British Petroleum Marketing Analysis Free Essay Example, 750 words

This report believes that BP s positioning in the market which is shown in its choice of generic strategy is working strongly for its benefit. Recognizing that consumers are increasingly basing their choice of purchases by the corporate social responsibility of business organizations, BP has been right in choosing to position itself as a green company. However, this paper also recognizes the fact that BP has not been so efficient in acting what it is communicating to the public. This paper has three recommendations for BP. 1. Strengthen its position in the market. BP should be able to guard its reputation as a green and humanitarian business organization. With this, BP should further spend money on resolving the environmental and human rights issues that it faces. It will also be good if the company can fund research on how to minimize the harm and pollution caused by fuel. With the pressing concern for global warming, BP should cooperate with other organizations that are invest igating the likely impact of global warming and how to reduce these hazards. These actions are seen to strengthen the company s position in the industry as well as gain the public s trust which offset their associated costs. 2.We will write a custom essay sample on British Petroleum: Marketing Analysis or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page In order to ward off and prepare for the competition, BP should seek to enhance its efficiency as well as manage its costs. With this, the company is prepared for any threat of price wars. This also enables the business organization to continue to add value to its shareholders and facilitates easy access to financing.

Essay on Garrett Hardin Lifeboat Ethics - 1281 Words

Garrett Hardin argues for a very harsh thesis: we simply should not provide aid to people in poor countries. His argument is consequentialist: he claims that the net result of doing so would be negative -- would in fact be courting large-scale disaster. One of the things that we will notice about Hardins essay, however, is that whether he is right or wrong, he paints with a very broad brush. This makes it a good essay for the honing of your philosophical skills; you should notice that there are many places where the reasoning procees with less than total care. Hardin begins with metaphors. He points out that while the metaphor of earth as a grand spaceship has a certain popularity (or did 23 years ago) it is a flawed metaphor†¦show more content†¦Arent we irresponsible if we dont plan ahead for possible emergencies by leaving ourselves some excess capacity? (Recall that in this metaphor, capacity includes things like supplies.) It should be obvious that this is a dubious metaphor. To begin with (and this will come up again) not all countries are either rich or poor. Furthermore, it is not as clear as Hardin assumes that we lack the resources to save everyone. And the argument from the safety factor may seem dubious. Couldnt we help some people -- even if we select them in a fairly arbitrary way? Leave the safety factor aside. Presumably it is true that we should not give all our excess resources away; not planning for emergencies is irresponsible. The main reply that Hardin would make to our doubts is this: even if we have enough resources to help everyone in the short run, we dont have nearly enough to do so in the long run. Why not? Because of the difference in rates of population growth between rich and poor nations. Suppose that in 1974, the U.S. had decided to share its wealth with a group of countries such as Columbia, Venezuala and Pakistan. Suppose that the combined population of the poor countries equaled the total (1974) populationof the U.S.: about 210 million. The populaiton in the U.S. increass at a rate of about .8% per year; the population of those countries increases at a rate of about 3.3% per year. By 2061 -- 87 years later -- the population of the U.S. wouldShow MoreRelatedJustice vs. Reality in Lifeboat Ethics: the Case against Helping the Poor by Garrett Hardin534 Words   |  3 PagesThe essay titled Lifeboat Ethics: the Case against Helping the Poor by Garrett Hardin, was very interesting. The first part of the essay used a metaphor of the rich people of the earth in a lifeboat and the poor people in the sea drowning. The rich people could only allow a few people in and if they let , too many people in they will sink the boat and all die. The best thing for the rich people to do is not to let anyone in so they will have adequate supplies and space for them to survive. LaterRead MoreLifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor - Garrett Hardin What Should A Billionaire Give-and What Should You? - Peter Singer3380 Words   |  14 PagesLifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor - Garrett Hardin What Should A Billionaire Give-and What Should You? - Peter Singer One of the most important issues facing the world today is the issue of the poor. There are many things that can be done about this issue, however much of the world is torn between wanting to help and not knowing how to go about it. This is the issue that is presented in the two essays - Garrett Hardin’s â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor,† andRead MoreThe Effective Concept of Lifeboat Ethics Essay1482 Words   |  6 PagesLifeboat Ethics is a metaphor for the process of wealth and resource distribution as described by ecologist Garrett Hardin. In 1974, he published an article called, â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against Helping the Poor,† that outlines his reasons that the wealthy nations of the world should not be wholly responsible for supporting the needs of the poor. Donald Kennedy and William Clark both wrote articles in regard to the concept of lifeboat ethics and the tragedy of the commons. In the article, HardinRead MoreLifeb oat Ethics By Garret Hardin And A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift935 Words   |  4 PagesLifeboat ethics by Garret Hardin and a modest proposal by Jonathan Swift Garrett Hardin in Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against the Poor Garrett Hardin describes about how the well-off states are in the lifeboat and the deprived states are swimming in the sea. He also tells about how the US facilitates other states. Hardin thinks that if the administration remains serving other states and letting citizens in then America will also sink. We must encourage them if we desire to save at least part ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Garrett Hardins The Tragedy Of The Commons784 Words   |  4 PagesGarrett Hardin published in Psychology Today in September 1974. This passage is an excerpt from his popular paper â€Å"The Tragedy of the Commons† as a warning that overpopulation was dangerous due to how limited Earth’s resources are. This theory is reflected in Hardin’s thesis that the rich should do nothing to help the people of poor nations and turn away those trying to come in. Hardin used the imagery of a lifeboat almost filled in a sea full of drowning people to pose and answer a single questionRead MoreLifeboa t Ethics Essay583 Words   |  3 PagesLifeboat Ethics Hardins Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against the Poor - No! You Cannot Come in Garrett Hardin writes about saving the poor in his essayLifeboat Ethics: The Case Against the Poor found in The Blair Reader. Hardin writes about how the rich countries are in the lifeboat and the poor countries are swimming in the ocean. He also writes about how the United States helps other countries. Hardin feels that if the government keeps helping other countries and letting people in thenRead MoreRevision Of The Critique Of Hardin’S â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics†:1134 Words   |  5 PagesRevision of the Critique of Hardin’s â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics†: The Case against Helping the Poor Garrett Hardin was a controversial ecologist who believed that overpopulation was going to bring a downfall to a world of limited resources. Each nation was compared to a lifeboat with the rich being inside the boat and the poor in the water, drowning (Hardin, 561). He wrote the â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics† in 1974 when Ethiopia was having a starvation problem. Hardin’s opinion about the situation was that sendingRead MoreEssay on Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor900 Words   |  4 PagesGarrett Hardin, biologist from Stanford, used the metaphor of Earth being a â€Å"spaceship† persuading other countries, industries and people to stop polluting and washing natural resources of the world. He illustrates that the â€Å"spaceship† is represented by the wealthy countries, and the natural resources are represented as the poorer countries of the world. The wealthy people of the world have all the resources they need to survive and more, whil e other hand the poorer countries are unfortunate. TheirRead MoreRobbing the Rich to Give to the Poor Essay917 Words   |  4 Pagessupport them. No one desires people to suffer, but do wealthy nations have a moral obligation to aid poor nations who are unable to help themselves? Garrett Hardin in, Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor, uses a lifeboat analogy to expose the global negative consequences that could accompany the support of poor nations. Hardin stresses problems including population increase and environmental overuse as downfalls that are necessary to consider for the survival of wealthy nationsRead MoreHardin Durning Skinner Essay Draft 21480 Words   |  6 PagesDurning and Skinner Proved That Hardin’s Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor Does Not Float In Garrett Hardin’s essay, Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor, Hardin describes the wealthy population of the world as being in a single lifeboat that is almost filled until buckling while the poor population of the world treads water below. Hardin’s essay gets his readers to feel the natural instinct to survive. The lifeboat metaphor that Hardin uses relieves the wealthy population

Filipinos Before the Spanish Era Free Essays

Long before the Spaniards came, the Philippines was already inhabited by natives. And among the natives of the Island were the Negritos. Characteristically, the Negritoes were short and dark skinned people. We will write a custom essay sample on Filipinos Before the Spanish Era or any similar topic only for you Order Now They had curly hair, small nose and were thick-lipped. These natives were barely clothed as clothing for them consists of the bahag and a jacket-like upper for men. They wore neither shoes nor slippers but go about barefooted. Their women adorn themselves with ornaments while their men usually tattoo themselves. The natives of the Island lived in small huts more popularly known as bahay kubo. These small huts were usually made of bamboo and the roofs made of nipa, resources that are readily available and abundant in the Philippines. For their livelihood, the natives depended on fishing since the Philippines is mostly coastal. However, the natives also went hunting for food. This is because the Philippines is known for being rich in natural resources. Thus, food was never a problem for the natives as the island is abundantly endowed. Like any tribe or group of people, the natives were very communal and thus lived in small communities known as the balangay. Each balangay was headed by a leader called the datu or raj. The Datu or the Raj was usually a brave and respected leader who is expected to protect his community from outside attack. It is also the leader’s responsibility to maintain peace and order within the community. Thus, the Datu or the Raj resolves whenever conflicts arise between and among his constituents. This system is the earliest known form of government which has now been carried over to the present day Barangays. Even before the Spaniards came and who claimed to have civilized the inhabitants of the island, the natives were already literate and civilized people. Manifestations of their civilization and literacy can be seen from the rules that govern the balangay. And there have been many other indications especially in their communities that these natives were literate people. How to cite Filipinos Before the Spanish Era, Essay examples

