self-conscious Jewish identify, is neither unique in Jewish historical terms nor world historical ones'4 Further, 'Quantity and proportion are not sufficient by themselves to establish a judgment to uniqueness pro or contra'5 Why then do Jewish theologians believe that the Jews were intentionally treated differently from other proscribed races Hitler said; 'If with the help of his Marxist creed, the Jew is victorious over the other peoples of the world, his crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity and this planet will, as it did thousands of years ago, move through the ether devoid of menby defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting the work of the Lord.'6 The Nazis dehumanized Jews and embellished their own rhetoric with demonic

Leagile Manufacturing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Leagile Manufacturing - Essay Example The paper throws light on the concept of Just in time was introduced to reduce the cost of the overall production by reducing the waste in the process. The reduction in the waste associated with the production process decreased the unnecessary cost of storage and maintenance which also contributed in the overall decrease of the cost of the production, besides, concept of Just in Time was aimed to reduce the involvement of high proportion of its working capital towards the stock as Just in Time involves the ordering of stock only when required. Considering the advantages of the Just in Time technology, the vice president of the organization, Scott Murphy, decided to implement the system in order to provide the organization with an effective edge in respect of its competitors. However the implementation of the Just in Time environment emerged to be a failure for the organization, and problem was encountered in almost every aspect of the business. After the new system was implemented in the organization by Scott Murphy, the organization found out that instead of reaping benefit for the organization, the new system is causing hindrance in the productivity to a large extent and there have been complaints from every sector of the business, and also gave rise to the dissatisfaction among various section of the employee. The purchasing department of the organization was highly dissatisfied with the process. According to the words of the purchase manager, an increase in cost emerged after the new system was implemented in the organization.... izations spend a huge amount of money towards the protection of the inventory and its maintenance, and also suffers a threat from the loss, if the inventories are not used due to economic fluctuations or due to the change in taste and preference of the customers. But Leagile manufacturing’s main problem arose with the start of the ordering for the material when on need. The costs associated with the purchase orders are significant and the overall cost of the purchase orders increased to a large extent as frequent orders were placed for the purchase of materials. Apart from the problem of the rise in cost of the purchase, the organization faced a significant problem with that of the frequent change in schedule for the order. As the stock of the inventory was calculated on a regular basis, so the schedule of orders were also changed accordingly and caused significant amount of trouble. However the problem associated with the process of production can be identified in the failure of the organization in determining the right amount of the inventory required for the production. If the process of the identification of the right amount of product would have been done in a proper way, then the case of shortage of material in the process of production would not have occurred and the production people would not have asked for the next day delivery of the material for the change in the schedule. As a result of the failure to deliver the right amount of raw material in time, the overall production process was hampered and even caused a lag in the production. The Just in Time incorporated in the organization was successful in reducing the inventory cost but the associated cost increased the overall cost of the production. The incorporation of the just in Time technology also

Business Ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Ethics - Assignment Example At will employment can be defined as one in which the employee is free to quit from the job at any given point of time and the employer as well is free to terminate an employee for any reason at any given point of time except that the reason for termination cannot be an illegal one such as retaliation, discrimination and violation of public policy. Thus an employer does have any legal obligation as such to an employee prior to termination. At will employee may get terminated even for the most whimsical reasons, also an employer is free to change the employment terms such as compensation and job responsibility at his will. At will employee’s employment is held as a voluntary action and under such an employment, the employee cannot be forced to work and an employer cannot employ them for an indefinite time (DelPo & Guerin, p. 34). However, there is a difference between legal and ethical obligations. Although legally an employer might not have an obligation towards his at will em ployee but ethically he might have as it is related to the morality of that person. However, since every person has his or her own sense of ethics therefore, it is hard to define what set of ethical obligation does an employer will have for his employee under at will employment. Set forth a policy concerning romance in the workplace It is necessary for an organization to issue policies for couples in work place. In order to protect against claims of nepotism, favoritism and sexual harassment, organization must adopt policies on workplace dating. These policies stipulate the types of intimate relationships which are acceptable in the workplace and also mention those which are not and violate the office decorum. Some organizations provide clear code of conduct guidelines to its employees which are expected to be followed at work place. The guidelines pertain to display of affection in public and also disclosure of relationship to the management. The violation of the guidelines of work place dating policy by couples can pose a serious threat to the employee involved. Organization can go for informal counseling to formal interventions such as transfers, written warnings and also termination. According to Karl and Sutton employers favor a stricter policy when performance of couples suffers or the romance becomes noticeable to all the members. Also management should not take any action when a couple’s performance does not suffer due to the relationship or rather shows improvement. In absence of formal work place romance policy, it is the duty of the manager to keep his eyes open so that the relationship or the romance does not hamper the general workflow. The dating policies vary from one organization to another thus it is necessary for employees to familiarize with both informal and written policies (Waldron & Kassing, p.120). Define insider trading. Discuss whether insider trading is ethical. Insider trading is defined as a term that is used when a person is involved in insider trading if he purchases or sells the stocks in public company which is based on non public information about a particular company. The information that is gained by means of unfair advantage makes the trading unethical. But not all kinds of insider trading are illegal (Emanuel & Emanuel, p.253). A huge amount of quantitative and qualitative information exists in the markets which are an important part of free market system and thus it can be said that insider trading i

Judicial restraint and judicial activism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Judicial restraint and judicial activism - Essay Example On the other hand, the doctrine of judicial restraint holds the assumption that the courts are supposed to submit to the decisions made by the executive and legislative branches. This is because the people elect the president and the members of the Congress and the federal judiciary members are not. The courts are also supposed to submit to the agency decisions and rules. In other words, under this doctrine, the courts are not supposed to hinder the implementation of agency rules and legislative acts unless they are precisely unconstitutional. For instance, many states before the case of Roe v. Wade held that abortion was illegal, regulated sodomy, made homosexual sodomy and adultery a crime (Bardes, Schmidt, and Shelley 459). Judicial activism approach is appropriate because the courts are able to act in an independent manner. In other words, the courts can make their decisions without the influence of the executive and the legislature. These two branches of the government (executive and legislature) at times make decisions that only serve their interests and not that of the people (Bardes, Schmidt, and Shelley 459). For instance, the in Griswold v. CT case of 1965, the court suggested that the rights to privacy existed and thus, the case overturned the Connecticut law that regulated birth

