The Rise Of Juvenile Crime Essay - 1945 Words

In today s world we are so worried about our future, but what have we done to make sure our future is implanted and made for success. We need to examine in what s wrong with our juvenile and what we can do to fix them in order to have them understand what s right and wrong. We must do so in a way that they will not grow up hating the authority or the justice system but trust it. The rise of juvenile crime has been growing rapidly and in the rise in recent years. 1999 law enforcement officers arrested 2.5 million juveniles. Approximately 104,000 of these arrests were violent crimes. The most common crime that juveniles committed was larceny theft. Juveniles accounted for 16% of violent crimes and 32% of all property crimes, 54% of arson crimes, 42% of vandalism and then 31% for larceny theft. From 1889-1994 the arrest rate rose over 46% among teenagers while only 12% among adults. In today s age juvenile crime may not be as high as it once was but that is due to those kids growing up And becoming adults. But juvenile crime is still very present in today s world. Juvenile crime takes place in more of bigger cities and also the places that don t receive much attention. Juvenile violence tends to peak in the after-school hours on school days and in the evenings of non-school days. On non-school days, the incidence of juvenile violence increases through the afternoon and early evening hours, peaking between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The number of school days in a yearShow MoreRelatedJuvenile Crime Statistics878 Words   |  4 PagesJUVENILE CRIME STATISTICS PAPER Juvenile Crime Statistics Paper CJA/374 September 19, 2012 The information in this article gives statistics of juvenile crime in America ranging from the late 1980’s to 2008. Its purpose is to take the information provided in these studies over the past 20 years or so to guide efforts and address the disparities among the youth to combat and prevent juvenile delinquency to better the lives of our children and for the future of our nationRead MoreJuvenile Crime and Justice1126 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Juvenile Crime Justice Introduction Are crime rates for juveniles in the United States on the rise or are they falling? What kinds of crimes are juveniles typically arrested for? Are all the laws and policies with reference to juvenile justice seen as truly fair? Should a juvenile be locked up for life without the possibility of parole? What has the U.S. Supreme Court ruled as to locking juveniles up for life without the possibility of parole? These and other issues will be discussed inRead MoreThe Crime Of Juvenile Offenders1256 Words   |  6 Pagesevidence that continues to rise (and extremely much higher rates in the 2000’s) that portions of juvenile offenders commit most of the chronic, and violent, crimes of juvenile offenders. In a study conducted by Philadelphia birth cohort (Figlio, Wolfgang, Sellin, 1972) found that these â€Å"chronic offenders† (including having five or more police contact activities) in whole, constituted six percent of the cohort, and a rising figure of 18 percent of all d elinquents. The juvenile offenders were again responsibleRead MoreJuvenile Crime And Crime Rates1609 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile crime is one of the nation s most serious problems. Concerns about it are generally broadcasted by federal, state, and local government officials and by the public. In years prior, the burden developed beginning with the dramatic rise in juvenile violence in the eighties reaching an all-time peak in the first part of the nineties. Even though juvenile crime rates seem to have lowered since the mid-nineties, the reduction has not eased the concern. Many states began taking strict statutoryRead MoreThe Effect Of Drugs On Juveniles961 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Drugs on Juveniles The growth of juveniles using and selling drugs has expanded tremendously over the years. The use of drugs by juveniles has affected juveniles academically, in relationships, health, and the rise in delinquency. Juveniles experimenting drugs often lead to long term use, and is often used in adulthood. It has been found through studies, that the rise in juveniles and drugs have significantly grown more rapidly than the rise in adults. Crime rates has risen, moreRead More Causes of The Juvenile Crime Rate Increase From 1990 To Present1599 Words   |  7 Pages From 1990 to to the present there has been a sharp increase in juvenile crime across the United States. From 1996 to the present there has been a slight decline from the statistics in 1995(OJJDP). What was the cause for this uprise in juvenile delinquincy? I will discuss 2 different theories to why there was such an increase in juvenile crime rates. I will analyze the rise of the Gangsta-Rap culture in the early 1990s and how it may have affected teenagers that are in lower-income familiesRead MoreThe Effects Of Charging Juveniles Of Adults1689 Words   |  7 Pageseven finished puberty possibly understand the sever implications of such a brutal crime? How can we possibly try a juvenile as an adult when juveniles are proven to have diminished impulse control? This paper will discuss the history of charging juveniles of adults, discuss the issues that make this practice wrong while negating opposing arguments, and explain the various consequences that come with charging juveni le offenders as adults. When the United States was first established as an independentRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Is A Problem1508 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile Delinquency When looking into the history of United States and elsewhere juvenile delinquency is a problem and has been one for over a century. Like other systems in place, the system involving juvenile delinquents has gone through many stages. In the case of the juvenile delinquency, it has gone through four stages, with us presently in the fourth. The causes behind juvenile delinquency are still unknown even today. Some blame it on the current culture, the over-exposure to violenceRead MoreFavor Of Abolishing Juvenile Court1061 Words   |  5 PagesProponents of abolishing juvenile court claim that all crimes should be treated the same and children are no exception. They also claim that because a punishment is supposed to fit the crime teenagers who have committed high-level crimes deserve to be tried as adults. Another popular claim is that the adult court system lowers juvenile recidivism. What these individuals fail to see is the psychological trauma that adult courts have on adolescen ts. Instead of being tried as adults, children shouldRead MoreCrime And Crime Of The United States1389 Words   |  6 Pages Recent surveys have indicated that crime rate in the United States is on the rise. Crime in the U.S. is classified into property crime and violent crime. These criminal activities have a considerable impact on a state’s social and economic growth and development. Different states in the U.S. have developed different strategies to combat crime, which continues to transform in form and frequency. A number of policies, options, and approaches to crime control exist. This report explores some of the

Indian Removal Act Of 1830 - 1155 Words

Tanner Barnett Professor Jennifer De Maio Pols 355/FA 2015 20 October 2015 Indian Removal Act of 1830 The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was an act that helped aid the expansion of the United States population into the southernmost states, occupied mainly by Native Americans. The act was a long time coming, especially with President Andrew Jackson, a long-time proponent of Native American removal, at the helm. This paper explores the history leading up to the law, the introduction and passage, as well as the sometimes-tragic implementation of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The early 1800s was a time of great expansion in the United States, stemming largely from the purchase of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803. These lands, however, were inhabited by what is known as the â€Å"Five Civilized Tribes† of Native Americans, the Creek, Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Seminole nations. They were called â€Å"Civilized,† in particular, because they had implemented writing systems, many were fully literate, had schools, and learned English. T hese tribes were more assimilated than any others had been, and were considered still savages by Anglo Americans. The occupation of these lands led to a policy of removal, beginning in 1830, that aimed to â€Å"separate the [Native Americans] from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions† (Jackson 1829). In otherShow MoreRelatedThe Removal Of The Indian Removal Act Of 18301820 Words   |  8 Pagespolicy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages.† (Jackson, 1830) This quote from President Andrew Jac kson showed the happiness of the â€Å"white settlers† ofRead MoreIndian Removal Act Of 1830868 Words   |  4 PagesIndian Removal Act of 1830 The Indian Removal Act was signed into law on May 28th 1930 during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Perhaps best known as the black eye of the administration and overshadowing his presidency’s accomplishments, the Indian Removal Act was passed into law to allow the president to negotiate with Indians to purchase land they occupied and offer them lands west of the Mississippi. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 could also amount to pure greed and racism, the beginning of theRead MoreThe Indian Removal Act Of 1830940 Words   |  4 PagesThe American’s desire for expansion of their nation and economic growth has always been their main interest and goal. The Indian Removal in the 1830’s was a great example of America’s efforts to expand through North America and their motivation to economically improve through profitable opportunities. When comparing the Indian Removal and the events that followed the Treaty of Paris, a similarity in the expansion of America i s discovered. Labor, politics, and economics of America during the two erasRead MoreThe Indian Removal Act Of 18301083 Words   |  5 Pages The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a law passed by President Andrew Jackson that provided the funds for the removal of the Indian tribes found in South. These tribes were the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. Slave states, following the lead of Missouri who in the 1820s forced its Indian population to leave, saw the opportunity to expand their industry in the fielding of cotton by â€Å"converting Indian soil into slave soil.† That along with the finding of gold and simply the desireRead MoreThe Indian Removal Act Of 1830892 Words   |  4 Pagesstudents are analyzing is; what are the major effects of the Indian Removal Act of 1830? The students will be given several data sets of events that occurred after the act was initiated and draw conclusions and revise their thesis statement as they go. The big idea of this lesson to have students understand the importance of the Indian Removal Act and it is essentially only the beginning of the journey that Indian tribes had to face after the act was initiated. It led to many heartbreaking events thatRead MoreIndian Removal Act Of 1830923 Words   |  4 PagesIt gives me pleasure to announce to Congress . . . the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation† (Jackson, 1830, para.1). With promises of new lands, protection, and monies, President Andrew Jackson portrays the Indian Removal Act of 1830 as beneficial to Indians, wherein governmental financial gain is incidental. However, when considering land transactions and gold discoveries, the true beneficiaries are revealed. While strengthening the States’Read MoreThe Indian Removal Act of 18301123 Words   |  5 PagesTHE INDIAN REMOVAL ACT OF 1830 Migdalia Tuero HIST101: American History to 1877 Professor Kathleen Davis February 13, 2014 There are several historical events and issues that have impacted the contemporary political development among American history. In the history of America one of these groups are the Native Americans. The white man throughout the South called for a removal of the Indian peoples. They wanted the Native Indians to be resettled to the west because their presence createdRead MoreThe Indian Removal Act Of 18301299 Words   |  6 Pageswere many diverse, and complex views when approaching this subject matter; however, in 1830 President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act, which forced Indians to relocate from their homelands in south east to land west of the Mississippi river. This granted the U.S. a large portion of new rich land, unfortunately it was at the expense of the Native Americans. When passing the Indian Removal Act of 1830, President Jackson relied on teleological utilitarianism ethnic views, in that he focusedRead MoreIndian Removal Act Of 1830923 Words   |  4 Pagesbut the Cherokee removal was the cruelest work I ever knew†, remarked a Georgia soldier who had participated in the removal of Indian Natives during the mid-1800’s. As a result of the Indian Removal Act, Indian natives have been perceived as mistreated and cheated throughout history. The Indian Removal Act was passed during the presidency of Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830. This act granted authorization to the president to exchange unsettled lands west of Mississippi for Indian lands residing inRead MoreThe Indian Removal Act Of 1830865 Words   |  4 PagesWhen the Indian Removal act of 1830 was enacted, the Cherokee Nation panicked. The Cherokee, specifically the romanticized Tsali, did their best to preserve their culture in the mountains of North Carolina, but what really saved them from their harsh fate that so many other Cherokee faced, was there white chief, William Holland Thomas. The Cherokee were â€Å"disagreeable and dangerous neighbors,† but th ey had a powerful ally in Raleigh, who saved the Eastern Band from a much harsher fate. The Eastern