Human Resource Management Journal of Business and Management

Question: Describe about the Human Resource Management for the Journal of Business and Management. Answer: Job description and job specification A general and broad written statement which is based on job analysis is called job description. It generally consists of purpose, duties, scope, responsibilities. It forms the bases of the job specification (Ziegler,Hagen, Diehl,2012). The statement of the employee qualification and characteristic which is required for the performance of tasks and duties comprising a specific function or job is called job specification (Han, 2008). My current job description is as follows: Implement, develop and plan all the strategy which are required for HR development and management (which includes selection and recruitment policy, counselling, development and training, performance appraisals, quality management, motivation, and morale, etc.) Starting and maintaining the required system which helps in measuring the important aspects of Human Resource development. The measure, monitor and report all the HR issues, development plans, achievements and opportunities which should in agreed format and within the required time. Develop and manage the staff which reports directly. Control and manage the expenditure of the department and maintain it within the agreed budget limit. Coordinate with other departmental/functional managers so that the need of HR development and the necessary aspects of HR department are understood and ensuring that the other departmental managers are fully aware of the HR purpose, achievements and objectives. Maintain knowledge and awareness of HR methods and theory and provide appropriate interpretation to managers, staff and directors within the institution. Contribute towards the evalution and development of HR performance and strategy with the support of the executive team. Ensure that the activities meet the organisational requirement of quality management, legal stipulations, safety and health, environmental policies. According to the job specification, my job designation is that of an assistant manager (HR department). I have to deal with more duties than I initially signed on for. I hesitate to ask my manager about the same. Because of the extra duties, I have being given my duties have accumulated into an unmanageable mess. I am not given any extra pay for the extra duties that are performed by me and due to my workload, it becomes difficult for me to perform the task mentioned in by job description efficiently. Transparency in the process of dismissal of an employee A colleague of mine was dismissed from his job, and the reasons given by the management for this dismissal was continually missing work, poor discipline, incapability to perform his work and illness. If an employer dismisses his employee, it means that the person has broken the terms of the employment. The employer should follow a fair disciplinary process before they decide to dismiss their employee for their misconduct (Probst Estrada, 2010). One of the reasons given by the management for his dismissal was incapability to perform his work. The management believed that he was not capable enough in performing his task. He does not have the required technological knowledge that is required in his job and because of his persistent illness, it was becoming impossible for him to perform his job efficiently. Steps were taken to provide adequate training to him so that he could match the technological requirement for his job. Because of his poor performance many warnings were given to him so that he could improve the quality of his work and perform his work satisfactorily. He was given enough time and chance so that he could improve his work. Since my friend was suffering from long- term sickness, the management decided to look at the various alternatives before making the decision to dismiss him. The managers decided to give him reasonable time to recover and the amount of actual time given to him was based on the following factors like time required in recovering from illness, how definite it is that he will recover, how easy it will be to get cover for his job and whether the job performed by him can be kept open. The process followed by the company for the dismissal of one of my colleague was substantively justified and was conducted in procedurally fair manner. He was given his outstanding wages, holiday pay and all the other entitlement which was mentioned in his employment contract. Separate training was given to him so that he could develop the technological knowledge which is required by him to perform his work efficiently. Enough time was given to him so that he could recover from his long- term illness. Therefore the process followed by the management for the dismissal of my friend was fair and transparent. Performance Appraisal Systematic assessment of an individual is known as performance appraisals. For the overall development of the organisation and that of the employees, the tool of performance appraisals is used (Abbas, 2014). The performance of an employee is measured by issues like knowledge of the job, quality of output, quantity, leadership abilities, Initiative, supervision, cooperation, dependability, judgment, health, and versatility. The assessment of an employee should be based on his past and potential performance. Performance appraisal is used for promotions, confirmations, development and training, review on Compensation, competency building, improving communication, evaluating the HR Programs, grievances feedbacks.. The process of performance appraisal includes definition of appraisal, Job expectations and job establishment, designing a program for appraisal, performance appraisal, performance interviews, using facts for appropriate purposes, identifying the opportunities , using physical processes, social processes, computer and assistance. Methods of Performance Appraisals: Various methods have been used to measure the quantity and quality of performance appraisals (Clancy, 2007). The technique that is used in my organisation for performance appraisal is management by objective. Management by Objectives: Under this process, the performance of an individual is rated according to the achievement of the objectives which are described by the management (Tegegne, 2013). This method of performance appraisal is result oriented. This means that the employee performance is measured by examining the extent to which they can perform their predetermined work objective. The objectives are established jointly by the subordinate and the supervisor. Once the objectives are established the employees are required to self-assess themselves and find out their strength and weaknesses. The employees are expected to monitor their own progress and development. The process of management by objectives is, firstly, the goals and the desired objectives of each subordinate are established. Then management sets the performance standards. After setting up the performance standard, Comparison between the actual goals of the employee with the goals attained by the employee is made. After comparison between the actua l goals and the attain goals of the employees, new strategies and goals for the goals which are not achieved in the past are made. Based on this process the ranking is given to the employee, and their appraisal is decided This method of performance appraisal concentrates on the actual outcome. If an employee meets the set objectives than he has demonstrated an acceptable level of job performance. In this process, the employee is judged according to their real outcome. The advantage of using this method of performance appraisal is that direct results can be observed. This method also has many disadvantages also as it can lead to unrealistic expectation from the employees which cannot be reasonably accomplished. The subordinates and the supervisors are required to have very good reality checking skills which are very difficult to be attained by them. This method also causes rigidity in the organisation, and it results in the lack of flexibility in the organisation. This method is more useful for the managerial position (Yu, 2008). This method of performance appraisal is not applicable for all the jobs. The process of performance appraisals helps to regularly review the performance of the employee within the organisation. Many employees are not happy with the method of performance appraisal used in the organisation because the process used in a performance appraisal can be biased very easily. Cultural diversification in an organisation Culture means shared traditions, customs, beliefs, history, and institutions of a group of people. Culture is a system based on what we actually are, and it affects the way in which we behave with the people of different groups and culture (Winch, 2015). It is shared among the people of same language, ethnicity, religion and language. Every organisation has a "culture" of procedures, policies, processes and programs, and they incorporate in themselves certain beliefs, values, customs, and assumptions. An organisation which is culturally competent they bring together knowledge based on different groups of people and then it transforms it into policies, standards, and practices which help in fulfilling the objectives of the organization. The diversity in the workplace can be managed by encouraging the staff to participate and contribute towards the goal of the organisation, Managing, Aggressively looking for and capitalising on the benefits of developing a diverse workforce and by Ensuring the requirements of all the legal obligations like safety and equal opportunities in employment. The model which is followed in my organisation is as follows: Valuing diversity-My organisation respect and accept the difference within and between different culture. Conducting cultural self- assessment- regular surveys and discussion are held in my organisation which helps the employees to understand each other culture. The process of self -assessment is a continuing process. Understanding the dynamics of different culture backgrounds Institutionalising cultural knowledge-The knowledge gained is then integrated into every facet of the organisation. Training is provided to the staff so that the knowledge gained is effectively utilised. Adapting to diversity-All the cultures are valued and respected in our organisation which helps to achieve the ultimate goal of the organisation. An employee working in an organisation must have knowledge about the different cultures and ethnic groups and should know about their beliefs, history, values, and behaviour. They should be open towards all the cultural attitudes. Cultural sensitivity exists in every organisation, and it occurs especially if any belief or custom goes against the idea of multiculturalism. Conflicts occurring due to cultural sensitivity could be easily handled if all the employees of the organisation are aware of the goals of the organisation. There are many benefits of building an organisation cultural competence like it helps to increase respect and understanding among the employees, increase the creativity which helps in problem- solving, increases participation, increases trust and cooperation and promotes equality and inclusion. A committee is formed in our organisation which acts as a governing body to plan, implement and evaluate the organisation cultural competence. Today the workplace is becoming vast rapidly with the expansion of business environment which include in itself various geographical locations and various cultures. Communication is a basic tool to build cultural competence in an organisation. So it sometimes becomes difficult to communicate with the people of the different culture properly. To communicate properly with the employees of different culture, I try to learn to read different nonverbal behaviours (Kyounghee Oh, 2007). I always respect the names of my colleagues and never disrespect the names of my colleagues. I try to listen to what others want to say and not what I want to hear. I always try to adapt the communication styles to fit every situation. Acceptance and appreciation are very essential to develop the effective working relationship. I try to maintain courtesy and respect of the employees who come from different culture. I do not behave differently with the employees of the different culture because I understand t he importance of cultural competence and know that the ultimate goal of the organisation can only be achieved when all the people working in the organisation respect each other culture and work together towards the achievement of the goals of the organisation. Workplace accidents The Accident is defined as any unplanned event which interrupts the completion of the work and it may or may not include injury to the employee. Falls and slips are very common types of accidents related to the workplace. Falls and slips account for over 25 percent of the workplace injuries according to the NSC (National safety council) which means the compensation claims filed every year for such incidents are more than a million workers claims. A lot of the fall and slip injuries causes soft tissue injuries which include small gashes, minor burn, sprained tendons, etc. But many of the slips and falls injuries also causes very serious injuries like hard injuries which includes fractures,head trauma, deep gashes, etc. All the employers are required to follow the regulation of OSHA ( Occupational Safety and Health Administration).These regulations describes the safety measures which are required to be followed by the organisation. All the employer who does not follow OSHA requirements may have to incur huge fines and, in some cases, imprisonment. (Tsuda et al., 2011) Whenever any accident take place in an organisation the roots cause for the same should be investigated so that required steps can be taken to avoid the accident to take place again. The investigation of the accident should be done by someone who has experience in accident causation, investigative technique and has full knowledge of the work processes, persons, etc. Reasons to investigate a workplace accident include the following: Finding the causes of the accident so that similar accident can be prevented in the future, fulfilling the entire legal requirement, determining the cost of the accident, determining whether the applicable safety regulations are compiled and in processing workers compensation claim. The steps involved in the investigation process are: The designated person should be reported about the occurrence of the accident. Medical care and first aid should be made available to the injured person. Investigation the accident. Identifying the causes which may include the following: Spilled liquids, cracked, uneven or torn flooring, non-existent or inadequate signs of warning, holes in the floor, poor lightning , uneven stairs, cables, unexpected, elevator stops abruptly etc. Report the finding Developing the plan for corrective action which includes developing a good housekeeping practice, reducing wet and slippery surfaces, avoiding obstacles in walkways and aisles, proper lighting is maintained, proper shoes are worn by the employees. Taking steps to implement the plan. Evaluating the effectiveness of the corrective plan Making changes for continuous improvement. The employee injured in this accident has the right to claims compensation for the same. For claiming the compensation no eligibility is required the injury caused to the employee is in itself a sufficient proof for the same. The benefits that are given to the employee normally include therapy and medical bills, other expenses and two-third of the lost wages during recovery and treatment. The employee has the right to claim the compensation but it the injury is caused due to the employees fault and if the fault is entirely his than the workers compensation law can deny the compensation. Each case is different but if the worker does it purposely than the law can deny the employee the amount of compensation. Therefore it is very necessary to study the actual reason behind the injury caused to the employee. References Abbas, M. (2014). Effectiveness of performance appraisal on performance of employees.IOSR Journal Of Business And Management,16(6), 173-178. https://dx.doi.org/10.9790/487x-1662173178 Clancy, C. (2007). The Performance of Performance Measurement.Health Services Research,42(5), 1797-1801. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2007.00785.x Deferred Incentive Pay Plan for Key Employees. (2013).Compensation Benefits Review,45(2), 121-121. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886368713492114 Firing employees with open workers' compensation claims. (2008).Dental Abstracts,53(5), 246. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2008.04.022 Fraser, M. (2009). Standards, Populations, and Difference.Cultural Critique,71(1), 47-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cul.0.0025 Getting prescribing in job description. (2005).NPR. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1467115805251532 Gray, G. (2003). Performance appraisals don't work.IEEE Engineering Management Review,31(2), 47-47. https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/emr.2003.1207062 Han, Y. (2008). The Relationship between Job Performance and Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, and Goal Orientation.Acta Psychologica Sinica,40(1), 84-91. https://dx.doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1041.2008.00084 Is Your Volunteer Job Description Doing Its Job?. (2016).The Volunteer Management Report,21(2), 7-7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/vmr.30323 Kromrei, H. (2015). Enhancing the Annual Performance Appraisal Process: Reducing Biases and Engaging Employees Through Self-Assessment.Performance Improvement Quarterly,28(2), 53-64. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/piq.21192 Kyounghee Oh,. (2007). An Ethnographic Study on Gender Characteristics Operating in the Peer Culture of Two Kindergartens with Different Socio-economic Background.Korean Journal Of Early Childhood Education,27(2), 51-76. https://dx.doi.org/10.18023/kjece.2007.27.2.003 Lurati, A. (2016). A Fall in the Workplace Leads to a Diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease.Workplace Health Safety. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2165079915627671 Manson, J. Carr, S. (2011). Improving job fit for mission workers by including expatriate and local job experts in job specification.Journal Of Managerial Psychology,26(6), 465-484. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02683941111154347 Nagata, H, Chang, W. Gronqvist, R, Araki, S. (2008).. Slips, Trips and Falls.Industrial Health,46(1), 1. https://dx.doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.46.1 Norwich Union highlights the dangers of slips, trips and falls. (2008).Structural Survey,26(4). https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ss.2008.11026dab.004 On the issue of correlation of terms termination dissolution of a labor contract, and dismissal of an employee. (2015).à Ã‚ Ãƒ Ã… ¸Ãƒ Ã‚  Ãƒ Ã… ¸. https://dx.doi.org/10.17803/1994-1471.2015.58.9.130-135 Probst, T. Estrada, A. (2010). Accident under-reporting among employees: Testing the moderating influence of psychological safety climate and supervisor enforcement of safety practices.Accident Analysis Prevention,42(5), 1438-1444. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2009.06.027 Somerville, M. (2005). Working culture: exploring notions of workplace culture and learning at work.Pedagogy, Culture Society,13(1), 5-26. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14681360500200212 Tegegne, A. (2013). Impact and Treatment of the Evaluators Effect on Employees Performance Appraisal.SJAMS,1(4), 30. https://dx.doi.org/10.11648/j.sjams.20130104.11 Tsuda, Y., Hirose, M., Egami, K., Honda, J., Shima, H., Imanaka, Y. (2011). PMS52 Additional Medical Costs Due to Falls/Slips at Three Teaching Hospitals in Japan.Value In Health,14(7), A312. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2011.08.438 Winch, J. (2015). Cultural Influences in a multicultural academic workplace.Journal Of Language And Cultural Education,3(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jolace-2015-0022 Yalabik, Z. Maden, C. (2015). "The Relationship Between Job Resources,Engagement,and Proactivity:Does Job Fit Make A Difference?".Academy Of Management Proceedings,2015(1), 16701-16701. https://dx.doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2015.68 Yu, Q. (2008). The Impact of the Emotional Intelligence of Employees and Their Manager on the Job Performance of Employees.Acta Psychologica Sinica,40(1), 74-83. https://dx.doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1041.2008.00074 Ziegler, R, Hagen, B, Diehl, M. (2012). Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Job Performance: Job Ambivalence as a Moderator.Journal Of Applied Social Psychology,42(8), 2019-2040. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00929.x