Small Business Innovation Research Programs Case Study

Small Business Innovation Research Programs - Case Study Example Towards this direction, it is noted that ‘a framework based on wisdom rather than knowledge alone provides strategic options for paradigm development in the field of small business and entrepreneurship research’ (Mathys et al., 2005, 657) - a field similar with the one to which the article under examination refers. The current paper focuses on the analysis of the article ‘Technological Entrepreneurship and Small Business Innovation Research Programs’ by Kropp, Fredric, and Zolin, Roxanne. The above article was published in 2005 in the academic journal Academy of Marketing Science Review. In accordance with the authors’ statement, the above article focuses on ‘the conceptual role that government technology programs can play in facilitating the process of technological entrepreneurship’ (page 1). The case of the ‘Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) program - United States’ (page 1) is used as an example of the potential support of the stage to the small businesses. The article shows the various methods available to small businesses that are interested in using governmental programs for the development of their performance - it is also explained how these programs could lead to the increase of profitability of firms in various industrial sect ors. The overall effectiveness of these programs is criticized - the authors suggest potential measures that could be used by firms that need to improve their performance – either in the short or the long term – through relevant governmental programs. The value of the article cannot be doubted; however, there are a few points that should be reviewed. Suggestions are made and relevant criticism is developed making sure that any assumption is appropriately justified with reference to the text and to academic material with similar content. The authors use a specific theoretical model, the one created by Lumpkin and Dessin 1996 in order to show the effects of government programs on the improvement of performance of firms that operate in the technology sector – the special reference is made on the firms of small size.

Judicial restraint and judicial activism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Judicial restraint and judicial activism - Essay Example On the other hand, the doctrine of judicial restraint holds the assumption that the courts are supposed to submit to the decisions made by the executive and legislative branches. This is because the people elect the president and the members of the Congress and the federal judiciary members are not. The courts are also supposed to submit to the agency decisions and rules. In other words, under this doctrine, the courts are not supposed to hinder the implementation of agency rules and legislative acts unless they are precisely unconstitutional. For instance, many states before the case of Roe v. Wade held that abortion was illegal, regulated sodomy, made homosexual sodomy and adultery a crime (Bardes, Schmidt, and Shelley 459). Judicial activism approach is appropriate because the courts are able to act in an independent manner. In other words, the courts can make their decisions without the influence of the executive and the legislature. These two branches of the government (executive and legislature) at times make decisions that only serve their interests and not that of the people (Bardes, Schmidt, and Shelley 459). For instance, the in Griswold v. CT case of 1965, the court suggested that the rights to privacy existed and thus, the case overturned the Connecticut law that regulated birth

Leadership and management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership and management - Essay Example With a team made up of members that include a newly graduated nurse named Michael, seasoned staff and Certified Nurses’ Aides (CNAs), I have to work on encouraging healthy relationships among them. I have to make Michael feel welcome to the team and to lead the other members to do the same. I have to set standards and rules for the team members to follow and none of us should be exempted – not even me. This way, I can be respected and they will have no doubts about following my orders; they will know that the things I do are all for the best interest of the hospital and of our group. Needless to say, I have to act swiftly and decisively when there are problems to be solved. I have to address matters that give rise to conflicts among my members. Conflicts can have damaging effects on the organization as a whole. Not addressing the conflict would also make the team members believe that management tolerates it despite its harmful consequences. It is, thus, critical that conflicts are dealt with right and are resolved fast in ethical and professional ways. This would boost the confidence of the rest of the organization in the management or in the company. In the prevailing scenario, I can easily sense that there is conflict and it has to be settled fast. The signs of a conflict are not hard to identify – two senior CNAs have grown to dislike the Michael who used to work with them as a fellow CNA while going through his nursing course and who now as a nursing graduate stands to have better qualifications than them. While they used to have harmonious relationships, the senior CNAs have now started to make things difficult for Michael. Indeed, relationships among people in the workplace are almost always affected by changes and this case at hand is an illustration of this fact. The change in Michael’s circumstances has made him an advantaged competitor of the two CNAs when considering

School prefects generally enforce rules Essay Example for Free

School prefects generally enforce rules Essay 1. Prefects have been part of the British school system for decades, but many Americans had not heard of the concept until the advent of the Harry Potter books. School prefects are somewhat similar to the American hall monitor; students who are basically an extension of the school administration and are utilized to enforce school regulations. Prefects are usually chosen because of their maturity, leadership qualities and good behavior, so being chosen as a prefect Prefects are student leaders typically chosen by their teachers or peers based on academic or moral merit. Generally found in private education institutions in Great Britain, the school prefect plays a role similar to that of a hall monitor or student body government representative. Being a prefect requires leadership, responsibility and dedication to the management and efficiency of school policy in regard to his fellow students. Prefects are assigned area-specific duties on a daily basis to make sure school standards are continuously maintained. 1. Monitor Designated Areas * Prefects usually monitor one or more specific areas of the school, such as the hallways, library, common areas, lunchroom, bathrooms and assembly rooms. It is each prefects job to know when and where he is on duty at all times. But prefects are never off duty altogether, and may still administer discipline in an area they are not not assigned. In general, monitoring an area entails ensuring the students are maintaining good behavior, that there is no yelling, running, loitering or other disorderly behavior, and that the area is kept clean and free of trash. Prefects also must make sure any queue lines are orderly and that movement in and out of the area is carried out in an effective and efficient manner. 2.Uphold School Rules and Regulations * Prefects are, above all, leaders and role models for their fellow students. As such, it is important that they embody, follow and uphold all school rules and regulations, including dress and behavior codes. They should treat other students with dignity and respect, attempting to solve all disciplinary matters without physical action or intimidation. Prefects should remind their fellow students of the rules without arguing or debating the topic, and should discipline everyone in the same manner, leaving out personal or emotional payback. * 3.Report Incidents * When a prefect cannot handle a difficult situation himself, he must report the incident according to school policy. Reportable incidents include intimidation or abuse of fellow students, damage to personal or school property, breaking school rules and situations of severe personal disrespect. Methods of reporting incidents include notifying a senior prefect, a teacher or other administrator, or by filling out a form which leaves the situation to be dealt with by an appropriate staff member. Students will them be reprimanded or punished according to school policy for the specific matter. it has its irritations, is considered an honor. 4.Lead by Example * One of the most important duties of a head boy is to lead by example. Each day at school, he must act in keeping with school rules and regulations, keeping in mind that other students will look to him for behavioral clues. This includes showing up to class on time, participating in school events, maintaining good grades and showing school spirit at sporting events. 5.Represent the School Head boys are often required to be ambassadors for their school at events around the county or even the country. At these events, which may include festivals and conferences, the head boy may speak on behalf of the student body, volunteer or man a school booth. At school parents evenings 6.Organize Prefect Duties * The head boy is responsible for organizing school prefects, who are leaders from each grade level. He must plan and assign duties, head meetings, explain the rules and regulations and is often the first line for prefect conflicts. The head boy ensures that prefects are taking care of their supervisory responsibilities and may speak with teachers to discuss any issues. 7.Participate on Committees * During the course of a school year, the head boy is responsible for serving on various committees to plan school events. He may head up committees for dances, school carnivals, newspaper activities, clubs or other organized events. He may also handle fund-raising events. 8.Read Daily Bulletins * Depending on the school, the head boy may read daily announcements, whether it be over a loudspeaker system or in person at assembly. 9.Resource for Students * The head boy is often the person younger students go to when they are having problems with bullies or when they run into other trouble at school. Depending on the school, the head boy has a varying level of authority in such situations, but is always able to give advice and may organize a mediation session when necessary.