Business Perspectives Corporate Entrepreneurship

Question: Discuss about the Business Perspectives for Corporate Entrepreneurship. Answer: Introduction Developing a business in the market and working under a reputed company in the desired designation is considered as the beginning of the career growth of a person. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur that requires a lot of experience, confidence and information regarding the area of business I want to develop. Currently, I am working in a multinational retail company as an executive of the designing department. I am a knowledge seeker, hence I want to grab knowledge from my field of work and want to utilise whatever opportunities coming in my career life. The courses of GB500 are helping me in gaining a wider perspective of business while developing ideas regarding venturing my own business in the coming years. I have gained the fact that having an idea of opening a new business is not enough. It requires a proper planning of opening a proper business in the market. The study will describe the benefits of the learning courses in my present field of work. It will also describe about my critical reflections in the applications of ideas that I have learned from the course and from my workplace while venturing my own business. However, I want to open my own venture in the sector of fashion and retail that will be dealing with manufacturing and selling garments for men, women and fashion accessories. Implementation of the ideas that I have learned from the course will possibly help me out in developing the thinking of my business in future. Critical Reflection and Changes I can say that before entering the course of GB500, my views regarding business and entrepreneurship was different. However, after joining the course, my experience regarding my field of work and in the field of entrepreneurship has been gradually developing day by day. I have the habit of gaining knowledge and develop skills and expertise that will help me in the growth of my career. In the initial phase of my career life, I am clueless about things that I want to proceed with in my future career life. My academic courses have helped me in gaining theoretical knowledge about various theories and its practical implementation in business, but it was generalize. However, I have managed to figure out that I want to proceed with fashion and retail sector and probably someday, I will open my own venture of selling fashion garments for men and women (McKelvie et al. 2014). I can also admit the fact that, before joining GB500 I have a different perspective of viewing the career I am in. In the multinational company, as an executive in the designing department I am in the responsibility of managing my team that comprises of designing engineers that are into designing trendy fashionable clothes for the company in the particular branch. Managing a team is not an easy task. As this is my first job, hence I need to learn and grab many skills while performing my current role in the company. Managerial skills will help me in solving the queries of the team members and the managing them in progressing with the work (Turr et al. 2014). I can say that the professional course of GB500 is very different from my academic course. It is a professional course, which is helping me in clearing my doubts in the perspective of entrepreneurship as well as in my current field of work. The course is consisted of various current topics and information that an entrepreneur or a manager must know to proceed with the work. An effective professional manager requires an effective knowledge of managing a team with all the leadership and managing attributes of the problems faced by the team members. The managing skills when I have joined this company were not enriched. However, there is a requirement of a professional course regarding entrepreneurship that I have felt while I am doing my current job (Bloodgood et al. 2015). I have felt the essence of starting my own venture of a small and medium enterprise of selling fashion accessories and garments for men and women. I have also find difference in the levels of expertise that I have learned while pursuing my academic courses and pursuing my career in the organization as a manager in the designing department. The roles and responsibilities of mine changes from one situation to another in the perspective of different situat ions based on the team members issues in the workplace (Sahut and Peris-Ortiz 2014). The environment of the workplace is very different from that of academic institutions. Hence, there are many attitudes and behaviour that I am learning in my workplace for becoming a successful person in my designated job role. My knowledge about the concept of entrepreneurship is incomplete as there are many things to learn if I want to open my own venture in the coming years. I need to learn many things both by conducting a thorough research and from my workplace for providing a success in my plan. The zeal of learning new things and giving a success to my entrepreneurial plan have pushed me in joining the course of GB500, that have all the essential information of running a business and the various strategies adopted by business leaders in their companies (Nason et al. 2015). Critical Reflection on application to future roles and workplace The decision of entering GB500 course is to fulfill my aspires and desire of opening a new retail venture in the market. To increase my knowledge, I have joined the entrepreneurial cell and the leadership development program inaugurated by my company. Apart from my field of work, I usually keep myself engage in many activities that will help me in developing my skills and expertise both in professional life and personal life. A sound balance of personal and professional life is necessary in order to make the entrepreneurial idea fruitful in the coming years. I can say that the courses in GB500 are very helpful in developing my expertise and grooming me for becoming a better individual. There are various types of theoretical frameworks such as PESTEL analysis, Porters generic strategies, Porters diamond model, Porters five forces, value chain analysis, SWOT analysis, Gap analysis, external analysis, etc are mentioned in the study with their theoretical description along with implement ation in the real business scenario. Apart from that, there are many other theoretical concepts strategic management decision making, value creation, strategic development, corporate strategy, business strategy, external market analysis, internal market analysis, employee management, basic human resources, etc. are clearly mentioned in the GB500 course that will be helping me in the progress of opening the entrepreneurial venture in the market (Kuratko et al. 2015). The study has helped me in gaining knowledge not only in venturing new business but also it will help me in developing my current role as a manager in the designing department of the multinational organization. The strategy building process along with the knowledge of various entry modes of business helped me in knowing the current position of my company in different parts of the world. As I have already told earlier that my company has its presence in different countries of the world, now I am keen to learn how my country opts for various modes of entry while entering a country (Karimi and Walter 2016). What are the factors my company is following while starting a new branch in a company or other miscellaneous aspects. GB500 helped me in gaining the theoretical knowledge of these concepts. On the other hand, my job helped me in learning the pros and cons of different strategies they are adopting in progressing their business operations in different parts of the country as well as in different countries of the world (Kuratko et al. 2014). The field of entrepreneurship is not an easy thing to do. To become an entrepreneur a person must possess some characteristics and attributes. Apart from that, a sound knowledge of the different attributes and knowledge about the particular sector of the industry is essential which I am gaining. The learning experience from the course has helped me in acquiring knowledge about the process of conducting a thorough market research about the particular field of entrepreneurship. After conducting the research, SWOT analysis will be done for both the external and internal market analysis. It will help me to understand the strength, opportunities along with threats and weakness of the external market and the internal market. The topic of innovation and developing business model is mentioned in the learning course of GB500 that I think is very important while running a business in a particular region (Hsu et al. 2015). It is seen that most of the companies in the world irrespective of sectors are driven by innovation as a part of their product development strategy and formulating business model. I have heard of only innovation, but the course has made me understand the types of innovation and the implementation of innovation in the business. It can be said that fashion and retail industry is volatile in nature. The industry runs on innovation. As I am working in the designing department, I have seen people who are coming up with latest exclusive designs for the garments and accessories that are sold by my company. Fast fashion requires innovation in a very fast pace. I will implement this knowledge in my business of fashion and retail (Hornsby et al. 2013). Apart from that, some other personal development skills that I have gained through this course and I am successfully implementing these in my workplace. The skills are effective communication skills and general presentation skills. Before joining the class of GB500, I was not so much confident of my presentation skills as I thought that I am lacking sufficient information and knowledge that is responsible for creating a sense of inferiority among me (Chen et al. 2015). My communication skills have been improved when I gained a confidence after joining the leadership development organized by my company and continuous efforts of my supervisor. The general skills of delivering a presentation are confidence and effective communication skills that I have learned from my supervisor and in the course of GB500. Apart from that, course materials of GB500 have provided me knowledge of implementing the presentation skills to the clients for the profile of client acquisition. The convincing powe r is the important skill that is related to the general presentation skills (Behrens and Patzelt 2015). Conclusion The study discusses about the reflection of the learning experiences of GB500 both in the development of my entrepreneurial plan as well as my personal development skills and in my professional development in my field of work. I can say that I have learned many things from the course that is discussed in the study in a detailed manner. The description of the reflection of the learning experiences is critically mentioned in the study so that I can implement it in my present and future field of work. I have researched the fact that I have to learn many things and to change my thinking for becoming an entrepreneur in the fashion world. As I am already working in the fashion industry, I am aware of the level of innovation, business strategy, operational strategy that is required for achieving a successful position in the market. There are high competitions in the market regarding small medium enterprise of fashion retail outlet in the market. Among them, for coping up with the competitiv e nature of the market, the courses of GB500 have helped me. The information of the learning courses is enriched and encompasses various practical experiments that business leaders implement in their activities of entrepreneurship in their businesses. However, it can be mentioned that I have developed communication skills, convincing skills, presentation skills in my course of GB500. The presentation skills are important in terms of convincing the investors, clients of my current designation of work in my company as well as for my new start up in the market. For developing my presentation skills, my supervisor in my company has also helped me in gaining confidence while delivering speech towards huge number of audiences. References Behrens, J. and Patzelt, H., 2015. Corporate Entrepreneurship Managers' Project Terminations: Integrating Portfolio?Level, Individual?Level, and Firm?Level Effects.Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. Bloodgood, J.M., Hornsby, J.S., Burkemper, A.C. and Sarooghi, H., 2015. A system dynamics perspective of corporate entrepreneurship.Small Business Economics,45(2), pp.383-402. Chen, Y., Wang, Y., Nevo, S., Benitez-Amado, J. and Kou, G., 2015. IT capabilities and product innovation performance: The roles of corporate entrepreneurship and competitive intensity.Information Management,52(6), pp.643-657. Hornsby, J.S., Kuratko, D.F., Holt, D.T. and Wales, W.J., 2013. Assessing a measurement of organizational preparedness for corporate entrepreneurship.Journal of Product Innovation Management,30(5), pp.937-955. Hsu, C.C., Tan, K.C., Jayaram, J. and Laosirihongthong, T., 2014. Corporate entrepreneurship, operations core competency and innovation in emerging economies.International Journal of Production Research,52(18), pp.5467-5483. Karimi, J. and Walter, Z., 2016. Corporate entrepreneurship, disruptive business model innovation adoption, and its performance: The case of the newspaper industry.Long Range Planning,49(3), pp.342-360. Kuratko, D.F., Hornsby, J.S. and Covin, J.G., 2014. Diagnosing a firm's internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship.Business Horizons,57(1), pp.37-47. Kuratko, D.F., Hornsby, J.S. and Hayton, J., 2015. Corporate entrepreneurship: the innovative challenge for a new global economic reality.Small Business Economics,45(2), pp.245-253. McKelvie, A., McKenny, A., Lumpkin, G. and Short, J.C., 2014. Corporate entrepreneurship in family businesses: Past contributions and future opportunities.SAGE handbook of family business, pp.340-363. Nason, R.S., McKelvie, A. and Lumpkin, G.T., 2015. The role of organizational size in the heterogeneous nature of corporate entrepreneurship.Small Business Economics,45(2), pp.279-304. Sahut, J.M. and Peris-Ortiz, M., 2014. Small business, innovation, and entrepreneurship.Small Business Economics,42(4), pp.663-668. Turr, A., Urbano, D. and Peris-Ortiz, M., 2014. Culture and innovation: The moderating effect of cultural values on corporate entrepreneurship.Technological Forecasting and Social Change,88, pp.360-369.