Autological Words Words That Describe Themselves - The Writers For Hire

AUTOLOGICAL WORDS: WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THEMSELVES As writers, we are passionate about words and language. Oftentimes, when we come across a word that we have never heard before, we immediately want to know not only the meaning, but also the history of the word. In most cases, as with most words, the actual meaning of the word has nothing to do with the word itself. Words are generally just arbitrary sounds that are put together to give something a name. The word â€Å"pink† is not pink. And the word â€Å"cold† is definitely not cold. There are, however, some words that are perfect embodiments of the things they are meant to describe. These words are referred to as â€Å"autological words.† In our never-ending quest for knowledge, we stumbled across a wonderful article from Mental Floss that gives a great list of some delightful autological words, along with their meanings. From â€Å"Polysyllabic† to â€Å"Magniloquent,† we hope you enjoy this great list as much as we did.

A Struggle for Dominance essays

A Struggle for Dominance essays In Mary Wollstonecraft Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, apparently has a struggle with his creation, over dominance. The creature eventually gains influence as he is enlightened by learning his surroundings. Victors creature learns to believe that he is Victors master, and Victor should do as he tells him. The struggle over dominance leads to a tragic end, as Victor loses his family, and eventually loses his own life as well. Victor Frankenstein decided to create something unique, being curious of nature ever since his encounter with lightning as a young boy. Upon creating something of his own, he became the modern Prometheus, who created something against the will of nature or God. He is much like Prometheus, who created beings against the will of his God, Zeus, and was punished. Victors monster becomes a constant interference is his life and a constant threat to the people he loves. Due to the lack of love Victor gave the creature, the monster decides to punish Victor, as Victor tries to forget the horror he has released unto the world. It could be said that now the creature dominates or is taking control over Victor, instead of Victor controlling his creation. Before Victor began the creation, he was overwhelmed with the thought of creating a being unlike any being that existed. Victor was cheerful, having a curiosity that would perhaps lead him to discover unknown secrets of life. Through this, we c an see that the thought of being superior (by curiosity) dominated Victor into creating a unique being. In his decision to play God, he will suffer the consequences. The creature is in search for revenge, due to the lack of love he was given since birth, I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on (165). The creature tries to reason with Victor, by demanding him to create a female for...

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

Economics - Research Paper Example On micro level economy does not affect our business. We are the leading cement manufacturers in the region and have more than 65% of the sales. Export and local requirement for cement remains constant until economy faces a major crunch. We are the trend setters in the industry. The requirement for research and development to produce new products makes it a competitive industry. And this cut throat competition makes me enjoy my business and triggers me to think something different and new all the time. We have state of the art systems at plants for all the process, from extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and sales of the products. Entire production is monitored by automated systems. Offices are less advanced in IT and use basic information systems to perform day to day work. My future goals for the company is to expand its production capacity, export of cement to Asia wide countries. To implement a system that will analyze the bulk capacity of cement in market and warehouses. And increase the growth rate of the company with more educated staff and efficient capacity. We provide three kinds of call centre services to the industry. Call centre services, automated voice hosting services and call centre consulting services. We provide out sourced services and services to local companies as well. We market our products to companies looking for out sourcing their call centre services. Our target market are local companies. We prefer local companies because it is cost effective to provide assistance with our local resources. We have a qualified staff of 800 people who are fluent in Arabic and English for providing call centre solutions. Segment of marketing different products generates the maximum profit. More than 60% of the companies take services of call centers to sale their products. It also satisfies the customers quickly leading to increase in sales figures. Changes

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs - Assignment Example Shank’s old boss failed to meet the safety need as they were told that â€Å"you are just another number†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was no love or belongingness and the question of self-esteem and self-actualization does not arise in these circumstances. The needs could not be met because the boss did not value his employees, did not recognize their efforts and contribution to the company. The self-esteem of the employees in the process was at its lowest. Low self-esteem can inhibit creativity, interpersonal relations, hinder performance and conflict resolution. Focusing on employee needs is essential to motivate and sustain the motivation of the employees. Maslow clarifies that satisfied needs are not motivators. When the higher order needs take over they serve as the motivating force. Thus, an organization can meet the missing needs in several ways. People need to feel connected with the top management and not feel alienated. Thus regular interactions between the management and the employees make them feel valued. A few words of recognition publicly reinforce the self-esteem of an individual and this can be a great motivator. The employees should feel that they can approach the management freely. Interest in the work or the store by the management is a great motivator for the employees because when they experience the excitement of the owners they too feel involved in their work. To err is human and employers should recognize this fact. Errors should be tolerated and as in the case of Southwest Airlines, errors should be considered a learning experience. A controlled approach can inhibit growth as it reduces initiatives. Hence an employee should be allowed to develop feelings of self-worth which provides intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is better than extrinsic motivation. When a person is aroused through a desire from within, the results are better.  