Essay on Themes of The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Underlying Themes of The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome Two of Edith Wharton’s greatest novels, The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome can be seen to have similarities in the situations the characters go through and themes that are used.   Each of these novels has it’s own themes and traits that makes it great, but  after examining each novel it is evident thatthere are underlying themes that link the two stories together.   Perhaps the most obvious   is the weakness that both Ethan Frome and Newland Archer seem to have in there lives.   The feeling of being trapped, and wanting that sense of freedom is also an important part of both novels.   Of course there are themes and symbolisms within each that contribute to the great differences between the two.   In The Age of Innocence, mortality and immortality is one of the greatest aspects or themes; and in Ethan Frome the weakness of Ethan’s character can be seen as one of the main focus’.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To understand the background on either of these novels, it is best to understand a little of Wharton’s biographical background (this helps to see why similar situations are portrayed in both novels).  Ã‚   Wharton lived in New York city and was raised to be a "daughter of society", always putting forth her best manners and showing   respect to the rituals of society.   This attributed greatly to The Age of Innocence which has been described as "a masterful portrait of desire and betrayal set in New York City of her youth."    Her marriage   to Teddy Wharton is said to be where the basis of thought came from for the novel Ethan Frome.  Ã‚   She discovered that her husband had been cheating on her and supporting a mistress living in Boston, and she soon met and fell in love with someone else too.   In Ethan Frome   the book is viewed by many people as a novel about an affair and the love that Ethan finds in another woman, not his wife.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethan Frome takes place in the small New England village of Starkfield Massachusetts and the scenery and natural surroundings are great aspects of the book.  Ã‚   It is just a boring cold farm town, and often enough the harsh winters cause the people there to become very ill.   The eerie cold helped to create the solemn and tragic mood of this novel, and was a part of the symbolism.

Importance of Bridging the Digital Divide Essay -- Technology Society

Children today are not born with an umbilical cord, but a computer cord. Kids aren’t the way they use to be. How many times have you caught yourself thinking or saying this? Theories today believe that children form these generations are actually different, meaning their brains are different from when we were children. What can we do about it, or should we do anything at all? This paper will examine children today and the difference between the generations. Secondly, due to the difference in generations, the importance of maintaining social interaction, critical thinking and problem solving skills, which, are just as important as technical fluencies for the 21st century. In order to maintain the â€Å"humanity† skills, I will discuss the importance of Daily Physical Activity (DPA). Furthermore, the paper will also examine the importance of building a bridge between the digital divide. It is necessary to examine the educational system and the digital divide. Chi ldren are engulfed in a digital world and have different experiences and environment. How do we build a bridge between the technical fluencies and the humanity skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century? Digital Residents are they really different? Mark Prensky (2001) has coined the phrase Digital Natives versus Digital Immigrants. To put it simply, Digital Natives (DN) have always had the new technology (cell phones, video games, digital music, computers) while Digital Immigrants (DI) have come into these things later on in life and have had to learn â€Å"it† above and beyond the old ways they had of doing things. Is there a difference? Children today are born into a digital world and use technology from a young age. The Digital Natives/Learner finds technol... ...talKids.pdf Ministry of Education, Education. (2005). Daily physical activity (ISBN: 0-7794-8884-9). Ontario: Queen's Printer of Ontario. Pink, D. (2010). Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us. Proceedings of the RSA animation, www.youtube.com Prensky, M. (2008). The role of technology. Educational Technology, Nov-Dec. Prensky, M. (2008). Turing on the lights. Educational Leadership, 65(6) Prensky, Marc. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants, part ii. On the Horizon, 9(6), Prensky, Marc. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), Robinson, K.(2010). Changing education paradigm, [Web]. Retrieved from http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/watch Small, G, & Vorgan, g. (2008). ibrain: surviving the technological alteration of the modern mind. New York: Collins Living.

Nabeel Tahir

It is indeed with great pleasure that I recommend Mr. Muhammad Shoaib to pursue his Master of Electrical Engineering. I have been associated with the Department of Electrical Engineering for the past 4 years and in that course of time had the opportunity to interact and assess many students who have passed through the portals of this Department. I have been in contact with Mr. Muhammad Shoaib ever since his 3rd year of engineering when he attended the course of Control Systems which I taught.From day one, I have seen many examples of his talent and have long been impressed by his diligence and work ethic. He is highly motivated and his apparent enthusiasm and interest in the subject is supported by his diligent work. He is smart, a high achiever, and eager to learn. He has always shown an extraordinary sense of perception of the subjects, and has made a difference to the classes with his insightful remarks. In all his course activities, his grades have been above average and he stand s in the top 3% of her class.Now, being our faculty member he is teaching Control Systems theory course with me to the undergraduates of electrical engineering. This speaks to his overall intellect and ability to learn, attributes that will serve him well in graduate study. Mr. Shoaib actively participated in extra-curricular activities also. He was an active member of the Electronic Club and Social Secretary of IEEE, UET Lahore Section. On inter-personal level too, Mr. Shoaib has endeared his self to his class-mates with his kind and compassionate nature.Inasmuch as these qualities, he is elected as Joint Secretary, Teacher Staff Association at UET Lahore for the year 2010. His combination of intelligence, commitment, perseverance, creativity, and compassionate character will certainly make him a valuable member of any academic program. It is for these reasons that I offer high recommendations for Shoaib without reservations. His drive and abilities will truly be an asset to your i nstitution. I encourage you to look favorably upon his application. If you have any questions regarding this recommendation, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Legalizing the Use of Drugs