Water Works By Doctrorow And In Cold Blood By Capote Essays

Water Works By Doctrorow And In Cold Blood By Capote In E.L Doctrorow's novel, The Waterworks, Mr McIlvaine suggests that some stories were, ?not... reportorially possible... that there are limits to words in a newspaper? (page 201). The character Mr McIlvaine like Truman Capote the author of In Cold Blood are both journalists who have found stories to which they feel newsprint, in itself would not have brought justice. Therefore to what extent has truth in narration, and truth through journalism influenced the writing of the novels of In Cold Blood and The Waterworks? Truth is hard to define, the Collins English Dictionary(1992) defines truth as, ?state of being true?, and true as, ?in accordance with the facts, exact, correct.? If we are to strip something down to it's bear essentials like a newspaper ?headline' we would hear that, ?CLUES ARE FEW IN SLAYING OF 4 (Page 97, In Cold Bold) ? or in the case of The Waterworks: ?Telegram freelance reporter gone missing after allegedly seeing dead father'. These headlines although truthful do not tell the whole truth, so in away they misrepresent the real truth. In trying to find the ?truth' both authors take different approaches. In Cold Blood is written in the voice of an omniscient narrator. ?Capote was drawn to the Clutter killings by reading a headline in a newspaper of a killing in Holcomb, Kansas of four family members? (Stephen Harris December 1999) and wanted to find out more than what could be transmitted through news media, he wanted to really investigate talk to the people and find the truth. Capote rarely alludes the reader to himself, and the investigative lengths he went to, to get the story. Capote is able to go into such detail due to these investigations. We are told in the, ?Acknowledgments?, that, ?All the material in this book not derived from my own observation is either taken from official records or is the result of interviews with the persons directly concerned? (Page 9). In Cold Blood is told as a life narrative not as a traditional factual account. Capote has added depth by using the narrator and realistic imagery as a filler between real factual evidence, documents, newspaper articles and interviews. The Waterworks is a fictional novel. Doctorow uses the character McIlvaine, a newspaper Editor of the New York Telegraph, to tell the story through the technique of realistic reportage of Martain Pemberton's disappearance, Martian Pemberton's fathers reappearance and a greater social evil. McIlvaine is always questioning his journalistic morals, he defines journalism as, ?the cheapest commonest realm, the realm of newsprint. My realm.(Page 8). MacIlvine constantly questions his own objectiveness towards the story of the Pemberton family, ?Did that mean I found myself prepared to put the interest of the story ahead of the lives of the people involved in it (Page 200),. The conflict within McIlvaine seems true but there is no real conflict as this is a work of fiction. When McIlvaine puts himself across as a credible narrator the reader is able to better accept the rest of the story he is telling. Despite this in The Waterworks there are many devices used to make the book seem real or truthful. These will be explained latter. Did Capote (a journalist himself), have the same moral struggle when writing the work In Cold Blood as McIlvaine had in The Waterworks? The text never alerts the audience to any struggle of journalistic duty between the truth and the rights of the victims and the offenders, but there are areas in which one could argue there was such conflict. Capote edited out certain parts of Dick Hitckock's letter in which, ? Hickock revealed his pedophiliac tendencies,?(Page 278). Capote had obviously in this instance decided that the rights of Hickok's victims were more important than the publics right to know. whether Capote was forced to edit out these parts of the book we will never know, because of the style of narration Capote has chosen, but the greater question is, Has anything else been left out because of it's sensitive nature? Stories, which are often as complex as the people who write them, can be altered in many ways, such as how the writer was feeling at the time and if they felt sympathetic towards the person or people in question. McIlvaine explains how a journalist constructs an opinion for a reader without them realising: they (reporters) ?did not make such a sanctimonious thing of objectivity, which is finally a way of constructing an opinion for the reader without letting

Managing the Global Workforce free essay sample

But what does it really mean, and why is it important? Attracting and retaining talent has become a boardroom issue that is steadily climbing higher on the corporate agenda. The 2009 Ernst Young business risk report shows that risks associated with talent management broke into the Top 10 last year to become the seventh most important risk occupying corporate leaders’ minds. Talent management risk centers on the danger of losing key competencies (including members of leadership) that allow an organization to achieve its business goals. In response, companies are focusing on developing recruitment, training and retention programs to help ensure that needed skills are available in the future. At Ernst Young, we view talent management as an end-to-end process, linking a company’s mission, vision, values and strategy with the way it manages and develops its people. While other companies may de? ne talent management differently, we believe this end-to-end process encompasses every aspect of the employee life cycle and, therefore, use this de? nition as the basis of the concepts discussed in this report. We will write a custom essay sample on Managing the Global Workforce or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To gain a better understanding of the way companies outside of Ernst Young are approaching this challenge, we conducted the Ernst Young Global Talent Management Survey to answer the following questions: †¢ Do most companies integrate and align their talent management programs across the organization? Do companies run stand-alone programs or do they attempt to harmonize programs with each other and with the organization’s broader business goals? †¢ Do organizations with integrated and aligned talent management programs achieve superior business results compared with those whose programs are not? Are companies with international assignment programs losing key talent, skills and knowledge through inefficient career planning for repatriated employees? By failing to focus talent management programs specifically on these employees, do they lose valuable skills to competitors and waste their investments in their international assignees? Our experience strongly suggests th ree hypotheses: 1. The ability to align a company’s human capital (or people) processes with its overall business strategy, while fully integrating key elements of its talent management system, is an achievable goal rather than a theoretical or academic exercise. Sam Fouad Global Managing Partner – People Esther Hahm Co-author Human Capital Bill Leisy Co-author Performance Reward 2. Elevating talent management to a more strategic level yields indisputable business benefits. 3. Global companies must make international assignments part of their overall talent management program and include a focus on formal repatriation programs for returning expatriates. In mid-2009, we launched the Ernst Young Global Talent Management Survey to test these hypotheses and answer the questions posed previously. Our broader goal was to better understand talent management practices across different global regions, at companies of different sizes and in different industries. We received an overwhelming response from leaders at more than 340 global organizations — primarily senior executives — including CEOs, CFOs, COOs and vice presidents of human resources. Analysis of the survey data validated the hypotheses stated above. This report is a summary of our key ? ndings and observations, as it explores the value of aligning talent management programs with the overall business strategy. It also focuses on the importance of including international assignments in such programs and describes the relationship between talent management and ? nancial performance in companies. Talent management is about more than managing physical bodies that come to work each day. It is about managing human (or people) capital, a phrase that describes an intangible resource comprising your employees’ knowledge, abilities, capabilities and skills. Technologies, products and strategies can be replicated, but it is people who enable a company to innovate, differentiate and succeed. Harnessing that human capital requires elevating your view of talent management to a more strategic level. Forward-looking companies will regard these ideas as a starting point for building more effective talent management programs and for recruiting, developing and retaining your employees of choice. But this is not a one-size-? ts-all approach — your companies and your employees require a framework for building a strong human capital pool that meets the speci? c needs and challenges of your organization. Consider how the research ? ndings, observations and case studies apply to your organization. Managing today’s global workforce: elevating talent management to improve business 1 Overview Survey demographics and methodology Ernst Young LLP conducted an online survey among human resource, ? nance and risk management professionals, and C-suite executives from global Fortune 1000 companies. The aim of the survey was to provide further insight into how talent management programs and mobility assignments are being aligned and integrated across the enterprise. Our survey ? ndings are based on more than 340 responses representing a cross-section of some of the largest employers around the globe in a variety of industry sectors. Nearly one-third of respondents1 (32%) worked for companies headquartered in the US. Roughly one-quarter (24%) worked for organizations based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 10% were headquartered in Australia; another 8% in individual countries like Canada, Brazil and China; and 7% in Japan. Most respondents were senior operations, ? nance or HR executives. The survey was conducted from July to September 2009. Why talent management holds the key to organizational performance A senior executive at a ? nancial services company recently stated that, if not for he employees, his company would be nothing more than a large building with bad furniture. While furniture and other features vary from one organization to another, the executive was correct: a business is only as good as its people. Given the recent economic downturn and its attendant workforce downsizing, you don’t hear this sentiment expressed as much as you used to. Nevertheless, as the global economy revives, bu sinesses that have kept in mind the importance of their people will be among the ? rst to rebound. These organizations have used downsizing more strategically than others, releasing employees who lacked the required competencies and keeping those whose skills ? t the company’s planned product or service offerings. They have understood that their people hold the keys to ef? ciency, competitive differentiation and success in the economic recovery. 1 Note: Percentages for all survey responses were rounded up or down to avoid using fractions when reporting ?nal data. In addition, not all survey respondents answered all of the questions in the survey and therefore, percentages may not add up to 100%. Foundations of talent management