Webquest Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Webquest - Assignment Example In his theory of cognitive development, Piaget relates the development process of children to different cultures and visualizes their environments of growth. Piaget describes the development stages to undergo the following process Assimilation - Assimilation stage is acquired at birth when a child conceptualizes the reflexes that transform gradually pertaining to the environment where one grows up. It mainly constitutes determination of schema that varies according to a particular situation (Wadsworth, 2004). Equilibrium - Piaget describes equilibrium as determinants enhancing human development process. Piaget articulates that it is never a direct process because different challenges are associated with it. For instance, every stage of development that is coupled by retarded challenges may require replacement by alternative schemas (Wadsworth, 2004). Oral stage - It requires the development stage of duration from birth to a maximum of 1 year. This period determines the principle part of social development where the body seeks to acquire its form of pleasure thus entail behaviors such as chewing of button and biting of nails (Seorang, 2014). Anal stage - This is the stage between one to two years where much of the development is relayed on mastery of the right behavioral practices. At this stage, for instance, a child gets to understand toilet manners and desist from attending to their clothes (Seorang, 2014). Phallic stage - It forms the third stage of human social and emotional development. It mainly focuses on sexuality and the determinants to identify the difference in the genital composition. According to Sigmund, the scene draws many conflicts as boys develop sexual feelings towards their mothers with a comparative fear that their fathers’ who are against such feelings may punish them (Seorang, 2014). Latency stage - This stage embraces numerous skills development and related activities with much sexual motivation

Leadership influence and report

Leadership influence and report 1.1 Introduction As senior material manager in a public bus company called Metroline Travel. I supervise a team of 15 Material managers across London. These personnel are the logistical team and their core responsibilities are the supply, storage and procurement of parts to engineering. The logistical hierarchy is illustrated in figure 1. Figure 1 Metroline Organisational Structure (Engineering Department) 2.1 Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholder analysis is a useful technique used to identify the key people within the logistical function framework. These key personnel are very important to the organizational structure because they have tremendous power and influence which affects my embarkation on this project, which involves extending me in terms of leadership and change. According to Mendelows matrix these can be grouped into 4 categories in figure 2: Figure 2 Mendelows matrix in Metroline Travel logistical function High Low C- Keep Satisfied D- Key Players A- Minimal Effort B-Keep Informed Low HighPower Level of Interest A- Engineering administration clerks B- Operation, Suppliers C- Finance department, Material Support Managers D- Engineering managers, Head of Purchasing, Engineering Director, Head of Manning and Training 2.1.1 My experiences of Leadership My life has been a journey. In 2000 I was employed with Her Majestys Armed Forces. I served for a period of seven years with the logistics corps, which I was responsible for both the national and international supply operation of my unit. I was authorised to organise and manage the handling of dangerous and hazardous goods and advanced air and shipping freight. I then moved on to serve with the bomb disposal units within the United Kingdom. Serving in the army not only required flexibility, but also enabled me to adapt rapidly to difficult environments and handle confrontational situations. As a Non Commission Officer; leadership was very task oriented where ones degree of leadership style and authority was determined according to rank. This experience has taught me to place substantial effort and commitment into my actions and work by being a focal point for solving all logistical problems day or night. 2.1.2 My experiences of change There have been many changes within my life. Leaving the Armed Forces was the biggest life changing decision I have ever made. I felt very uncertain about my life direction and decision after having joined the army at 20 years old. However, I needed more from my life; I wanted to accomplish more in terms of going back to university to get a degree. Further, I could not really study within the armed forces because of work constraints and time. But I took initiative and I have completed 80% training towards obtaining my degree. I have also seen changes made to other people in terms of new work procedures being introduced in my current workplace and the resistance that can sometimes occur as a result of these changes. Through those experiences; I realise change can have positive and negative personal effects. It can also affect other colleagues motivation and the business organisational culture. 2.1.3 My experiences of leadership and change I have experience change within different working environments, change such as having to work on a Saturday for 2 weeks because of a deadline and the Change Facilitator taking the initiative by effectively communicating the reasons for the change and their actions. Although the individual was the head of the department and did not have to work on the Saturday, turning up to work which to me (a subordinate) demonstrated leadership and the ability to make the change flow smoothly. On the other hand, I have also experienced poorly structured change by instructions; such as to change working practices without any consultations coming from directors who have lost touch with their employees and working environment. This type of leadership infuriates me and other staff and the change is always met with high resistance. 2.1.4 The key issues from me and my workplace My company is very unionised and after reading a few chapters of the developing a productive inquiry; I have started noticing positive and negatives things about myself and my workplace. I found that I am a bit timid within meetings with senior managers, although I have very good ideas about solving problems, I do not speak up and I have no idea why, which creates a level of personal uncertainty. Also within my workplace I have started looking at other managers leadership style, the good and the bad. For me to grow and improve as a manager; I would like to incorporate the good points within my current style with the support of the other managers. Organisation boundaryFigure 3 The key issues within my workplace Material managers Trade Union Working conditions Honesty Employment contracts Organisational culture Senior management support Support and Improve performance Senior material manager Other managers and departments Support Good points Good communicator Creditable by my actions Approachable Able to get the job done without conflict Economic factors Global credit crunch Slow rate of economic growth Political and Economic factors Government sending Review cuts Factors in outside the system in the Marco environment 2.1.5 The Importance of Leadership and Change to Me I believe from my past experiences, I have an understanding of the structure of leadership and change. In addition to learn more about leadership and change will enable me to become a better manager. In my work context; it will help me to become more people- orientated with the tools I learn from this course. In my personal life; the course will add points to my degree will enable career development and progression illustrated in figure 4 and mind map. Figure 4 The Importance of Leadership and Change to Me Leadership Improve my self-esteem and confidence Change and leadership Support and personal development Change and leadership Improve communication skills Leadership Motivate my team Change and leadership Being decisive about choices Leadership Networking Change and leadership Understanding the uncertainty and fear within me Change and leadership Challenging myself to try new ideas Change and leadership Setting the example and leading the way ME The beginning of my Journey with B204 mind map- (to be continue) 2.1.6 Opportunities to explore my Evidence Base Initiatives (EBI) My first thoughts on opportunities to explore as a possible basis for my EBI, illustrated in figure 4 (Developing Productive Inquiry P. 27) Inquiry Timeline Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Stores reorganisation 6 months Current organisational change program Will not be completed by end of course To improve performance and learning while practicing from tools and theories from B204 To choose a mentor Lack of support from other managers Researching universities to study my MBA 1 year My personal goal No growth over that period To use reflecting and research tools to make a choice Long timeframe to complete Searching for a new job in China 1 year My personal and situational goal High unemployment within China To learn a new culture Risk and uncertainty created by my decision to move Figure 4 my cycle of inquiry Action Stores reorganisation Researching universities to study my MBA Searching for a new job in China Series of consequences Evidence and Evaluation Gathering Information And Reflection I am currently looking at the best possible inquiry to focus on for my EBI, 2 are personal goals which are very important in my development and aspiration and 1 is work related which can improve my performance with support from my peers illustrated in figure 5 and 6 (Developing Productive Inquiry P. 16) Figure 5 possible inquiries to focus my EBI Searching for a new job in China I would like to life and work in China, its a very substantial decision. But I have the complete autonomy to make this decision. However this will change the way I interact with my friends and family, so I will seek advice from them Stores reorganisation Need support C- Finance department, Material Support Managers D- Engineering managers, Head of Purchasing, Engineering Director, Head of Manning and Training Researching universities to study my MBA I have the complete autonomy to make this decision. But I will need support from friends and family Figure 6 possible inquiries to focus my EBI Intrapreneurial Searching for a new job in China A very important project that will really stretches me, but this is very risky. Scaling Up Researching universities to study my MBA A significant project to undertake in terms of research and time Broadening Stores reorganisation Outside of current job description with this store project which I am trying out new skills 2.1.7 My questions about leadership and change I have an initial answer for these questions see appendix. However by the end of this course; I would like to answer these questions from my new learning reflections illustrated in figure 7 . 1. What makes a good leader? 2. What does a good leader do? 3. Is management the same as leadership? 4. Can I be a good manager or a good leader? 5. How do I know I am a good leader? 6. Can a good leader make good changes? 7. Is influence the same as power? 8. How can I improve my leadership skills and make positive things happen? Figure 7 my questions within the leadership and change context Leadership Change 1 2 3 4 7 5 6 Evidence Base Initiatives 8 3.1 Conclusion I started the introduction with a reflection from my past experiences in the army. I also highlighted features from my present employment. Both past and present jobs have a board understanding of various leadership styles and the change context. I have some leadership strengths. However, I still feel a very high level of uncertainty and fear of not being able to apply some of the tools and skills obtained from this course into my working environment. I hope I will have support of my work colleagues, other students, family and my tutor in order to improve personally and professionally as a leader. 1170 words 4.1 References Developing Productive Inquiry B204 Making it happen! Leadership, influence and change by Caroline Ramsey 2010 The Open University Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA

Illusions and Realities in Ibsen’s Plays The Wild Duck and Ghosts Essay

Illusions and Realities in Ibsen’s Plays The Wild Duck and Ghosts In Ibsen’s The Wild Duck, illusions and reality are set into a conflict within the story of a son’s personal desire to confront idealism. Throughout much of the play, the son, Greger, argues the value of truth with the reluctant Dr. Relling. Relling insists on the importance of illusions, but fails to discourage Greger’s intentions and a play that begins as a comedy quickly turns into a tragedy because of these conflicts. At the heart of the illusions in this play are the ways that people assume many roles in a family, impersonating multiple ideals as ways for managing their relationships. This theme of impersonation is also developed in Ibsen’s Ghosts, where family relations are slowly undone as the illusions and deceptions are stripped away. In both plays, deceptions are strategic and designed to protect the children from the pains and struggles of their families’ histories. Ultimately, in these plays, families are held together by illus ions, yet torn apart by truths that have been concealed to protect the children. In The Wild Duck, as Relling continues to discourage Greger from revealing damaging truths about family secrets, Relling insists, "If you take away make-believe from the average man, you take away happiness as well" (Ibsen, 294). Relling is referring to the ways the Ekdal family is structured on particular deceptions; however, these are designed to protect the innocent as well as the guilty. Hedvig, the fourteen year old daughter, represents one of the innocents, and Greger’s father, Old Werle, represents a part of the guilty side. The key to these dualisms of false and truth, innocent and guilty, illusion and reality, lies in... ... necessary illusion. Both The Wild Duck, and Ghosts are tragedies that involve what might be understood as â€Å"the sins of the fathers;† however, Ibsen seems to suggest that some truths are better maintained as illusions. In both plays, the truth destroys the lives of those who have been protected from the past and in both cases the past involves relationships that have indirect consequences on the children’s understandings of their lives. In the end, whether it is right or wrong to maintain the illusions is not as significant as the question of who has the right to determine what is real, and what is true for others. Works Cited Works CitedWorks Cited Henrik Ibsen, â€Å"The Wild Duck,† Four Great Plays by Henrik Ibsen, NY: Bantam Books. Henrik Ibsen, â€Å"Ghosts,† Playreader’s Repertory, M.R. White and F. Whiting, Eds., London: Foresom and Company.

Korean War Essay

I. Introduction A. Stalin died in March of 1953. 1. Korean War also ended. B. Eisenhower began a new military policy called the New Look. 1. The key was American ability to build and deliver nuclear weapons. 2. Would allow the U. S. to destroy the S. U. C. Khrushchev 1. Sputnik. a. Sent the U. S. into a deep emotional depression despite the U. S. New Look policy. D. Thesis. 1. After the Suez crisis, Eisenhower and Khrushchev could never completely trust each other again; their relations from then on became based on brinkmanship and their ability to avoid war. II. Dien Bien Phu and South Vietnam. A. Dien Bien Phu (1954) 1. Isolated garrison north of Hanoi. a. French put their best troops there and dared the Viet Minh to come after them. b. By April the French were losing. i. The fall of the garrison would mean the end of French rule in Vietnam. ii. Dulles and Eisenhower saw a victory for Communist aggression and a failure of containment. B. The Splitting of South Vietnam III. Dulles Plan (January 1954) A. Massive retaliation 1. Used as the chief instrument of containment. a. Never used for liberation. b. Used much less after the Soviets were also able to threaten the U.S. with destruction. 2. Three instances of the use brinkmanship. a. Korea (February 1953). b. Vietnam (April 1953). c. Formosa Straits (January 1955). IV. Quemoy and Matsu (January 1955) A. Eisenhower 1. Determined to hole Quemoy and Matsu. a. Believed they were integral to the defense of Formosa. i. If they fell, Formosa would fall, jeopardizing the anti-Communist barrier and putting several countries in the West Pacific under Communist influence. 2. Asked Congress for a blank check because he was afraid he wouldn’t have time to react if the Chinese attacked Quemoy and Matsu. 3. Major war scare. a. Eisenhower seriously considered dropping nuclear weapons on the China mainland. i. Chinese pressure on the islands lessened and the crisis receded. ii. Brinkmanship succeeded. V. Kremlin VI. Stability of Eisenhower’s Government A. Eisenhower 1. Improved Russian-American relations. a. Avoided war and kept the arms race at a low level. 2. Strong position. a. American GNP went up without inflation. b. NATO was intact. c. Western European economy continued to boom. d. American military bases in the Pacific were safe. e. U. S. was military superior to the S. U. VII. Khrushchev’s Secret Speech (February 1956) A. Secret speech 1. Shocked the Party Congress by denouncing Stalin’s crimes. a. Indicated that Stalinist restrictions would be loosened. 2. Russians dissolved Cominform (April 1956). 3. CIA got a copy of the speech and distributed it around the world. a. Khrushchev was forced to disband the old Stalinist Politburo in Warsaw and let Wladyslaw Gomulka, an independent Communist, take power. VIII. Suez Canal Crisis (1956) A. Suez Canal 1. U. S. withdraws support from the Aswan Dam on July 19, 1956 because of Nassar’s trading relationship with theS. U. (Soviets give Nassar guns). a. Nassar seizes the Suez Canal in response. i. British and French furious because they are dependent on the canal for oil. 2. British and French begin plans of invasion of Egypt without telling the U. S. a. Issue an ultimatum, arranged in advance with Israel. i. Warn combatants to stay away from the Suez Canal. ii. Nassar ignores the ultimatum, so Europeans begin bombing Egyptian military targets. 3. U. S. introduces a resolution in the U. N. General Assembly. a. Urge a truce and impose an oil embargo on Britain and France. b. British tried to seize the canal, but the U. S. forces them to return it to Egypt. IX. Budapest Crisis (October 1956) A. Budapest 1. Khrushchev gives power of the stalinist puppet dictators to Imre Nagy. a. The Russians also withdrew their tanks from around Budapest. 2. Nagy withdrew Hungary from the Warsaw Pact. a. Soviets attacked the Hungarians, killing thousands. b. The U. S. never considered helping the Hungarians. i. U. S. armed forces were not capable of driving the Red Army out of Hungary, except through a nuclear holocaust. ii. Hungarians left to fend for themselves against the Russians. X. Eisenhower Doctrine (July 15, 1958) A. Eisenhower Doctrine 1. Gave Eisenhower the authority to use U. S. armed forces in the Middle East if he deemed the necessity of assisting against armed aggression from any country controlled by international communism. a. Sent the Marines into Lebanon to support President Chamoun. i. Intervention illustrated Eisenhower’s methods. ii. Unilateral action that risked war in support of a less democratic government threatened by pro-Nassar Arabs. iii. U. S. troops limited to taking the airfield and the capital only. XI. Sputnik (October 4, 1957) A. Sputnik 1. S. U. successfully launched the worldi â„ ¢s first man- made satellite. a. Americans angry, ashamed, and afraid. 2. The Gaither Report. a. The published findings and recommendations of the Ford Foundation. i. Presented a dark picture of the future of American security. 4. Sputnik had the effect of establishing ground rules for the Cold War. a. Soviets would not challenge the West’s vital interests. b. Eisenhower indicated that he didn’t want an arms race and was eager for datente. XII. Second Berlin Crisis (1956) A. Second Berlin crisis 1. West Berlin an economic miracle. a. Had become the greatest manufacturing city in Germany. b. Its GNP exceeded that of more than half the members of the U. N. 2. Khrushchev moved against West Berlin in late 1956. a. Feared the growing rearmament of West Germany. i. Adenauer, the West German leader, was increasing the pace of rearmament. 3. Free-city proposal. a. Turn West Berlin into a free city and would remove the troops from all alien countries. b. Eisenhower rejected proposal. i. Feared the Russians would frighten the U. S. into an arms race that would bankrupt the country. ii. Khrushchev soon began to back down.