Many feel today we are losing the war on drugs. When a battle goes to the point where there is no winner, there needs to be a re-evaluation of how to solve the problem. In the case of the war against drugs, years of fighting have caused increased crime, overcrowding of prisons, and the wasted use of money and resources with no results. It is now time to look at alternative methods to solve the nation's drug problem. Although, legalization will increase use of the drug a majority of use will be by those who already use drugs not by new comers who might only try it once out of curiosity. Proof of this can be found in Holland when in 1970 the government legalized the use of marijuana for adults. The legalization of illicit drugs has proved that just because a drug is made legal it does not mean it will cause a rapid rise and abuse by society (Friedman). However, many supporters of continuing the prohibition of drugs believe that by legalizing drugs they will become more accessible and use will therefore increase. They base this argument on past experiments dealing with alcohol prohibition. After the end of prohibition with the 21st amendment, alcohol consumption doubled, while prohibition decreased use by 50 percent (Light). Another example can be found in Liverpool, England. After a recent legalization of drugs in a regulatory program that focuses on the medical benefits of drugs, most drug pushers there left town because there was no longer a market for them. This shows that legalization actually decreases use because of the increased emphasis on rehabilitation and the decrease of drug pushers. Such a dramatic decrease in drug dealers has not only resulted in crime reduction in England but there has also been a decrease of drug use. It is true, legalization will not eliminate the major cause of violent crime; however, most arguments, that say that drug legalization will not decrease crime, deal with the idea that most violent crimes occur as a result of alcohol use. If this is true, legalization will not effect crime that is alcohol related but it will decrease violent crime that is linked to drug dealing and use. The drugs themselves may not cause violent crime, but people involved in the distributing of illicit drugs commit the deadliest crime. By legalizing drugs the dealer would be eliminated and therefore crime would be reduced. Granted, the overall cost of drug use would not decrease; however, supporters of the continued war on drug and the further prohibition of these drugs say that legalization would cost more both socially and economically. They say that legalization would result in increased use and eventually will mean an increase in deaths with. Another result they say will be the decay of family values as a result of increased drug using mothers and children. Actually, the legalization of drugs will put money, which is used for law enforcement into the construction of better rehabilitation and education programs. Education is an essential element in this proposal because through education the problem will find a better than merely covering it up behind jail bars. Economically, for every dollar spent on drug treatment there is a $7 return due to decreased criminal activity. Through the regulation and supervision of the distribution of marijuana, there would be no increases in the number of drug-addicted newborns, nor will it induce the deterioration of society. Thus the overall cost of drug use would decrease and would bring new revenue for our nation. After looking at and knowing the pro and cons of marijuana legalization, I have decided that it is a valid and necessary solution to our country†s drug problem. By implementing such a program the American population can use its money and resources to combat the problem through rehabilitation and education instead of stalling the problem through the legal system. Legalization will decrease violent crime associated with drug dealers; it will decrease the number of users and will lower the wasteful cost, which is connected with the current system. Such legalization will not destroy our youth in any way, because the drugs will only be accessible to adults in the country. If we continue with our current system we will never solve the problem. Drug dealers and addicts will continue to crowd our prisons and plague our streets with violent crime with no hope for help and a better future.

Straight Edge

straight edge parents wonder what's wrong with their children. people wonder what these kids have to hide†¦ there must be something wrong with them†¦ why? because they look more scary than other youths? no! because they are more violent than others? no! because they praise a weird, new kind of god? no! but what is the reason the reason simply is – they live the â€Å"straight edge†. but what is â€Å"straight edge† exactly? the basic â€Å"definition† was created in the early 1980s in a hardcore-punk song of the washington d. c. and â€Å"minor threat† whose singer ian mackaye wrote a song about living a life without drugs – the song which included the six legendary words â€Å"don't drink, don't smoke, don't fuck! † – it was a song called â€Å"straight edge† – a song that gave a name to a new movement amongst the youth of then and preserved its fascination and attitude up to the new millennium. to expla in the history of the term â€Å"straight edge† even a bit more precisely: the words became the meaning for after the drummer of minor threat saw the symbol of a straight edge on a poster and thought – only god knows why – it would be the perfect symbol for this new lifestyle. asically it was a thing about cleaning oneself. in the late 1970s and early 1980s there was a big frustration in the punk scene worldwide. it was pretty much all about sex and drugs and rock'n'roll – and whoever wanted to be a real punk got drunk or stoned every time there was an opportunity. the problem was that the political backgrounds of punk became more and more unimportant, and people didn't even have the power to be active anymore. the poison took their power. o some kids – especially in new york – rethought this whole punk-idea and decided for themselves not to participate in this organized chaos anymore – to resist against the peer pressure. to get clea n and save their power for the fight to reach their ideals. the important thing which gave those kids the platform and power to start out their mission around the world was the music. fast punk. it was the new kind of punk. today we call it old-school hardcore. bands like minor threat, ssd and the teen idols were only some of the first straight edge bands. thousands of others followed their way. he music was the basis – but what was the background behind this â€Å"don't drink, don't smoke, don't fuck! â€Å"? was it just a frustrated group of kids who wanted to get attention by living like askets? not at all†¦ the part about the drinking and smoking is easy to understand. it means: â€Å"concentrate your power on the important things in life† – but what about the sex? why should people not be allowed to make love according to this lifestyle? well, that's not quite what it was supposed to mean and still is: it is supposed to mean, that one shouldn't have promiscuous sex – sleeping around every time one gets the chance. o pretending of love just to get sex. the reason for that is to show respect to others. not to see them as things. this is probably one of the most discussed about points of this whole definition. during the years some things changed. political engagement became en vogue – which is just too logic because the movement actually was born as an idea to strengthen the political power of each individual. respect of life also implies animal rights. that's the reason for vegetarism and veganism being very wide spread in the scene. lot of the straight edge people are active in human and/or animal rights groups and support direct action. but then there is the bad side of the movement: in public straight edge is often regarded to be narrow-minded and egotistical. but – it is quite the opposite. the bad image occurred because some groups split off and gave the whole scene a really bad name: there was on the o ne hand a new important part for some groups: religion – which was completely against the basic idea and straight edge. to question norms and to find it's own way of living. specially the big religious scene in the mormon area salt lake city / new mexico caused a lot of negative publicity. people supposedly even got killed there out of twisted and misunderstood straight-edge reasons. the problem there is the big connection between religion and straight edge there. the whole lifestyle isn't against the norm there at all – mormons get raised there that way anyway – but the motives are completely different. so kids are much more likely to call themselves straight edge even though the basic idea is not going along with their backgrounds at all. nother huge negative movement out of the straight edge scene is shown by so-called â€Å"hardline†-straight edgers. mostly they are involved in the religion of islam (don't ask about the reasons – it is totally incomprehensibly! ) and fight against anything â€Å"impure† and â€Å"unnatural† like abortion – most of them are real hardline pro-lifers – or homosexuality. there were also tendencies amongst right-wing groups who tried to adapt straight edge for their means. but they all just didn't understand what straight edge is about†¦ but straight edge is about tolerance, respect and activism. nyone who gets in touch will discover, that the letter or sign â€Å"x† has an important meaning. it dates back to the 1980s in new york when – like it was and is common in the united states – on concerts and shows underage kids got marked with a big â€Å"x† on the back of their hands so that they wouldn't get alcohol to drink at the bar. older kids solidarized with them and marked their hands themselves – to show the don't even want to drink. today a lot of people use the â€Å"x† in their names – like xsidx for exampl e – wear it on shirts or as tattoos. lso the abbreviation sxe for straight edge is really popular and common. unfortunately a lot of kids see it as a cliquish and â€Å"cool† hing to be straight edge – but they won't stay like that. they will live on their lives just like a lot of their â€Å"never-been-straight-edge†-fellows. it is important to develop ones own definition and style of straight edge. one has to live it. then it is the right decision and the appropriate lifestyle. then it is the â€Å"true till death† lifestyle – in contrast to â€Å"true till college† which characterizes the stylish kids mentioned before. he music changed a lot too. there is still a bunch of old-school bands but especially during the 1990s there emerged many sxe-bands that played all different styles of hardcore like the heavy-metal like hardcore or the softer emo-core. it is impossible to still find names for the style of every band – the vari ety is just too big. important are still the hardcore shows were kids from all over meet, trade records, and just hang out. the scene is pretty much selfly-sufficient too. here's kids who publish (mostly still vinyl) records for young bands – others who have little mail orders and distributions to sell and trade tapes, records and cds, some kids organize shows for bands (even from overseas), and others who even buy vegan food you cannot get here abroad and sell it to the kids. all â€Å"do-it-yourself† (= diy). all anti-capitalist. straight edge is nothing suspicious. straight edge is personal choice. straight edge is the decision to find ones own norms. straight edge is support for weak and disadvantaged beings. straight edge is the attempt to make the world a better place!