buy custom Jamaica essay

buy custom Jamaica essay Introduction This research is based in Jamaica and it analyzes the global problem of racial discrimination. Racial discrimination refers to the act of showing prejudice or an offensive behavior towards a person who belongs to another race. In Jamaica, racial discrimination occurs when the white community shows a high level of prejudice towards the black community or vice versa (Stone 212). The main motive of racially abusing someone is the fact that the varied characteristics that each race has gives good reason for their discrimination. Racial discrimination is an act that can be seen in various forms. When the whites show open hatred toward the black community or when the blacks show open hatred to the white community, it is considered to be racial discrimination. Similarly, racial discrimination is evident when there is massive exploitation of a particular race by another race; it can also take the form of mass murder of a particular race by another race. Hate crimes or terrorism attacks launched against a particular race by another race is also considered as a mode of racial discrimination. In addition, racial discrimination can also be in the form of giving hate speeches against the other race or contesting for racial supremacy (Stone 212). Background Jamaica is an independent country which is in the Caribbean Island. The country is regarded as one of the members of the British Commonwealth Countries. Jamaica is regarded as the third biggest island in the Caribbean. Out of the diverse population in Jamaica, the Afro-Jamaicans compose a greater number of the entire population. As per the results of the census conducted in 1991, the entire population had about 90.5 percent of blacks, 0.2 percent of whites, 1.3 percent of Indians and 0.3 percent of Chinese. People from minor descents accounted for 7.3 percent of the entire population (Miles 42). Jamaica gained independence in 1962 and the great diversity of the population culminated into the framing of the Jamaicas motto which says: Out of Many, One People. The motto is supposed to mean that even though the Jamaican people hailed from different ethnicities or races, all of them should live as one united big family. However, despite the assertions of the Jamaican motto, racism has quickly crept into the nation. The white community, despite their small number, has increasingly become more racially superior over the blacks. This is considered as the biggest contribution to the modern day racial discrimination between the black and the white communities in Jamaica. The picture below shows the map of Jamaica (Miles 42). The Global Problem When people are separated through social partitions into classes with the aim of differential treatments, it is considered to be racial discrimination. In Jamaica, for instance, racial discrimination is so much evident in the workplace. Many employers belong to the white community, thus, when it comes to offering employment positions, the whites are given an upper hand over the black community. Alternatively, in the workplace, which is mainly dominated by the whites, the black people do not stand a good chance in terms of competing for bigger positions in the organization or getting better pay (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 52). Similarly, in social institutions racial discrimination is very evident. For instance, in schools that are considered to belong to the white community, the black students do not receive a fair treatment and vice versa. Many teachers in these schools perceive the black students as criminal minded and thus they are blamed for all the bad happenings in the school. The policemen also portray a huge element of racial discrimination in case a black person is in the vicinity o a crime scene. Several of them have been arrested or suspected to have been involved in crime yet they are so innocent. In the hospitals, the white doctors are so reluctant to attend to the black patients; normally, they find a way of blaming the blacks for spreading the various contagious diseases (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 52). The Jamaican Motto signifies the varied cultures that come from the multi-racial population and forms the basis of identifying the nation. In as much as the motto emphasizes on harmony and unity among the people, the countrys image is still soiled by increased cases of racism or discrimination with regards to color of the skin. Jamaica is a country that has a huge history in terms of coming out of slavery, yet the act of racial discrimination still proves to be an act of modern day slavery (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 53). The wide gap between the rich white community and the impoverished black community has contributed in a huge way toward the existence of racial discrimination. Many whites employ the blacks as casuals or laborers in their farms. They perceive the blacks as well efficient in doing the dirty works which require less skills or training, thus, attracting a very meager remuneration. In the modern day Jamaica, a high number of the whites have recounted on how they have been treated preferentially in several social institutions, while at the same time, several blacks have recounted on how they have been treated harshly by their white counterparts in social places. These all happen because of the notion that the blacks are poor people and, thus, disadvantaged in the society. On account of this, the blacks have begun to fight back in order to prove their worth in the society. With the increasing cases of racial discrimination in Jamaica, the black people are the majorly affected. As a result, quite a number of them have resorted to actions such as bleaching their bodies so as to lighten their skin color. A majority of the blacks have succeeded in getting acceptance by the whites as a result of bleaching (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 53). The conflict between the dark skinned and the white skinned has proved to be a major global catastrophe. It has disentangled the unity of Jamaica due to the fact that the whites perceive the blacks as their enemies while at the same time, the blacks perceive the whites as their enemies and their main stumbling block to triumph. In consequence of this, the gap between the whites and the blacks has increasingly widened and in certain towns the whites and the blacks do not see each other eye to eye. Racial discrimination has also found its way in politics, whereby a potential candidate for a leadership position can fail to clinch the leadership position because of his or her racial orientation. For instance, a black candidate who is vying for a political position in a region mainly dominated by the whites can find it very hard to clinch that position especially if the opponent is white (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 53). Consequently, racial discrimination has also found its way into the religious field. The black people do not want to go to churches that are dominated by the white people and the white people are too reluctant to go to churches dominated by the blacks. This has caused the people to be divided along religious lines, thus, further fuelling additional tensions and pressures. Besides, racial discrimination is also evident in the field of sports whereby some games are set aside for the white community while other games are dominated by the black community. In games such as soccer, the blacks refuse to mix with their white counterparts, thus, the whites are highly prejudiced when it comes to getting a position in a soccer game. Actually, many sporting clubs are owned by the rich white people, and in many instances, the blacks find it very hard to gain membership in these clubs (Reilly, Kaufman, and Bodino 54). Solutions to the Global Problem Racial discrimination is a major vice in the society. Several measures have been put in place by various non-profit organizations with the aim of eliminating this vice. It is very beneficial when the racist activities are shut off completely so as to promote peaceful co-existence of the people in the society. Peace Corps is one of the non-profit organizations that preach peace and tranquility with the aim of eliminating racial discrimination. They hold the view that showing hatred toward somebody with regards to his or her racial origin is a sin and is contrary to Christian values. They further elaborate that every person should emulate Jesus Christ who never discriminated anybody and loved His enemies equally. Therefore, every person should change his or her heart so as to be friendly to the others; this aims at promoting peace and tranquility in the society. The Peace Corps, therefore, aim at fostering peace in the churches through preaching and conducting sermons with the belief t hat people will change their hearts (Peace Corps 2011). The United Nations, through UNICEF, have come up with a cause named International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day is observed on 21st March of each year. On such a day, there are various events or activities aimed at creating awareness that racial discrimination is a backward behavior and should actually be a thing of the past. In addition, people are reminded to observe and stick to their role of abolishing anti-racial behaviors in the society. The events and the activities that take place on this day aim at encouraging the people, especially the young ones to speak out in one voice, to battle racial discrimination, and to promote peaceful and friendly co-existence among the diverse population. Various United Nations leaders all over the world also speak out on this day and their messages is also aimed at promoting peace and harmonious existence by the members of the society (United Nations 2010). The World Bank has also contributed towards eliminating racial discrimination through funding various causes that aim at eliminating the vice. In Jamaica, the various movements that are spearheaded by non-governmental organizations so as to fight racism have been funded by the World Bank Group. The top management of the World Bank have also aired their voice against the rising cases of racism and called upon the various leaders to take the step to organize programs or activities that enhance peaceful co-existence among the diverse members of the society. A person should not, therefore, be looked down upon on the basis of his or her racial origin. According to Ashoka, the previous emperor of India, racial discrimination is regarded as a social evil and should be eliminated at all cost. Ashoka played a vital role in fostering unity among the people through his religion as a Buddhist. He developed several doctrines that were practiced by his followers regardless of their race. His teachings concerning racial discrimination pertained to how the vice could lead to war if it was left unattended to, thus, the fight against racial discrimination starts with every single individual. It is upon the individual to realize the magnitude of the problem and come up with quick solutions to counter it. No individual should look down upon the other because of his or her racial orientation (Krause and Knight 63). Conclusion Racial discrimination contributes to the moral decay of the society. When it is allowed to persist, much hostility and tension could arise among the warring members of the society. It is very beneficial to exist peacefully with all the members of the society regardless of their race. Various non-profit institutions have spearheaded programs in Jamaica to combat racial discrimination as a result of the urgency of the matter. Buy custom Jamaica essay