Conflicting Values In Antigone Essays - Antigone, Civil Disobedience

Conflicting Values In Antigone Essays - Antigone, Civil Disobedience Conflicting Values in Antigone In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, Creon and Antigone have distinct conflicting values. Creon's regard for the laws of the city causes him to abandon all other beliefs. He feels that all should obey the laws set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral or religious, state otherwise. Antigone, on the other hand, hold the beliefs of the gods in high reverence. She feels that the laws of the gods should be obeyed above all others, especially when in respect to family. Creon has a very strong opinion about the laws of the city and the laws passed by him. His method of enforcing them is very strict. In "Antigone" Creon orders that Polyneices will not be buried because of his dishonor towards Thebes. Furthermore, if anyone is caught burying him they will be killed for disobeying his order. Polonieces is Antigone's brother. He is being punished because he attacked Thebes and betrayed Creon and the people of Thebes. Creon's harsh punishment on those who disobey the law makes many fear him and dare not to go against him. One example is Ismene's regard for Creon's laws. She tries to talk her sister out of burying her brother because of what could happen to her if Creon found out that she went against him. Ismene says "We must obey them.....I yield to those who have authority"(5). Not only do the people of Thebes obey the laws of the city because of their fear but because it is a shame to dishonor the king. To go against the kings claim and dishonor the law is to die a more shameful death then Antigone's mother and father(59-60). Antigone does not want to let her brother be left without a proper burial. Her belief is to show respect and love towards her brother she must bury him. Her beliefs in "The sacred laws that Heaven holds in honor" are far more important than those set by the king(Antigone 78). She feels that the king cannot override her belief in the gods. Antigone feels very strongly about burying her brother against Creon's orders. She refused to back down from her opinion even when confronted by the king and sentenced to death. Antigone reasoning is: "It was not Zeus who published this decree,Nor have the powers who rule among the dead Imposed such laws as this upon mankind; Nor could I think that a decree of yours- A man-could override the laws of Heaven Unwritten and unchanged"(450-455). She goes on to say that she does not want to go before the gods after she had disobeyed them because of a decree made by a mortal king(458-459). The loss of a brother is greater to Antigone then the lose of any other kind. She says, "For had I lost a son, or lost a husband, Never would I have ventured such an act Against the city's will. And wherefore so? My husband dead, I might have found another; Another son from him if I had lost A son. But since my mother and father Have both gone to the grave, there can be none Henceforth that I can ever call my brother"(907-914). To Antigone this is another reason to honor her brother; as she honors her brother she is honoring her mother and father as well. Creon, being a new king, wants to prove his abilities as king.He is being harsh, so the people of Thebes don't take him for an easy king and other problems arise. Creon feels that if someone dishonors the city in which he rules they must be punished. If Polyneices is not punished then Creon's power may be taken for granted by the people of Thebes. They would think of him as a weak king who can be dishonored without fear of punishment. Creon wants to be respected and feared as a king because this will give him more power. He does not want to be a bad king, using his power for evil things, but a strong king. However in order to be a strong king, one must be strict and firm in one's decisions. That is the kind of king that Creon is. Creon is a strong king

These Dark Satanic Mills Essay Example

These Dark Satanic Mills Essay Example These Dark Satanic Mills Essay These Dark Satanic Mills Essay In William Greider’s article These Dark Satanic Mills, the central story being tackled is the increasing complications the world is facing, seemingly tantamount to all the advances mankind has inflicted upon itself. And from a broader perspective, the much larger issues to which the article relates are the striking ironies that permeate almost all facets of everyday human life. The central story is the fallacy and absolute phoniness of the word globalization and the folly of global civilization. Stating an example from the article itself, for instance, the utmost concern for their children and the safety of their toys of virtually all parents in the world possesses an underlying irony – little do they know that the manufacturers of those toys they suspect the safety of face even more grave hazards, and it need not be elaborated where the factories are and how young the workers are, in the most depressed nations of the world where child labor is somewhat perceived as the most natural thing (Greider 329). This is an example of the sheer irony aggravated by subtle ignorance which penetrates all corners of the world today. The turning of a blind eye on the real underlying reasons behind apparently benevolent things comprise the entirety of the central story of the article, and this flaw can be easily translated into more understandable word, and one of t hose words is hypocrisy, hypocrisy both of the governments and of the peoples. It is as if globalization does not work the way mankind had envisioned it a century ago. This is so because of the implications of the utter ambitions of nations and the world’s populace to make the world a smaller place, a global community where all differences of people can be changed; but was exacerbated because of the miscalculation of the probable consequences and the hastening of the process. The larger issue is the backpedaling progress of the world as a result of the decline in morality and the simultaneous plunging of regard for the essence of life. If only mankind had anticipated the maladies of today, then technology, capitalism, politics and economics would not be as advanced to the extent that nowadays they create chaos more than they inject goodwill and benevolence; but the opposite had already occurred. If only man had not been so blessed with so much genius then life today is modern but not that complicated. And upon this comes the issue of the nature of man; in spite of his genius, there still are people who are blessed with the eerie ability to propagate evil and make blossom the ills of the world. Lest man has forgotten, great responsibility comes with great power, and by that adage, it need not be disputed that man carries the sole responsibility for the implications of his creations. If only man was innately good, then these problems would not have risen. B ut that is the main irresolvable malady: the enemy of man is himself and the bitterest adversaries of his morality are his greed and his insatiability, all the facets of amorality. If this can not be evaded, the world indeed is a giant satanic mill, so to speak. Unless man sees even at least the tip of the tail of his adversary, which is the evil side of himself, this misfortune in which the world is immersed would go on perpetually and be only aggravated by the further advancement of the quality of human life. One of the insinuations of Greider’s in one of his transcribed cases is the global boycott of a particular venture (Greider 334). On a larger scale, yes, that is definitely true, for no number of economic, political and moral policies could ever live up to those function unless those creating them do not look at themselves and ask whether they are for the good of the people, nothing more and nothing less.

The Gemstone of Minnesota's History Research Paper

The Gemstone of Minnesota's History - Research Paper Example After studying and conducting various researches for the matter, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports the process by which the sediments were formed. For years, this erupted area sweltered in immense heat and volcanoes, after which Minnesota was covered with huge ebbs of sea water giving a cooling down affect. The ice-age period contributed towards the formation of sediments as the earth was covered with large pieces of ice throughout the period, as a result of which masterpieces like Lake Superior Agate were founded. Lake Superior located at the North of Duluth conceived the most historic and remarkable agate of Minnesota, the â€Å"Lake Superior Agate†. Lake Superior agate is Minnesota’s state gemstone, colored by the state’s biggest industrial mineral - iron, formed around a billion years ago from lava eruptions and distributed across the state by glaciers during the ice ages. Lake Superior Agate was a notable discovery as every geologist was interested in studying the causes behind the production of these sediments. After much research, a framework was developed to study the formation process. About a billion years ago, a catastrophic event hit the earth tearing apart North America and splitting it into two separate pieces. These events caused the rocks to hit deep beneath the earth which further caused the eruption of volcanic activities. The lava flowing out from the valley was, thus, exposed to the Northern and Southern areas of the earth. The tectonic force which was strong enough to break two continents apart also caused the trough of the earth to emerge which then became the basin of the Lake Superior1. The Lava eruptions, however, became the basis of the formation of the Agates. According to the geologists, the lava flows contained huge quantities of water vapors along with the carbon dioxide producing air bubbles within the deposits. Later, when there were ebbs of sea passing through the deposits, these bubbles dissolved ferric and quarts, along with other materials within the deposits which formed the basis of the colored areas within the agate. These sediments now became harder and, thus, started flowing free within the Lava flow. After about 20 million years, ice-age hit the earth, further triggering events resulting in the production of the Agates (Lynch and Lynch 2011). Not longer than 10,000 to 15,000 years ago, a Superior Glacier hit Minnesota carrying the sediments along and took them along towards South. Some of the agates were also crushed beneath the surface of the glacier and, thus, these were also transported south. The refined and polished agates were formed as a result of the activities of the huge glacier over the sediments (Wolter 1986). Whenever one observes the rock, the beautiful red color amazes a layman as a human mind is confused about how this color became incarnated within. However, the scientists have confirmed that the Ferric/Iron which is now vastly found in the mineral area of Minnesota has caused the pigmentation of the Agate after various chemical processes undergone by the events mentioned above. Thus, to understand the process which went into the production of the rock, studying the geography of the area also becomes important. Since the sediments had travelled through a distance, ending up in the shores of Lake Duluth, it is interesting to note the location and presence of the Agates

Case Study Business Report (answering question) Essay

Case Study Business Report (answering question) - Essay Example The company’s capital is divided into units with definite values and each of these units is referred to as a share. The people who hold this shares are called the shareholders. The major traits of shares is that they are the capital units for a company and each of them has a face value that is clear-cut. Certificates are issued to their holders for indicating the shares they hold against their values. All shares have unique numbers and their values indicate the significance of an investor in a company along with the degree of their liability (Melicher & Norton, 2010). These shares can be transferred from one person to another. There are several types of shares that a company can issue and these are the equity and preference shares. The preference shareholders receive dividends at a fixed rate and also receive their capital in case the company is winding up. They are quite a safe investment since their holders receive dividends regularly. On the other hand, the holders of equit y shares receive their dividends only after the preference holders have been paid . They also do not receive dividend that is fixed. Their receiving of dividends depends on the profitability of the company. Their initial investments are only refunded once the preference share owners have been paid theirs (Droms & Wright, 2010). ... This implies that if the company makes losses the management has no obligation to pay the owners their dividends. However, shares have disadvantages to their owners since the owners of equity are only paid their dividends when there are profits. The prices of the equity shares are not constant and vary with the company’s profitability. The company could raise a lot of money in the process of raising shares and this results in the shares having low values. The holders of the equity shares experience high degrees of threats and only own the company by name. The company has the disadvantage in that it cannot trade on the equity shares. The swaying of the owners of equity when voting for leaders by the management can lead to conflicting interests between them (Droms & Wright, 2010). 2. Debentures This is the money that a company borrows for a long period of time and pledges to repay within a constant period. The companies issues certificates to the providers of this loans known as debentures. It is given under the ordinary seal of an organization. It can be described as an acknowledgment that is put in writing for the amounts borrowed. It provides the conditions and terms on the money borrowed, their interest rates, repayment periods along with the securities offered (Rundell, 2008). The debenture holders are considered as creditors to the organization and are repaid after a constant time period. Their owners do not have the rights of voting and these amounts are normally secured. There are two types of these debentures which are the redeemable and irredeemable debentures along with the convertible and nonconvertible debentures. The redeemable ones are only repaid upon maturity