The Enlightenment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Enlightenment - Essay Example Scientific inventions and scientific discoveries made the hallmark of the enlightenment period. During the enlightenment period, it was known that science was the subject that could bring transformation in the world (Withers, 2007). The transformation that was desired was that which could make human life comfortable and easier on earth. During this period, more goods were produced at reduced cost, the stress of traveling, communicstion was reduced, and mobility was advanced hence the ease of communication and transit. Trade became advanced to different locations and human life ceased to be caged in geographical confines. During this period, there were many criticisms as well as the mushrooming of various organized groups. The church specifically was criticized during this period. The church was criticized by the liberals to have been be confining peoples’ reason to doctrinal thoughts. The thought of the enlightenment age proposed a more individualized system that does not cons trict people to a particular system of belief. Enlightenement period was a period of enquiry and people wanted logical reasons and proof behind phenomena. At this time, people did not want to set their belief on speculations because they were propounded by the church or by such authorities like Plato; they wanted scientific truth (Pancaldi, 2003). This though and desire led to the attack of absolutist and mercantilism. The think tanks of the enlightenment age refused to believe and accept some dominating dogmas. They could not any scientific proof to make them believe that the monarchs had superior status than other human beings. They could further not find scientific comprehension that there is a class of people set a part to dominate other human race because they were set a part to claim sovereignty over others. Thinkers of the enlightenment age wanted proof beyond any reasonable doubt that mercantilism was of economic benefit. 2. Compare and contrast the role played by Danton and Robespierre during the terror Danton and Robespierre, had great influence in shaping human history. Both of these personalities were leaders to be reckoned with. They had major differences in belief and though; a thing which later led to the spilt of political stances. Robespierre strongly believed that a nation would be a better republic only if it was governed on the principle and the foundations of philosophy, virtue, and justice. Danton on the other hand strongly advocated for a nation that is ruled in the basis of nobility, tradition, and domestic agreement and peace. Each of these figures of power supported the course that they believed was in the best interest of the people and none was willing to sacrifice their though to accommodate that of the other (Gascoigne, 1989). Their opposing belief became personal that they could not meet each other. They had strong hatred for each other until when revolution came; to them, an opportunity to destroy each other presented itself. Du ring the Terror period, Danton was elected in the Public Safety committee. While he was serving in the committee, Danton sought to reconcile the parties that were conflicting with the min intension of restoring peace and enforcing the rule of law to take effect in nations. Danton hoped to bring stability during the revolution by adopting a new constitution. The second committee of the public safety under the leadership of Robespierre stood upright with a declaration to continue terror until the

The Merits of DSU system in WTO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Merits of DSU system in WTO - Essay Example Installation of the DSU by WTO has harmonized the manner in which WTO members engage in international trade. Dispute resolution serves as the central pillar upon which WTO functions, thereby allowing member countries to coexist and participate in an efficiently and effectively regulated international trade2. Given the fact that disputes are expected to arise due one reason or another in the process of trade between WTO members, investigations become vital to conduct in order to resolve the underlying dispute. The dispute resolution system is not forceful to any member, as the system is designed to resolve disputes without necessarily damaging state or intergovernmental relations. In the view that the DSU system does not forcefully implement investigations on members upon a dispute, the system minimizes or alleviates altogether the likelihood of being used to instigate dispute proceedings. The DSU system allows either party in the underlying dispute to waiver its claims at any step of the proceedings3. In so doing, it provides a diversified ground upon which conflicts and disputes between trade partners can be resolved. The system does not by any chance curtail the rights and freedoms of any WTO member. DSU is indiscriminately enforced for the benefit of all WTO members. The operations of DSU apply to all members, meaning that WTO provisions are uniformly binding to both developing and developed member countries4. In this respect, the primary interests, activities, and roles of WTO are reflected by the DSU system. WTO serves as an intergovernmental organization across the globe, an aspect that the DSU essentially captures. As a result, the DSU system is tailored towards promoting functional relations and improved international trade all over the world. The DSU system does not observe a common law system, meaning that it is not characterized by binding precedents5. Consequently, this implies that the DSU system exhibits no stare decisis aspects in