Computer Security and Biometrics Research Paper

Computer Security and Biometrics - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that due to recurrent technological developments, information and communication technology frequently diverts in new dimensions. The research and development in the context of information and communication technology is very effective. Moreover, the new and advanced form of technology has also facilitated vulnerabilities and threats to be more intelligent. Organizations require advanced protection and security from these threats and vulnerabilities. In order to protect information assets, organizations emphasize on implementing logical and physical controls to protect and secure organizational assets. Security issues can lead to many different aspects. For example, if the server containing customer data is breached, organization will lose its credibility and trust among the customer and that will result in business loss. Similarly, if a critical system is hacked by internal or external sources, organization’s financial data along with goals and objectives can be revealed to other competitors. For securing logical and physical threats, organizations implement firewalls to deploy packet filtering, eliminating viruses and malicious codes, intrusion detection system to continuously sense the behavior of the network, biometric systems for physical authentication of employees, incident response teams to recover the loss on immediate basis and IP cameras to monitor their critical information assets on the network. System Security As per (Dhillon 451), there are three types of controls that will address the three systems i.e. formal, informal and technical. Example of each one of these is illustrated as: Formal control: Modifying organization structure Informal control: Security awareness Technical control: Restricting unauthorized access Formal controls provide assistance to technical controls, as they govern and address issues of integrity in application and data that may lead to high risk and cost. Likewise, in order to govern formal controls, assignment of jobs and responsibilities is vital, as this allocation of duties and responsibilities will set alignment with business objectives. Formal controls are associated with management aspect that will deploy strategic security management practices. The security management will select employees from all departments of the organization where necessary. Moreover, the security management will address data protection legislations, security audits, regulatory compliance, legal and insurance issues, hiring criteria for employees, misconduct, risk assessment, incident management and response etc. Informal controls are associated with security awareness programs considered as the cost effective tool used to aware employees for ‘do’s and don’ts’ while accessing data or information resources. As risk environment is constantly changing, a comprehensive education and security awareness program is extremely important that will conduct periodic awareness sessions for new employees, or new technology or any relevant risk that needs to be addressed. Therefore, the security awareness program should be considered as a ‘common belief system’ (Dhillon 451). Lastly, the technical control that is not limited to authentication of a user along with assigning proper rights on an application or operating system. In order to apply confidentiality to data, encryption, hashing, encoding methods are adopted by organization. Likewise, smart card is the most popular one (Dhillon 451). Moreover,

Sports in Popular Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sports in Popular Culture - Research Paper Example From warring tribes to states, humans have always been placed in a situation where we are forced to compete. Sports have been increasingly organized and regulated from the time of the ancient Olympics up to the present century. Industrialization has brought increased leisure time to the citizens of developed and developing countries, leading to more time for citizens to attend and follow spectator sports, greater participation in athletic activities, and increased accessibility. The creation of sports activities is merely a means of allowing individuals to externalize their need for competition. This paper focuses on the competition, the social impact, and the economic value that sports have on society. Competition is at the very core of humanity. This is visible at various levels of the individual life style. Capitalism as an economic structure identifies the fact that resources are finite, and individuals must compete to accumulate as much as possible. While history has shown that other ideas on how the economy should function exist, the market place of ideas crowned capitalism the king. Beyond the economic infrastructure is the educational system. Students strive to be at the top of their class which is indicative of how competition penetrated the educational system. Competition seems to creative an incentive to become perfect. In terms of sports, individuals who compete on sports teams strive to perfect their skills in attempts to be the league leaders. Fans recognize this and rally behind individuals and teams that perform close to perfection. Fans seem to disassociate their identities from their normative lives and self identify with the team that they represent. Whether because of their hometown loyalty or because of a player, fans involve themselves in the competition and immediate choose sides. The ability to exercise choice within the sports community allows individuals to capitalize on their innate compulsion for competition. At the heart of the comp etition between fans is the loyalty to a certain team. This makes the competitive nature more volatile. This is due to the fact that some teams are better than others and fans continue to jump bandwagons. While each individual possesses the innate compulsion to compete, they have an even harder drive to be a winner. In fact, this lies at the heart of the competitive spirit. Success has been psychologically attached to winning. The more successful a team, the better their fans feel. Individuals tend to make emotional investments into sporting events, whereby the outcome typically draws an emotional reaction from the fan. Beyond the competitive nature of sporting events lies the social component. While some individuals feel the obsessive need to be competitive, others attend events and watch games because it involves a social component. When attending stadium events with tens of thousands of other individuals in attendance it makes the actual experience more involved for the individua ls. These events typically involve drinking and cheering which makes a great time for the fans. As Jean Jacques Rousseau explains, â€Å"man is a social animal.† This means that individuals are inclined to involve themselves in activities that allow them to socialize with their peers. This means that sporting events provide the perfect context. While this does position individuals to collaborate with their peers in cheering for the team of their choice, this does not always turn out to be so

Strategic Human Resource Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Strategic Human Resource Planning - Essay Example "The range of activities and themes encompassed by SHRM is complex and goes beyond the responsibilities of personnel or HR managers into all aspects of managing people and focuses on management decisions and behaviors used, consciously or unconsciously, to control, influence and motivate those who work for the organizations - the human resources" (Price, 2007) What Charmagne was considering was a combination of this and Issues-Based Strategic Planning, under which goals are prioritized. According to her, producing products with good quality corresponding to the specifications of the contract is more important than getting the larger contract. She is also carrying out a cost-benefit analysis which helps her predict that recruiting trained workers from the market in this short span of time means high costs for the firm. Probably even higher than the benefits that they will enjoy from the large contract. However, she is more concerned with delivering a good quality product rather than motivating Proper Corporate Strategic planning comes with proper analysis of all the different aspects of the scenario, its alternatives and the external factors affecting decisions. Charmagne's strategy is not based on impulse but has facts, figures and practical study to support her argument. And when she is challenging Brian, this strategic plan will help her put forward her points to him concretely and more clearly.

Online Auctions For Everyone On Ebay Business Essay

Online Auctions For Everyone On Ebay Business Essay EBay was launched in 1995 as an online platform that permitted efficient peer-to-peer trading in an auction format. (Daniels, John D., Radebaugh,Lee H., Sullivan, Daniel P., 2007) The online auction site provided a space on the internet for people to buy, sell, and trade any multitude of items from almost any category imaginable. As for the business itself, the beauty of it is that eBay has no inventory, storage, transportation or production costs associated with their product. The product is simply providing the environment on the web for people to auction their goods. The concept can be thought of much like an electronic garage or yard sale where for a small fee, people can post their items on eBay. The selling price for items posted is totally up to the individual and ebay just obtains a small percentage of the selling price after the auction is complete, usuall between 7 and 18 percent. (Daniels, John D., Radebaugh,Lee H., Sullivan, Daniel P., 2007). Therefore, eBays core compete ncy is simply matching buyer and seller together through an online platform. Initially, eBays strategy was to match up buyers and sellers collecting a small fee from each transaction, but the business grew quickly. One reason for the rapid growth was the fact that eBay was providing an outlet for items that were not very marketable by conventional store fronts. Additionally, the internet connect people from all over, making marketing virtually free. By 1999, eBays net revenues grew to $225 million and continued to grow to 3.2 billion dollars by 2004. (Daniels, John D., Radebaugh,Lee H., Sullivan, Daniel P., 2007) Up to this point most of the registered users of eBay resided in the United States but the site was accessed by people all around the globe. The presented eBay with the opportunity to expand globally as a means to increase their value chain. In order to comply with their company vision of creating the worlds largest global trading community and to help people trade, eBay had to expand into the global market by understanding and embracing a decentralized value chain. This meant attracting new registered users from foreign countries by creating largely independent country subsidiaries. For example, eBay began acquiring companies in foreign countries that were similar auction sites. This allowed eBay not only to gain those customers from the acquired company but benefit from the cultural acceptance of that particular company. Many of these foreign businesses operated in their native language making it easier for locals to conduct business with eBay. In time, eBay would change the names of these companies but not lose the customers because they adapted the acquired company to the core competency and company vision. This strategy opened new markets for eBay around the globe. It is important to reemphasize that eBays value chain is virtual mainly because there is no real product associated with their core competency. Value chain refers to the real work a business has to do in order to conceive, design, produce, market, and distribute a product and its support to the consumer. In eBays case, the Internet has circumvented real work for the alternative idea of the virtual value chain. Value is created through virtual networks, rather than through static, internally focused chains. (Daniels, John D., Radebaugh,Lee H., Sullivan, Daniel P., 2007) Ebays initial strategy involved matching up buyers and sellers. The final details of a transaction were totally up to the two parties involved and not eBay itself. Shipping and money transfer were the responsibility of the seller. Ebay began looking for ways to innovate and did so by purchasing the company PayPal which is used to transfer payments between buyers and sellers. Now, not only did eBay provide a medium for customers to conduct auctions, but they also provided a simple way to complete shipping and payment transactions. Again, this added feature is virtual in nature. Ebay still has no real resource involved but collects a fee on any transaction. Therefore the value chain in increased even more. Ebay began competing with other businesses offering mainstream products for sale on their auction platform. Whereas an auction normally posted an item for sale for a certain amount of time and the highest bidder won, mainstream products would be placed on auction with a reserve and a buy now price applied for those not wanting to wait out the time of the auction. The downfall to this is that if the reserve bid was not met, the item did not sell. Although this strategy is still active, more emphasis is now placed on eBays original strategy. Because individual sellers were overrun by fixed-price retailers they lost interest in the site and buyers began looking elsewhere to search for the less mainstream products upon which eBay built its business. In an article titled eBays New Strategy: What Was Once Old is New Again, author Matt Pace coined eBays new strategy as, Its out with the new and in with the old both in terms of corporate strategy and product mix. After failing to compete as a fixed-priced on line retailer with Amazon.com and Walmart, eBay decided to revert back to its original premise of an auction clearinghouse for used goods and collectables. (Matt Pace, 2009) Now that eBay is back to its core competency, what is the way ahead? Profits and growth were beginning to fall based largely on the fact that eBay had not successfully moved into some foreign markets. Because eBays platform relies on internet usage, many emerging economies were handicapped in the fact that most households do not have internet connections. When faced with this problem, eBay saw an opportunity to grow by moving into the telecommunications market. Ebay purchased the company Skype as a means to penetrate markets where computer access was limited but communications was not. According to Skype President Josh Silverman, communications is no longer just about voice; its now multi-modal: mood messages, chat, voice calling, multi-party calling, video calling and online screen sharing. Where and how we communicate is expanding to laptops, mobile phones, and flat panel TVs. Any connected computing device with the addition of software becomes a communication device. Skype continu es to add over 350,000 new account registrations per day all around the globe. (Jim Courtney, 2009) According to executives, the synergies of standalone businesses, eBay, PayPal and Skype have the ability to pursue new market opportunities and capture future growth. Working together, these three businesses can create entirely new opportunities for innovation and expansion, and redouble the strength of the companys leadership position (eBay-Inc, 2006) Ebay has continued to reenforce their position in their market by meeting new challenges head on. Tackling problems such as translational software and online security is a top priority. Ebay announced cooperation with Yahoo! on phishing and according eBays CEO, Meg Whitman, this will be our core competency over the next 10 years. The balance is tricky, but the company has dipped its toe in the social networking waters a few times, most recently on Tuesday when Skype partnered with MySpace to become the worlds largest voice network. (Wendy Tanaka, 2007) All of the challenges faced by eBay can be culminated in one small shift in their strategy for the years to come. The initial strategy of providing an environment for buyers and sellers to auction their items has morphed into seeking out new buyers and sellers to use their environment through added values in their value chain.