Banned Books Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Banned Books - Essay Example Likewise, key examples will be illustrated that show some of the common trends and underlying causes for both past and current censorship that exists in the world. Furthermore, the reader will be able to understand key trends and underlying motives that encourage power structures to take such a drastic approach to seeking to stamp out a given idea/set of ideals. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of censorship is that which surrounded the Soviet Union and the communist party control that dominated nearly every aspect of public and private life. As a means of near total control over such a society, censorship was readily employed to direct and influence the way in which â€Å"foreign† ideas were injected into the society (Plamper 528). To accomplish this, the communist party employed a rigid structure whereby incoming literature and books would need to be approved by the relevant authorities prior to reaching widespread distribution. This structure of censorship is perhaps the most extreme example that our world has witnessed within the past 100 years; however, it is not the only example of a society that has employed censorship, to Ð ° great effect, in order to mould and direct, the social evolution of its populace. Similarly, censorship exists currently in a number of nations; however, the lion’s share of censorship in the current world is derived from a fear of the spread of a foreign religion within a host country and/or region. This is evidenced by strong censorship laws that exist in many Islamic countries. These laws ban everything from the distribution of religious material to â€Å"immoral† texts that can include anything from â€Å"unislamic† attitudes, styles of dress, forms of music and a host of other culturally derived points. A few of the countries that exhibit a high degree of censorship with regard to books and literature are Saudi Arabia, Eritrea and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Information Providers 100). A s imilar situation exists within what most readers might consider a highly democratic country – Germany. However, Germany’s case is somewhat different than the other nations that have thus far been listed in this brief analysis. Germany has placed a ban on many of the Nazi era publications and propaganda pieces to include Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf. According to pertinent government institutions and officials this has been done in order to allow the populace a reprieve from the painful and harmful vitriol that was common and circulated around GermanÃ'Æ' a few brief decades ago. Germany of course is the aberration to the rule in that this is a nation that enjoys a wide array of democratic freedoms, elections, freedom of expression/thought and a wide range of freedom of speech and freedoms of the press. However, as a function of the dangers that Nazism has presented the nation, they have chosen to implement a ban on all such material in the hope that doing so will s eek to hasten the healing of many war-era wounds that were caused as a direct effect of the policies and actions implemented by the Nazis government. Although the United States supposedly enjoys freedom of the press and freedom of thought, the United States itself has experienced a long and sordid past with relation to censorship. This censorship has primarily been concentric around education in that certain individuals, teachers, parents and/or government

Globalization & Development of economies Essay Example for Free

Globalization Development of economies Essay Globalization has been perceived as a beneficial factor in the development of economies, technological advancements as well as sociological and political development. However, not everyone gains from these benefits. Instead, other nations particularly the developing states are subjected to the dangerous effects of globalization. The truth about globalization is while the benefits may be enjoyed by a few individual states, the negative impacts of globalization are felt by all the nations in the world. Globalization and the associated changes in the social work organization has led to a creation of economic systems where various corporations are increasingly moving around the world to find the cheapest labor possible. A good example is out the trend of outsourcing, which is quite common in the modern world of business. Cheap labor in this context is reproduced through political, social, technological and economic means which allows corporations to pay extremely low wages to the workers. Globalization has led to a number of technological innovations and technology has played a pivotal role in the reshaping of the social organization of work. The introduction of computers and information technologies has greatly changed the work setting. For instance, the shift from demands for physical work to mental, intellective operations and information handling has substituted the skills of all collar workers. This has reshaped the social organization of work. The overall effect of such changes is the reduction of employment and the eventual reduction in the wage levels among the workers performing physical work. The social organization changes of capitalism have intensified the effect of globalization and affected how employment and labor relationship is regulated. This has mainly been seen through the intensification of acquisition and cross-border mergers where companies value the importance of mergers and acquisitions in order to increase the strength of business. There has also been a pronounced trend of the global corporations of transforming themselves into organizers and coordinators of activities performed by suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors. This has had a significant effect to the regulation of employment and labor relationship leading to the production of cheap labor. Through globalization, employers can easily subcontract and outsource cheap labor from different states which further allows global corporate to externalize and reduce the costs that are incurred from employing directly. Outsourcing of labor makes the employers to pay low wages since they can choose to employ from states where cheap labor is readily available. The political instability, poor living standards and poorly developed economies in developing states have all contributed to the reproduction of cheap labor and global corporations are taking advantage of this. In order to avoid further tearing of the social fabric caused by globalization, consumers and /or producers of cheap labor should devise machineries to provide salient working conditions with improved wage levels. This can be achieved by setting the international wage minimums that will prevent the overexploitation of workers from the developing countries. All workers with similar qualifications should earn on the basis of a unified wage rate. The increased acquisition and merging of companies can be beneficial as it increases the strength of business in a synergistic manner. However, agreements should first be made to integrate the social values of each company and respect the rights of employees of each of the merged companies. Through this, the benefits of globalization can be reaped by both the developing and the developed states or the producers and consumers of labor. Reference: Amin, M. (2009). The effect of globalization, labor fexibilization and national industrial relations systems on human resource management. International Business Research. 2(4), 36-45. http://www. ccsenet. org/journal/index. php/ibr/article/viewFile/3910/3434