Claims and reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Claims and reflection - Essay Example It is just that, it is not as simple compared to the American Constitution where the Bill of Rights are readily contained in the Amendments one to ten for easy reference. I thought that perhaps we are an older country than them with a more complicated legal system with a monarchy to consider which is why our legal system is more complicated than them. I was not however daunted. Deep in my gut, I know that despite the absence of a written regulation of a Bill of Rights, UK does not in any way, put lesser importance to it. In the first place, the first Bill of Rights that was contained in the Magna Carta which was drafted in UK soil in 1787 and that piece of history alone manifests how much importance we place as a people on the Bill of Rights. I knew I just have to look and research further for the paper to take form. This led me to the better understanding of the British legal system of how it works in the absence of a formal Constitution. Compared to United States where their laws are codified in a written Constitution, â€Å"our laws are a combination of statute law and the principles of the common law and equity developed by our courts. Our system is based upon the constitutional principles of Parliamentary sovereignty and the Rule of Law† (Commission on a Bill of Rights). Our framework of Bill of Rights may not be contained in the Amendments one to ten such as the case of the American Constitution, but its statutes can be rooted from documents such as the as Magna Carta in 1215 and the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, the later Bill of Rights and Scottish Claim of Right in 1689, and the Reform Acts of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Proposing what should a UK Bill of Rights contain requires understanding on how British legal system adopts or creates a law. In the case of Bill of Rights, it requires further understanding of British constitution because I have to understand how the international Human Rights treaties

Theories of Bad Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theories of Bad Leadership - Essay Example And (5) Are good and bad leadership qualitatively different phenomena? Kellerman’s views from her discourse entitled â€Å"Costs and Benefits: Why We Need to Study Bad Leadership† proffered pertinent issue relative to incompetent leaders based on two claims: (1) placing bad leadership on two axes: unethical and ineffective; and (2) stipulating seven types of bad leadership, to wit: incompetent, rigid, intemperate, callous, corrupt, insular, and evil (Kellerman, 2004, pp. 3-4). By eventually expounding on the costs of bad leadership, as well as finding justifications for any perceived benefits and confirming in the end that â€Å"without followers nothing happens, including bad leadership† (Kellerman, 2004, p. 8). One therefore shares the same contention as the evidence Kellerman presented to prove from the cited actual examples that it actually takes two to tango. From the point of view of Kellerman, leaders can fail given the opportune situation and with the assistance, negligence, blind obedience, conformity, or even ignorance of the followers. Aside from exhibiting any or a combination of the seven types of bad leadership enumerated above, leaders apparently fail with the assistance of the followers. Kellerman cited followers who were deemed enablers, blind supporters, covering for the leaders’ mistakes, compliant and ignorant stakeholders who enable leaders to operate without the benefit of checks and balances, and allowing assuming an avoiding stance. Lipman-Blumen’s view, on the other hand, used six psychological factors that explain why people apparently allow, choose, and support the existence of bad leaders. These factors include the needs for reassuring figures, security and certainty, feel special or chosen, and being part of a community; as well as fears for being ostracized and being powerless (Lipman-Bluman, 2006, p. 29). These psychological factors that could be traced since developmental stages form the basis for selecting leaders

The Fraud Act 2006 in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Fraud Act 2006 in the UK - Essay Example In the UK, the Fraud Act 2006 came into force during January 2007, and it substituted the deception crimes included in the Theft Acts 1968-1996 with a more general offence of fraud, which can be done in the following ways namely fraud by failing to divulge information, fraud by dishonesty or deceitful representation and fraud by misuse of position and authority. The offence under the Frauds Act 2006 is punishable if charges are proved with a fine or with an imprisonment of ten years or with both. It is punishable by a fine not in excess of the statutory maximum or sentence for a period of not exceeding six months or with both. Under tort of deceit, a person may claim damages if the fraud committed is resulted in injury to the affected party. On the ground of fraudulent misrepresentation, a contract may be voidable if it has been obtained by fraud. (Law & Martin 2009:240). Courts in England have not yet prepared to prescribe exactly what can be regarded as fraud. It is to be noted tha t the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) which was formed on the recommendation of the Roskill Report in 1984 had not taken into account the offence of fraud but recognised on an evocative manner, many fraud crimes which UK’s Home Office employs even today. (Ramage 2005:4). As on date, in UK, there exists no statutory offence of fraud and the Home Office of UK has set out some kind’s criminal activities that can be regarded as offences of fraud in â€Å"Counting Rules for Recording Crime.† According to a publication made by the Home Office in April 2003, describing the following as offences of â€Å"forgery and fraud.† Frauds by an individual include common law offence of conspiracy to defraud, under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, fraudulent misappropriation of funds, obtaining a money transfer through credit card or cheque fraud under section 12 of the Theft Act 1987. (Ramage 2005:104).In Cronos Containers NV v Palatin, the defendants were Klamath Enterprises S A and Mr. and Mrs. Palatin. The shares of Klamath were owned by Mr. Palatin. In 1994, Mr.Palatin deceived the plaintiff by making five different payments from one of the Plaintiff’s clients, and the same was credited into Barclays bank account owned by Paladins. Then, such defrauded sums were employed by the defendants to renovate a property held by Klamath. (Ramage 2005:4). Conspiracy to Defraud Under Common Law It falls under consent to divest deceitfully somebody’s right or to abuse somebody’s property privilege. In Scott v Metropolitan Police Commissioner2, S agreed with workers of a cinema theatre to take copies of cinema screened in that theatre without the approval of the owner with an objective of commercial distribution held to be a conspiracy to defraud under common law. In Wai Yu-Tsang v R3, A acted in concert with bank employees to camouflage in the bank accounts the fact about dishonoring of cheques which the bank had already purchased so as to prev ent a bankruptcy by the bank, and A was held for the guilty of conspiracy to fraud. According to Lord Goff, conspiracy to fraud does not restrict to the notion of divesting somebody with something of value, but it also falls under deceit and fraud and if somebody may be discriminated in any way by the deceit or fraud. (Fionda & Bryant2000:154).  