Decision-Making Model Essay

The human decision-making process has been described by the development of several frameworks. The alternative for the maximize utility of the decision is selected by a fully informed, as well as, knowledgeable decision maker in the Rational Model. A satisfactory decision alternative is sought by the decision maker due to the causes of time, information, and space constraints according to the Bounder Rationality Model. It is hypothesized by the Organizational Model that available procedures are used by the decision maker for the solution of problems of decisions in a continuously updated organizational memory. Conflicting values and interests are confronted by the decision makers in the Muddling through Model, and an incremental improvement in the outcome is achieved by the selection of alternative with minimal organizational changes. An intermeshing of problems, solutions, and decision maker interest are represented by decisions that are forced by social and political factors in an anarchistic environment according to the Garbage Can Model. The criteria are met best by the identification of alternative with the use of relationship that is made between the criteria, events, and alternative by the decision maker in the Classical Decision Theory Model. During the selection process, conflicting constraints can be confronted by the decision maker, as intangible or tangible criteria would have to be dealt in uncertain events. The situation is assessed, a single alternative is generated and evaluated, and alternative for a satisfactory solution of the problem is selected by the decision makers according to the Naturalistic Decision-Making Model. Outcomes of the decision-making process are focused by some of the proposed models like Classical and Rational Decision Theory formulations. A limited set of decision activities is highlighted by other models like Bounded Rationality Models and Naturalistic Decision-Making Models. A comprehensive and integrated view of decision-making has been offered by none of the proposals. In addition, not all the situations of the decision-making can be applied with any formulations of these proposals. For instance, operational and tactical decisions can be applied with the Organizational Model. However, strategic decisions cannot be applied with this model due to incomplete understanding of the problem, as well as, limited availability of the knowledge of the problem. In this regard, the most popular model of the human decision-making process has been the three-phase paradigm of design, intelligence, and choice by the Simon. Virtually, all other proposed frameworks have been implied by this most general paradigm. However, an implementation phase of the Simon’s formulation has been concluded with the expansion of such scrutiny. Reality is observed by the decision maker during the intelligence phase. A fundamental understanding regarding the existing problems, as well as, new opportunities is gained by the maker. In addition, the general quantitative and qualitative information is acquired by the decision maker for the addressing of different opportunities, as well as, the problems. In the design phase, a specific and precise model is developed by the decision-maker, by which, the discovered problems and opportunities are examined systematically. Decision alternatives, uncontrollable events, criteria, and numerical, as well as, symbolic relationships will be consist in this model. The ensuing choice phase constitutes of the generation of recommended actions from the evaluation of the specified alternatives by the usage of explicit models logically. The analyses and recommendations are pondered by the decision maker during the subsequent implementation phase. In this regard, the consequences are weighed, and sufficient confidence is gained in the decision-making process. In addition, an implementation plan is developed, financial, human, and material resources are secured, the plan is put into the action. After the implementation of the final choice, the new reality should be observed by the decision maker. In addition, intelligence, design, choice, and implementation should be regarded and followed by the decision maker. Moreover, the need for revisions at preceding phases might be suggested by the phase’s analyses. For instance, adjustments of the previous design might be necessitated by the analyses during the choice. Conceptually, individual or group decision-making is applied with the decision-making process in the same manner. In practice, the communication-intensive aspects of cooperative problem solving must be accommodated by the group decision-making. In addition, voting, ranking, rating, and other consensus-developing methodologies should be supported by the usage of structured techniques. Group and organizational collaboration support should be provided by the development of this consensus. Decision-making model can be operated by the use of a variety of measures. Outcomes are dealt by some measures, and process outcomes are involved by the others. Positive decision outcomes can include: Increases in returns, costs reduction, and increment in the flow of information are some of the examples of the gains in the performance of the organization. When the understanding of a person regarding a current problem, as well as, its solution is developed, the decision-maker’s maturity develops. In addition, the improvement of the general problem-solving skills also results in the maturation of the decision-maker. Objectively, recording can be done regarding the number of opportunities, problems, as well as, alternatives. Experts, as well as, person’s evaluations can assess such efforts and subjective assessments. In expert’s evaluations, practice would be observed by the experienced decision makers and the examinee’s efforts will be rated. In this regard, a structured rating form will be used for its support. The examinees are used by the directed self-examinations, and a facilitator is used for the purpose of guidance. In some decision-making situations, the improvement of the organizational performance becomes impossible due to the competition, internal restrictions, external constraints, and several other factors. Under these circumstances, the main decision outcome will be the learning, training, and various other beneficial side effects during the maturation of the decision maker. Process Enhancements in the ability of a person or group are involved in the process improvements for the implementation of the phases and steps in the decision-making process. Experts, as well as, person’s evaluations can assess such efforts and with the help of subjective assessments. In expert’s evaluations, practice would be observed by the experienced decision makers and the proficiency of the examinee during each phase and step of the decision-making process will be rated. In this regard, a structured rating form will be used for its support. The examinees are used by the directed self-examinations, and a facilitator is used for the purpose of guidance. The use of accounting tools is involved in the process tracing, in which, the decision aid is embedded for the recording, as well as, reporting of the actions of the examinee during the decision-making process. In addition, the process enhancements may be manifested through: The time that is needed during the structuring of the problem by the user is reduced in a hike in personal efficiency. In addition, in a given time period, the number of alternatives is increased during the evaluation of the user, which is also an example of the hike in personal efficiency. The time of the decision-making is reduced, and the amount of pertinent information is increased from the decision-making is an improvement in the personal productivity. Objectively, recording can be done regarding the time and number of evaluated alternatives. Expert, as well as, direct self-evaluations by the activity of an individual or group can assess the amount of pertinent information, wisdom, and knowledge, that is, subjective assessments. In any particular management situation, more importance might be given to the support for some phases, as compared with the support for others. The process should be improved for at least the relevant phases by a given aid in the decision-making process. The decision outcome and process measures have been summarized in the Table 1. In addition, the measurements have been obtained by the available approaches, which have also been summarized in the table. As such, a series of guidelines has been offered by the table for the operation of the decision-making process. For instance, the implementation phase of the decision-making process consists of confidence and commitment of the decision maker. The performance of the decision maker during these steps is measured by the process tracing, expert ratings, and directed self-evaluations, as indicated by the Table 1.

Moral Reflection

Everyday in our lives we are forced into making moral decisions about anything under the sun. There are situations that make such process difficult, and there are situations where the answer appears to be just right in front of our faces. I believe it would be difficult for anyone to decide on any ethical dilemma if he has no clear idea of morality.Personally, I am aware that of at least two ethical principles that guide me in my everyday ethical decision-making. These are utilitarianism and Kantian moral philosophy. utilitarianism holds that a person’s action would be considered morally right if it tends to promote happiness for the greatest number of people. Thus, utilitarianism as a moral philosophy places emphasis on the consequences of human action, rather than on the motives behind such action (West).On the other hand, Kantian moral philosophy, or more popularly known as the categorical imperative, is based on notions of obligation, necessity and reason. Kant believed th at morality consists in the choosing and doing proper conduct, and the proper action is dictated solely by rational considerations. Thus, Kant holds that subjective considerations, including emotions, should not be considered in moral decision-making (The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy).I believe in both these theories and I use them both when I decide everyday ethical dilemmas. There are times when. I believe purely rational considerations should prevail, but there are times that I also consider subjective factors like emotions. I believe that both theories guide my actions and decisions, and both allow me to weigh various considerations in my mind.Nevertheless, I believe that Kant’s method in determining the right conduct is a better decision-making process, because Kant provded clear criteria for choosing. Kant provided this rule, thus:â€Å"So act, that the rule on which thou actest would admit of being adopted as a law   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   by all rational b eings. (Kant).†This rule is easier to follow since it does not fluctuate depending on my mood or subjective predilection, which could change in any day. It serves as a â€Å"true north,† which teaches all men how to think and decide moral dilemmas.One moral issue that deeply concerns me is euthanasia, or mercy killing. Euthanasia is defined as an act characterized by â€Å"the intentional ending of a patient's life by a physician, usually by lethal injection (Religion Facts).†Ã‚   Euthanasia is always being raised as an option where a person is with a terminal illness and slim chances of recovering. It is an important issue for me because I could easily imagine myself in the position of the sick person’s family, and I could imagine subjective feelings that would dictate either euthanasia or maintaining life support. In these kinds of situations, utilitarianism could support either position, as the decision would depend on the consequences of an action. On the other hand, Kantian philosophy could provide a more definitive answer, but such answer would definitely not consider emotions, because these are subjective factors that are not based on reason.Works CitedKant, I. The Metaphysics of Ethics. 1886.MacDonald, Chris. â€Å"Moral Decision Making — An Analysis.† 2002. 14 Feb. 2008.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   .Religion Facts. â€Å"Facts and Statistics on Euthanasia.† 14 Feb. 2008.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ;http://www.religionfacts.com/euthanasia/stats.htm;.The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. â€Å"The Categorical Imperative.† 2001. 14 Feb.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008.;http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/categorical-imperative.html;.West, Henry R. â€Å"Utilitarianism.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 14 Feb. 2008.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ;http://www.utilitarianism.com/utilitarianism.html;.