Report into Barclays Financial Performance Analysis

Report into Barclays Financial Performance Analysis The following report is aimed at comment the findings of Barclays PLC financial performance analysis. The first section presents an internal and external analysis. The second comments a series of financial ratios. Finally, the last section concludes. Introduction Banks are an important part of the financial system. They channel financial resources from individuals who have surpluses to individuals who lack capital. Banks transfer these assets in the form of loans. Loans are evaluated and classified according to the default probability (risk). In this manner, Banks assure that lenders invest their wealth in trustable projects, that is, economically viable (Arnold, G., 2008). Banks, then, subside the research task from lenders and allow them to get a safe and constant return rates in a determined timeframe and conditions (Valdez, S., 2007). As any business, Banks are aimed at increasing the wealth of the owners. Banks employ accounting systems and economic models to measure their financial performance. Accounting and economic models evaluate: 1) whether the wealth of the owners is augmenting, and 2) at what extent (Atril, P., McLaney, E., 2008). They provide several financial indicators which help business management to control the enterprise performance; among them, the financial ratios are widely used. The purpose of this report is to comment the findings discuss how bank (Barclays PLC) overall performance should be evaluated. The first section presents a review of Barclays internal and external performance. The second section evaluates Barclays financial performance. Finally, the last section concludes. A review of Barclays internal and external performance Barclays is one of the worldwide leaders in financial services. It was founded in 1690 in the UK. Barclays has operations in 50 countries spanning over Europe, the US, and Africa. Its headquarters are located London, UK and employs 153,800 people worldwide (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays retail banking includes personal customers, home finance, local business, consumer lending and financial planning (DATAMONITOR, 2010). Internal performance Barclays capital strength has provided the company with resilience to cope adverse market conditions. For example, the companys liquidity pool increased to  £127 billion at 31st December 2009 from  £43 billion in 2008. Hence, cash flows allow the bank to negotiate better selling conditions in their product portfolio (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays has kept its lending growth volume regardless global economic situation. The bank has reduced its derivative assets; therefore, its balance sheet size has been reduced (BARCLAYS, 2009). However, Barclays operations are threatened by its weakness in cost management. Its subsidiaries in Western Europe registered detrimental costs in 2009. Thus, the bank may face difficulties in its expansion plans (BARCLAYS, 2009). On the other hand, Barclays mobile banking services have experienced a significant growth due to smart phones popularization. This new service portfolio is likely to reduce workload in banks branches; therefore a significant cost reduction may be achieved during the fiscal year 2010. Even though, internet and credit transaction fraud has also risen. Hence, information security investments may undermine cost management accomplishments (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays is pursuing to expand its operation in India and UAE. Even the bank has been present in both countries since 1970s; it does not have a considerable penetration. These markets have attractive conditions to increase the bank market share. Therefore, an expansion strategy for India an UAE is foreseeable (BARCLAYS, 2009). External performance Barclays impairment losses in 2009 affected banks profitability. This effect was present despite balance sheet size reduction. Disposal of these legacy assets is one of the main banks objectives for fiscal year 2010 (BARCLAYS, 2009). UK government legislation regarding Asset Protection is aimed at improving customers trust by clearing up banks balance sheets. However, there is no a complete strategy on this matter. These uncertainties add pressure on financial markets, making difficult banks capitalization. Besides, a more competitive environment will be roomed (BARCLAYS, 2008). Finally, mergers and consolidation in banking industry will make more difficult, for Barclays, to adjust pricing levels and protect their market position. However, Barclays has the resources and skills to tackle challenging business environments (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays financial performance ROE ROE ratio presents negative trend in the last three years. The cause of this behaviour was the increase in the operation costs, 25%, plus a drop of 25% in the interest income. The net effect was a drop of drop of 77% in the net income in 2009. In 2008, Barclays acquired Lehman Brothers, thus, the total financial figures of the bank were affected. This buy clarifies the abrupt changes in costs and interest incomes. Positive results of this acquirement may be reflected in one or two years; it can be said that this normal behaviour of acquirements (BARCLAYS, 2008). ROA ROA was also hit by the Lehman Brothers effect; the indicator fell 50% from 2007 to 2009. Total assets were duplicated during 2008 and the net income after taxes was a little bit higher than in 2007. However, in 2009, Barclays made a restructuration in its total assets and was able to reduce them a 44%, that is, total asset were almost the same than in 2007. Unfortunately, net income after taxes also dropped 44%. ROA indicator was, then, almost the same than in 2008. ROA hid the company efforts to align the bank to the pre-acquisition levels (BARCLAYS, 2009). Net Interest Margin Net interest margin improved in 2009. It surpassed 2007 value. Assets are producing more Interest profit than in 2007. This can be interpreted as a positive effect of the Lehman Brothers acquisition, since the asset combination is generation more income. However, the increment in operation costs undermined the net effect of these results (BARCLAYS, 2009). DuPont This indicator clearly shows the Lehman Brothers acquisition effects. The equity multiplier registered a growth during 2008. The net profit margin was almost 300% higher than in 2007. However, the asset utilization went down 518%. The net effect was a low ROE (BARCLAYS, 2008). In 2009, the equity multiplier, and net profit margin felt down 49.48%, and 63.45% respectively; whereas, asset utilization grew 281%. Even though, ROE ratio was the lowest one in the studied period. This erratic behaviour was caused by the total asset amount. Each indicator by itself does not provide enough information regarding how well the company is doing it. For instance, asset utilization seems to be worst than in 2007, therefore, the implication would be that acquisition was a bad deal for the bank. In the case of the Equity multiplier, the conclusion would be the same. But, the net profit margin figure seems more realistic and clearly shows that a growth of 10% in two years justify the buy (BARCLAYS, 2008). The ultimate result is indicating that the new company is expected to have a return in equity of 6.28%. However, this metric does not include dividend amounts; thus, investing in the new Barclays firm may still be attractive. DuPont exercise shows that any indicator does not have all information at glance, thus, they should be used in combination in order to provide relevant and useful information. By decomposing ROE in three different ratios, it is possible to understand the effect of total assets and the operating revenue into the companys investing profile. Besides, it is clear the effect of the increment in the cost of the sales and operations. From the graph, it can be seen that Lehman Brothers firm made a massive sales and their expenses were under control. However, it can be inferred that liquidity may be one of the relevant factors that pushed former owners to sell it. This thesis is aligned to the main causes of the 2007s global financial crisis. Therefore, the acquisition w as justified and was a good opportunity to improve the banks financial performance (BARCLAYS, 2009). Net Interest Margin This ratio shows a negative trend. The lowest value was registered in 2008. However, during this year the interest income registered the highest value during the period. In 2009 the interest income dropped 24.18% but asset were reduced almost 50%. Even though, they continued 12.34% above the 2007 value. The net effect was 25.24% below the 2007 mark. It is important to say that 2009 is a good result and shows how the bank is trying to move the new company to the levels in which the former one was operating. It can be inferred that the strategy is to stabilize the bank and then increase the profits. Acquisition was, again, the event that impacted the ratio behaviour (BARCLAYS, 2009). Earning base Earning base is indicating that bank is acquiring more assets which are directly implied with the profit generation, that is, that it is lending more money to customers. It is clear that in 2008, due to acquisition, the bank owned a series of assets which were overloading the cost structure. In 2009, the situation improved since assets were re-structured and their number was reduced. This indicator should not be higher than 50%. The rational is that banks earning assets are loans, thus, bank should ensure they payment of those loans whit its assets. Therefore a healthy ratio level may be around 50% (BARCLAYS, 2009). Operating Efficiency Ratio and Wage ratio The operating efficiency ratio shows that bank is struggling with its operating expenses. In 2007, the ratio was 187%, which means that bank was investing two resource units to produce one. In 2008, this indicator grew almost 2.5 times. However, the bank made a very good effort and reduced the figure 32%. When wage ration is included in the analysis, it presents a drop in 2008, due to redundancy. However, the operation expenses did not diminished; therefore the operation efficiency ratio did not improve. It can be implied that work force is not the biggest expense, as many author claim, but a combination of inefficient process and asset sub-utilization. Unfortunately, annual reports did not provide deep information (BARCLAYS, 2008, 2009). Interest Income / Total Assets and Interest Rate Risk Ratio The first ratio provides information regarding how much interest income is produced by the total assets that bank owns. This indicator shows a growing trend with a little drop in 2008 due to the total assets acquired from Lehman Brothers. Thus, Barclays is improving its asset utilization. Talking about interest risk ratio, this indicator should be ideally around 100% to ensure that all loans are backed up with assets. However, the bank registered values below 10%. On the other hand, this indicator also shows a growing trend, which means that this figure is going to improve in the future. This indicator also supports the 2008 acquisition (BARCLAYS, 2009). Liquidity Risk Ratio Cash is the blood of the business. This ratio is relevant because indicates the capacity of the bank to convert its asset in cash. This indicator showed a negative trend with a peak in 2008. Its value has never been below 90% which indicates that bank has no cash flow issues. However, it highly depends in the asset restructuration. According to the 2009 annual report, asset management is one of the key objectives of the current management board. Thus, liquidity risk ratio will improve during the next years (BARCLAYS, 2008). Capital Risk Ratio Capital risk ratio shows at what extent the bank is prepared to afford its long term compromises. Values on this indicator shows that bank is in a very good position since its long term compromises do not represent a high percentage of its total assets; the lower this indicator the best. However, it shows a growing trend accelerated by the 2008 acquisition. It can be inferred that management team is trying to either improve the bank resource availability, by long-term instruments, or restructuring the acquisition cost. The peak in 2008 can be explained by the heterogeneous asset combination post-acquisition (BARCLAYS, 2008, 2009). Conclusions After analysing Barclays bank ratios, it can be inferred that the acquisition of Lehman Brothers was an organic growth during crisis times. Thus, Barclays took advantage of the economic situation in 2008. Its solid cash figures allowed the bank to reject the bail-out plan from the UKs government. This action increased the customer preference for the bank. After acquisitions, the ratios tend to show bad results. However, this is somehow expected, since new components are added to the operation and a new organization is created. In the case of Barclays, these variations were not significant to the overall company performance. Finally, internal and external performance measurement is a complementary part of the ratio analysis. Ratio analysis is highly dependent on accounting information and the standards to gather that info. Thus, the results may vary if another set of accounting rules is applied. Internal and external performance measurement provides the background information to understand the number, trends and behaviours of the ratio result. Hence, both analyses are complementary rather than exclusive. Ratios provide a standard and normalized way to compare and analyze information, but they are meaningless by themselves. Ratio value is important, but it adds nothing to management process if it is not translated into coherent and relevant series of events which explain the root cause of that percentage. Thus, a good selection of indicator and measurements will guide the company to better results.

The Chinese Culture Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Chinese Culture This report is about the myths and beliefs of the Chinese culture. It's about the stories the Chinese created to explain the world around them, and generally how they perceived their surrounding environment. This report deals with ancient myths and the people who believed them, and what the current believes of these people are. The Southwest Creation Story The Southwest creation story is a myth which explains why people are different. The myth begins by saying that there were people on earth who were all alike, meaning there weren't people who were black, white, oriental, etc.. It states that the humans on earth all generally were the same. There were also gods who lived above the clouds in the heavens. And there was a huge heavenly ladder which started on a mountain and reached all the way up to heaven's door. It goes on to tell a story of a man who had two children. One was a girl and the other was a boy. They lived in a house which had a huge very thick roof. The man had built the roof so thick because it rained almost every day. He hated the rain. He knew it had its benefits but too much of it ruined his crops, destroyed his livestock and every time it rained the roof of the house was destroyed. And every time the man rebuilt it, he made it thicker and thicker. He blamed all his misfortune on the Duke of Thunder. The Duke of Thunder was one of the gods who lived in the heavens. He was the god of rain and thunder. The man dispised the Duke very much and had a pure hatred of him. Every time it rained the Duke would descend from the heavens and stand on a hilltop. There he would watch with pure delight as the rains and thunder came down harder and harder. Finally the man had had enough. One day he took his axe and waited on the hilltop for the Duke to arrive. When the rains came so did the Duke, and the man slashed him in the back.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Duke was hurt but not killed because he was a god. The man caged him and brought him home. He put him in a corner and warned the kids not to go near him. And to especially not give him water. The next morning was a beautiful sunny one, but the Duke looked horrible almost as if he was dehydrating. The man told the children he had to go to the market and said again not to go near the Duke no matter wha... ... his son. Zoa was killed by his own brother who was ashamed of what his younger sibling had become. What the magician didn't tell Zoa was which close relative would kill him. Zoa who had become overconfident wasn't as great as he thought he was. And he was too arrogant to not know that the gods should not be challenged. This myth tells that becoming overconfident will eventually hurt you and that no one could beat their destiny. The Chinese in this story believed in the gods, they were very religious people and this myth tells that the gods should not be challenged. Both of these myths were written a long time ago and I don't think that the people today still believe in these myths as strongly as the people who wrote them did. I think it's like Halloween in our culture. We still practice the custom as the ancient people did but we don't have as much as a strong believe in ghosts and goblins as our ancestors did. Bibliography Birch, Cyril. Chinese Myths And Fantasies. Great Britain: London, 1992. Fei, Charles. Strange Creatures. New York, 1990 Ke, Yuan. Dragons And Dynasties. China: Beijing, 1993 *Chinese Myths.* Grolier Encyclopaedia, 12th ed. 1996.