Social And Cultural Diversity Paper Essay Example for Free

Social And Cultural Diversity Paper Essay This paper will explore the writer’s personal beliefs, theories of racism and explore the ACA codes of ethics and treatment modalities for various cultures and also will introduce you took some of the writers experiences. I grew up in the deep south were racism was still alive and thriving. My time was in the sixties when the Klux Klux Klan was causing trouble and nothing was being done about it. My parents would tell my sisters and me to always be home before the sun went down because they were afraid that we might be taken or worst killed. When I attended school schools were segregated, but all the students in my class were people of color. White students had their class and we had ours all at the same school. When we went out to play the white students would call us names and the teachers would just laugh and tell them not to call us names. Where we lived it was all people of color in my community. The white people lived in another area. I remember that in order to get to the store we had to go through the white community and they would throw rocks at us and chase us back to be we lived. When I got to Jr. High School and had two white friends. We played and talked together all the time. The cultural difference between us made it hard for other students to understand what we were during. Students of color would be upset with me for talking with the white students and the white students would also be upset with them for associating with me. Just like half-century ago black people had problems when the right to vote in the South was the almost exclusive domain of white people (Kornacki, 2011). Black people would be intimidated by white people if they attempted to cast votes. I remember when my parents were determined to vote and they would get with other people of color and form a mob and go down there to vote. They all got to vote, but after that they would have to fight their way back home. I remember those days just if they were yesterday and today racism still lives on in the Deep South. The Deep South is not so much as where it is located, but it is a distinct culture (racism, racial 2013). Racism started in the south when the slaves were brought over here from Africa and the slave owners saw that African slaves were better at taking the heat and working all day long. They were looked at as property and nothing else. As the years went by and slavery was abolished they could not get over the fact they black were nothing more than slaves and because of that blacks could never be equal to whites(racism, racial 2013). When I associate with white people I have trust issues because of the things I saw when I was a child. Being an adult now I always watch what white people do around me and listen closely to every word that they say to me. Because of the way we were treated, I find myself always trying to be better than anyone else during any task. Whenever white people tell me anything I have trust issues being that they are trying to help me. Sometimes I have to examine myself because being biased in the field that I have chosen will not work. I have problems when groups of people of a certain culture get together in a group and are talking. The first thing that enters my mind is the wonder if they are talking about me. These are biases issues that how have learned to live with and also have learn not to let them effect the way that I treat other people (Diller, 2011). Racism is a bias of mine that I work on every day. Learning how to deal with a race and also how not to hold the way they act against them. People who openly express that they believe the white race to be superior to any other race are people I have a problem with, but when it comes to helping them in a therapeutic manner I have learned to put my personal feeling on the Back burner. Everyone has the right to feel any way that they want and human rights belongs to everybody. Humans Rights are a guarantee and cannot be discriminated against (Shenker, 1995). According to Diana Ayton-Shenker â€Å"Every human being has the right to culture, including the right to enjoy and develop cultural life and identity. Cultural rights, however, are not unlimited. The right to culture is limited at the point at which it infringes on another human right. No right can be used at the expense or destruction of another, in accordance with international law† (Shenker, 1995). Subtle Racism is defined as, Subtle, commonplace forms of discrimination, such as being ignored, ridiculed or treated differently(Subtle racism, 2013). Subtle racism is something that happens on a daily basis. I have experience it myself and when I do I just ignore the ones who are perpetrating it. I believe that there are people who are unaware that they are racist. I believe that because they have acted the way they do towards people of color since their childhood they believe that they are displaying normal behavior. Subtle racism can be displayed by all races. Every culture displays some type of subtle racism when confronted with a person from outside their culture. The reason there would be significant differences in perceptions and values of members within the same ethnic group is because even people of the same ethnic group have differences with people within their own Group. It can be as simple as believing that a person is not acting the way they believe that they should be coming from that ethnic group. Some people of color may believe that someone in Their ethnic group is not acting like they are from their group or may believe that they are trying to act like they belong to another ethnic group. The mixing of different social backgrounds is influenced by social interaction (Wesker, 2011). Working today as a counselor you must be culturally competent. Being culturally competent means understanding every culture, their language, social and economic nuances of people (diversity and cultural competence, 2013).