Julian Abele

Julian Abele Julian Abele (born April 29, 1881 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to the University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center) is best known in Durham, North Carolina as the architect of the Duke University campus. The story of Julian Francis Abele is not rags-to-riches but a tale of hard work and dedication. In college Abele called himself Willing and Able. A brilliant and accomplished student, Abele became the first Black graduate of the University of Pennsylvanias School of Architecture. Although not Americas first architect of color, Julian Abele was one of the first prominent Black architects in America, finding success with the Philadelphia architecture firm led by Horace Trumbauer. The Duke University Chapel may be Abeles most famous building. Died: April 23, 1950 in Philadelphia Education, Training, and Professional Life: Institute for Colored Youth and Brown Preparatory School, Philadelphia1898: Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art1902: B.A. in Arch. - University of Pennsylvania1902-1903: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; worked for Philadelphia architect Louis C. Hickman while in school1903-1905: traveled to Western US, worked on a house for his sisters family, Elizabeth Rebecca Abele Cookcirca 1905: three years of travel in Europe and study in France1906: began work for Horace Trumbauer; became chief designer in 1909 until Trumbauers death in 1938. The Office of Horace Trumbauer continued under the leadership of its principals, Julian Abele and William O. Frank1942: Admitted to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Notable Buildings as Trumbauers Chief Designer: 1909-1912: James Buchanan Duke House, New York Cityc. 1912: Frank P. Mitchell house (Argentine Embassy), Washington, DC1915: Miramar (The George D. Widener Cottage), Newport, RI1915: Widener Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA1921: Whitemarsh Hall, Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania1925: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA1927: Central Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, PA1928: James B. Clews Residence, Long Island, NY1930: Perkins Library, Duke University West Campus, Durham, North Carolina1935: Duke University Chapel, West Campus, Durham, North Carolina1938: Duke University Dormitories, West Campus, Durham, NC1940: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University West Campus, Durham, NC At the turn of the twentieth century, many American architects made a good living building Great Homes of the Gilded Age. Horace Trumbauers commission to build a New York City estate for tobacco tycoon James B. Duke really paid off with the much larger projects at Duke University, where Julian Abele made his mark in architecture. Personal Life: 1925: Married to Marguerite Bulle, a French musician; three children, Julian, Jr., Marguerite Marie (died in childhood), and Nadia Boulanger. The marriage dissolved by 1936 when the younger Marguerite became involved with another musician. They never divorced.Julian, Jr. and Abeles sisters child, Julian Abele Cook (1904 - 1986), both became architects Duke University Architecture: In 1892 Trinity College moved 70 miles east to Durham, North Carolina and the Duke family began funding campus building. By 1924, the Duke Endowment was established and Trinity College transformed into Duke University. The original East Campus was renovated with Georgian-style buildings, after the Collegiate Georgian Architecture popular at other universities. Beginning in 1927 a West Campus was added, built in a Gothic-revival architectural style also popular at large, established Ivy League institutions. Architecture was used to bring students, faculty, and prestige to the new Duke institution - if it looked like a university, it must be one. The Philadelphia architecture firm led by Horace Trumbauer began the transformation of Trinity into Duke. Trumbauers head designer Julian Abele, along with William O. Frank, tackled the Duke projects from 1924 to 1958. The pià ¨ce de rà ©sistance of Abeles designs is the iconic Duke Chapel, which became the centerpiece of the West Campus. Collegiate Gothic style is a revival of 12th century Gothic architecture, with soaring ceilings, pointed arches, and flying buttresses. For Dukes Chapel, begun in 1930, Abele employed modern building techniques and materials to eliminate the need to buttress the walls. Steel trusses and structural Guastavino ceramic tile gave strength to the 210 foot structure, while local volcanic Hillsborough bluestone distinguished the distinctive facade of the neo-Gothic design. The Chapel tower, modeled after Englands Canterbury Cathedral, became a prototype for many of the future towers of Duke University. Olmsted landscape architects, from the prestigious firm founded by Frederick Law Olmsted, were employed to create a walkable campus, connecting the architecture with the surrounding natural beauty. If the intent of Duke was to rival the great universities of the northeast, this twentieth century campus, designed in part by a prominent Black architect, accomplished the task. In the Words of Julian Abele: The shadows are all mine. - commenting on the unsigned architectural drawings for the Gothic Revival Duke University Chapel, Duke University Archives Learn More: Out of the Shadows by Susan E. Tifft, Smithsonian Magazine, February 2005Philadelphia Area Architecture of Horace Trumbauer (Images of America) by Rachel Hildebrandt and the Old York Road Historical Society, 2009American Splendor: The Residential Architecture of Horace Trumbauer by Michael C. Kathrens, rev. 2012Duke University: An Architectural Tour by John M. Bryan, 2000Duke University: An Architectural Tour (The Campus Guide) by Ken Friedlein and John Pearce, 2015Friends of Julian Abele Park, Philadelphia, PA Sources: Penn Biographies, University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center; Julian F. Abele, Architect, Free Library of Philadelphia; Biography and Projects from the American Architects and Buildings database, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia; Dukes Architecture, Office of the University Architect, Duke University; Black U.S. Architect Designed a Bond with Argentina, IIP Digital, Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State; Frank P. Mitchell House, African American Historic Places Database, National Trust for Historic Preservation; History, The Building at http://chapel.duke.edu/history/building, Duke University Chapel. Websites accessed April 3-4, 2014.

Censorship In Radio Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Censorship In Radio Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers HTML> HEAD> TITLE>Censorship In Radio/TITLE>/HEAD> BODY> Censorship in radio For the past several years Freedom of speech in America has had its meaning changed many times. Although the changes have gone unnoticed by most Americans, In the radio business they are felt day in and day out. radio personalities, programmers, and owners have to deal with this everyday but they too have no real idea what the Federal Communications Commissions idea of free speech is. You see the rule seems to change depending on who you are. If you are tagged by the FCC anything the broadcaster does or says is monitored and picked over and fined.( Howard stern. King Of All Media.165-166 ) The FCC has been picking on Howard Stern for years, they singled Howard for doing trash radio. But according to Stern other programs are saying or doing the same if not worse things than he is. Stern tells of when Geraldo said (Stern Miss America. 526-530.) in a show about the Mennendez brothers being molested for doing something wrong. Hell, Im not for child molestation, but if I knew anal sex . . . punishment, Id keep my room clean. Geraldo goes untouched. but Howard got fined for saying lesbians filled with lust. (Howard Stern. Miss America.519). That seems a bit more tame to me but since Stern is tagged he gets fined. The First Amendment states. congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech. This rule, over the years has changed to congress shall make . . . as interpreted by the FCC (king of all. 165) this makes no sense the word freedom, according to Websters Dictionary means the state of being free from constraints, possession of political and civil rights, unrestricted access or use yet, the FCC is in charge of what can and cant be said over the airwaves. The FCC is the god of the broadcasting industry, they do not have to answer to anybody they have all the power to do whatever they want. The basic rule for a deejay is that he/she may not use the seven dirty words, all know them and understand they can not use them, But what nobo dy knows is, what else cant a deejay say over the air. The rules are not documented. Most stations go by their own policy, And if their policy is wrong and something goes over the air that isnt supposed to they can get pulled ( off the air) or fined. Martin Espada is a person who got pulled from the air and his poem censored. ( all things censored. 20-22 ) Espada says, he wrote a poem for the radio program All Things Considered called imagine the angels of bread about an African American wrongly accused of killing a Philadelphia police officer. And with the heat the poem would have generated the program with some forceful help from the FCC type group called National Public Radio the poem was pulled and Espada was no longer allowed to read his poetry on the air. Now Espada was never fined from the FCC because his poem never made the air waves, but the real question is, If it had, would Espada been fined? probably not, Because so many deejays that do trash radio never even get looked at by the FCC Because they are not marked yet. This shows the hypocrisy of the FCC. I myself have lived in many different cities all across the United States and Ive listened to just about every local deejay in those cities and they are all pretty much doing the same thing as Howard Stern, yet no fines hardly at all, I watch television and see the same type of show, again no fines, Joe salzman writes about the hypocrisy of free speech. ( hypocrisy rules the air waves.) He points out that shows like Seinfeld, (In prime time when most kids are watching) can talk about Sexual intercourse, Masturbation, bodily functions, male and female sex organs, Impotence, homosexuality, and birth control methods. and people and the media love him. And a show like the Howard Stern Show.( in the morning, when most kids are in school.) talks about sexual intercourse, . .

PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH - Essay Example This is explained by the events preceding his maladaptive behavior. He is still morning his wife, who has recently passed on, and this situation leave him vulnerable to drugs and substance use. His social exclusion can aslo be explained by the fact that he has not worked for almost 30 years. As a result, he may have lost friends, especially due to his drinking problem. However, one of the main problems is that Jim lacks strong social bond. He is socially excluded; hence, he cannot share his emotional status with anyone. Due to post-traumatic stress disorder, Jim has become callous to social events and even forgotten about his personal grooming. Social exclusion has been associated with impaired self-regulation and cognition the victims become lonely, and can succumb to self-defeating behaviour (Taylor, 2007). This may include excessive drinking, become unhygiene, and even use illegal drugs. Social exclusion is conceptualized as lack of strong social bonds. The social ties are created with either one’s spouse, family members or friends. However, due to personality issues, a number of people do not have a large social capital or a circle of friends. Unlike most women who keep large circles of friends and strong relationships, men have less or no close friends (Taylor, 2007). women on the other hand use the established social bonds to express their negative emotions, hence may not experience health problems emanating from psychological triggers. Social exclusion, leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and estrangement. People are social being, and they thrive well in social interactions. If they cannot form strong social bonds, they are most likely to engage in self-defeating behavior such as excessive drinking. In Jim’s case, it is clear that he is experiencing social exclusion. However, Jim’s scenario can be understood by looking at the events that precede his current behavior. Death is a traumatizing event that can lead to depression and other

Case study for strategic management Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

For strategic management - Case Study Example Generally speaking, there are various strategies that Keurig Company has used to fuel growth. To mention, these strategies include introducing newer beverage categories, adopting newer distribution channels, using better brewer technologies and introducing new brands among others. To begin with, the company expanded its traditional Single Cup Brewing system to encompass the desires and wants of the customers. In other words, the company aimed at changing the consumer behavior through changing the way â€Å"that the company brewed and enjoyed coffee.† As such, the company expanded its consumer brands, used an effective distribution system and was excessively committed towards ensuring that there was incorporation of new brewing technologies and innovation. Notably important, Keurig’s external environment is filled up with factors which could impact the overall coffee industry. First, the existence of political instability in coffee production countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela due to governmental intent to increase coffee prices could affect the prices of raw material thus affecting the coffee industry as a whole. Equally, political forces may economic fluctuations brought about by the changes in coffee prices thus affecting both the suppliers and producers. Moreover, various cultures in the global context will prefer different types of coffee. For instance, whereas Americans would mostly prefer lowly concentrated coffee, the Europeans would mostly prefer smaller quantities of concentrated coffee. Thus, the different societal cultures would affect Keurig’s and other companies’ performance in the coffee industry. Consequently, the advancement of technology and innovation has impacted the coffee industry in various dimensions. For instance, due to the development of technology, Keurig managed to adopt a newer brewing Single Cup Brewing System

The Epitome of the 21st Century American Family Essay

The Epitome of the 21st Century American Family - Essay Example The visit to the lake is an annual family ritual and in White’s comparison of his visit as a child as compared to visiting it with his son, he illustrates how the family tradition continues, with many of the same elements recurring. For instance, as a child, he used to â€Å"dress softly as not to wake the others and sneak out into the sweet outdoors and start out in the Canoe† (White 198) and he finds his son doing the same thing, hearing â€Å"the boy sneak quietly out and go off along the shore in a boat.† (White 198). The lake culture is a representation of the family culture, especially when a thunderstorm occurs and the campers run out to swim in the rain, their â€Å"bright cries perpetuating the deathless joke about how they were getting simply drenched †¦..and the joke about getting drenched linking the generations in a strong, indestructible chain.† (White, 202). White thus views the family as a continuing unit, he views himself repeatedly in his own father’s role as he walks and goes fishing with his son, and he reflects upon his son will one day take over his own role at the lake, becoming the father who bring his son for a visit to the lake. White represents the family and its bonds through the symbol of the annual visit to the lake. There are common practices that occur through the years, for instance the camper with the soap at the lake side, or the fly that settles on the fishing rod, or the practice of getting drenched in the rain. These symbolize the enduring nature of the family, some things will never change. The author also uses the lake as the background against which he examines the changes that are being brought about by technology. For instance, families drive up to the lake in their cars rather than in their wagons and the unpacking is completed in a matter of minutes without the fuss that would

Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation Pattern Essay Example for Free

Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation Pattern Essay It is ironic that Kapil Sibal declared at 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations of great Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan that exam-centric education system would have to go. One wonders what Ramanujan himself would say – â€Å"Mr. Minister, even I am a product of exam centric education system†? Kapil Sibal says he would like to replace the current system with a child-centric one. Now that is a very interesting term. So how does the minister define the term? Expressing his determination to do away with rote learning and the â€Å"archaic† examination-oriented system, he said: â€Å"We are endeavouring to reform this with emphasis on skill development and unlocking the creative talent within the child. † The Ministry’s decision to do away with examinations at the end of the year, replacing them with a Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) system in a bid to de-stress children, was a step in that direction. [Link] Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation has its benefits. It has to be, however, said that CCE will not de-stress the children all by itself. Students are under stress due to the range of competition. Imagine a candidate appearing for IIT JEE during +2. He faces at least 7 lakh others across the country. Imagine what goes on in the family, forget the candidate! Every IIT graduate has a story to tell as to how many sacrifices the complete family makes for success at the exam! CCE has its benefits and can de-stress the students but in an autonomous organization with tight controls within the organization. For example, some engineering colleges at graduate level and almost all of them at post-graudate level use it to the maximum benefit of both students and professors. The system is a success at these places because of the autonomy. JNTU implemented CCE in engineering colleges affiliated to it. It had limited impact and yet, it couldn’t do away with the final exam. The final exam had to cover 80% of the total score. CCE makes sense when the number of institutions involved is less. Another important factor that influences the impact of CCE is the physical proximity of affiliated institutions. Otherwise fraud and cheating would happen as the case is with JNTU’s example. Understanding the issue JNTU faced several issues with implementing CCE is more than 100 colleges in AP affiliated to it at the time of introduction of the system. They started with 80% external evaluation in the form of final comprehensive exam and 20% internal evaluation across the semester via 5 exams conducted by the instructor. Due to lack of feedback mechanism between students and the governing body – JNTU, the system led to several problems. There were cases of cheating and fraud. JNTU wanted to solve this problem by making internal evaluation â€Å"not so internal† through online objective evaluation. For this, an internal evaluation question bank was created through suggestions from all its professors, assistant professors, associate professors across the affiliated institutes. The online evaluation software would throw random questions on the screen to be answered in stipulated amount of time. This system again failed at several institutions due to infrastructure issues but the major problem was again cheating and fraud. The issue is quite clear – large educational bodies with centralized governing body cannot use CCE effectively. Effective use of CCE can happen with decentralized model. JNTU understood this and divided colleges between JNTU Hyderabad, JNTU Kakinada and JNTU Ananthapur. The division was purely based on physical proximity of the institute to the governing body. This system still faces the issues that it had initially. It will continue to face them. Take another example. IITs. For evaluating graduate students, IITs dont have a common examination across all the IITs! Even BITS Pilani which has its campuses in Pilani, Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad doesnt use CCE across all four via a common evaluation body. Closed loop within each campus is used. In fact in all these institutes, swift justice in case of any fraud/cheating via committees within the institutes ensures better evaluation, without hindering the process of education. The key phrase – â€Å"checks and balances†. One then wonders why such a tight loop cannot be framed within the schools or a set of schools within close physical proximity! What is happening now? In our current system of school education, we have CBSE at national level and as competing bodies we have State Education Boards. Schools are allowed to choose one of the bodies. The chosen body not just dictates syllabi but also evaluates students in a final examination with a common exam held on a common date at all affiliated schools. So by design CCE is missing. Private schools, so far bridged this gap by having internal evaluation which does not affect scoring at final exam but will only help students to be ready for the final evaluation. Government schools on the other hand, have been busy serving meals at noon to children rather than conducting classes regularly. All government education bodies across India have a common goal – syllabus. Core of the problem lies in this – skill development has never been the area of interest of these bodies. Skill development was and still is the school’s responsibility to compete with other schools. Students who make it top notch institutes across India via JEE, AIEEE, BITSAT etc. , generally have a set of skills in some area or the other. But it has to be understood that they do not make it there due to those skills. They acquire those skills at school, due to their own enthusiasm and sometimes due to the school’s stress on extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. Fortunately or unfortunately, skill development is not due to the governing body. Some exceptions do exist in places like Kerala though! In terms of the system of education, both geography and demography have a huge role to play. Before CCE Implementation†¦. Sibal’s megalomania and grandiose plans lack substance just because of one of his very fundamental assertion – centralization. For a country of the size of India, with such a large population, centralization of education is a disaster to start with. Decentralizing and allowing that little freedom to schools would be a very important step. Such a decentralization process must be addressed before CCE can be implemented. If we are supposed to get anything useful from implementation of CCE, what Governments at class X, +1, +2 level in Government Schools needs to Allow more freedom to schools to collaborate and spool resources – they are already in severe resource crunch. Leaving out examinations completely would be a recipe for disaster. As it is, drop out rates in Class X, +1, +2 across states like AP is too high. Any hasty introduction of CCE without first correcting some fundamental flaws in organizing schools would only bring about faster drop out rates at these levels. CCE is already available in an abstract way in private schools. Several aided and government schools tried to emulate it to see marginal success. But the issue remains. CCE it self will not reduce stress on students. In conclusion, CCE would make sense only with a proper mechanism to address drop-out rates at class X, +1, +2 levels across government schools in India. Acts proposed by Sibal like RTE only make it worse as they attack Private schools which have a decent CCE model already in place. Bottom line – leave private institutions alone. If possible allow them a % share of total evaluation points/score. Don’t scrap examinations, even if you introduce grading. Meanwhile, ensure Government and Aided school improve standards w. r. t infrastructure and faculty. Form conglomerates of schools within a certain radius and allow them to frame, organize and evaluate their students through proper resource spooling.