The Complexity Of Culture Cultural Studies Essay

The Complexity Of Culture Cultural Studies Essay So why is culture so complex? According to the popular writer Raymond Williams, culture is one of the most complicated words in the English language. The study of culture is far too complex to be studied only from the viewpoint of one specific scientific discipline, or to be based on one specific model. In a world as complex as ours, each of us is shaped by many factors, and culture is one of the powerful forces that acts on us. Culture is not a set of objects and behaviors, but a context, specific to a particular time and place, in which meaning is made (Geertz 1973) (Schall). Cultural contexts include important patterns, attitudes, and values such as language use and communication patterns, religious beliefs and rituals, the tools and artifacts of daily life, familiar relationships, gender roles, and many other characteristics. Because of the complex, multifaceted nature of culture, understanding a specific group, whether ones own or that of others, requires study from several dive rse perspectives. Although each perspective will shed light on the systems of meaning within that group, the different perspectives will not necessarily fit together into a neat, unified cultural portrait (Rosaldo 1989) (Schall). In order for a researcher to make sense of the complexity of cultural concepts, relevant prior knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of cultural variation is a prerequisite to effectively comprehending cross-cultural studies. According to Joe Novak, the creator of concept mapping, when concept maps are used, the material to be learned must be conceptually clear and presented with language and examples relatable to the learners prior knowledge. Concept maps can be helpful to meet this condition, both by identifying large general concepts held by the learner prior to instruction on more specific concepts, and by assisting in the sequencing of learning tasks though progressively more explicit knowledge that can be anchored into developing conceptual frameworks (Novak). In the following sections I offer up a series of approaches designed to aid a researcher in unraveling the complex nature of cultural variation and ways of simplifying cultural understanding. Gaining sufficient knowledge and understanding of culture can become a complex task in itself making it necessary for one to develop specific strategies and approaches to the problem. Any approach should encompass key terms, essential cultural concepts and principles, as well as multifaceted foundational theories. This should provide the knowledge necessary to understand and simplify complex models and studies designed for the purpose of illustrating culture differences across an array of situations. So where should one begin in developing their cross-cultural knowledge? Establishing a glossary of terms that define some of the significant concepts in one or more topics that lend themselves to research investigation using cross-cultural data is necessary. For the purpose of cross-cultural communication, cultural literacy should begin with the basic terms such as culture and communication. Culture can be defined as, a system of symbolic resources shared by a group of people. In every cross-cultural situation, groups of people with different systems of symbolic resources come in to contact by communicating with one another. Communication can be defined as, the practice of creating and exchanging meanings or symbolic resources. It is clear that culture and communication are interrelated, therefore, cross-cultural communication can be defined as a process of interaction between two groups of people with different systems of symbolic resources. ( Klyukanov) Understanding these terms wi ll enable one to see how and why people identify with each other and form cultures through the process of cultural identification. Cultural identification simply allows us to define our own cultural selves. Before embarking upon the quest for understanding of other cultures, it is necessary to break down and understand ones own culture. Anthropologists Kevin Avruch and Peter Black explain the importance of culture this way: Ones own culture provides the lens through which we view the world; the logic by which we order it; the grammar by which it makes sense. Everyone has a culture. No one can ever fully separate themselves from their own culture. While it is true that anyone can grow to understand and value a range of different cultures and communicate effectively in more than one, one can never overcome his own, or any other culture, to achieve an all encompassing perspective on culture. As was mentioned previously, it is necessary and important for one to gain knowledge in the study of cross-cultural communication. The nature of knowledge is very complex; however the complexity of the cross-cultural world can be exposed by combining two complimentary approaches: the objective (scientific) approach and the subjective approach. In the objective approach, knowledge is viewed as an object, the world consists of concrete variables and people behave in patterned and predictable ways. From an objective standpoint, all observers of a culture would see the same thing, knowledge is external to all people and the watchful observer captures this knowledge and characterizes it in meaningful fashion. The subjective approach represents the other side of the knowledge gaining process. This approach aims to interpret and understand interactions and cultural meanings that are internal to people. The combined implementation of these approaches highlights the methodical, relational, an d opposing nature of cross-cultural communication which includes an array of cross-cultural knowledge. Edward T. Hall, a respected anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher, identified Ten Primary Message Systems which he classified as Interaction, Association, Subsistence, Bisexuality, Territoriality, Temporality, Learning, Play, Defense, and Exploitation. From his ten primary message systems, Hall devised an interrelated Map of Culture. Halls map makes it easier for researchers to pinpoint complexities in understanding target cultures. The process of constructing a system of meanings known as cultural mapping explains how every culture develops ideas about the world and its place in it. The main types of meanings which form a culture map include: beliefs, attitudes, values, norms, mores, laws, and world view. It is important to understand that all of these ideas are interconnected. Culture maps provide structure and give rationality to universal knowledge established about people and the social world, providing expectations about typical patterns of behavior and the range of like ly variation between types of people and their characteristic actions and attributes. Understanding and applying these concepts can aid researchers in breaking down the complexities of cross-cultural variation. Another set of means that are typically presented are global cultural dimensions. These variables are very wide in scope, are related to all cultures, and can be used for the purpose of assessing cultures. Global cultural dimensions vary from researcher to researcher, this section attempts to identify and provide the most commonly discussed dimensions which include: Individualism/Collectivism, Power Distance, Masculinity/Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and High-Context/Low Context Communication. Researching several ethnographies and studying the approaches presented by anthropologists, philosophers, and writers whose work has laid the foundations for the field of cultural studies will provide further depth and understanding. Below are a few examples of theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. According to Hans Gullestrup the complexity of cross-cultural studies, as well as cultural studies, are especially related to the following observations or facts: 1. The relativity of each culture the cultural hierarchy 2. The co-incidence of the cultures the cultural categories 3. The changeability of each culture the cultural dynamic 4. The ethical problems related to cross-cultural studies A researcher will base his or her work on different paradigms and a differing understanding of culture depending on the situation and the purpose (Hans Gullestrup). For these reasons, Gullestrup argues that theoretical and analytical models are needed for cultural and cross-cultural studies formulated as frame models, or as a kind of framework, where each researcher or cultural actor can relate to one other with his own data, observations, and experiences when trying to create an understanding of a particular cross-cultural situation, according to his or her needs, as well as to the four factors mentioned above. As mentioned previously, anthropologist Edward T. Hall When we approach another culture, a tendency exists to generalize, placing experiences in wide-ranging categories or types. The best we can do is to make sure generalizations are as accurate as possible and avoid overgeneralizations, especially those beginning with All. When attempting to describe a certain culture, we must be careful and ensure that the culture we classify is the one that was observed. If we come across another culture and fail to notice obvious differences then the all we have done is stereotyped and our interaction with that culture has become extremely unreliable. To avoid stereotyping, it is necessary to test generalizations against the actual behavior and values of those being encountered in the observed culture. Cross-cultural communication is successful when our observations and reflections of people from other cultures are accurate. Two useful approaches for counteracting mistakes of oversimplification and generalization of a culture are Culture-General and Culture-Specific approaches. Concentrating on cultures broad characteristics, is macro and global in scope and defined as Culture-General. With over 200 national societies throughout the globe, over 5,000 languages, and endless subgroups interrelated by ethnicity, race, religion, common history, politics, and culture, it becomes virtually unfeasible to thoroughly sort out the full range of cultural practices found in each society. Culture-General ideas and frameworks are useful and provide researchers tools necessary to understand principles, categories of behavior and world views, ideas and values, how to learn another culture, and how to successfully and effectively navigate cultural boundaries. Culture-general approaches to interaction describe general contrasts that are applicable in many cross-cultural situations. For example, Edward T. Halls classificat ion of high-context low and low-context cultures is a culture-general comparison that implies a source of miscommunication between many diverse societies. This approach is based on more conceptual categories and generalizable skills, and represents the etic form of cultural knowledge. Etic knowledge is essential for cross-cultural comparison because such comparison essentially requires standard units and categories (Lett). General cultural characterizations can be narrowed by using a Culture-Specific approach, based on ethnographies, is an intercultural form of emic cultural analysis. Emic knowledge is essential for an intuitive and empathic understanding of a culture (Lett). Culture- Specific refers to the distinctive qualities of a particular culture. It can also be a means of studying cross-cultural communication when the culture characteristics of a particular culture are examined and used to explore the broad, general characteristics of the structure of cultures. At the culture specific level, differences between two particular cultures are assessed for their likely impact on communication between people of those cultures. Cultural observers must always be ready to modify existing conceptualizations when new experiences do not fit into the original universal category. Simply, one-size fits all conceptualizations are not effective in cross-cultural communications. Clifford Geertz, in his book The Interpretation of Cultures, attempts to simply cultural variation by saying, The concept of culture I espouse, and whose utility the essays below attempt to demonstrate, is essentially a semiotic one. Believing, with Max Weber, that man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun, I take culture to be those webs, and the analysis of it to be therefore not an experimental science in search of law but an interpretive one in search of meaning. It is explication I am after, construing social expressions on their surface enigmatical. But this pronouncement, a doctrine in a clause, demands itself some explication.